Brandi Graves

Giving Thanks.

I was Oooooh so happy to get those skeletons and rotting pumpkin out of my house, oh. yes.  

Isn't that the way it goes, - lots of fun in planning, in winding - up.... but the day after?  I am over. it. ... And I know I can't be the only one.

Well, - then what?  Yes, of course,... Thanksgiving... One very important season of gratitude.  

Frankly, though, I'm not a 'Pilgrims and Indians' kind of gal, - and since we head out of town to my dear Auntie's every year, poor Thanksgiving has been nothing but a little stop-over, with a few left-over pumpkins piled up by my front door.

So I had this idea, this season, for a gratitude banner.  My boys love the Birthday/ Celebration ones I've made.... they seem to indicate something special on the horizon, - a little reason for anticipation, celebration, and warmth.  And they are SOOO simple ... just fabric scraps, a little bias tape... and NO pattern-reading needed - (ooh thank goodness.)

 Just one short evening, and ... 

... "Wha-la", - my little Thanksgiving banner - possibly not entirely straightforward in holiday specifics, but 'autumnal-esque' just might be all we need.  It did, however, lead to a little confusion this morning, as the boys noticed it immediately and started dancing around and asking whose party it was, and "WHERE DID YOU PUT THE CAKE????!!!?"

Aah, OK, - let's have a party... and cake? - Well, I say:  WHY NOT~!

(now if I could only get rid of those ridiculous white switch plates on my green wall - ohh, anyway.)

"Now, I shall be CALLED....... THE HUNTER."

 "... And you SHALL call MEEEEEEEEEEEEE, ...... Bob Dylan."  

Bob Dylan?

"The Hunter," sure.  This was the proclamation of Henry, my fully-invested one, upon donning his much-anticipated Robin Hood Costume.  "The Hunter."  OK, sure.

But,...... "Bob Dylan"?  To be sure, - announcing his new incarnation right on the heels of Henry's grandly enthusiastic declaration, my little Joe's choice of moniker seemed...... welllllll..... I'll just say it: PERFECT.  

You can't harness conviction, right?  ... And, maybe, sometimes... it's more about the fanfare, than anything else AT ALL.  Agreed?

Oh, How I Love. These. Boys.

A couple of months ago my wild ones saw the old Robin Hood cartoon movie... and they were hooked,... their little hearts resolutely purposed upon one clear goal:  Halloween Costumes. 

(Really, I mean, really... I don't think anyone can resist Roger Miller singing "Oo-De-Lally" - without getting hooked, - it's just TOO cute.)  

Since the declaration was made many weeks prior to the great dress-up event, we thought we'd have plenty of time to convince little Joe to take on the role of "Little John" (the great bear side-kick).... but, as you can imagine, - Joseph Dennis WOULD NOT be contained to such a minor role, - and insisted on being the equally-important title character: Robin Hood. 

So, - One evening, 5 yards of felt, a little bit of orange faux fur, a few feathers, and - "ta-daaa" - Robin Hood, and Little Robin Hood were born.  (I will, for now, gently dismiss the great-big-ol-can-o-morally-confusing-worms the story did present, however... we'll see to that one, another day.)

NOW, - the true spirit of the costumes could not be fully realized until my good little thieve's dear daddy completed the all-important, much-discussed, - bows and arrows. 

(Bravo, Danny - Bravo.)

 We barely got the quivers 'round their arms, - and they. were. off.

Living through Memories... El Dia de los Muertos.

Once Again we join together to celebrate the Day of the Dead in Petaluma, as do many others, in many other towns and villages... El Dia de los Muertos.

My alter has been installed in the front window of Summer Cottage Antiques, and is part of a collection of alters in the street - an inspiring show of community, and reflection. This year I dedicated my Ofrenda to my grandparents, Olin Ozzie and Leona Annie Graves. 

 

My grandfather, Olin, passed away before I was born, but my grandmother ("Grandma-Mom") lived just across our back field, - the same property that was once Olin and Leona's cattle ranch, - the "Diamond G"... this ranch's old street sign now hangs proudly on my own living room wall, one very precious gift from my Daddy.

Olin and Leona were my Dad's parents, and though I only knew Olin Ozzie through my family's stories... I can feel him in my own memories, - a testament to the strength of theirs.  I felt that a dedication to these two, this year, was so perfectly appropriate because of just this... and a true example of what I take to be the most beautiful element of the Day of the Dead... the legend of our three deaths...

... The first, when our body dies, when we cease to take another breath.  The second, when we are lowered into the ground.  And the third, when we no longer live in the memory of our ancestors.  

I am so very grateful to my Aunt, and to my Daddy, my Grandma-Mom too... for instilling such memories of this one man in me.  I hope only to do my part in passing this world of my dear ancestors on... to my own babies, and to theirs, and to theirs...

 

Sugar, Slime, and Bones... oh MY!

Can you guess what we're up to here???? - Yes, birthday time again, ... and for dear Henry, my oooh-so-big-5-year-old, - chocolate cupcakes with coconut frosting (gluten-free, vegan... of course).  Much to-do was made of the cupcake-making-event, and upon our first taste a round of cheers went out in celebration of our new Babycakes cookbook (we love! we love!).

Henry's dream birthday was a "science party" - an obvious choice for one who fashions himself a great, up-and-coming scientist (though really, I believe the title 'naturalist' is much better suited to my young - bone and bug-obsessed explorer of the world).  After much talk - about brains, and bones, and stars and things... - we settled on topping the tiny cakes with dinosaur gummies, chocolate rocks, and little candy bones - oh goodness.

And, then, .... what would a true science birthday party be without a few big tubs of SLIME??!!  SO easy, so easy.. just borax, water, food coloring and glue.  But OOOOh, what fun.  And THEN...

...Best. Gift. Ever.  Needless-to-say, I was SOOOO pleased with myself. A few weeks prior, I found this coyote skull at our little Petaluma Antique Fair, and kept it stowed away, anxiously awaiting the big day.  SO worth it.

Now, then... What to give the mini-scientist-assembly???  Magnifying glasses, of course.  "REAL" magnifying glasses, to be precise (thank you Mammy and Nancy). Henry made sure to announce their very genuine-quality to each friend while handing them out ("Life-Size" and "Water-Proof" are my boy's most coveted-toy-essentials, - so you can imagine how proud this five year old was, handing out these REAL LIFE magnifiers.

Oh, good days... and big boys.