i'm a girl that loooooves new beginnings.
prob'ly that states clearly my optimism and idealism.
mornings, birthdays, new seasons... it doesn't matter. they're all filled with my hopes and ideas and eagerness.
over the last few days i've been cleaning, as you may know. i don't panic about having it done by december 31, but, still, "begin as you intend to go on" always resonates with me well-ly, so i do my best to make sure our home is clean and happy - free of the physical debris as well as the more ethereal.
so that's been a big part of our days. it's not every day we get to begin a new year. well [ahem] - actually, it is, :), but even though everyday life is quite extraordinary and wonderful, we still have days that we mark as Holidays. so i'll stick with that notion for now.
we decided last new year's eve year while sledding down the hill with our friends that we'd make a tradition of it.
there's a large pavilion with a hearth at the bottom, facing the hill, and the many tables invite us to sprawl out and settle in for a while.
we take soup, and cocoa.
and moonshine jugs of golden ale and marshmallows or whipped cream.
and spoons and bowls and extra mittens and hats and firewood.
an' sleds, too.
this year Eric works late on new year's eve, so we asked our friends, Julie, Lee, Damek, and Kyan if we could move it up a day early. we didn't think we'd be out too late, and it's a family thing....
so yesterday was spent makin' ready.
makin' ready for a new year, and makin' ready for an evening with friends.
and we had a marvelous time! and even though it was cold, cold, cold, fire and friendship warmed us well, and we stayed hours longer than we thought we would.
now this morning i have one more day, and i'm feeling hopeful about getting the end of the year wrapped up neat and tidy...
making room for another lovely new beginning.
Friday, December 31, 2010
Thursday, December 30, 2010
a word.
are you a resolutionist, or a revolutionist?
this is my fourth year for choosing a new intention for the next year. (i'm of the Revolution category.)
it takes me a while to find just the right word, most of the time.
seems to me, that some words get really, really close... but all but The One lack a certain something that pulls it all together.
and then you think of it, and you just know.
this year, for me?
Harmony.
as in -
congruity.
as in -
melodic balance.
as in -
a coming together of the body and soul.
as in -
all things lined up and blending perfectly.
a lovely, soulful song.
more to come about this, surely, over the next few days.
have you a word you wanna share?
december 29 : the heart of the thing
the kitchen was my room of choice.
was in there all day.
...seems terribly appropriate, now,
as the kitchen is mostly considered the heart of the home, hmm?
i washed walls.
and baseboards.
cleaned under the fridge.
(along with all the more usual stuff, of course.)
I s'pose that hearing about scrubbin' and organizing isn't very exciting or inspiring.
but sometimes it is
s o u l - w o r k
you know?
it's like
clearin' a path for the sublime.
what that means to me in practical terms
is that there is room
for impromptu Everythings--
plays
and forts
and taking up every square inch of the kitchen floor with a project.
or many projects.
I was thinking about this a lot.
about making room for Spirit.
and that in making room for things,
even for a heretic like me,
we can clear a path
for such things as Hope,
and Grace.
but we'll save those thoughts for another time.
[waves hand] don't mind me.
we've got a girl's moontime,
a blizzard blowin' outside,
end of the year contemplations,
and winter-time introspections.
these sort of thoughts, then, are bound to fly about.
all that's missin' is a glass of wine and a fire in the hearth....
there was Art Class.
doesn't matter that she was the only one there.
was satisfying, just the same, she said.
Lost Cities
stilts
Rumis
was in there all day.
...seems terribly appropriate, now,
as the kitchen is mostly considered the heart of the home, hmm?
i washed walls.
and baseboards.
cleaned under the fridge.
(along with all the more usual stuff, of course.)
I s'pose that hearing about scrubbin' and organizing isn't very exciting or inspiring.
but sometimes it is
s o u l - w o r k
you know?
it's like
clearin' a path for the sublime.
what that means to me in practical terms
is that there is room
for impromptu Everythings--
plays
and forts
and taking up every square inch of the kitchen floor with a project.
or many projects.
I was thinking about this a lot.
about making room for Spirit.
and that in making room for things,
even for a heretic like me,
we can clear a path
for such things as Hope,
and Grace.
but we'll save those thoughts for another time.
[waves hand] don't mind me.
we've got a girl's moontime,
a blizzard blowin' outside,
end of the year contemplations,
and winter-time introspections.
these sort of thoughts, then, are bound to fly about.
all that's missin' is a glass of wine and a fire in the hearth....
there was Art Class.
doesn't matter that she was the only one there.
was satisfying, just the same, she said.
Lost Cities
stilts
Rumis
an' all through Teaser and the Firecat (know who?)
an'
The Best Of (leonard cohen)
there were smiles
an' sighs,
an' dinner.
and snow
and snuggles and love.
well - gush and mush is a part of life around here, too,
sometimes, i spose.
all is well.
blessings to you.
an'
The Best Of (leonard cohen)
there were smiles
an' sighs,
an' dinner.
and snow
and snuggles and love.
well - gush and mush is a part of life around here, too,
sometimes, i spose.
all is well.
blessings to you.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
tuesday's soft sigh
I got to start my day with a late morning (well past sunrise) snuggle with my Maddie.
an' we stayed a while and read Amazing You!.
soon she moved on to building a farmyard and shed with the citiblocs.
an' I got to snuggle and love with Trevy.
roadwork.
"Mom, can I paint somethin'?"
"Absolutely.`"
"Right now?"
"Absolutely."
"Wanna paint with me?"
"Absolutely.
an' there were ferries upon the water. "You know those boats that let cars on them? What are those called?"
and Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head.
skits. complete with foreign accents.
Charlie Brown Valentine shows.
and other Charlie Brown shows. (hulu and youtube.)
there was a whooooooole big production of Godzilla's Monster Island in the den.
Trevy's doing.
talking to eachother about what was going to happen,
Maddie about a play, and cartin' characters and trees from her brother's room to the den.
she sung to him the music she had selected for his play (play, as in theater).
more play - of the non-theatrical sort.
and meandering.
and building.
and imagining.
an' me?
well... I read.
and watched.
and listened.
and talked with my friend on the phone.
and made plans in my head to clean - as I was reading.
and listened to my babies play happily together. while I read.
and soon had to turn on the lamp.... too dark to just have my back to the window for light.
and somehow I just can't be sorry, or choose something different for any of it.
an' we stayed a while and read Amazing You!.
soon she moved on to building a farmyard and shed with the citiblocs.
an' I got to snuggle and love with Trevy.
roadwork.
"Mom, can I paint somethin'?"
"Absolutely.`"
"Right now?"
"Absolutely."
"Wanna paint with me?"
"Absolutely.
an' there were ferries upon the water. "You know those boats that let cars on them? What are those called?"
and Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head.
skits. complete with foreign accents.
Charlie Brown Valentine shows.
and other Charlie Brown shows. (hulu and youtube.)
there was a whooooooole big production of Godzilla's Monster Island in the den.
Trevy's doing.
talking to eachother about what was going to happen,
Maddie about a play, and cartin' characters and trees from her brother's room to the den.
she sung to him the music she had selected for his play (play, as in theater).
more play - of the non-theatrical sort.
and meandering.
and building.
and imagining.
an' me?
well... I read.
and watched.
and listened.
and talked with my friend on the phone.
and made plans in my head to clean - as I was reading.
and listened to my babies play happily together. while I read.
and soon had to turn on the lamp.... too dark to just have my back to the window for light.
and somehow I just can't be sorry, or choose something different for any of it.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
december twenty-seventh : pieces
wellp. it's a dang good thing I gave myself a week to get (thoroughly) organized.
honestly, she says as she rolls her eyes at herself.
ah, well.
movin' on!
the pistachio shells are off the floor.
the shelves off the kitchen are emptied of All Things That Do Not Permanently Live Here. (the empty spaces fill up very, very quickly - that's why we have them.)
a single layer of things in the catch-all tray. a miracle, that.
the rubber stamps are in their proper place. (that means in order.)
certain things have had their thrice-yearly polish. (spring, fall, new year.)
a dresser drawer has been designed and created for crowns and hats and gloves and fancy tea dresses.
one of my best ideas ever. had no idea where I was gonna put this stuff.
the things that got lost in the holiday tornado that was Christmas Morning were pointed out and at least held for a few seconds. (particularly, i'm speaking of National Geographic Kids Almanac 2011 - I really think it will see much love over the next year or so.)
the games of last week -and last month- have been taken out of the livingroom's cabinet, and are now piled too high downstairs in the rumpus room.
finally, a place for Maddie's new puzzles. she'd been patiently waiting.
and a looksee at a new book.
hey! Rumis!
I think we'll really like this one... wanted to let you know 'bout this, if you don't have it. It's gotten really great reviews, and has won numerous awards. The reviews all say start at age 8-10, but we love Blokus (and Maddie's brain is wired this way), and we do just fine.
We played for the first time today - played two games, and really enjoyed it.
Mancala.
and other good stuff.
now here's what I've been wanting to tell you about.
' could be that I'm the only one that didn't know 'bout such a thing, but in case that's not true, I wanted to share.
I got these two coloring book references from Theresa at Lapaz Home Learning quite a while ago. I remembered them, and ordered them for under our tree. (have to admit outright that they were for me, as I just tug the children along sometimes.)
really, really cool.
we'll be checking these out casually-- kid-friendly great artist library books, then using different mediums or techniques for our own interpretations or reproductions.
this isn't a required thing, mind you-- I just want them to understand that every artist has the right to create and express as suits them... and that many different styles and expressions are possible and accepted. even celebrated.
this evolution went something like: Trev and I checked out Vincent Van Gogh, and soon it was evident that today was not the day for such things. So I said, "hey, how 'bout kid library books for learning about these artists?" and he said "okay", and we moved on to Lost Cities.
"Mom!! Is it time to paint, now!?!" Maddie jumps and sings.
"Well... Trevy doesn't want to... you wannu, still?"
"Yes!"
"Okay... which one do you want to create? I choose The Birth of Venus."
Maddie chose Salvador Dali's The Persistence of Memory.
(as I plan to use and have these books for as long as possible, we are not coloring directly in the book.)
so Madd's building after she paints, and i'm still coloring mine, and she asks, "what's the fear of climbing stairs called?"
"I have no idea," I say.
She continues to build her restaurant with the citiblocs... "Oh, yeah. I know what it's called. Climacophobia. 'Cause it starts with 'climb'."
"Want me to look it up?" I asked, being impressed, but totally figuring she made it up.
"Yeah."
Enters 'the fear of climbing stairs' on her handy-dandy laptop (always nearby), "Climacophobia", it says. "Climacophobia!! How did you know that!?! Was that on Word Girl?" asks her Mama.
Yup.
:)
all quietens down,
Madd heads to her room for some more puzzle time,
and Trev is downstairs with his Godzilla friends.
all is well here -
and right,
and fine,
and good.
honestly, she says as she rolls her eyes at herself.
ah, well.
movin' on!
the pistachio shells are off the floor.
the shelves off the kitchen are emptied of All Things That Do Not Permanently Live Here. (the empty spaces fill up very, very quickly - that's why we have them.)
a single layer of things in the catch-all tray. a miracle, that.the rubber stamps are in their proper place. (that means in order.)
certain things have had their thrice-yearly polish. (spring, fall, new year.)
a dresser drawer has been designed and created for crowns and hats and gloves and fancy tea dresses.
one of my best ideas ever. had no idea where I was gonna put this stuff.the games of last week -and last month- have been taken out of the livingroom's cabinet, and are now piled too high downstairs in the rumpus room.
finally, a place for Maddie's new puzzles. she'd been patiently waiting.
and a looksee at a new book.
hey! Rumis!
I think we'll really like this one... wanted to let you know 'bout this, if you don't have it. It's gotten really great reviews, and has won numerous awards. The reviews all say start at age 8-10, but we love Blokus (and Maddie's brain is wired this way), and we do just fine.
We played for the first time today - played two games, and really enjoyed it.
Mancala.
and other good stuff.
now here's what I've been wanting to tell you about.
' could be that I'm the only one that didn't know 'bout such a thing, but in case that's not true, I wanted to share.
I got these two coloring book references from Theresa at Lapaz Home Learning quite a while ago. I remembered them, and ordered them for under our tree. (have to admit outright that they were for me, as I just tug the children along sometimes.)
really, really cool.
we'll be checking these out casually-- kid-friendly great artist library books, then using different mediums or techniques for our own interpretations or reproductions.
this isn't a required thing, mind you-- I just want them to understand that every artist has the right to create and express as suits them... and that many different styles and expressions are possible and accepted. even celebrated.
this evolution went something like: Trev and I checked out Vincent Van Gogh, and soon it was evident that today was not the day for such things. So I said, "hey, how 'bout kid library books for learning about these artists?" and he said "okay", and we moved on to Lost Cities.
"Mom!! Is it time to paint, now!?!" Maddie jumps and sings.
"Well... Trevy doesn't want to... you wannu, still?"
"Yes!"
"Okay... which one do you want to create? I choose The Birth of Venus."
Maddie chose Salvador Dali's The Persistence of Memory.
(as I plan to use and have these books for as long as possible, we are not coloring directly in the book.)
so Madd's building after she paints, and i'm still coloring mine, and she asks, "what's the fear of climbing stairs called?"
"I have no idea," I say.
She continues to build her restaurant with the citiblocs... "Oh, yeah. I know what it's called. Climacophobia. 'Cause it starts with 'climb'."
"Want me to look it up?" I asked, being impressed, but totally figuring she made it up.
"Yeah."
Enters 'the fear of climbing stairs' on her handy-dandy laptop (always nearby), "Climacophobia", it says. "Climacophobia!! How did you know that!?! Was that on Word Girl?" asks her Mama.
Yup.
:)
all quietens down,
Madd heads to her room for some more puzzle time,
and Trev is downstairs with his Godzilla friends.
all is well here -
and right,
and fine,
and good.
Freedom
Everyone close to me knows exactly how I feel about this topic. And that it makes me crazy.
Take that literally or not, as you wish.
I'm not afraid.
Take that literally or not, as you wish.
I'm not afraid.
Monday, December 27, 2010
sunday
well, i managed to get both the babes' rooms cleaned yesterday.
that seemed the logical place to start, as I needed organized spaces to put all the new gear.
i love that. this is one of my favorite parts of the holiday-- juice.
rearranging shelves... gettin' rid of some un-needed things.... rotating, taking things downstairs, making room for new tools, ideas, and creativity....
really, really love it. :)
when i was in Trevy's room yesterday, i found this.
apparently, he is his mama's son. he had moved a couple of books off this particular shelf, and placed instead his Wimpy Kid books. in chronological order, of course. front and center. at his eye level.
makes sense to me.
Maddie did some organizing of her own.
happy sigh.
now their rooms are perfectly perfect, the new clothes are in the wash, and i can start on the rest of the house. i'm so looking forward to seeing new things on our upstairs shelves - it's been a while since we've rotated our supplies.
i also have something cool that i want to share with you later today... if i can get a table cleared enough for the three of us to play!
wish me luck!
p.s. -oh!! i just now realized that i completely forgot about the soul of sunday! oof. we'll resume next week.
that seemed the logical place to start, as I needed organized spaces to put all the new gear.
i love that. this is one of my favorite parts of the holiday-- juice.
rearranging shelves... gettin' rid of some un-needed things.... rotating, taking things downstairs, making room for new tools, ideas, and creativity....
really, really love it. :)
when i was in Trevy's room yesterday, i found this.
apparently, he is his mama's son. he had moved a couple of books off this particular shelf, and placed instead his Wimpy Kid books. in chronological order, of course. front and center. at his eye level.
makes sense to me.
Maddie did some organizing of her own.
happy sigh.
now their rooms are perfectly perfect, the new clothes are in the wash, and i can start on the rest of the house. i'm so looking forward to seeing new things on our upstairs shelves - it's been a while since we've rotated our supplies.
i also have something cool that i want to share with you later today... if i can get a table cleared enough for the three of us to play!
wish me luck!
p.s. -oh!! i just now realized that i completely forgot about the soul of sunday! oof. we'll resume next week.
Sunday, December 26, 2010
Christmas
Maybe it really started with Maddie writing her name on Trev's present.
I asked if since we were going to be spending the evening at Grandma's (Eric's mom's), if they'd like to exchange gifts, and open their Christmas Eve gift (which is always and forever new pajamas).
They were very, very happy with the gifts they received from each other. :) Trev got the second Wimpy Kid book, Maddie got a set of 100 new markers. Both great "I love you well-ly" gifts.
Maddie wraps her first present.... it's for Grandma.
A wonderful evening was had at Grandma's, of course. Yummy food and love and presents and uproarious laughter.
Eventually (after midnight, amazingly) we made it back home and straight to our beds. Glorious Christmas was here.
I was thinking, towards the end of the day, that I should get some things put away (or at least cleared up a bit) when Trev walked in the livingroom and said, "One of my favorite things about Christmas is seeing so many toys everywhere!"
So of course I left them. :)
It's true, though... so much new goodliness everywhere makes a heart eager for Play and Imagine and Create. I'm not eager to hide it all away - I'm giving myself a week ('til the new year-- stress-free) to organize and clean and find new places for everything.
The day saw all of the things one eagerly anticipates... dozens of presents, thousands of gumballs, construction, feeding a new baby (that really poos!), inspection of new materials and tools, make-believe and laughter in every room of the house, yummy foods, long bouts of two of us of lying under my new favorite blanket on the couch while watching and listening to the children play...
Along with so, so much Joy and gladness, was the always-lovely-to-hear declaration of "This is The Greatest Christmas Ever."
Well. That will do.
I asked if since we were going to be spending the evening at Grandma's (Eric's mom's), if they'd like to exchange gifts, and open their Christmas Eve gift (which is always and forever new pajamas).
They were very, very happy with the gifts they received from each other. :) Trev got the second Wimpy Kid book, Maddie got a set of 100 new markers. Both great "I love you well-ly" gifts.
Maddie wraps her first present.... it's for Grandma.
Eventually (after midnight, amazingly) we made it back home and straight to our beds. Glorious Christmas was here.
I was thinking, towards the end of the day, that I should get some things put away (or at least cleared up a bit) when Trev walked in the livingroom and said, "One of my favorite things about Christmas is seeing so many toys everywhere!"
So of course I left them. :)
It's true, though... so much new goodliness everywhere makes a heart eager for Play and Imagine and Create. I'm not eager to hide it all away - I'm giving myself a week ('til the new year-- stress-free) to organize and clean and find new places for everything.
The day saw all of the things one eagerly anticipates... dozens of presents, thousands of gumballs, construction, feeding a new baby (that really poos!), inspection of new materials and tools, make-believe and laughter in every room of the house, yummy foods, long bouts of two of us of lying under my new favorite blanket on the couch while watching and listening to the children play...
Along with so, so much Joy and gladness, was the always-lovely-to-hear declaration of "This is The Greatest Christmas Ever."
Well. That will do.
Friday, December 24, 2010
december twenty-three
I didn't get the holiday cards sent.
Oh, they're made, I just never remembered to buy stamps to send them.
House isn't clean, yet. Well - I'm still hopeful for that one.
The lights never made it up outside... but we'll say that wasn't really a fault of anyone's, as we had snow quite a ways before Thanksgiving, and no real opportunity to get up on the roof.
Yesterday as I was at the grocer's (very early), I was so happy to bask in the friendliness and eagerness of the other souls there. Most folks were smiling and happy with plenty of twinkling in their eyes, and surely a jingle in their step.
Maybe that sounds silly, but it's true.
Much of the day was spent being happy in the kitchen. With Lou, Nat, and Elvis....
two bags of powdered sugar and pounds of butter...
peppermint creams,
fudge,
toffee,
and peanut butter cups.
Listening to the children in the next room talking and sharing and happy to be doing so.
So content, I was.
Skate! was on our list.
Downtown, of course.
The children were flabbergasted that we didn't have the rink to ourselves upon arriving, though I expected it. I convinced them that all of these people were here to feel merry and to play, and we should just see how it goes.
We were there for four hours.
One of the reasons Trev was so devastated was because we watched the zamboni after our last Skate, and he was so relishing that new ice.
But! A little while after we got there, they shooed everyone off the ice for just a minute to bring the zamboni out!
Perfect.
My children are ice skaters.
Not much time today at the rails... soon enough Madd was running in her skates. On the ice!
So, so lovely it was... I stayed on the sidelines again -on cocoa and snack duty- totally absorbing the Joy around me. Grinnin' like a fool, I was...
So loving the bobbing hats and swaying scarves and laughter and happy shrieks and lights and music.
Just wonderful, I tell you.
Well,
it's Christmas Eve morning, now.
Life and the World are looking very Merry and Bright.
I wish Love and more Love to everyone.
Happy Christmas.
Oh, they're made, I just never remembered to buy stamps to send them.
House isn't clean, yet. Well - I'm still hopeful for that one.
The lights never made it up outside... but we'll say that wasn't really a fault of anyone's, as we had snow quite a ways before Thanksgiving, and no real opportunity to get up on the roof.
Yesterday as I was at the grocer's (very early), I was so happy to bask in the friendliness and eagerness of the other souls there. Most folks were smiling and happy with plenty of twinkling in their eyes, and surely a jingle in their step.
Maybe that sounds silly, but it's true.
Much of the day was spent being happy in the kitchen. With Lou, Nat, and Elvis....
two bags of powdered sugar and pounds of butter...
peppermint creams,
fudge,
toffee,
and peanut butter cups.
Listening to the children in the next room talking and sharing and happy to be doing so.
So content, I was.
Skate! was on our list.
Downtown, of course.
The children were flabbergasted that we didn't have the rink to ourselves upon arriving, though I expected it. I convinced them that all of these people were here to feel merry and to play, and we should just see how it goes.
We were there for four hours.
One of the reasons Trev was so devastated was because we watched the zamboni after our last Skate, and he was so relishing that new ice.
But! A little while after we got there, they shooed everyone off the ice for just a minute to bring the zamboni out!
Perfect.
My children are ice skaters.
Not much time today at the rails... soon enough Madd was running in her skates. On the ice!
So, so lovely it was... I stayed on the sidelines again -on cocoa and snack duty- totally absorbing the Joy around me. Grinnin' like a fool, I was...
So loving the bobbing hats and swaying scarves and laughter and happy shrieks and lights and music.
Just wonderful, I tell you.
Well,
it's Christmas Eve morning, now.
Life and the World are looking very Merry and Bright.
I wish Love and more Love to everyone.
Happy Christmas.
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