Family Contra Dance
Another Motherhouse event providing place, support, and time for mothers by promoting thriving families and vibrant communities.
Each Family Dance is taught and led by a “caller,” who explains how the dance flows and helps the dancers “walk through” the dance before the music starts. S/he continues “calling” instructions throughout the dance. Dancers of all ages and levels of ability are welcome to join in this everybody-wins team sport.
Dances run from 7:00 until 10:00 and are held at the Cornwall, CT Town Hall at 24 Pine Street. Music generously donated by Still, the Homegrown Band. Suggested donation to help pay the caller: $3/child and $5/adult. Call Jim or Jane Prentice 860-672-6101 for more info.
Callers scheduled for 2012 are…
January 7 – Bob Livingston July 7 – Eric Hollman
February 4 – Jeff Walker August 4 – David Kaynor
March 3 – Paul Rosenberg September 1 – Peter Stix
April 7 - Patricia Campbell October 6 – David Kaynor
May 5 – Bill Fischer November 3 – Paul Rosenberg
June 2 – Anne Banks December 1 – Fern Bradley
OSLSS Wool Gathering
Area “spin-sters” demonstrate carding, spinning, knitting, weaving and felting with natural wool. Meet a sheep. Make your own knitting needles and try your hand at these soothing traditional arts.
OSLSS The Care and Feeding of Saw Horses
Thanks to a recently awarded Arts Presentation Grant from the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism, Motherhouse had Joe Brien, Lost Arts Workshops, lead a day long workshop on building saw horses. Seventeen people attended and nine pairs of sawhorses were built. Each building team had their own set of hand tools, materials, and a workbench.
OSLSS What’s In a Pickle
Join us as we explore the marvels of using lacto-bacillus to preserve food, improve health and make delicious pickles, sauerkraut, and drinks.
All our Old Style Life Skills Series workshops take place in or near Cornwall, CT, run from 10:30 to 1:30 and include a pot-luck lunch. For more information, click on OSLSS in the Pages menu box below.
Summer We’d Walk
Join outdoor enthusiast, Joseph Jude Brien for a leisurely walk around Local Farm to learn about a unique use for common “weeds” – fiber production. Learn how to identify, harvest and process plants which have been traditionally used to make cordage, rope and woven fabric. Participants will hand-process bast fiber from a dried plant stalk and make a cordage sample to take home. (Pictured to the right: Dogbane Cordage) Bring a dish to share for a potluck lunch.
Mother Daughter Retreat
Mother-Daughter Retreats are an opportunity for mothers to spend a relaxing day of (somewhat) quiet activities with their children. On March 20 we will be gathering to card and spin wool and welcome in the Spring Equinox. We ask for a $35 materials fee per pair, but welcome whatever you can contribute. Ingredients for a cooperative lunch are provided. Please contact Debra by email to register or call Rachel 860-824-8404.
learning to spin
New Moon Gathering
Inspired by the book The Red Tent and ancient Jewish tradition, Motherhouse friend, Rachel Gall leads a monthly gathering for women of all ages on the eve of the new moon. Now meeting under a growing canopy of sewn-together red fabric scraps, women celebrate their fertility cycles and all creative endeavors with an unstructured evening of food, music, dance, story-telling, or just hanging out. These informal women’s get-togethers are an opportunity to celebrate Life’s cycles and femininity. All women, all ages, and their dependents (you can define “dependent”) are welcome from 10:30 through noon of the new moon. Call Rachel for details at 860 824-8404. Visit our New Moon web log for info on the last gathering and the upcoming moon at noonnewmoon.blogspot.com
Debra crashes after a great meal
August 07
OSLSS Serious Dough
Cheer up seasonal grumps with the smell of fresh bread. Grind wheat, mix and knead dough, form and bake your own loaf of bread. Sample a variety of home-made breads and discuss the use of different ingredients.
All our Old Style Life Skills Series workshops take place in or near Cornwall, CT, run from 10:30 to 1:30 and include a pot-luck lunch. For more information, click on OSLSS in the Pages menu box below.