Friday, May 27, 2011

Broccoli continued...

I have to follow up on the broccoli...
So we ate that wonderful broccoli for dinner on Wednesday - it was delish - and as we ate, we talked about how broccoli must be harvested before it blooms.  Peanut was curious about it so we continued the conversation about how we eat the buds before they become flowers.  Suddenly, she jumped up from the table and said she was tired and ran into her room.  Honey followed to help get her ready for bed, and I heard her crying and crying.  He came back and said she only wanted to talk to me, so I went into her room and sat with her.  I asked her why she was so sad all of a sudden, and she said "I don't want to eat that broccoli!" oh so tearfully.  So I said, that she didn't have to, but it looked like she had enjoyed it and I wondered aloud what happened to make her so sad and upset about eating the broccoli.  "I don't want flowers to bloom in my stomach and make holes!"  she wails.  Well.  It was all I could do to keep a straight, concerned face, as I comforted her.  Oh the terrors of being almost four!

We pulled out her "body book" (I got it at a yard sale for free!  It has layers of the different body systems and she loves it!) and looked at the digestive system.  I told her about how her stomach churns and squishes food to get the nutrients out and send them off to the other parts that need them.  I said that once food gets into your stomach, it stops growing and starts feeding you.  She began to giggle about plants growing in her belly and all was right with the world. 

This Moment - A Friday Ritual - Joy

I'm following along with SouleMama - in her words:

{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, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

 

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Books, Books, and More Books!

At any given moment I am probably reading around six books.  I've always been a voracious reader, and love to not only lose myself in a good novel, but love to learn new things from books as well.  I'm in a book club that has been meeting every month for about 15 years - yes, that's 15 YEARS.  It all started as an excuse to drink wine and eat cheese, and we surprised ourselves with how much we had to talk about related to the book.  Our one rule for the book club is that the picks must be fiction, so I have to do my non fiction reading on my own time.  Anyone who knows me knows that I'll often say "I read somewhere..." in response to almost anything.  Base don one book recommendation, I'll read all of the other titles by that author and then the books they recommend as well.  And so it goes. At least I've switched over to mainly library books, as it was getting pricy to be a bookworm.  I've been getting some books on half.com as well.  I am a little curious about Honey's Nook though, and even though I said I'd never use one since I like the feel of a book, I'll admit that it is really cool.  So anyway, I thought it might be fun to see what is currently on my nightstand... What are you reading right now?

Usually the ones on the top are current reads - I'm probably part way through 3 of these right now and finished with the one on top - The Postmistress - since it is a bookclub book and we meet tomorrow.

Front of the middle shelf - stuff I have started and put down, or know that there is something I want to reference for later...like Carrots Love Tomatoes

These are in the back of the middle shelf - reference books, magazines, books borrowed from others...
More reference books - with a small person's foot on them :)

Broccoli!

Here's the first one!  Woohoo! 

And there are several more heads growing - my first successful broccoli!

Friday, May 20, 2011

This Moment - A Friday Ritual - Babies

I'm following along with SouleMama - in her words:

{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, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Really Important Things

He is on a mission...







Friday, May 13, 2011

Searching

I grew up in the Northeast. Fast talking. Busy. Very important. Always trying to get ahead. Art was in museums. Only the best ones. No one listened to country. Few people I knew went regularly to church or temple. I felt like believing in a religion, in God, was beneath me somehow. Like I was "better than" because I wasn't following the herd, even though, of course, I was in that I wasn't - see?

After some trials and tribulations that were bound to come with the choices I made, I went off into the woods and found my religion. The sunrise in the Smokies, the towering pines, the mist underneath me when I was on top of a mountain. The awesomeness of it all made me feel small and shrunk my troubles to a manageable size. I believed then that I was held. Protected. Loved. The closest to God that I have ever come.

I am feeling a need to experience this again. To feel safe. To believe. To give over everything and be free of the thinking. To walk for miles, days, and listen to the world. To see beauty in everything. I've been here for almost 20 years now, and while I am certainly not in the true South, I am influenced by the people, music and culture here and beyond. I'm thankful for it's (relatively) slower pace. I have found myself listening to country and "feeling" it. I'm drawn to the way people see God in nature. I'm wanting I guess, some magic. I know it is here, perhaps I just need to open my eyes.

Up he goes!

What is a mama to do. He is scrambling!

This Moment - A Friday Ritual - Blooming

I'm following along with SouleMama - in her words:

{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, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Wednesday, May 11, 2011

Playing together!

We have reached the moment - the kids playing together - really playing together and coming up with imaginary games and rules and roles - that I have been waiting for. I'm hoping it will continue for a while and not be a fleeting moment of bliss. They have been playing "shop" under the barstools. One sells to the other for "cash and money" and then they switch. Their store sells clothes, treats, food, and all kinds of other stuff.

They have also been doing lots of play with their baby dolls. This afternoon they had them out playing chalk and learning to walk in the front yard. The other day they were teaching them to use the potty.

It's really amusing when Peanut tells a story about what her girl likes or doesn't and then ends with "ah, I didn't know that about her!" as though her girl is unfolding her personality the way my little ones seem to be.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Every Day

I really dislike the idea of setting aside a day to celebrate moms. Really, I am not of fan of most of these kinds of holidays - they imply that we need a reminder to appreciate what we ought to be celebrating every day. Of course, we are also supposed to buy cards and flowers and go out to a pricey overrated brunch. So is Mother's Day actually for me? I think not. It does make me think about mommy hood though, and about my beautiful children, without whom I'd just be dreaming of some day being a mom. As much as I love children in general, I had no idea how much my heart could hold. Love you babies.

Victorious!

My strategy has worked. I have tried growing broccoli several times now, and never been successful. The plants I have now are the most advanced version of cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower I have ever managed, and by golly I'd like to keep them going! We picked several cabbage worms off the broccoli and cabbages this week, so I began a daily inspection. I started putting the worms in a little bowl on the side of the garden bed to entice the birds to do their part. I just caught a cardinal and his mate having a fabulous mother's day buffet in the brassicas!

Friday, May 6, 2011

This Moment - A Friday Ritual - Cabbage Worm

I'm following along with SouleMama - in her words:

{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, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Thank You

I haven't written about gratitude in a long time. It seems that I ought to, as it is something I am working towards incorporating into my daily life. I do understand why I haven't written too much as it's been hard for me to express gratitude. Like everything, I continue to learn and grow. So here we are.

It's relatively easy being grateful for the wonderful things in life. Husband, children, lovely home, the ability to choose work...the list goes on and on. I am blessed for sure. You just smile, say thank you, and go on about your day. It's harder I have found to be grateful for things that on the surface seem like they are hurting your life. But really, that is what it's all about - learning from failures, mistakes, crummy relationships,your kids temper tantrums, overbearing (or incompetent) bosses...it's all for good. All of the valleys, if you use them to your advantage and really take a minute to reflect upon them, are there to help you grow.

So thank you for providing an opportunity for me to become a better me. Thank you for the chance to reflect upon the words that come out of my mouth and consider how they will be received. Thank you for the lump in my throat, the tear in my eye, the clench of my jaw that alerts me to my inner issues that need to be examined. Thank you for each and every part of my life that has brought me to this place today. I am grateful.