Take Your Baby to Yoga Class

Yoga in Bowness (www.yogainbowness.com) is currently offering yoga in the park. I finally made it to my first class this week, with Scarlett, of course.






It may not have been my most zen class, but I still had a good workout for the 3/4 of class that I completed.
Plus there was a little bit of "animal" yoga, ring around the rosy, fighting for my mat, dis-assembling of my wallet, games on the iPhone, and a 2 year old on my back when I was in plank position. Snacks and water.
I had asked prior if it was ok if she came, and I think the other yogis were very tolerant. Doesn't it up the level of concentration by having more distractions?
I will be back to class, with or without Scarlett, I haven't decided. I like her being outside and exposed to the practice, but her patience is that of a 2 year old (or 2 and 3/4 year old).
Maybe we should all practice yoga like a 2 year old-Scarlett had the most fun and the most smiles out of everyone there.

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Network Care for Kids

I chanced upon this video about Kids and Network Care. This is the technique that we use in the office for everyone under care, and I love that it is so effective for kids. Watch it! http://www.youtube.com/user/smorra2010#p/a/u/2/MoGghgPkae0

Better Than Toys

We were "Networking" last week. Elan Family Wellness Centre set up a table with the Goddess Mommies Group, in celebration of their 3 1/3 anniversary. We were all at Stir Crazy Fun Centre, so the kiddies got to run around in their huge facility. It was fun all around, and lots of new faces to meet. Then we came home and Scarlett took a liking to the goodie bags with all of the brochures, business cards, give-aways, etc. She unpacked the bag, packed it, carried it around, just like a toy. I have now corrupted her-instead of toys, my daughter plays with business cards. Instead of playing dress up, she comes to the office and plays at "adjusting". I'm waiting to see what's next!

Kids and Chiropractic

I haven't been here lately, but I've actually been working, and Scarlett hasn't napped in a week, so I've been busy. A little tired too.

Something that has come up a dozen times or more at work in the past week or two, is the subject of kids and chiropractic. I would like to share one link to all of the articles on the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association's website. You can check it out if you're wondering if chiropractic can help... asthma, constipation, attention disorders, torticollis, etc.

http://icpa4kids.org/Chiropractic-Research/

As it says on the website, "It is important to realize that chiropractic is not the treatment of any condition. The purpose of chiropractic is to find and reduce stress and interference to the nerve system, allowing the person to experience greater function and an overall improved quality of life."

If you have time to watch this, here's a video of a baby's first Network entrainment:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08-8tnoogyg&feature=related

You can see how a baby is adjusted with NSA (Network), and helps them to learn how to release and self-regulate the tension in their bodies. Our daughter was also adjusted the day after her birth (and I felt so bad I didn't adjust her minutes after being born!), but all she did was open her eyes and spit up.

Sunday and Solstice

Here's my favorite photo from the weekend:

We were at Baker Park listening to live music and enjoying a sunny Father's Day. Scarlett was having a ball-dancing to the music, playing with dogs and strangers, and testing the radius of safety around her mom and dad. There does not appear to be any boundary of fear at the moment.

It should have been a relaxing weekend, what with all the gardening, biking, music, honoring Dad, eating... But between that and a sleepless girl last night and work this morning, this picture is about all I can muster today! That and dreaming about plans for the summer since it is finally here. I suppose looking out the window at 10 pm last night and thinking it was 7 pm might have something to do with it as well.

I'm trying to keep a nice and flexible schedule this summer, but there's so much I want to do. Holidays out of town, places to explore nearby, garden projects and craft and sewing projects. Playing in an inflatable pool with Scarlett. Or in the sprinkler (did that last night-so fun!). And the to-do list of course (organizing photos is one).

Any exciting plans to share for the summer? Or ideas for fun summer projects?

Happy Summer Solstice!

Dirt Girl

We got the vegetable garden half in on Sunday-right on schedule in my world! I seeded my root vegetables, transplanted a few perennials, weeded and de-grassed parts of the garden, and then watered it all and called it quits. I was proud of the work we accomplished. Our little darling even helped to sow some lettuce and sweet pea seeds.

My mother, who has a very green thumb, had advised that LAST week was when the root crops should go in, and NEXT week will be the rest of the seeds. When I mentioned to her late last week that I didn't have my root vegetables in yet, she hesitated then said that of course I could plant them on the weekend. But the hesitation? (Also note that I didn't mention transplants yet, this part is only about seeding). My mom once had an article in the Salmon Arm paper called "Faith on Gardens" (really) and she's also gardened in the North Peace, so her information is reliable. I believe one of her sources is the Farmers' Almanac, so that's where I headed next.

The Farmer's Almanac is a little confusing & I've posted it online here. http://www.farmersalmanac.com/calendar/gardening/. What can I say except, oops. Apparently my seeds will now rot. It was a new moon on Friday, whatever that means in gardening circles. Tomorrow (Monday) will be safe for planting, but not the weekend. Now we can plant Monday or Tuesday (17th/18th) but then not again until the 24th, so definitely take your long weekend early. Of course, I was planning to plant again on Friday or Saturday, so I better make new plans. Confused yet?

So, I decided to check out some local advice: http://calgarygardencoach.typepad.com/calgarygardencoach/2009/04/when-can-i-start-planting-vegetable-seeds-in-calgary.html. According to this blogger, I'm doing just fine and there's no mention about the moon. The advice there is a little more generic, with of course, the usual Calgary advice-don't transplant until after the May long weekend.

So maybe the garden will survive after all.

It's also not my first garden, I'm now on year 8 of gardening in Calgary. But for those who do garden, you know that every year you wonder when should the seeds go in, when should I plant? You watch the weather, apparently you should watch the moon, and you watch your own schedule for when you have time to get it all done. And for me, that all aligned this Sunday. My dad had turned the soil, Scott added the compost-complete with coffee filters and egg shells sticking up every foot, and Scott and Scarlett were busy playing ball for long enough for me to do most of the seeding. Which is the easy part, truthfully.

Now I can look forward to watching the garden grow, which should start within the next two weeks. Unless my seeds rot in the ground, of course.

Macarons!

I just had my first sinful, decadent macaron from Yann Haute Patisserie in Mission (Calgary). I'm not too sure what I just ate but it was yummy and sweet and melted in my mouth. I ate it with a little bit of guilt, but I've been meaning to go down and try these for weeks now, and the wait was worth it. Plus I soaked up some Vit D on the way, as today it is beautiful and sunny out. I'll eat something healthy later to balance it out.



Their patisserie is gorgeous-she had it decorated with butterflies for spring and Scarlett stared at her and the butterflies and the pasteries. We even managed to get our stroller in the front door.
What I thought was interesting is that the owners have converted their house into a live-work unit, and they have completed a very professional, beautiful job. And she said the project took... 3 YEARS altogether for the City of Calgary to approve and then for them to have the space ready. You may see where my head goes...hmm, a live work unit? you live upstairs? you have kids? but 3 years to make something like this happen? Back in the good ole days, "everybody" had a business in their house-fix shoes, cut your hair, I could adjust your spine... when did this get so complicated? People didn't need to commute to work as work was in their house. Much more friendly if you have a family that's tagging along as you work! And better for the environment and your community.
Does our North American society think that it was wrong all those years to live where you work? Don't millions (?) of Europeans work near or out of their home space? I appear to have a new project on my hands-researching home work units in Calgary, or how one becomes a home work unit! I currently lease office space, but is that the best situation for blending a family and work? If I work at home, do I ever leave work? Or ever fully arrive ready to work? And I don't think that I have 3 years to find the answer or alternative to those questions.