tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-44478951138122061302024-02-18T18:49:37.982-08:00Tiptoe Through the Woodsamyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192142449867021654noreply@blogger.comBlogger69125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4447895113812206130.post-58736862335414565322010-11-07T22:01:00.000-08:002013-03-09T18:18:02.257-08:00Still breathingAlive and well :)<br /><br />I've taken the summer off to be present in the moment.<br />Here I am, refreshed and hopeful for a new year.<br /><br />I understand this one is not yet over, but oh what a horrid year and I'm ready to proclaim it's end.<br /><br />All is well on the home front.<br /><br />I'm letting go of many material possessions and I've come to understand my own way of thinking.<br /><br />It has been a rough year with change, loss, pain, yet also one of healing, growth, and understanding.<br />I've come to the conclusion that I'm been fighting a losing battle with an image. I've been trying all of these years to "find" myself. Who am I aside from mom?<br /><br />I must say it was very much a classic "lightbulb" moment when I realized that I needn't be anything other than who I am.<br />This very moment... I'm mom. I'm pretty good at it too.<br /><br /><br /><br />Now bring on the rain!!!!amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192142449867021654noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4447895113812206130.post-58701527612586253792010-07-31T19:45:00.000-07:002010-07-31T20:12:44.482-07:00<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dydGnpuCpvKg9_MuXmiNJmTRaTsmhWTMUSZhJzRy14oUKri2QKUmykOec65INdFs9kO4dQgZm2KTmnGG4-WzQ' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br /><br /><br />We enjoyed a peaceful weekend on the Oregon coast.<br />Our days have been spent working in our garden, swimming in the river, or lounging outdoors under the sunshine. what an amazing summer thus far.<br />Living in the Pacific Northwest....we know it will be over too soon.<br />We're soaking it up while we can.amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192142449867021654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4447895113812206130.post-57391830485294087572010-06-30T14:32:00.000-07:002010-06-30T14:38:23.334-07:00today<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/BWVnZAJaq4Q&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&hd=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/BWVnZAJaq4Q&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br />The sun is shining and I'm thankful for the love I have been given and the love I am able to give :)<br />Missing an old friend today. He and I shared a love of jack johnson. His little girl and I....we will never forget what a wise man he was and what he taught us.<br />He always told me not to worry about the little things....not to argue over which bread to buy and such....well these days I make all our own so no conflict there.... :p<br /><br />Living for today...in the momentamyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192142449867021654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4447895113812206130.post-2874643434167281842010-06-29T22:59:00.000-07:002010-06-30T01:09:05.336-07:00Mindfulness<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0pQ8TqdFKSt-FBVTwaHC9aCaAncrpNzW3RWcQsTOr2ozuvb5cKFmM_9sXKH0f0nClw9ruQXWCPc6QTUBkdT5CmPJEHlLeslkcjlOXFTPhCQm6fkTe3G3BI7Hs2BCflslFmhojKTYpYpE8/s1600/josie+and+the+goats+(1+of+1).jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0pQ8TqdFKSt-FBVTwaHC9aCaAncrpNzW3RWcQsTOr2ozuvb5cKFmM_9sXKH0f0nClw9ruQXWCPc6QTUBkdT5CmPJEHlLeslkcjlOXFTPhCQm6fkTe3G3BI7Hs2BCflslFmhojKTYpYpE8/s320/josie+and+the+goats+(1+of+1).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488468047825464354" /></a><br /><br /><br /><object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/0qX7ZsxD3Ik&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&hd=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/0qX7ZsxD3Ik&hl=en_US&fs=1&rel=0&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6&hd=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object><br /><br /><br />Where have I been? :)<br />As you might know the rain finally let up and it has been sunshiny all the day long.<br />We have been spending our days in the garden, grass or lazily swinging in the warmth.<br />The days have been noisy and busy, but I can't complain. <br />My truck has even been in the shop for days(far too many if you ask my pocket book) and I've barely noticed.<br />Soccer camp took up much of last week, but this week has been slow living.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Buddhism-Mothers-Young-Children-Napthali/dp/B001JYQI98/ref=sr_1_10?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277878510&sr=8-10">This</a> book has really changed my way of thinking. I've been reading it for a month on and off and now I can't get enough. The author is Sarah Napthali. I have <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Buddhism-Mothers-Approach-Yourself-Children/dp/1741140102/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277878641&sr=8-1">other</a> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Buddhism-Mothers-Schoolchildren-Finding-School/dp/1741756979/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277878641&sr=8-3">books</a> of hers as well.<br /><br />Here is a small bit that really touched my heart. <br /><br />"For mothers, desires abound. We desire that our children be happy, smart, popular, and beautiful. We want our partners to appreciate us, to do their share around the house and to live up to our expectations as fathers. We want our lives to be sometimes stimulating, sometimes relaxing. At times we want friends to clamor around us and at other times to leave us alone.<br /><br />The flipside of attachment is aversion, a strong desire for our lives to be other than they are. Our aversions, too, can be numerous. We often find ourselves wishing the present moment to be other than it is. We resent the tantrums, the whining, the nagging. We begrudge our partners working long hours away from home. We rail against the insensitivity of our friends or relations.<br /><br />From our own experience we know that when these desires and aversions become too intense, they undermine our ability to be calm and content. Although we know on a rational level that perfection cannot exist and that we will never satisfy all these desires, we continue to behave as though it is possible."<br /><br />These desires are not sins. They are perfectly natural, but we are challenged to study these desires. What happens when we satisfy them? Do we live happily ever after? What happens when we don't satisfy our desires? How do desires make us feel? Are we ever free of them in any moment and how might this feel?<br /><br />The answers to such questions are clear to us all, yet we continue to live as though happiness is a simple matter of fulfilling our current desires.<br />Once the mind understands how clinging leads to suffering and unease, it will naturally avoid it.<br /><br />"Wanting to grasp the ungraspable,<br />You exhaust yourself in vain"<br /><br />"Finding happiness is not about attaining what you believe you want and ridding your life of annoyances. Rather, it is about fostering enough inner peace that external conditions no longer matter.<br /><br />The author made me think. I literally stopped my thought process(which tends to be monkey mind) and considered what she was saying. When I began to question if this meant I shouldn't have hopes and dreams I realized that I was overthinking :)<br />One of my favorite things about this book is how deeply I identify with much of what she is saying as a mother. We are all so much more alike than we realize and struggling with similar situations.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaP7opTjLJu-2hbApYlf9bKcI9ODq4QkIFZLAlj61xWZGiaRxxKjyshFQFqse13s8ySDLyD_FpEW2NtKGEfpi51PVrCsCiSq808PJGvioaxHla-HOMidiz9EV-w1t6frHTQt90OetWg8tt/s1600/soccer+camp+(1+of+1).jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaP7opTjLJu-2hbApYlf9bKcI9ODq4QkIFZLAlj61xWZGiaRxxKjyshFQFqse13s8ySDLyD_FpEW2NtKGEfpi51PVrCsCiSq808PJGvioaxHla-HOMidiz9EV-w1t6frHTQt90OetWg8tt/s320/soccer+camp+(1+of+1).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488470062143353634" /></a><br /><br />With the kiddos home it seems the house is in an uproar. I found myself short on patience and hubby was feeling the same....and lets not tell him but he was frustrating me with his lack of patience with the kids.<br /><br />I joined in the <a href="http://www.threadinglight.com/2010/06/mindful-mothering-workshopsign-up.html">Mindful Mothering</a> workshop over at <a href="http://www.threadinglight.com/">Threading Light</a>.<br />The messages were truly inspiring and often left me in tears, not tears of sadness...but something more, some sort of understanding and relief.<br /><br />My daughter describes me as somewhat gentle and soft. When speaking of another woman the other day she said "so much like you..only more rough"<br />I have always struggled with kindness. It seems too difficult to be anything but. At times this has gotten me nowhere and often my children have questioned why I did not return anger or act as others sometimes do toward me.<br />I don't know why I am this way, but I do love me as I am.<br />This helped when participating in the workshop. I was able to stop and think more clearly...to see my children in the light I have always longed to. I learned ways to turn a potentially unhealthy situation into one of understanding and compromise, a situation where we all win and all feel loved.<br /><br />I've also learned to stop and breathe. Now I mean this literally.<br />I've said it a million times and even had plans to have breathe tattooed on my wrist..but I literally stopped and closed my eyes and took a deep cleansing breath, placing myself in the moment of here and now, continuing to breathe until I felt calm and clear minded. Wow. What a shock when it worked. :) I'm sometimes(too often) a glass half empty kind of girl.<br />I'm still working on using positive statements and if you were walking by our home you might just(for sure would) hear me yelling at one child or another to do this or that or to stop doing this or that....but I am getting there with <br />turning a statement that goes like "Why didn't you bring your laundry down like I asked you 6539820 times...?" into "If you bring your laundry down we can get to the turtle pond that much quicker and might even have time to stop for a smoothie on the way" :)<br /><br />SO that's where I have been. A bit inside of myself these last days and happily so.<br />I read a fabulous gardening <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Growing-Vegetables-West-Cascades-Gardening/dp/1570615349/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1277882319&sr=8-1-spell">book</a> by Steve Solomon and in it he said something that really tickled me and made me say to myself "hey that's how I feel"<br />It was something like this...<br />"I like my own company better than most other people's; usually I'd rather meet the authors of fiction through reading their novels than visit with the neighbors or friends. I don't enjoy tricky games, subtle dishonesty, office politics, or using people as though they were production units."<br /><br />~don't quite agree with the neighbors and friends part, but the rest is right on.<br /><br />Aside from all this overthinking and house craziness I have been baking up a storm....and taking long walks.....<br /><br />We are indeed blessed.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMXfG4Fmg6L4XxdW3-kQtE0GCpLMObUycyhl-M_PwVpaf1CmtLTW1twABkUnOY3Sq2e0Uz8FfaOjtzyVc_HCRHsbMRB1txv8-gRIJ-QPh9y0sPct5X9Hu7AnrEJ3NLORvCnLxKPzYZvD-I/s1600/you+can%27t+see+me+(1+of+1).jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMXfG4Fmg6L4XxdW3-kQtE0GCpLMObUycyhl-M_PwVpaf1CmtLTW1twABkUnOY3Sq2e0Uz8FfaOjtzyVc_HCRHsbMRB1txv8-gRIJ-QPh9y0sPct5X9Hu7AnrEJ3NLORvCnLxKPzYZvD-I/s320/you+can%27t+see+me+(1+of+1).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488468091443658306" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgum-YRkG7ukdML-AsEWMtG6Gy5sTq94Qv37IkzA0TOAteFnLrlphRLH5t1cwVJzf1R2fzuPC_vmtIrptM1staK9SuJIc5Uc50o1WvJF3s_ZcU_sMLA6yTaUZLDZZjnJRsgM-_XhpQ0sjqt/s1600/chance+and+a+goat+(1+of+1).jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; 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cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifryAdUU-kb6Ck3Z6Jw2T3wI-Xb7gD7pbAIa8VPe8jE_83HYXEI8GVpYFNQ-qdXGtRsxZTgnHYoRZbLQ-4_ttUk67oYJH8yrmHKPge5_TCKRnmbjXVTERecj-gXABkDWb_EIBsd3tOKg-P/s320/strawberries+(1+of+1).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488470101796424850" /></a> <br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXfvr3p5v0K-fzhfGGPriFQugfB1FSBHtPtX-5n_gPoPv4vHDrBRJCsK1gZAjls97zYpq08CUgREAf_GHc24FqC3OiRTynTBgAlRKrYjr3ORupYiYV_1gtSagDn38yCOVcFmvHYObxn3k/s1600/doll+quilt+(1+of+1).jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirXfvr3p5v0K-fzhfGGPriFQugfB1FSBHtPtX-5n_gPoPv4vHDrBRJCsK1gZAjls97zYpq08CUgREAf_GHc24FqC3OiRTynTBgAlRKrYjr3ORupYiYV_1gtSagDn38yCOVcFmvHYObxn3k/s320/doll+quilt+(1+of+1).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488470094687652290" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_6rxzCAalTjpnQFh7Qq-HkUo__bfRjkEEdIYcdCOcXq6mqr0h9kTof98Kh5ONSr_d43Xac_bEeGi1ee2mSdvjdaTbYevDJGfeLR1iXZdnylCO7GZ4amcZ-33oPadTIguRtSoKwgfmaiza/s1600/panning+for+gold+-)+(1+of+1).jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; 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cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYAC0k5ON74nUcWBbz4SLz-XdvtDHGN8XbsQgYksBzzO4m5C7ND3VxsQByRO817ygY1pgMRbE9iuIIHQ6MiTzvNygKjfr4eql2iYHdKMv08S4jq7Z9sOwUbBx4qB0QJYFXNXDrxnJ7Rgy1/s320/sun+burn+(1+of+1).jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5488470959398439266" /></a>amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192142449867021654noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4447895113812206130.post-61239791818483372732010-06-11T16:36:00.000-07:002010-06-11T16:39:55.345-07:00{This Moment}{this moment} A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savour and remember.<br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyh19f8aKsZ29pNFyK0WuACAN6xmH8E7zCLGKurVpMNWPaRh7ir9iSgupfY10R_dGOx7krZphj-BcgSePzhG3fjUDoqM9m_29MpHGfagwiUzE9O_NgeuEHu6zmzGGcRXEv4lrgv0UjWkjk/s1600/boys2.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyh19f8aKsZ29pNFyK0WuACAN6xmH8E7zCLGKurVpMNWPaRh7ir9iSgupfY10R_dGOx7krZphj-BcgSePzhG3fjUDoqM9m_29MpHGfagwiUzE9O_NgeuEHu6zmzGGcRXEv4lrgv0UjWkjk/s320/boys2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5481664749271200770" /></a>amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192142449867021654noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4447895113812206130.post-3282405900789342972010-06-07T21:47:00.000-07:002010-06-07T21:58:15.837-07:00A summer day, finallyβTo sit in the shade on a fine day and look upon verdure is the most perfect refreshment.β<br /><br /> ~Jane Austen<br /><br />Tonight I'm dirty, sunburned, exhausted and so thankful to be so.amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192142449867021654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4447895113812206130.post-44180417050423006422010-06-07T01:44:00.000-07:002010-06-07T02:56:14.819-07:00Summer must be here somewhereOur evening was spent together....the girl and I. <br /> She sat beside me and together we pushed beans and peas into the moist earth. This is our second planting....little sprouts of the same already poking their heads through...saying hello and reaching toward the warm sunshine. <br /><br />We fed night crawlers to the girls and stood in awe with our necks bent and faces toward the sky as we watched our friendly neighborhood bat twist, dive and swoop as it fed on flying buzzing insects. We spoke of the misunderstood reputation and overlooked beauty of the bat. Graceful as can be.<br /><br />On the swing with my arm around her shoulder and my cheek on her hair...I inhaled and captured that moment forever in this mommy's mind. The scent of her, the innocence, her willingness to sit with me and listen as well as speak, inquire....not thinking she already knows it all, so curious and optimistic.<br /><br /><br />With these little ones I still hold out hope...but the teens....my teens...I feel I've lost them. Little adults.<br /><br />but before this,<br /><br />Rain. That's what I have seen, heard, felt, heard about, spoken of, and grumbled toward for months...what seems like years. Again and again I ask the sky..."isn't that enough? I think we are safe from drought this year." Then I realize I'm being somewhat ignorant and tell myself to appreciate what is. The same as I tell my children about others...accept them for who they are or move on.<br /><br />The past several months have been garden related in one way or another. Catalog browsing, garden planning/drawing, soil preparation, seedlings,trips to <a href="http://www.territorialseed.com/">territorial</a> with my bestest friend/sister lady. (shh don't tell, but I go to territorial about twice a week, we're tight)<br /><br />I planted a ridiculous amount of seeds. I said I wasn't going to again this year, but I did. It's an illness, lol.<br />Would you believe I planted over 30 tomatoes :( <br />cherokee purple, japanese trifele(my fave), chocolate cherry(yum), yellow pear, pineapple, black prince, black cherry, sweetie cherry, mortgage lifter, golden treasure, black, new hampshire, sun gold, and probably more that I can't recall right this moment.<br /><br /> Over the last week I have been finishing everything up, putting the last plants(seedlings are growing up and leaving the nest) in the ground. Then disaster struck. A tree fell from the neighbors property. Luckily no one was hurt. It was a mere five feet from my chicken coop, with the girls(hens) inside. There are two trees grown together. It covers half of my 60x40 ft garden, the rest of the tree remains on his property. It sits there still...after nearly a week. I won't even get into why, but will say that we would take responsibility were it our tree on someone elses garden, a garden that feeds five children no less.<br />There seems to be a squirrel who is somewhat confused. He comes out from under the tree and comes almost right up to us. He accepts treats. I warn the kids not to touch...just in case.<br /><br /><br /><br />I've built three trellises. Two with jute for the peas and one with fencing panels for the beans. Both climbing and bush varieties of peas and beans are already sprouting. Thank you endless rain.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIPCUg4dzucACjSmo9QuvvEp_cVI583zVhtbgcvofUMOPI_IqK3kSs_UMiItobYBHnE2K4YVmEvR3UTBaLWeuJW01IllVrZbDKSoW-_Jak8ThdLaBpIbCxIv6K9Rp8Wn3X5Elyty9U1av1/s1600/jute.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIPCUg4dzucACjSmo9QuvvEp_cVI583zVhtbgcvofUMOPI_IqK3kSs_UMiItobYBHnE2K4YVmEvR3UTBaLWeuJW01IllVrZbDKSoW-_Jak8ThdLaBpIbCxIv6K9Rp8Wn3X5Elyty9U1av1/s320/jute.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479964009700629298" /></a><br /><br /><br />I've been out of sorts lately. Feeling a bit toxic and thinking about my options.<br />Needing to get back into a routine with my herbal infusions and eating healthy.<br />I find myself with an addiction to sweet coffee drinks. Who would have thought.<br />There was a time when I didn't touch such things, no candy or sweets, no soda...etc...but lately I seem to be controlled by such nonsense. I haven't had a soda in about four years(I think), and won't, but the coffee...it has it's claws in me. Anyhow......lol.<br /><br />This overwhelming urge to sew has been pestering me....but all sewing machines and fabrics are still packed, untouched for months.<br />Some lovely items have found their way into my home from the thrift lately.<br />I have this terrible weakness for vintage wood dining chairs. If you saw my garage you might faint....that or roll your eyes way back...maybe call an intervention :)<br />You see I have plans for them all....colors...chair pads sewn by me..where they will be placed....some in the yard under trees in the grass with tables covered in linens...with snacks and tall glasses of iced tea filled with borage ice cubes...<br /><br />The slugs will be drinking in style from the sweet little china bowls I picked up from goodwill. My kiddos are appalled that I am actually going to <span style="font-weight:bold;">buy beer</span>!! <span style="font-weight:bold;">from the store</span>!! where people can see me and everything, ha! ha!<br /><br />We would really love to see something like <a href="http://redporchdinnerclub.blogspot.com/">this</a> around here.<br />oops it's 2 am. this also explains the dark circles under my eyes. can't sleep.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU6wyAEDQnE6CFI6F_vc4d0ff3C57BgHjEwqPhyphenhyphenmehaa-V4zN8Pj7lVWNPWq6n0DCREONWskypm6coJ20jhAP_viBiV6iNSQ3YeFNra1YqmSe0cWHR_BeebJfW_yoJSq0ISCAXemo180sx/s1600/lr.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU6wyAEDQnE6CFI6F_vc4d0ff3C57BgHjEwqPhyphenhyphenmehaa-V4zN8Pj7lVWNPWq6n0DCREONWskypm6coJ20jhAP_viBiV6iNSQ3YeFNra1YqmSe0cWHR_BeebJfW_yoJSq0ISCAXemo180sx/s320/lr.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479961429673321394" /></a><br />also addicted to photoshop and lightroom editing. Still trying to figure it all out.<br /><br />"About the house" update....we withdrew our offer. The seller was dishonest about the removal of the asbestos. It tested positive and in the end we found out it was never removed at all. We started to feel a bit ill about the whole situation and thought it was not meant to be. I only hope that the other family trying to purchase it knows the truth.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhezICkQe2yOAXl1-2koLDyryPouA-GPmrCv3oIv26dkio1NycoiZ_cqy9LgAjPRpAadbHwQInFy37ZD6cK8Ossmsn-CsbcwlOHEh_eysnDyVCuX9N9aYQWf8vI_v2q08Slr5oqh0ulJvQs/s1600/doll+papoose.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhezICkQe2yOAXl1-2koLDyryPouA-GPmrCv3oIv26dkio1NycoiZ_cqy9LgAjPRpAadbHwQInFy37ZD6cK8Ossmsn-CsbcwlOHEh_eysnDyVCuX9N9aYQWf8vI_v2q08Slr5oqh0ulJvQs/s320/doll+papoose.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479964026409139682" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFEgrB0LjrPBqv0K0w3Osp_RWfvs24MP1saYmuG_D5rPHAQEhHGwcaH_zp9kU2_e-QiVF24R-ePdmBKmn3EHBACsFGkbE2Sqv4idKW6BvsyfQNGzG7MfeQVK8rlcBDAb95E-TmjSl4DKlw/s1600/chives.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFEgrB0LjrPBqv0K0w3Osp_RWfvs24MP1saYmuG_D5rPHAQEhHGwcaH_zp9kU2_e-QiVF24R-ePdmBKmn3EHBACsFGkbE2Sqv4idKW6BvsyfQNGzG7MfeQVK8rlcBDAb95E-TmjSl4DKlw/s320/chives.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5479964018675436098" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br />to be continued~ and soon I'm going to share our favorite recipes for sweet whole wheat bread and iced basil lemonade :)amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192142449867021654noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4447895113812206130.post-48202675223877642652010-05-07T15:19:00.001-07:002010-05-07T16:00:03.970-07:00Seeing greenIsn't it funny when you figure out at 35 that you have just become a grown up?<br />I'm loving the older more understanding and accepting me and my family and the saturation of the colors outside and thoughts that are all new to me.<br />I didn't know that you never stop being amazed by what you thought you always knew, but learn more about as you get older......and when it hits that you are still learning....am I making sense? Probably not, but I am so thrilled to be alive and at this stage in my life.<br /><br />We have been spending all our time outside. I'm seeing green......and pink <br />(those bubblegum dogwoods take my breath away), and white, and purple, and blue, and yellow and orange.......<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE5m6NhF22E_hk7ghTV83Qd3A56VKueCYJOe77k3JhDYP4JHGEyVp5lqynpxi_JNAJpY7usGWkq60sUCKM3biu10qMo4kHh1HtPqe-LofA50HXz0heKbuqiLDWzCO8Tb4W1XYcPs3U6fPg/s1600/me.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 213px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjE5m6NhF22E_hk7ghTV83Qd3A56VKueCYJOe77k3JhDYP4JHGEyVp5lqynpxi_JNAJpY7usGWkq60sUCKM3biu10qMo4kHh1HtPqe-LofA50HXz0heKbuqiLDWzCO8Tb4W1XYcPs3U6fPg/s320/me.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468657945486355154"></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiobrNKeOSGL-iwk6pBNyjNOobql8QrALJogsjjWeaHhbQxLIOZLJS43L0i6q3QRf1Q6IOdtzmZQv8TPInQKy75eC670ihpxlLAR8aYwj3mQozg9kNAdwF9rmtBY1yORfOxQy9aK0hz-QD-/s1600/nomiwoods.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 287px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiobrNKeOSGL-iwk6pBNyjNOobql8QrALJogsjjWeaHhbQxLIOZLJS43L0i6q3QRf1Q6IOdtzmZQv8TPInQKy75eC670ihpxlLAR8aYwj3mQozg9kNAdwF9rmtBY1yORfOxQy9aK0hz-QD-/s320/nomiwoods.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468657931542790226"></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzTtzoH4x-JlriUoH6NYB2hXOavIC57KZmLtEm_JKE_n00enuIKUbOZyMNN5sk94MndzfiULqVeOocLS6JX_eWR2iLM6vlkoso0hrjIq2s2wahdRXkUV0pB7imPkrJKr06Lc5r_-NUB-t/s1600/heartrock1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibzTtzoH4x-JlriUoH6NYB2hXOavIC57KZmLtEm_JKE_n00enuIKUbOZyMNN5sk94MndzfiULqVeOocLS6JX_eWR2iLM6vlkoso0hrjIq2s2wahdRXkUV0pB7imPkrJKr06Lc5r_-NUB-t/s320/heartrock1.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468657920666927442"></a><br /><br />Oatstraw infusion. I don't like it so much. I do drink my nettles 24-7<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3yRfQcUwk9ETwKJptJPbXXFT8vUW3Og18bd3fV-X6c6aiSJp_gWFED4_aF5szZ5wdcSS7egSlYJ14gHIfUe34sCUT02ov6LAOirEnwCGYyzycPIvXU_-luRtLOqKq7MzLi1gL792cqMEL/s1600/January2010+040.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3yRfQcUwk9ETwKJptJPbXXFT8vUW3Og18bd3fV-X6c6aiSJp_gWFED4_aF5szZ5wdcSS7egSlYJ14gHIfUe34sCUT02ov6LAOirEnwCGYyzycPIvXU_-luRtLOqKq7MzLi1gL792cqMEL/s320/January2010+040.JPG" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468658580435761250"></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbOSZq2MA7XgGgfkhQoMnobrPruG0iKat19FTbj_UbhlARHVHeO0lB7a9nYivGrTBQ0d-e69ZFyEZIl7LjOct7rwxeMXD2FF2-qzFNgwJ2xruv7-Lot60gCVdcfW8Q2gyf6U46AQIXavRX/s1600/lexilake.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 262px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbOSZq2MA7XgGgfkhQoMnobrPruG0iKat19FTbj_UbhlARHVHeO0lB7a9nYivGrTBQ0d-e69ZFyEZIl7LjOct7rwxeMXD2FF2-qzFNgwJ2xruv7-Lot60gCVdcfW8Q2gyf6U46AQIXavRX/s320/lexilake.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468658570972437554"></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUgheuQLuCF6xyyjVOSt7Kftpqp4LRI-SZqNTKCb0qbhR_A6-LR6Wqji4Qp7O-EOMveTyh3NcGgj1c4vN8pCp536YbbXUGmyXRt1D6vRN6cCbLD6JP4KhtZ6wNYpEssYW01nowCXD61Me/s1600/mailboxes.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjUgheuQLuCF6xyyjVOSt7Kftpqp4LRI-SZqNTKCb0qbhR_A6-LR6Wqji4Qp7O-EOMveTyh3NcGgj1c4vN8pCp536YbbXUGmyXRt1D6vRN6cCbLD6JP4KhtZ6wNYpEssYW01nowCXD61Me/s320/mailboxes.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468662053024173938"></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-KqCgPu_zOEDVXW_PF-BKE7iA7uMNzRAoSO34DxLfBAtvrt3XCtDeciVGOC53S-lQRH1CY2_P6_vZBjSAdtHOG99H1cBtPJOv8P3tTd-3VBbzJmnpMnUnvUkUQECX-Wz4gPe4Ny_wbY39/s1600/josie2010.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 218px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-KqCgPu_zOEDVXW_PF-BKE7iA7uMNzRAoSO34DxLfBAtvrt3XCtDeciVGOC53S-lQRH1CY2_P6_vZBjSAdtHOG99H1cBtPJOv8P3tTd-3VBbzJmnpMnUnvUkUQECX-Wz4gPe4Ny_wbY39/s320/josie2010.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468662037826549586"></a><br /><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7FteAvXdHdv1vmGi1wBkt28SXBrOyU7ZN3kWPT4ZGvQvCJ2GzbCTsbpGVTfTAt_nl9AbLf7NZAwh3kiI6Yb_IHZO2v6o65HfSlmPdWi9svxaBHD5Cji1D3aT1Wrij0NShuiTzhq-EUrY/s1600/derr+pillow.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7FteAvXdHdv1vmGi1wBkt28SXBrOyU7ZN3kWPT4ZGvQvCJ2GzbCTsbpGVTfTAt_nl9AbLf7NZAwh3kiI6Yb_IHZO2v6o65HfSlmPdWi9svxaBHD5Cji1D3aT1Wrij0NShuiTzhq-EUrY/s320/derr+pillow.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5468662034257590034"></a>amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192142449867021654noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4447895113812206130.post-43409710928019533162010-04-03T23:20:00.001-07:002010-04-03T23:20:42.295-07:00MessengerMy work is loving the world.<br />Here the sunflowers, there the hummingbird β<br />equal seekers of sweetness.<br />Here the quickening yeast; there the blue plums.<br />Here the clam deep in the speckled sand.<br /> <br />Are my boots old? Is my coat torn?<br />Am I no longer young, and still not half-perfect? Let me<br />keep my mind on what matters,<br />which is my work,<br /> <br />which is mostly standing still and learning to be<br />astonished.<br />The phoebe, the delphinium.<br />The sheep in the pasture, and the pasture.<br />Which is mostly rejoicing, since all ingredients are here,<br /> <br />which is gratitude, to be given a mind and a heart<br />and these body-clothes,<br />a mouth with which to give shouts of joy<br />to the moth and the wren, to the sleepy dug-up clam,<br />telling them all, over and over, how it is<br />that we live forever.<br /> <br />~Mary Oliver~amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192142449867021654noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4447895113812206130.post-78264767421309272342010-04-02T23:52:00.001-07:002010-04-03T00:55:35.209-07:00dream homes<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7N3zA-EGsc5PVD6upEn7xC5lR_sAAUqXF93AQffwfalRPATojF7BOhtME4c-0EIdRQQ-yQrtGSZNykdHws1rtK7W1VXrLBvMLWJ5v-cgprQqIyVUGe0_2Y_YOVnZZErJ3n5LN-GQxZXu-/s1600/coop.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 240px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7N3zA-EGsc5PVD6upEn7xC5lR_sAAUqXF93AQffwfalRPATojF7BOhtME4c-0EIdRQQ-yQrtGSZNykdHws1rtK7W1VXrLBvMLWJ5v-cgprQqIyVUGe0_2Y_YOVnZZErJ3n5LN-GQxZXu-/s320/coop.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5455800759842308178" /></a><br /><br /><br />I will get better photos when the sun is shining and my girls aren't hiding inside.<br />It's been nearly two weeks. They've stopped laying.<br />I shall be patient. They were free range and had a coop of mansion proportions.<br />Now I must remember to move them around as much as possible so they have variety in bugs and greens. This was supposed to be a chicken tractor.<br />If it were about 250 lbs less I would call it such. Heheh.<br />We've had rain, rain and more rain. Oh and I don't let me forget to mention the rain.<br />At this rate, my veggies had better be 50 feet tall :)<br /><br /><br />My seedlings are growing like weeds (which some are haha)<br />If only I could unearth my sewing machines from the mountain of bins that came from my sewing room. No sewing room here, just a laundry room with a table.<br />I don't mind.<br /><br />Here's a secret. The home we loved and wanted so badly.... It just came back on the market. "A personal issue" we were told as it's only been sold for a few months.<br />We toured it again with an agent and I helplessly find myself more in love with it than I was before. <br /><br />It's walls were stripped down to the original paper and floors. Some floors were removed and many "upgrades" were torn out.<br />I believe the new owner had the same visions as I.<br />He removed all the same things I would have.<br />On the back door is an <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/chelseastirlen/200389254/">old bell</a>.<br />Were it possible to fall in love with a home for the door ringer alone, I would surely have done so. This home as it did before, calls out to me.<br />It caresses my fingertips as I run my hand across the wall, cushions my feet as I gently tiptoe across the timeworn hardwood floors, whispers my name in a "whoosh" as I open yet another door.<br /><br /> As I stand and gaze from the window I feel as if I'd been there before, looking out the window in another time. The flow seems familiar as though I'd roamed the halls a hundred times before in the near darkness of dusk.<br /><br />I seem to recall the light of dawn in the sunroom and I swear I can smell grass moist with dew.<br /><br />Stepping down into the basement, in my minds eye I see rows of canned goods, shelves of vegetables and fruits, baskets hanging on the walls, tools, old furniture and oddly a wedding dress tattered and torn, tossed over an old chair as if it were held and examined again and again.<br />Focusing now on the chair, into my view comes a shapely arm and two curvy legs, a worn seat with tufts of horsehair falling from the side, a spring having worked it's way through the faded fabric, dusty pink, perhaps brilliant red at one time.<br /><br />I hear children laughing and realize they are my own. They've found joy in the stairs. The stairs come down into the parlour as well as near the kitchen. You have a choice of where you want to end up. The house is three stories, four if you want to count the basement. There are nooks, crannies and built ins, hiding places in every room. It seems enchanted.<br /><br />The living room is enormous with a fireplace and original carved mantel.<br />Our master bedroom above mirrors the living room.<br />There is a small butler pantry in the dining room and a small office near the study/library.<br /><br />I won't continue to bore you with the details, unless of course by some miracle we are blessed with the home. Then you may here endless stories of house love.<br />It's a good day.amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192142449867021654noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4447895113812206130.post-40615626106512156482010-03-07T17:45:00.000-08:002010-11-07T21:59:48.203-08:00Hello Spring...love of my lifeIs it spring yet? Perhaps not, but the trees and flowers tell me it is.<br />I'm with them. I use to say that fall was my favorite season. Well since moving to the Pacific Northwest...I take it back. Winters here are dreadful. Anything leading up to winter just reminds me of winter, LOL.<br />So spring and summer I adore you, please stay forever. Spring summer and repeat....<br />I know winter is the period of rest and renewal for plants, but I can wish.<br /><br />Today was spent lovingly building herb/planter boxes and putting up a fence. <br />Our new place sits beside a river. The fence is for the safety of my kiddos, mostly the adventurous little man. I will have many herbs as I usually do, but this time they will be steps from the kitchen and slug/snail free(I'm hoping).<br />I will also separate the medicinals from the rest. My kiddos enjoy picking their own herbs and tossing them into whatever it may be at the moment from basil on bread to mint in teas.....therefore I'd like to have one that is off limits so they don't ingest something by mistake, not that I have anything that would harm them (I'm far to careful for that), but just in case.<br /><br />I'm enjoying the feeling of working with my hands. The scent of the cedar combined with the scent of the moist cool earth has been an amazing way to welcome spring. <br />The dirt here is truly wonderful, so dark and rich, so much so that it reminds me of chocolate fudge cake. The wigglers poking their parts out here and there take away all temptation to eat it, lol, but I have been holding some up to my nose and inhaling, taking great pleasure in doing so. <br /><br />It's been a long time since I've found a moment to kneel upon the grass and peer down into the "goings ons" of the earth.<br />My best friend and I use lay in the clover when we were girls. While the other kids were playing on the playground equipment, she and I were laying on our tummies at the edge of the playground. It was near a farmers field right next to a narrow ditch. I recall the sound of the trickle of the water and the grass waving as the water passed over it.<br />We were poking around in the clover and making discoveries such as blossoms, tiny clumps of earth, roly polys, inchworms, ants and sucking on the end of a blade of grass to compare the sweetness. Oh those were the days...................<br /><br />The boxes will be around the edges of the deck. There is no railing so this really helps to keep the kids from jumping off. It's a bit of a drop and I'd rather them not break a limb.<br /><br />I have not seen my camera in ages. It once went everywhere I did. As of late I feel a bit more freedom and spend less time focused on the kids or what I can photograph.<br />I'm trying to live for myself as well as raise them. I'm remembering my goals and hopes, wishes, dreams ;)<br /><br />Life has truly been wonderful this last month. I've been more busy that I've been in ages, but it's been nice. The hustle and bustle I so enjoy.<br />We've been gone from the woods for one week. I miss it, yet I feel so ready for this change. Regardless of where we live in this area...we are in the woods, but now it won't be quite so literal.<br /><br />We will keep a handful of our hens, but the roosters will need homes as they aren't allowed in town. Our bunny was set free ages ago and I have never seen a more content fellow. The neighbor told us that he visits them often. He looks very healthy and seems to grin. I didn't have the heart to put him back in the hutch and force him to live a life in town. <br />I will post photos of all the things we have been working on as soon as I unearth my nikon. I purchased a point and shoot a few weeks ago so I could slip it into my pocket....maybe I can snap a few with it tomorrow. <br /><br />My sewing machines are all packed. We are lucky enough to have a very large laundry room. I was able to put a good size table in there for all of my machines.<br />The fabric is piled sky high in bins.....lol...shame on me for all of that fabric.<br /><br />We are happy and I do believe things are falling into place as they were meant to be.<br />I'm seeing much more of friends and I'm also able to feel more comfortable alone outdoors. The kids can't roam as far away from me. We have a large enough yard for a huge garden and room to play. I'm so excited.<br /><br />I will admit that after hauling bricks today I was tired and my heart was racing....I sat down on a lounge chair and leaned back. I looked up to the sky and my breath caught in my throat. It is just as beautiful as it was at our old home. Did I expect it to be any different? I must have, but happily it was blue and gorgeous and there was more of it to enjoy as the trees aren't as dense in town. We are still surrounded by berries, which pleases the kids to no end.<br /><br />This house is old. I believe it was built around 1910 or so.<br />It needs a whole lot of work, and since we don't own it (yet), I don't plan to make many improvements inside, but outside I will work night and day, happily....humming to myself and being thankful for all I have been blessed with.<br /><br />A pleasant discovery was made today. When I am running the drill or the saw is squealing, I hear no children fighting or complaining. They were trying so hard and I saw their mouths moving, but heard only the peaceful whine of power tools....I thought I was in heaven. ROFLMAO....heehee. It was only for a moment. A moment sent as a gift from heaven in exchange for all of my stress filled days, HAHA!amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192142449867021654noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4447895113812206130.post-26544572723792941102010-02-09T20:10:00.000-08:002010-02-09T20:24:23.792-08:00A New BeginningLets get to the facts.<br />A young man who was quite close to a certain member of my family came out to our place and ended his life.<br />My husband found the young man as he came home from work.<br />Not one member of my family escaped the hurt and confusion.<br />It's been traumatic to say the least.<br />I cried myself to sleep for over a week. I sat with my child as she cried and asked me why. A question which I could never answer.<br />I walked into the woods screamed, cried, raised my face to the sky as it rained and asked the same questions myself....why?<br /><br />Almost a month has passed now and life is just getting back to normal...."normal" as if there is such a thing.<br />My teenage daughter is now homeschooled.<br />We are leaving this place to move into a house in town.<br />I will say goodbye to my chickens and to this way of life.<br />However....I can garden anywhere. <br /><br />Our new home is on the river and as I sit on the deck I can close my eyes and fall into a peaceful state of relaxation as the water finds a rhythm and my worries are forgotten for the moment.<br />I'm closer to the thrift stores.<br />My best friend lives only blocks away.<br />We can travel to the park, store, school,bowling alley etc...all within minutes and even on our bikes.<br />And finally.....we can get a FREE library card :)<br /><br />oh.....and perhaps now I can step outside without thinking a cougar is peering at me through the trees just waiting to pounce and eat me for breakfast.<br /><br />Yes indeed I am excited for this new life.amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192142449867021654noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4447895113812206130.post-6057617591057714422010-01-22T22:08:00.000-08:002010-01-23T10:04:39.033-08:00CryingThank you to all of our friends who have left comments and emailed.<br /><br />To clarify, the loss was not one of my children.<br /><br />I'd like to share the story, but as I've been crying off and on all day, today will not be the day.<br />We are healing and getting back into the swing of everyday life. It seems almost surreal and I'm still stuck on "why" yet I know that I cannot stop living.<br /><br />Last thursday was my "me" day. It was a girls day out shopping, exploring and welcoming a new life in a new place.<br />We were sitting in a cafe and watching the news about Haiti. Numbness is what I felt then.....I thought what can I do? There is a tendency in me to distance myself from pain.....my companion and I, we spoke of those who carry the weight of the world on their shoulders.<br /><br />that night turned out to be one of the worst in my life.<br /><br />I've cried for one week. I've cried, screamed, slept, begged, prayed, laughed, lost my breath, hugged my children tighter than ever, pushed them away like never before, threatened to walk away from my life and finally opened my heart to all the pain in the world and let all the hurt, anger, confusion and frustration pour out.<br /><br />I cry. That's my new hobby. But you know what? It helps.<br /><br />This blog has never become as it was intended.<br />It seems more of a diary of sorts and list of to do...it was the ear of a friend, a shoulder to cry on....the place to laugh and share about my family.<br /><br />not sure if I will be back or begin fresh with another blog....sticking to some rules about over sharing :) just don't know right now<br /><br />I want to give and that isn't what I've been doing. I surely don't want to give sadness. <br /><br /><br />2010 was supposed to be my fresh start :)<br />I'm a believer in things happening for a reasona and that there is already a plan....I'm just trying to stay on the right path....amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192142449867021654noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4447895113812206130.post-35386802732675570482010-01-16T08:59:00.000-08:002010-01-16T09:04:31.349-08:00TragedyOur lives have been touched by tragedy. Suicide.<br />I've yet to understand or get past the question Why?<br />As for me right now I'm dealing with it in my own way, we all have our own way with grief.amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192142449867021654noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4447895113812206130.post-27574876530075499212009-12-31T21:51:00.000-08:002009-12-31T22:03:38.552-08:00Looking Forward to 2010So many things are on my list of goals for 2010.<br />It's truly been a rough year and I for one am glad it's behind us.<br />I've learned much.<br /><br />The coming year I will welcome with an open mind and forgiving heart.<br />There are cob structures to be made, hoop houses to be built, walls to be painted, paths to be found, fears to conquer, friends to love, fancy chicken houses to be erected, treehouses to be repaired, pigs to raise, harvests to share,celebrations to enjoy, chickens to tame, doggies to train, children to love and teach, classes to attend, plants to grow, earth to dig, trees to trim, camping to do, friendships to strengthen, oneself to be found and embraced,laughter to be shared, sewing to be done for the family, farmers markets to frequent, and on and on.......<br /><br />Yes I have high hopes for 2010.<br />If perhaps I'm able to live just a bit off the grid, then I will have accomplished one important goal :) <br /><br />HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192142449867021654noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4447895113812206130.post-25992386727967792292009-12-29T00:49:00.000-08:002009-12-29T10:51:48.595-08:00Living and remembering a gypsy lifeIt's been quiet here, I know.<br />So much has been happening around me. It's seems as if lately life has been a flurry of activity.<br />Not good, not necessarily bad.<br />A birthday came and went.<br />I've always been an overthinker. I analyze and stress over whatever it may be at the moment. I'm trying to make major life changes.<br />Therefore.....I've been doing just that....doing.<br />Rather than thinking and researching, reading and concentrating, I just threw caution to the wind and I've been doing.<br /><br />We've been spending more quality time as a family.<br />I'm considering school and I'm making changes within myself.<br /><br />Here are the things I do know.<br />I want to farm. Growing things brings me the greatest joy.<br />Consumer is not what I want to be known as when I die.<br />Photography makes me happy.<br />Sewing gives me satisfaction.<br />My family is the light of my life.<br /><br />I've been reading the books of Juliette de Bairacli Levy.<br />She seems to me to be an old friend.<br /><br />There was once a time in my life when my friends and family would not have recognized me. There was a life I used to know that seems to never have been at all.<br />I lived on the banks of the columbia river. No house, no electricity, no running water. It was a primitive life. Aside from the time spent with my children, it was the happiest time of my life :)<br />A blogpost on that life will soon follow. I need to listen to my heart for a bit and remember things exactly as they were.amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192142449867021654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4447895113812206130.post-71568450097423135552009-12-07T19:25:00.000-08:002009-12-10T22:21:53.203-08:00Tea and ChangeToday was an amazing day. It was calm and productive.<br />I awoke to frost and rushed out to break ice for the animals and make sure everyone was safe.<br />Sadly I found that my favorite hen had been abducted by raccoons.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubjSOPyAFaRGZKdq77H_s1N47ekzfNKEz0IlECJ85dFUiDyfqWEyMAck18EtQXZT3RvOT6-E092vUqgqh3b1Sw_7PXD6LhkUOMmJEJRL1ysI-9ZRH05-txrILFtISbWgOQDC_13qxikwX/s1600-h/winter+189.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjubjSOPyAFaRGZKdq77H_s1N47ekzfNKEz0IlECJ85dFUiDyfqWEyMAck18EtQXZT3RvOT6-E092vUqgqh3b1Sw_7PXD6LhkUOMmJEJRL1ysI-9ZRH05-txrILFtISbWgOQDC_13qxikwX/s320/winter+189.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412733700780400834" /></a><br /><br /><br />Walking into a pen of feathers is indeed sad.<br />She was missed during head count :(<br />I gathered up all the hoses and what not from the garden. It was put off day after day.<br />This is the reason I want to move to town. Less on my own shoulders.<br />Perhaps when the kids marry and have children of their own, I can live this lifestyle again :)<br /><br />My son helped me to unwind soakers and lay them to thaw in the sun.<br />We cozied the bunny up in an empty chicken coop with water and food and lots of bedding. He was truly grinning at me when I left him.<br /><br />The mint was still standing, only partially covered in frost. I brought a bit in(what I hadn't already harvested) and made mint tea. My son had been craving it and he was such a help this morning.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_nnWWbVWa9Kd82ocaw8TiAXeOT_-vgL0_96LJO5vsq2eSZrt-uVEho_GwbVVZIjrIhC_zbvi63OVU_fWFuIPPJScSNuXfJBxkJwXGxOj5ohBW6Q17ipd2orhtDS_XPibdwwfBxAnULlbo/s1600-h/winter+231.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_nnWWbVWa9Kd82ocaw8TiAXeOT_-vgL0_96LJO5vsq2eSZrt-uVEho_GwbVVZIjrIhC_zbvi63OVU_fWFuIPPJScSNuXfJBxkJwXGxOj5ohBW6Q17ipd2orhtDS_XPibdwwfBxAnULlbo/s320/winter+231.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412734286650193250" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />I sliced most of my ginger and put it in the dehydrator. The house smelled lovely of mint and ginger. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2CuPg6GrxBp83jNg5bu94xw8S0x_JZTxa5ehJUSlFWu7ASWa_59ZuUhyNtIC8xLJFJNawTrfHOC4EmBG2LuNyrDkGEs7HNUlCUwy_9du1pBEqzn4RdlBOIaDqByLHeSaaA4BTYcZqfcl/s1600-h/winter+185.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ2CuPg6GrxBp83jNg5bu94xw8S0x_JZTxa5ehJUSlFWu7ASWa_59ZuUhyNtIC8xLJFJNawTrfHOC4EmBG2LuNyrDkGEs7HNUlCUwy_9du1pBEqzn4RdlBOIaDqByLHeSaaA4BTYcZqfcl/s320/winter+185.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412738239004244770" /></a><br /><br /><br />DO you recall I grew my own ginger this summer.<br />Put a root(or many) in some nice warm soil in a sunny loacation and it will thrive.<br />You can grow it indoors during the winter.<br />We always have ginger on hand. I keep it in the freezer and grate it over many a meal...a favorite being chicken and rice with garlic....mmmmmmmm.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDuX0c7EwPxne8H8V7U12qDMVy_HSkHVQZzgcmi1mt_wOGFimrz6Rowg-ZxpvF4ctmRSfK9Y32aoAj9CU8EwlPYbmBg2OCQJw7b_xOh3LdasyEA-hs6BHDdAoRYVWnsgiVyd3q1dlc2WE/s1600-h/winter+088.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbDuX0c7EwPxne8H8V7U12qDMVy_HSkHVQZzgcmi1mt_wOGFimrz6Rowg-ZxpvF4ctmRSfK9Y32aoAj9CU8EwlPYbmBg2OCQJw7b_xOh3LdasyEA-hs6BHDdAoRYVWnsgiVyd3q1dlc2WE/s320/winter+088.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412738688732027570" /></a><br /><br /><br />I dry it for tea.<br />Tea is my new hobby. I've loved tea since I was girl. Back then it was Earl Grey and Constant Comment. <br /><br />I grow my own herbs for tea and stevia for sweetening. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPnoxDJ8tEnWmBjqzarZUUbVULMteJH3TdpCvnmMwSUhbb82zDGCDu5BqsWihEv3Ef7NGSAWi8ICVLESvXVMk9vwwoZaZZD4w3gZnubl8-KrZeJi_fWN8L7bf_BjOigyGJCRbkO5ifQxI/s1600-h/teas.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 187px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJPnoxDJ8tEnWmBjqzarZUUbVULMteJH3TdpCvnmMwSUhbb82zDGCDu5BqsWihEv3Ef7NGSAWi8ICVLESvXVMk9vwwoZaZZD4w3gZnubl8-KrZeJi_fWN8L7bf_BjOigyGJCRbkO5ifQxI/s320/teas.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412741899232377394" /></a><br /><br /><br />If I had the time and money for bees I'd have my own honey. For now I buy local raw :)<br /><br />The kids and I cut snowflakes and painted Christmas scenes. We made long garlands and put them up in archways. I'm thinking perhaps tomorrow we will string popcorn.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8ltzqWSLM3uZvILyxEtaTkh75SlXCV1LIC-YOhacELesBbKUf7ep1B4svoh-_sXQDCiMInFtILNqAd2nXf7JUHqPYPkTxhaua7esBgSf7RaXsw0ABA0a4sa5c4h7gEIy1XuyPGO71fpW/s1600-h/winter+247.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_8ltzqWSLM3uZvILyxEtaTkh75SlXCV1LIC-YOhacELesBbKUf7ep1B4svoh-_sXQDCiMInFtILNqAd2nXf7JUHqPYPkTxhaua7esBgSf7RaXsw0ABA0a4sa5c4h7gEIy1XuyPGO71fpW/s320/winter+247.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412736234418237058" /></a><br /><br /><br />Christmas has always been special to me.<br />I was born on Christmas eve.<br />My step-grandmother use to tell me how naughty I was to have been born when she was up to her elbows in pie dough. She always made divinity and many other goodies. She was a crochet-sewing-knitting-machine :)<br />I was not a bit interested when she wanted to teach me.<br />As I learned to crochet a chain I was B-O-R-E-D *yawn*<br />Funny...now I do all of those hobbies with great joy.<br /><br />The special time was spent more with my grandpa. He was my friend.<br />He taught me to garden and to cook some things and he always, always had time for me.<br />Every birthday is was a cherry chip cake for me. My favorite.<br />I'm allergic to strawberries or it might have been that....pink you know..and little girls.........<br /><br />When I think about my grandpa I miss him so much. All these memories threaten to carry me away. It saddens me greatly to know that my kids don't have what I had.<br />We don't have relatives to go be with during holidays. There are no invites, there are no family get togethers. No crafty grandmas are to be found. No grandpas to sit with you in the grass under the apple tree and eat carrots fresh from the earth.<br />If I could go the market and purchase for my children a loving family I would indeed do so. I would do it right this very minute.<br /><br />I love this life....but I long for so much more. I know that's wrong of me.<br />I long to give my kids summers away at a cabin on a lake and winters skiing and holidays full of laughter and hugs....weekends of aunts and uncles and teasing, mischievous cousins who love you half of the time and are mad the rest, lol.<br />Perhaps I'm selfish in much of these longings.<br />I'd like a family of my own.<br />A father, a mother, siblings.<br />My father is a man who has absolutely no contact with me or my children and never will, thankfully. <br />My mother struggles with her own demons, having never let me in and probably never will. She lives her life happily in her own little world of friends and a particular lifestyle. She will never know me. She will more than likely never acknowledge what a horrible childhood I had, yet I do know it might have been worse....it might have been much much worse. Not that it matters. I love and respect her for what she has given me.....the greatest gift of all. Life.<br />I have no siblings. Once upon a time I had a brother and a sister. I don't know where in the world they ended up....if they are alive.<br />My father lost them when they were small. I shall never know.<br /><br />I know. Shoulda, woulda, coulda.........it just isn't.<br /><br />I'm needing Change. I'm feeling trapped and a bit lost. A bit lonely.<br />I am so very blessed. I know this. Never do I doubt it.<br /><br />There are moments when waves of happines wash over me and I can't believe how blessed I am. I appreciate every second of my life.<br />I want to make it a purposeful one.<br />I say I too much.<br /><br />My swap pillow arrived. I simply adore it.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9c59VlG5lGWAUosenNrwEu6dvOzaEIvY_XCU7x6-z7a9i7W9y_KUHK1H0FRkM_dgselS3qdi2GZK9ImeVx9Xw286OUp5qKuFiNgFc-YH9XNyRENTmzw5RmlletIqKh71T5ykDWkhU3WI1/s1600-h/winter+238.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9c59VlG5lGWAUosenNrwEu6dvOzaEIvY_XCU7x6-z7a9i7W9y_KUHK1H0FRkM_dgselS3qdi2GZK9ImeVx9Xw286OUp5qKuFiNgFc-YH9XNyRENTmzw5RmlletIqKh71T5ykDWkhU3WI1/s320/winter+238.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412737746086585266" /></a><br /><br />She didn't even know I purchased these fabrics to make a quilt.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHdeeH9N-h_ArZ4kOu4gSEWHkQctmr1H-387-i3KQSM3YrzoHrA4UjW3EfMqfByX8fifu_S5Wjf7ZWz1Lu0XGw_D3bJyrAaikxXhUJ1VZykyL0xb5ANZGXq5z6H7h3D6gV02_7HkZTGOc/s1600-h/winter+242.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAHdeeH9N-h_ArZ4kOu4gSEWHkQctmr1H-387-i3KQSM3YrzoHrA4UjW3EfMqfByX8fifu_S5Wjf7ZWz1Lu0XGw_D3bJyrAaikxXhUJ1VZykyL0xb5ANZGXq5z6H7h3D6gV02_7HkZTGOc/s320/winter+242.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412741906908814002" /></a><br /><br /><br />Sent mine out as well and hope my partners enjoys it.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS-6zLLaqQiBz1MmMh3nnPtgzUucRN6nIPdDhhVrA_SQnRxSb0Q0LmkM_uYS3HntscN_XXKV2Jthwl2cNph9C8Hv3nHQM5v32RqHgcCeL9VE6qKAVQ_L_alUS3bx48JdTfDijbfNgm0JzA/s1600-h/finished.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgS-6zLLaqQiBz1MmMh3nnPtgzUucRN6nIPdDhhVrA_SQnRxSb0Q0LmkM_uYS3HntscN_XXKV2Jthwl2cNph9C8Hv3nHQM5v32RqHgcCeL9VE6qKAVQ_L_alUS3bx48JdTfDijbfNgm0JzA/s320/finished.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412736695661768882" /></a><br /><br /><br />I'm feeling this overwhelming urge to run through my house tossing everything in sight into a waste bag and giving it a toss right out my door.<br />My life feels cluttered. When I walk in the door of my home I feel immediate stress.<br />Yes I do realize that being a mother of five is stressful in itself, but there is no peace here in my home. There is no zen....if you will :)<br />I look around and see so much unnecessary clutter, junk, stuff.<br /><br />Do we "need" it? Do we "need" even a little of it? Do we "need" any of it?<br />I'm ready. I'm ready to donate and recycle.<br /><br />I was just telling the kids tonight,(as I moved the pile of twenty or so dirty towels to the wash)...do we really need twenty towels....?<br />Then I washed about a hundred and two socks :( Seriously.<br />The blankets I understand. They make sense.<br />Here's how it goes in my house.<br />Most mornings not a single comb can be found,not a matching pair of socks,not a glove or snow boot. Yet, yet....we have a zillion of all of these things.<br />Do we have too much? Do I give them too much? Is the reason they are not resposible with "things" because they have too many "things".<br />I'm very tired and stressed and tired ;) Happy and excited for the holidays....but tired.<br />When I go to plug in my phone, my charger is missing, to brush my hair, my brush has gone into hiding,to charge my laptop, the cord is nowhere to be found....this is how it goes....daily.<br /><br />It's to the point where respect is missing as well. Manners are a thing of the past. Kindness is forgotten. I'm the maid/chef/teacher/warden/farm hand/etc...lady that no one pays a bit of attention to unless something is needed.<br /><br />Most of this I can handle. I'm a mom (SUPERWOMAN)<br />What I can't handle is the disrepect toward me and what matters to me.<br />The compost is not for grease and hamburger and melted crayons.<br />The recycling needs to be separated.<br />I want paper bags and no just this one time plastic will not do.<br />No I don't want that brand of dish soap.<br />Yes I care about organic or not.<br />Yes you will pick up that gum you just threw on the ground( I have stepped in gum about umpteen times and everytime I get more frustrated)<br />No I don't want you to watch that program.<br />No it is not ok to do that and this and that and that other thing.<br /><br />Dammit. How do I help them all to care. How do I get my point across that this is important to me. There is one thing I really want my family to learn.<br />I say family because as much as I love my hubby he is no different than the kiddos.<br />He's a tv vegging, twinkie eating(I guess he hasn't had twinkies in a while, he claims), plastic bag getting, non recycling, sock losing man.<br /><br />That one thing is conscientiousness.<br /><br />I'm going to make some big purchases soon.<br />The whole house thing is still up in the air. I'm considering building. If we can afford it..if...........if.....crossing my fingers and wishing on a star.<br /><br />I'm going to help myself along in this endevor, even if it is alone.<br />My list goes something like this...give or take some things<br /><br />Country Living Grain mill.<br />Juicer.<br />Food dehydrator<br /><br /><br />where is that list??? I will find it.<br /><br />Aside from the fact that I want to purge purge purge..I do want some"thing".<br />Dear Santa...I have always had goodwill mismatchy plates and oh how I adore them....but please will you bring me just one <a href="http://www.macys.com/catalog/product/index.ognc?ID=292026&PartnerID=FROOGLE&BannerID=MP675">Chirp</a> plate.<br />I promise to take good care of it and keep it safe and hug it and kiss it and tell it bed time stories......<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtoNJe4CQUeegrlqAqA4x-aVfqPlGatgkondT6DU75-y5LAeTuvm0_l7ZBkL6npg0ePOgSz0NjM1YAdt-0QeB3jPDqHgBPLUznVNYvWMd9zs_5v6H_BI2fmbvWCNix2JxxYEv5b_je3hil/s1600-h/chirp+accent+plate.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 302px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtoNJe4CQUeegrlqAqA4x-aVfqPlGatgkondT6DU75-y5LAeTuvm0_l7ZBkL6npg0ePOgSz0NjM1YAdt-0QeB3jPDqHgBPLUznVNYvWMd9zs_5v6H_BI2fmbvWCNix2JxxYEv5b_je3hil/s320/chirp+accent+plate.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412743376997731922" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />It has been so foggy and cold as of late.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6kmy64CJGBbHTbtNwNw6hZJcDtmP-ZtTbVZxhiBh1-DWJETUcFf_MVXlg-Rhw6ukQqsXtlGBV4kLNCxd6AEzBilpqd9oT7jjlb5ZTlnvc5nosusTvySK-9yfOvqnm-NDH73NOD54p5iAz/s1600-h/sheep+foggy.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6kmy64CJGBbHTbtNwNw6hZJcDtmP-ZtTbVZxhiBh1-DWJETUcFf_MVXlg-Rhw6ukQqsXtlGBV4kLNCxd6AEzBilpqd9oT7jjlb5ZTlnvc5nosusTvySK-9yfOvqnm-NDH73NOD54p5iAz/s320/sheep+foggy.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5412739131077609698" /></a><br /><br />Please pardon any and all PMS that may have come through in this post ;)<br /><br />Eventually I will learn how to make the photos bigger....for now please click to enlarge :) night night or...... morning....or happy mid-day to you, lol.amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192142449867021654noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4447895113812206130.post-16466187851234644522009-12-02T22:58:00.000-08:002009-12-02T23:01:24.968-08:00My Symphonyto live content with small means<br />to seek elegance rather than luxury<br />and refinement rather than fashion<br />to be wealthy not rich<br />to listen to stars and birds<br />babes and sages with open heart<br />to study hard<br />to think quietly<br />act frankly<br />talk gently<br />await occasions, hurry never<br />in a word to let the spiritual <br />unbidden and unconscious<br />grow up through the common<br />this is my symphony <br /><br />- william henry channing<br /><br />To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not, rich; to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart; to study hard; to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently, await occasions, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common--this is my symphony.<br /><br />good enough to read twice :)amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192142449867021654noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4447895113812206130.post-6887943034681217282009-12-02T10:19:00.001-08:002009-12-02T12:39:21.693-08:00Following my heartThat is what I'm trying to do. I'm listening to that tiny little voice inside of me and trying to figure out what to do.<br />I live in the woods. I see trees, trees and more lovely trees.<br />I'm lonely and feel isolated, yet............yet I love it here.<br />My organic garden is just big enough that I can get lost in it, we enjoy walks up to the stream through the trees, my children can run free finding salamanders, treasures from the earth and of course there are trees that need to be climbed.<br />This morning as I was placing my dried herbs into jars I felt overwhelming satisfaction. I make my own teas, grow my own food, enjoy eggs from our chickens, and truly I see the the forest with a childlike wonder, but it's difficult and heartbreaking while at the same time heavenly. I'm torn.<br />My childhood left much to be desired. I was isolated and left longing for love and companionship. These are the feelings that have resurfaced since we made the move to the country.<br />There are two beautiful vintage homes we have been looking at in town. Both have charm and personality, porches and wood floors, fire places or hidden rooms, swings and lovely detailing. Oh they are both so wonderful in so many ways.<br />The drawback? Tiny little yards. Each being less than half an acre, more near a quarter. City water, bleck!! I would miss our water. Oh our water is sent from the heavens indeed so pure and good. <br />Pesticides drifting over from the neighbors....on no. What a terrible thought.<br />Noise and nosiness, yet that could be pleasant sounds of happy bustling and friendships.<br />Maybe my sweet neighbor doesn't use pesticides on those roses...."would I like a bouquest or two? Well of course I would love some...I've been meaning to make some <a href="http://garlic-breath.blogspot.com/2009/05/rose-petal-jam.html">rose petal jam</a> and won't you come over for tea?" blah de blah de blah :)<br />Oh this is where my bestest cousin bursts into fits of laughter because I might just be having a relapse of childhood and hallucinating to think we are playing with our barbies.....well nanner nanner to you girlie.<br />Yes I do so want to move to town, but at what cost?<br />It is possible to have in town what we have here. Most of it anyway.<br />I won't have the deer to gaze at and talk to, yet they also won't be having their way with my lettuce.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQG2w9WbYXiWJ8IkKgF79y4IgUtzJijwAeOsCuCzK1Zf5aDjeLS2IDaYlkTixn2MwfQYGSk1x_RctLh8GU3yFLiidKPKL9r074RFuPJvQqyC9ASATvKucmbU3p6bma9CrZIzv1UjxyMz6m/s1600-h/November+2009+077.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQG2w9WbYXiWJ8IkKgF79y4IgUtzJijwAeOsCuCzK1Zf5aDjeLS2IDaYlkTixn2MwfQYGSk1x_RctLh8GU3yFLiidKPKL9r074RFuPJvQqyC9ASATvKucmbU3p6bma9CrZIzv1UjxyMz6m/s320/November+2009+077.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410726608730128818" /></a><br /><br />click to enlarge and see the intruders :)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhye099oQ99HsXFAUtweblLD9BEgk5OAD671hkl19iK7rKfWPJNC9UwFlhUHB-NgcvAo51n8PnI4bUwlNekRguIV4tmSUm1Ppse8Ki5l5NDF2M5nKcuR1rBWe6aV3qxz36TpH3j9JPQ7YX0/s1600-h/November+2009+057.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhye099oQ99HsXFAUtweblLD9BEgk5OAD671hkl19iK7rKfWPJNC9UwFlhUHB-NgcvAo51n8PnI4bUwlNekRguIV4tmSUm1Ppse8Ki5l5NDF2M5nKcuR1rBWe6aV3qxz36TpH3j9JPQ7YX0/s320/November+2009+057.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410726596982756226" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJNH9acfaP5PcA5QaG9sJRHYCfw8wjpOJL8nisKTqWqzNeqL0a6wX2t-OnA8zA6bch6U8JvIZlOFOUIuDg8bThd3Xg9jB3GIswNamw33FKgqVletDEdzyiwbDrfESJBuifHOGDU0eOfmX/s1600-h/November+2009+078.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikJNH9acfaP5PcA5QaG9sJRHYCfw8wjpOJL8nisKTqWqzNeqL0a6wX2t-OnA8zA6bch6U8JvIZlOFOUIuDg8bThd3Xg9jB3GIswNamw33FKgqVletDEdzyiwbDrfESJBuifHOGDU0eOfmX/s320/November+2009+078.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410724483422344818" /></a><br /><br />We will have to give away many(most) of our hens. We give away or sell so many eggs anyway that I think a few less chickens is ok with me.<br />I won't have the woods to walk through....yet they frighten me much of the time anyway....yes I admit it. Being in the woods alone frightens me. I feel uncomforatble in my garden...not at peace as I should.<br />I love this life. I also know I would love a life in town. In town I can walk everywhere...therefore saving gas and staying healthy.<br /><br />We could try to buy the place we are in. It is for sale...a bit high in my opinion. But what's the price for 5 acres of land, a stream, wildlife, a large pond...trees...<br />This is absolutely perfect if we wanted to go the <a href="http://www.permaculture.org/nm/index.php/site/index/">permaculture</a> route(which I would love to do).....learning more, growing, sharing.....it's so perfect, but unless I have another family or two who wants to move here and do this with us I'm leaning toward town.<br />Indeed I love the idea of being completely self sufficient, but I can't do it alone.<br />My husband works and has little to no time to help around this "farm".<br />Our children try to help, but they are small and end up being more work for me.<br />My two oldest are city kids and at this point I'm not sure if I can mold them into farm kids.....I've been trying for a year.<br />I would love to hear any advice you might have to offer :)<br /><br /><br />I'm not certain yet what how this will play out. <br />I'm a strong believer in the fact that whatever happens will happen because it was meant to be.<br /><br />Here is what I have been working on, aside from herbs and such that I will be talking about on my next post :)<br />Sorry I haven't been around much. My hubby purchased a few new toys for me and I've been playing. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHF2bMryZqyF0vJ3XVc6BKLeuZ6U0wiJiiMNKPG3t5WnFp39RMSorsUjoZ7Kw9Thy9MSgNe14DylwVs5qtZ4Tc24cqqVjmuOQWInBD6r-mcFOXf1XA2UITP-5mcrCKweJOh8-k71bq34Y/s1600-h/eyes.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMHF2bMryZqyF0vJ3XVc6BKLeuZ6U0wiJiiMNKPG3t5WnFp39RMSorsUjoZ7Kw9Thy9MSgNe14DylwVs5qtZ4Tc24cqqVjmuOQWInBD6r-mcFOXf1XA2UITP-5mcrCKweJOh8-k71bq34Y/s320/eyes.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410719173773606978" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgigFe56fEAyWPua5V_vO-a8AsPiZFH-Kn_3Y-yLcGrBI-GxuSVhOZSU1pJPyvHe4vow120IVDoApz2gzxMtCBW7yI3SxH9vbl3owtLZ9boqaxhydUizF_58fpgVUB7jeF8_jqMWK_irBNl/s1600-h/70seyes.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgigFe56fEAyWPua5V_vO-a8AsPiZFH-Kn_3Y-yLcGrBI-GxuSVhOZSU1pJPyvHe4vow120IVDoApz2gzxMtCBW7yI3SxH9vbl3owtLZ9boqaxhydUizF_58fpgVUB7jeF8_jqMWK_irBNl/s320/70seyes.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410719164823605650" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqPtBAME_sVfVGxt37YAPlqv-wPq_YykD1LK6SxStIJBasn-ebFcyJGTGZLjWuSBBofAAz9vbz4lfpoHM_Xc-B4GMDyaeTu-uHNfzFSLs7QhaiiIysrY2_o47L-KGcvri1Tw-pfnDNtBk/s1600-h/endNovember2009+133.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhqPtBAME_sVfVGxt37YAPlqv-wPq_YykD1LK6SxStIJBasn-ebFcyJGTGZLjWuSBBofAAz9vbz4lfpoHM_Xc-B4GMDyaeTu-uHNfzFSLs7QhaiiIysrY2_o47L-KGcvri1Tw-pfnDNtBk/s320/endNovember2009+133.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410719148323981058" /></a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdqPHmTSXlqnaYX9BQXgtKB1WwkZiy0uPW43GadGSrR0lu8-p9eV85HoqY5i1l6Jvy-o8bjPw9CI1D-UPUrAExnUqHaKHWofWbalZPUIv9_7YPKz2FlALf6A2ITtLB20Ntuw8OPP5MCHf/s1600-h/swap+extra.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUdqPHmTSXlqnaYX9BQXgtKB1WwkZiy0uPW43GadGSrR0lu8-p9eV85HoqY5i1l6Jvy-o8bjPw9CI1D-UPUrAExnUqHaKHWofWbalZPUIv9_7YPKz2FlALf6A2ITtLB20Ntuw8OPP5MCHf/s320/swap+extra.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410726623874392850" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfFBJ6eX1PmNpHIqkak4oeisiXSzWuQug6ysWZ-67xCdV3eddIBVj10bZVa9_2YS6gTe5ZrkoEic1u6sRtj1HxI4Ly_0AjzbD_DiJE9EX8BSA8k_AIbsLBd9jKX_vMASi6Ah1dop2SE4S9/s1600-h/alexia+in+purple.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfFBJ6eX1PmNpHIqkak4oeisiXSzWuQug6ysWZ-67xCdV3eddIBVj10bZVa9_2YS6gTe5ZrkoEic1u6sRtj1HxI4Ly_0AjzbD_DiJE9EX8BSA8k_AIbsLBd9jKX_vMASi6Ah1dop2SE4S9/s320/alexia+in+purple.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5410726616660454482" /></a>amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192142449867021654noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4447895113812206130.post-27465258485875100962009-11-15T14:20:00.000-08:002009-11-15T14:43:16.775-08:00What I've been working onI've been busy, so very much that I've hardly had a moment to think :)<br />So here I am to catch up if even just a bit.......<br /><br />I've been so involved in flickr these last several months.<br />I do go there often and lose myself in the photography, but I have also gotten to "know" some lovely ladies and to tell you the truth...we've become rather good friends.<br /><br />Here are my latest projects.<br /><br /><br />Little red riding hood for an embroidery swap<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRx2rLILXa9E9iq-e-Eb6gkYDxvi_xLnWT9jujxHK1CkqEoDyiGD3RphMZ765ESL9-1JWJurPoJIMxrYZGAaBVYnhpNLUeUajnRo-9xgZnHPhcxBBGr6PyP08QhUr03MTMsiP202KDg8A6/s1600-h/wip+french+knots.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRx2rLILXa9E9iq-e-Eb6gkYDxvi_xLnWT9jujxHK1CkqEoDyiGD3RphMZ765ESL9-1JWJurPoJIMxrYZGAaBVYnhpNLUeUajnRo-9xgZnHPhcxBBGr6PyP08QhUr03MTMsiP202KDg8A6/s320/wip+french+knots.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404460825019690642" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxohVj21emnfQ5U0lefTXPww3pveTD9dKAIMpoKJw6oGO3YlRhNdmwRPZuTww2G6Qp_7XryPkx45crTDQFHjYq-AqCoETsqhURkVqFrEDY0CyE-GvMetRGuAk9KKvR0wat-KEUldNi2w3/s1600-h/rainy+days+529.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxohVj21emnfQ5U0lefTXPww3pveTD9dKAIMpoKJw6oGO3YlRhNdmwRPZuTww2G6Qp_7XryPkx45crTDQFHjYq-AqCoETsqhURkVqFrEDY0CyE-GvMetRGuAk9KKvR0wat-KEUldNi2w3/s320/rainy+days+529.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404460820649710834" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5fIz-4BNE-sU6y1TfozHUNfFt4DD0RanTIGpftUoBleyRpw7PbjZYB5hLYLL_EQ3A2nHL8LPjN0gHxGUW9kpD8R8SRbFIy7uzU1v90-YZSWrlhfdc0OV46GJcCy-uCTm9TrTIQOVTDYDv/s1600-h/November+2009+029.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5fIz-4BNE-sU6y1TfozHUNfFt4DD0RanTIGpftUoBleyRpw7PbjZYB5hLYLL_EQ3A2nHL8LPjN0gHxGUW9kpD8R8SRbFIy7uzU1v90-YZSWrlhfdc0OV46GJcCy-uCTm9TrTIQOVTDYDv/s320/November+2009+029.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404460810429747042" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JlvifuTZoXHVs0XltL0M-lXKvgl9sCc7rc19SmwOUQjNviQZ6Vr-DuSlA66SWXhhU1SOFLGrbnfR6l83Mv53aPqyXNdFzDP7ERscdcsv5TDVS84ii5TlFhxIZPxIfnLI6lsqEmV0vyfd/s1600-h/November+2009+027.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-JlvifuTZoXHVs0XltL0M-lXKvgl9sCc7rc19SmwOUQjNviQZ6Vr-DuSlA66SWXhhU1SOFLGrbnfR6l83Mv53aPqyXNdFzDP7ERscdcsv5TDVS84ii5TlFhxIZPxIfnLI6lsqEmV0vyfd/s320/November+2009+027.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404460807451935042" /></a><br /><br />WIP pillow for the pillow swap on flickr :) It's actually nearly finished, but no pics as of yet ;)<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJlxR0RUWzC1LAfD-gGE_KN0bka3TsBFIK7YHCgfbE8nRzopEJOtzcuf0taF5fj5yvhvD6-jwTBqoJJM4RKbkNfb-fvMR2EAJBhBzYuATdZmV4vihATGweASO1hophggoDbIXSn3g3Jda/s1600-h/rainy+days+310.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvJlxR0RUWzC1LAfD-gGE_KN0bka3TsBFIK7YHCgfbE8nRzopEJOtzcuf0taF5fj5yvhvD6-jwTBqoJJM4RKbkNfb-fvMR2EAJBhBzYuATdZmV4vihATGweASO1hophggoDbIXSn3g3Jda/s320/rainy+days+310.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5404460798239385890" /></a><br /><br />Finally taking photographs lately....busy busy busy.<br />I've been taking advantage of the natural light streaming through the windows this weekend.<br /><br /><br />Since my hubby began taking my son to work with him two days a week, I feel as if I have a whole new life.<br />We lost the house we were trying to purchase. Someone beat us to it, but we have a second favorite and will be keeping our fingers crossed.<br />I have so many projects to finish before Christmas. <br /><br />Excited about a little knitting group my friend <a href="http://two-red-doors.blogspot.com/">Katie</a> has invited me to join.<br />Missing the sunshine, yet enjoying hot tea and snuggling up on the couch with my kiddos, project in hand. Time seems to pass more slowly for me in the fall and winter......<br /><br />Take Care friends...<br /><br />PS. For anyone who is as passionate about photography or rather editing (photoshop, lightroom, etc...)as I am.....there are links to some really fabulous actions, textures, etc... over to the left <----------<br />My hubby has purchased <a href="http://www.portraitprofessional.com/">portrait professional</a> for my birthday. WOOHOO.<br />I really love this program for removing chocolate milk moustaches or dirt from the sweet little mugs of my kiddos, as well as making myself and my girlies look all glam with diffeent color eyes, hair and skin....fun fun.amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192142449867021654noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4447895113812206130.post-53472419460271429892009-11-04T21:10:00.001-08:002009-11-04T22:05:18.389-08:00Down and outThe flu has hit us hard. I'm trying to clear it out of the house, but it's a vicious cycle.<br /><br />I'm ill again. There were a handful of days when I wasn't ill and then I was slammed back down.<br /><br />The kids are all well. Hubby went back to work today.<br /><br />I've been making soups and stews. Sadly there was a bit of tragedy in our week.<br />While out in the garden helping mama pull leeks, my little girlie girl stumbled upon one of the little fawns who we've seen eating from the garden and lounging around in our yard. There is a buck, a doe and two fawns. We are thinking that this little one found it's way into the garden and then died of thirst when it couldn't find the way back out. Poor little thing.<br /><br />It was a sad day indeed.<br /><br />This afternoon I saw the doe and the other fawn standing out near the garden. They just looked at me and for once I didn't run for my camera. <br /><br />Things truly are going well. We will get past this illness and look forward to the holiday season and all the creativity it entails.<br /><br />As I've been in bed I have been finishing my embroidery swap project. At one point disaster struck in the form of my children and some extra super duper buttery popcorn misplaced upon mama's project. Thank goodness I was able to come up with a new idea.<br />I will be sending along extras to my partner to make up for the lack of creativity.<br /><br />I'm sorry to have no pictures for you today.<br />Wow...I should get an award for zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz........zzzzzzzzzzzz.......zzzzzz<br /><br />On a good note some BIG things are happening for us. <br /><br />:)<br /><br />Here are photos of a couple of things I purchased for myself a year or two ago to make myself feel better. I think I need to do some shopping.<br />What do I need these days?<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3C5e7bwlUMVR6_oWmpIKmcBrHSD44_eE162-StwDiQ4JBVHsvtYJJEIZbXjNJ-kiFSeoTn9cPlNTyxI-0ne53ccqdd6GR0kNjQhmobIvqUUf-cNVQThagBi0TT-w7E7KK4K8_efjyCqS7/s1600-h/littleredshoes3.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3C5e7bwlUMVR6_oWmpIKmcBrHSD44_eE162-StwDiQ4JBVHsvtYJJEIZbXjNJ-kiFSeoTn9cPlNTyxI-0ne53ccqdd6GR0kNjQhmobIvqUUf-cNVQThagBi0TT-w7E7KK4K8_efjyCqS7/s320/littleredshoes3.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400496189818441554" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgNON2Iv9oYBo6nZ_A08K7an1GLt8Tjuzb1PFevKO-xBd1427_mjUWK7kPRrSDx1MwVa9IblFk7u47hPfWBL0hAO7vfexDhfI_uMAd92XNbpI0Dx2056PfTzdkH4V5Ja6Oo234N39IGwi/s1600-h/littleredshoes1.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwgNON2Iv9oYBo6nZ_A08K7an1GLt8Tjuzb1PFevKO-xBd1427_mjUWK7kPRrSDx1MwVa9IblFk7u47hPfWBL0hAO7vfexDhfI_uMAd92XNbpI0Dx2056PfTzdkH4V5Ja6Oo234N39IGwi/s320/littleredshoes1.JPG" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5400496182718232578" /></a>amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192142449867021654noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4447895113812206130.post-40964663610223392352009-10-23T12:57:00.000-07:002009-10-23T16:17:01.359-07:00Where I find joyThere have been many days over the last four years when I have been unable to find joy on my own...<br />Don't get me wrong. I love my family witha all of my heart and soul. Yet for 14 long years I have been mama and a mama at that who answers to everyone but herself.<br />Finally I was able to look inside myself and was thrilled to discover I'm still in there, lol.<br /><br /><br />The darkest days when I was so ill....those were the days when I finally told myself I needed to look outside of my own life....look for hope, inspiration, a happiness that would perhaps be contagious.<br /><br /><br />Would you believe I found it rather quickly....so I would like to share with you what or rather whom I found.<br /><br />She is a lovely lady who has been breathing life into me for years now without the knowledge of doing so.<br />Often there were days when she inspired me to get out of bed or out of the house...to put on a pretty frock or buy some shiny red shoes....yes I think I've quite fallen in love with her...I want to be just like her when I grow up....oh yes....too late for that isn't it...well either way I adore her so very much.<br />I would like to point you in her direction...perhaps you need her as I once did...to give you back your joie de vivre :)<br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/graygoosie/">Graygoosie</a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/graygoosie">graygoosie</a> on youtube<br /><br />She reminds me that I am alive now...I am able to bring pretty things into my life and enjoy things I love.....yes there are rough days for us all, but I have learned to treasure the good days, the great days, the absolutely best days ever :)<br />Yes indeed..those days are what I live for.<br /><br />I share her love of thrifting and bright loveliness.<br />This morning I told my hubby, "I look forward to the days when it is just you and I...when the kids have families of their own and we are able to do as we please."<br />DO you know what he said? "What for? Then you would have only me to tell what to do and yell at"......hahahahahahahaha, lol. Am I such a shrew then? Perhaps I am.<br />Is that not proof I need more me time? Yes, a new goal of mine. Me time.<br /><br /><br /><br />I'm still here in bed. Sleep eludes me as I listen to the symphony of coughing coming from the childrens' rooms. We will get better soon. If nothing else it has been a good week of love and togetherness.<br /><br />Later today I will post some of my favorite links.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEboAJf9UVc"> genius</a>amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192142449867021654noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4447895113812206130.post-18852812441522932972009-10-20T15:11:00.001-07:002009-10-21T22:25:23.369-07:00The dreaded fluIt's here....three of my five little ones has the flu. <br />Fun for sure. I will be offline for a bit...trying to be the best mama I'm able to be. I'm fighting something, but no fever and no cough so I'm hoping it's just a cold.<br /><br />Perhaps all this down time will help me to finish my embroidery project for the hand stitched swap.<br /><br />I'm sorry to be so boring lately. I'd lke to skip fall, winter and spring and head right back into summer.....and I'm a fall lover....but I digress....I will be sewing several projects soon....all coming along rather slowly :)<br /><br />I will be thinking of all my blogging friends as I lay here in bed watching becoming jane, pride and prejudice, sense and sensibility, jane eyre,<br /> miss austen regrets...... and whatever more I can manage to find time for :)<br /><br /><br />ETA....well today I found time for Lost in Austen and Wives and Daughters..... :)amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192142449867021654noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4447895113812206130.post-1058262932290582222009-10-16T21:54:00.000-07:002009-12-06T02:09:25.839-08:00Ready for the weekendWhat a week.<br /><br />I'm exhausted<br /><br />Here is my week in photos<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk26WpQN7NHCVGQ8F7jS5m5GY-6iB-j5hde1Wt5HWkvlWmEuwa1B55XsTJuVQmzVEfFWhEuR_ux3fEka8PjO7vzQfPa09vP8Hw5W9f_a6VHAkKAHPQnXPeVkxY8A9WI5g3hN2M6EtUyP8j/s1600-h/ours.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 271px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk26WpQN7NHCVGQ8F7jS5m5GY-6iB-j5hde1Wt5HWkvlWmEuwa1B55XsTJuVQmzVEfFWhEuR_ux3fEka8PjO7vzQfPa09vP8Hw5W9f_a6VHAkKAHPQnXPeVkxY8A9WI5g3hN2M6EtUyP8j/s320/ours.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393430079268855954" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-Yl61P6F7LyqDvvV1LA_znhPheOxAr7e86LPPNBByiyqXu33hg73wIzPtnk6K_LyVOyVcPHUo7VSqltwFtckGRUeYrIvuIGD3ql6hSFOPUC-UYH6LzTOZZGOIh5Iu-fuDK34kfhupopP/s1600-h/lick.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 213px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-Yl61P6F7LyqDvvV1LA_znhPheOxAr7e86LPPNBByiyqXu33hg73wIzPtnk6K_LyVOyVcPHUo7VSqltwFtckGRUeYrIvuIGD3ql6hSFOPUC-UYH6LzTOZZGOIh5Iu-fuDK34kfhupopP/s320/lick.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5393430069043022898" /></a><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-N8G3Yw-JTfyUGefpcdbLQS3a2jZLuASjL-wdkRxhG6rcfcVT4eaexJxDOkYEflbuaM-gf7qSVX_A8gHcDif0FEcBfBO4Lu0EQDxfKssipUWg93COmouERKDX8uRBG03ztgpkbWqTTgkB/s1600-h/lilman.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; 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Snuggled up with my little guy on the couch under a fluffy blanket of down......wishing I had finished his quilt.<br /><br />The oral surgery went well. Several hours later and he is almost himself again....save for the pain and a little bit of the evil eye pointed in my direction every now and then :)<br />As if I'm the bad guy...I was crying like a big baby when they held that mask on his little face. He has bruising from the anestesia mask, he was fighting good.<br />A bundle of nerves is what I was until they placed him in my arms....then all was well.<br /><br />Hope everyone is holding tight to someone they love tonight.amyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00192142449867021654noreply@blogger.com3