Collective Shenanigan: a collaboration between Odin and his mama

I recently saw the most fantastic post from an artist mama who collaborated with her child. Odin and I have been drawing together in my sketchbook, because it's really the only time I'm able to get any drawing done. When he's napping or asleep at night I've been so preoccupied with drawing for work that if I don't invite him to help in my sketchbook, I don't get to draw for myself. I've decided to (inspired by that amazing post) to start a series of collaborations between Odin and I. Every few months, I'll post a little update of our work as long as he continues to want to help (and then after that, I guess I'll just post my own sketchbook updates). 

I love sitting him in my lap and pulling out a few markers and pens at a time and drawing away with whatever is available. He's quite the toddler, so often times I get halfway through my first line before he wants to draw with what I'm using. This makes it a challenge, but an interesting challenge at least. This also helps me to draw more freely. Much like the mandalas I love to make from found bits of nature, it teaches me about attachment. The values that Odin is learning from these collaborations are worth so much more than a perfect page.

Kozy Carrier Mei Tai

We were recently able to try out our very first mei tai. This one comes from Kozy carriers! It's actually very comfortable with my giant toddler and I will be writing a little review about it soon. For now, here are some photos from a recent walk. 

Check out Carry Me Away for a great selection of these lovely carriers!

picking asian pears!

I love the variety of foods we can forage on our little island. Many fruit trees, like these asian pears, are planted on properties in which the homeowners are gone for the season before the fruits are even ready.  These pears have been turned into cider and throughout the fall we'll continue to collect as trees fruit.

a day for firsts

First hot chocolate from the Bean and first big pile of Fall leaves. Evening trips into town in the Fall have always been my favorite. This hustle of Connecticut Preppies has come to a complete halt and the cobblestones are littered with crunchy leaves. The Bean has my favorite hot chocolate on island (they make their own whipped cream!) and while Z and I shared a coffee, we treated O to his very first "warm" chocolate. Half of it was fed to the ground but he seemed to enjoy the other half (more so after Z went inside to get him a straw).

The Lily Ponds are one of my favorite places in the world. I met Zak there for the very first time as he shared some malt liquor with me from inside a guitar case. I love coming to this spot and thinking about that day. It's funny to think that our beautiful boy is playing in the same spot that we met. Climbing trees, throwing sticks, rolling around in leaves, and all those other boy firsts. Years ago, I never would have imagined life like this.

evening shenanigans

Pretending we're a trio of grown men while the kittens begin to open their eyes.

toddlerhood. forever naked.

another attempt at oobleck // chickens // dancing

cranberry festival.

We braved adventuring to the Cranberry Festival right smack dab in the middle of naptime. He did really well, honestly! We went on a hay ride and as it grew windy and dark we had spent enough time checking everything out that we were able to head home and snuggle up in bed. Nantucket cranberries are so delicious, especially covered in chocolate. ;)

The Nantucket Cranberry Bogs are so lovely and I've walked through those fields more times than I can count, but this was my first time going to the festival. I think Odin really enjoyed it and I was so happy to see so many familiar faces (it's a small island and that happens no matter where we go, haha!).