It's been almost a year...

since my last post.

But Elsie Marley's new KCWC (kids clothes week challenge) has me bloggin' again!  Thanks Meg!

Here's the plan:

• Finish a shirt for Ahmad from an Oliver and S pattern
• snack bags for lunches
• a Lotta Jansdotter doorstop for the kids in my 8th grade so we don't have to use the emergency bucket!

If I have time, I will finish the quilts that I started this summer for the boys - the tops are done.  It's a big "if" since I havre grades due on Monday - but you never know!

The New Rhythm of the Home, and a Book Review

The new Rhythm of the Home issue is out, and full of inspiration and beauty.  One of the sections, "Winter Reading with Young Children", lists some favorite winter stories, including The Mitten, and The Tomten.  Reading the list reminded me of some of our favorite winter stories.

For the past three nights, both my third grader and my 4-year-old have been requesting that I read this book: 

This story about a young girl's quest to save her brother from the trolls is full of engaging description and illustrations.  My boys are fascinated by the hideous trolls and the magical red mare.  They especially like the part when the girl is crossing a bridge and a troll reaches his gnarled hand up to grab her.  The writing is easy enough for my little one to understand, but includes enough complex vocabulary to interest my third grader.  A beautiful winter book that I know we will read often.  It would make a beautiful gift, especially paired with a Dala horse.

Are Legos Fair Trade?

So after writing yesterday's post, my son reminded me that I had promised to buy him a new lego set this weekend.  I went into a panic, wondering if I would have to break my promise or my fair trade vow!  Happily, I just discovered that legos are fair trade (Whew!).  Here's a quotation from their website:

As the first in the toy industry to join Secretary General of the United Nations Kofi Annan's Global Compact initiative in 2003, the LEGO Group was taking a natural next step in the process of social commitment that is so deeply rooted in the company. Adoption of the Global Compact also reflected an urge to behave decently and to assume a share of the responsibility for helping to solve the major issues facing the world in such areas as human rights, labour standards, the environment and the fight against corruption.

Cool, right?  So then I checked out the Global Compact, and sure enough, there they were.  If you want to look for yourself, visit the United Nations Global Compact website and click on "participant search" under the "participants and stakeholders" button.  If you want to search for lego - the country of origin is Denmark.  

I am so happy to have made this discovery because -  I like to play with legos too!

A big decision

After much thought and after reading one too many articles about child labor, I have made a decision not to buy, eat, or wear anything that isn't either fair trade, organic, or both.  When I look at my own children and imagine that people their age are working in fields or at carpet looms, I can't stand it.  And when I consider that children their age might be harvesting cotton or making clothing for other children in industrialized nations, it is almost too much to bear.  So in addition to documenting nature hikes and craftiness, I will also journal about my decision to live what I believe - as a mother, as a Muslim, and as an American consumer, that it is my duty and obligation to think about the origins of the food and other products I consume, and to pray for the children who cannot go to school because they have to work.

Please see the following websites to learn more about where your food and clothing come from, and use your dollars to speak out against child labor!  

Fair Trade USA

Global Exchange

This moment

à la Soulemama