Postcards from Summer

::Summer solstice sunset last night::

My intention for this summer is relaxed & slow & intentional.

I want to take more pictures with the big girl girl camera. 

I want to be outside as much as possible.

I want my girls to have as many fond memories of summer as I have from when I was little.

I also want to capture some of that here.

So postcards it will be. A picture or two of our day, with a few words written. Just like an old fashioned postcard (I want to send more real post cards too! I love receiving & sending snail mail!)

I miss this space

It's one of those things....you stop doing something for awhile and then it's hard to get back into it. Like sharing here. 

I miss this space, sharing our day, my thoughts, documenting the girls activities. 

Instagram has sort of taken over my blogging need. It's so much easier to snap a picture, put up a few words and move on. But I like blogging too, it gives me the space to sit and think more in depth about what is going on behind the picture, to remember and think about the scene that happened. 

And then I think "But I haven't blogged in so long" and it's hard to pick up again. I analyze that maybe I should change up my posting, make it more in depth, more of my writing, more thinking. But when I start to compartmentalize like that, nothing happens. 

I began blogging as a way to document our days, the things that make us happy....hence the title of this blog. Sometimes a picture with just a sentence or two will be good. Other times a poem I have written, or something more in depth. Sharing my knitting, or a project we are working on, pictures of the birds or flowers, pictures of the girls as they do their things. 

So I plan on continuing like I started. Sharing bits and pieces of our days and the things that bring us joy. I miss doing that here and having it all in one place. And I miss the community that has built up around this place. 

It is time to come back. I am grateful for that.

Moments

The other night the sunset was amazing. The pink & purples were so deep. There is nothing like a late winters sunset. (Except a summers sunset!) After thinking how beautiful it was, my first thought was "I need to capture this in a picture." So I grabbed my phone and ran from the kitchen window, to the dining room window and then upstairs to the bathroom window and Marie-Therese's window. I was getting frustrated because no matter how hard I tried I couldn't quite get the vibrancy of the colors, or the stunning views I was seeing.

Before I knew it the colors weren't quite so THERE. It was still beautiful but if I wasn't careful I would miss it. Yes I would have seen the colors, the sun setting, but I was on the verge of missing the EXPERIENCE. Of the few moments of entering into the moment, standing there and simply taking in the brilliance of the painted sky.

No matter how beautiful the picture would turn out, nothing compares to being fully in the moment & experiencing it first hand. By rushing up and downstairs I was missing some moments of color, I was missing the opportunity to stand and simply be for a few moments with a beautiful sky. Pictures are wonderful and I won't stop taking them, but I have to recognize that no picture, at any time, will ever capture the true beauty of a moment. Because a picture captures a tiny second of a moment and I want to enter into the whole moment, body and soul. To have the details, the sensations, ingrained into my memory and my body.

When Marie-Therese noticed my frantic running up and down the stairs she went up to her bedroom (she already knows the best view for watching sunsets) and stood there looking out, marveling. She said the sky looked magical and the fairies must be so happy to be dancing out in those colors tonight.

Yes. That is what I to remember. Her description that needed no picture taken. I hope to remember this in the future. Take a picture, then put down the phone or the camera and enter into the moment. Allow my mind and body to capture the experience, they will do a better job at remembering than any picture ever could.

This week

This week was the slow that we needed

An easing into October

Filled with gray mornings

and

rainy afternoons spent reading, knitting and watching (too much) tv

But I believe, as we reach Friday, 

that it was what was needed. 

I hope you all have a good weekend!

This week

This week got away from me!! Monday was a big cookout here with our family. Where Ree & her cousin ran smack into each other HARD head on head contact. (Oh that sound of heads hitting heads!) Cousin S had a massive goose egg on the side of her head. My little one has her very first official "shiner".  Thankfully she can open it now, and it looks like she went very heavy on the eye makeup!

Tuesday we began "school". She asked each morning to "do school work". Just about 15 minutes of workbook work and then we go about our normal day of learning through art, reading and play. We are easing into things. I have some other ideas to implement but I came down with a nasty bug and my energy has been zip. I went to the doctor yesterday and got medicine so I'm hoping to be back to myself on Monday!

Speaking of Monday, that's the day we begin the Poetry in Every Day Beauty workshop. Welcome letters will be going out later today and registration (with the bring a friend offer) will be open until at least Monday evening!

Make and Listen Along

I had meant to have a yarn along post for yesterday. But it would have pretty much been the same as last week! I am still on the cuff of my sock, and just finished the book (which I loved!). I did decide I would be frogging the first sock I made up to the cuff, making the cuff longer & the foot longer too. I had plenty of yarn and I just don't think it will fit the recipient right the way it is. I'd rather take some out to make it correctly. 

Other then sock knitting, this week has been a lot of memory making. Monday evening we decided, spur of the moment, to head to one of our local beaches for some playground fun and sunset watching. Ree had so much fun on her "surprise" as we didn't tell her beforehand where we were going. There was some sea shell collecting, a race between momma & Ree & baby (who had help from daddy) some swinging and going down the slide (by both Ree & I. I haven't swung that high nor gone down such a big slide in a long time!)

We caught the sunset and it was stunning. The past few days have been dentist appointments and errands and spending time with my sister & her kids at my parents. Just a whole lot of being in the moments as they come, soaking up one another presence and those of our loved ones. 

I won't kid, there have been some melt downs, late nights & early mornings that make for tired momma's and littles, a teething baby and the return of the heat. But we really are making the best of things and taking life one moment at a time.

As for listening, there has been the return of the upstairs air conditioner, very noisy peepers at night, the happy squeals of a baby, the questions of an inquisitive 4 year old, the lapping of the waves on the shore and the shouts and laughter of children at playgrounds. 

****

A reminder about the Poetry in Everyday Beauty course. Registration is open and will remain open through September 8th, start day! The option to bring a friend will stay until then as well!

This week

Thank you so much for your enthusiastic reception of my Poetry in Every Day Beauty workshop/ecourse (I'm not really sure what to call it!)

There is still just over two weeks before we begin so there's plenty of time to find a friend and sign up two for one! Everyone who signs up will get an email a few days before we begin.

This week has been a slow one. Lots of art and coloring time; exploring a new to us park after dinner;  watching the flowers bloom; going on walks around the neighborhood; just slowly savoring these days of summer. 

I hope you have had a good week as well and a wonderful weekend to come!

A week of Evenings

I hope everyone has a beautiful weekend!

Dappled light

It is no secret that I love taking pictures of the way the sun comes into my living room. Especially in the morning. I love watching & trying to capture the way it casts shadows on the walls, floor & furniture. Of course this morning, when the prompt is "dappled light" it is gray and raining out. No sunlight to be found!

Thankfully I love photographing it so much I have these pictures from this weekend! The lower one is actually from Sunday evening. At the time I am usually preparing supper. Who knew the light was gorgeous in there at that time of day too!

Writing & photographing along with the Write ALM prompts

A week of Mornings

I often take a picture each morning of what I am doing while I drink my morning coffee. Amanda from The Habit of Being began a hashtag on Instagram a few months back #hellomorningcoffee that I enjoy participating in. I love seeing what everyone else is doing while they have their morning beverage. Usually I am reading or writing. Or looking out the window.

Sometimes I take pictures that don't feature my coffee. This morning when I sat down I realized I took a morning picture each day this week. 

I think for next Friday I will focus on "A week of Afternoons". I've got to get more practice in with the new camera!

Outside this week

We've had pretty good weather this week. Some sunny days, some overcast days. But no rain for the most part. Of course that is scheduled to come this weekend when we have a college graduation to go to.

We've spent some time outside each day where we water the seedlings; watch the birds; marvel at the "pink rug" that I think cheery tree flower petals leave on the street; blow bubbles & do sidewalk chalk. 

Another week come and gone and the weekend is upon us. It's a busy one for us! I hope you all have a great one!

Morning::Noon::Night

Morning, noon and night...three little peeks into my day yesterday. Linking up with Kim at Mothering with Mindfulness

 

Morning:: 8:15 AM

 

Noon:: 1:00 PM

Night:: 6:15 PM

Let's Catch Up

Oh what a few weeks it has been

Just after writing my last post everything in life got turned all upside down. My grandfather suffered a massive stroke and for five days our whole family spent all of our time at his bedside.

Five blessed days. He was unconscious the whole time but we knew in spirit, he was there. That time gave us the opportunity to hold his hand, kiss him, tell him all the things we needed to, to celebrate his long life with him at our side still. We cried together, laughed together, looked at pictures, remembered all the memories we have of him. His whole life was devoted to family. He left that legacy for us. That no matter what is happening in the world, we need to center and focus on family. 

And so that is what we have been doing. Last Sunday he breathed his last, the day after his 84th birthday. The day after he got one more birthday celebration. (How the man loved birthday's! And food!) We laid him to rest last Friday in a beautiful, tear-filled funeral. We know he is at rest now having lived a well lived life. And we are left here to continue the legacy he left for all of us. With our pictures, our memories and one another.

This weekend was supposed to be one of gradually getting back into routine. Except with the world having been upside down for almost two weeks...that didn't happen. We need to gently ease into routine and I think it's going to take a few days. 

So this week is going to be slow. Yesterday was a day spent again with family, outside, celebrating mothers. And taking my new camera for a spin. How I love it!!

Now I need to think about grocery shopping & cooking. Cleaning the house. Spending time outside. Picking up my pen and journal. All those things that make up my life. The life that I love and that I am so happy to be living. Nothing like watching the last few days of someone's life and celebrating that life, to make one turn inwards to take stock of how one is living one's own life! 

Morning::Noon::Night

Morning, noon and night...three little peeks into my day yesterday. Linking up with Kim at Mothering with Mindfulness

 

Morning:: 7AM

 

Noon:: 1PM

Night:: 7PM

These days

The days have been flying by in a blur! 

Holy Week was spent with Momma recovering from her cold and Ree in the throes of hers. We didn't do nearly our usual Holy Week activities. But there is always next year!

Easter weekend was beautiful. I kept it simple this year for the most part. Simple is nice. And no anxiety. We had Easter dinner here and it was a wonderful day with our family.

Easter Monday dawned beautiful. The girls and I spent the majority of the day outside soaking up the fresh air and sunshine.

It's been quiet on this little blog lately. Not for lack of things to post, but rather for lack of time it seems! Baby is teething hence not sleeping. That makes momma a little punch drunk at times. But the early morning wake up calls have been great for my creativity. 

Do you remember that poetry project I mentioned a few months ago? I am in the process of writing it up as a little bit of an e-course type thing. I have no idea if there will be interest in it but the idea of it has only gotten stronger instead of less, so I am rolling with it. And the writing is pouring onto the paper. So we'll see where that will lead! And that is where a lot of my "free" time has gone. More like a stolen moment here and there!

Things are going well here in our little world. The spring time is a beautiful time. Or as Ree keeps saying every time we step outside, or every time she notices a flower or every time she sees the buds on the trees "the world is so MAGICAL right now! I can't stop breathing it in." I have no idea where she gets these sayings but I love them!

What has been happening in your world? And I promise to try and be more faithful at stopping by everyone's own blogs!

Morning::Noon::Night

Morning, noon and night...three little peeks into my day yesterday. Linking up with Kim at Mothering with Mindfulness

 

Morning:: 8:30

 

Noon:: 1pm

Night:: 5:45pm (full disclosure....this was taken Saturday evening. But I love it so wanted to share. Plus I forgot to take a picture last night!)

Adventure

Yesterday had the potential to turn into "one of THOSE days". Where at any moment Momma would lose her stuff. For no reason either. 

So instead of loosing it, just after lunch I ignored the toys all over the house. The art supplies all over the kitchen table. The dirty dishes on the counter. The fact that there was 10 minutes until rest time. The dirty laundry waiting to go down to the washer. I asked Ree if she wanted to go on an adventure? Well my adventure loving girl had her socks, shoes & coat on faster then I could get out of my chair.

We took a drive to the other side of the city to the beaches. There was no one there except the sea gulls. It was gorgeous. The breeze was only slightly chilly. The sun was shinning bright. The water was frozen way out. It was amazing. We didn't get out but for a few seconds. I forgot the baby carrier at home & there was no way I was carrying the baby seat, nor taking the baby OUT of the seat. It wasn't that warm after all! But we rolled down the windows and just sat for a little bit.

When we got home Ree ASKED to go up for a rest. She proceeded to play legos quietly in her room for the next hour. I enjoyed the time by writing out some of the thoughts I had while we were out. 

It felt good to throw it all to the wind and get out of the house for a little bit. And somehow at the end of the day, the dishes were clean, the laundry was washed, the toys were picked up. And Momma was calmer then she would have been had we not gotten out of the house for a bit. 

I need to remember to do this more often!