Curious Observer

Here in the southern part of the Northeast, because apparently Virginia is part of the South, we've had numerous March snowstorms. It's enough to make someone crazy. I'm already crazy so...I felt quite at home. 

 

I wrote this one mild morning. The birds were loud, the breeze was nice, and mother nature was sending us 8" of snow later that night. It was crazy-making. Trust me.

Writing outside this morning.

The dog searches for new smells.

Smells brought from the darkness of night,

newly emerged from a thawing Earth.

Geese in the distance,

communicating with the truest GPS.

Cardinals,

chickadees,

and blue jays

sing across the yards.

The train moans in the background.

The air is mild - a glimpse between seasons.

A snapshot of balance.

We c-r-e-e-p into the warmth of Spring.

We tip...toe towards a closer sun.

With snow in the forecast I default to my trust.

My trust that Mother Nature knows best.

This is her plan;

her divine creation;

her artistic attitude unfolding.

She withholds the full display of Spring.

I hold her wisdom paramount.

I am a curious observer.

Interested in her dance -

the long stillness of Winter,

with the faint strokes of Spring color.

Solitude - Fellowship.

Barren - Fertile.
Death - Life.
Winter - Spring.

We are all simply curious observers.

#fridayfaves 2.15.13

friday is about being grateful

  being present in the little things

remembering to breathe

seeing joy

it's overcast this afternoon after a morning of sun and mild'ish temps.
mother nature is easing out of winter, showing some interest in Spring...
this afternoon, though, calls for stove-top popped corn, 
leftover valentine cookies, 
a blanket 'bombed' family room,
hot coffee and hot chocolate. 
a snuggly & warm end to a
snuggly & warm week.

in motion
this child has determination.
this child has strength.
this child has limited fear when it comes to her physical abilities.
this child can flip, and flip back, and flip again.
this child does this in the grocery aisles 
(which requires this mother to plan shopping trips during off-peak hours.)
this child. 
 this one.    

      
thawing
these children can smell a thaw.
and on this day, it was warm.
the ground was wet, but warm.
shoes were off. socks were lost. 
they sat on their respective towels and dreamed of summer.
they planned the pool lay-out.
they discussed fire-flies, bats, frogs and eating dinner outside.
we had Spring for six hours, on this day,
and these kids LIVED every minute of it. 

soundtrack
true statement - i don't actually 'remember' anything about this song.
why is it making my list?
here's why -
i'm all about family...

there are some 'brothers' in this family...

and if i drank, i'd drink moonshine.

that's all i can really say, since i don't really remember this song.

but...for whatever reason,

on this day,

at 1:34 in the afternoon,

i stopped,

walked to the ipad, 

and took a screen shot.

it must have been good.

my own secret
i can't quite articulate why i find this picture so telling.
i'll try. here goes -
i love that they took twister outside to play.
i love that my oldest is in the middle - like she is the center of the universe, with an audience.
i love that my youngest boy is in his pj's still, and bare-footed.
i love that my youngest girl has a handled cup - holding it as if it's coffee.
and you may not be able to tell,
but i'm pretty sure the coffee-drinker is running the show.
it's just how it is around here.
the secrets that a mother knows, 
by just a random picture.
i may just be the luckiest person ever, to know these people.
luckiest. ever. 

touching the sky
here's this child. again.
upside down.
about to launch.
barefooted.
brave.
upside down.
trusting.
about to launch.
for the record,
she did a running front-flip,
landed on her feet,
with a smile on her face,
to the cheers of her people.
and the relief of her mother.
this child has launched.

#fridayfaves 2.8.13

Friday is about being grateful

seeing the little things

remembering to breathe

finding joy

it's been a busy week but without that overwhelmed feeling of too much, too little, quick-quick-quick! this is the part of our life that i love. we control the schedule! maybe this encourages a hermit's life but for us, it encourages harmony, and healthy control, and health - both physical and mental! by taking it slower, choosing quality over quantity, we stay in rhythm. 

i am so grateful to BE among the rhythm of my family. 

imbolc

this was our first year celebrating the festival of imbolc, 

the halfway point between winter solstice & spring equinox.

i love ritual, and ceremony, and the kids love fire so...it was a natural fit.

  i love that my children are learning new traditions,

all the while fueling my spirit.

signs of spring 

this tiny clay flower adorned my kitchen table this week.

out of scraps, and chaos, and turbulent moments, 

beauty & creation, color & life - PREVAILS!

just like the blooms in spring. 

notice the lady bug on the petal. 

i may never part with this.

signs of another kind

my calum.

my first son. 

my heart, in form.

he is taller every day.

strong. emotional. a force.

and he does the dishes...

his father - incarnate.   

time

we can't hold our rhythm without time.

time. 

time to be. 

time to serve.

i am eternally grateful for time - 

time to love, to nurture, to nourish, to learn, 

to be WITH my life, and my family!

and a little extra time to make sweet little strawberry hearts for the lunchbox. 

love

 the love of sisters.

the love of glue, and scissors, and construction paper.

the love of creating. 

the love of giving.

the love of sharing...of oneself,

to those we love.

5 facts

a fun exercise in learning the unsaid -

a few facts about me, as answered recently...

1.  sometimes, most times, the sunrise makes me speechless.

2. i happen to believe in fairies, and most things curious in nature.

3. the full moon makes me giddy.

4. i love a good quote. words can change your life.

5. three must-haves...a firepit, a favorite coffee mug, and my family.