In The Moment

On Thursday at yoga, Stephanie was talking about how we need to be in the moment more.  Stop worrying about all the details, what you are going to wear to the party, are you going to have fun?  And man did it so resonate with me.  Last week was my son's birthday and at the last minute, the birthday party got completely flipped upside down. I was so stressed and frantic and frustrated and grumpy and in the end, he had a total blast.  SO was it worth all the stress and anxiety...NO. So Friday night, was the complete opposite.  I grabbed some margarita mix/tequila limes we had and hiked over to my neighbors and within hours an impromptu neighborhood party began and it was surely a magical night.  We laughed endlessly. We shot off fireworks.  We each went around a circle and each told the story about how we met our spouse/S.O. and then the story about we got engaged.  Did I mention we laughed?

The next day we took the kids out on the boat and swam.  My water babies, they love it.....just like me.  And then the day ended with the most blood orange sunset.  And then more fireworks....a 30 minute display at some private residence.  (Did I mention I LOVE fireworks? )

Today,  I made pesto.  Well, I think I made pesto.  I asked the husband to grab basil from the garden and I think he came back with oregano.  Oh well, it still turned out pretty good.

Good weekend. Really good weekend.

Random boy jumping on rope swing.

Sunkissed

Turning blonde

Spray

Dill making rope swing jump.

1, 2, 3, 4 tell me could I love you more

Zero

One

Two

Three

Four

This is my sweet potato boy. He turned four today. 

When people say the word beauty, the first thing that pops in my head is my children.  I have seen the Grand Canyon and I have been to the Ocean and I have seen amazing art, but nothing has it on the beauty of this boy (and the girl.)  He wants so much to be a big boy.  He hates showers.  Love sweets.  Adores his big sister.  Loves eating baby carrots from the garden.  Builds houses for baby frogs.  Cheers "GO GO GO" every time a motorcycle drives by.  Has good dance rhythm. And can warm your heart so to the core when we wraps his arms tightly around your(my) neck and then plays with your(my) hair.  When he grows up he wants to be a policeman that drives jet skis and in the winter he wants to be a policeman that drives snowmobiles (quite practical if you ask me.) Until then though, I will enjoy this year number five with you my beloved boy.  Oh and thanks for letting me take so many pictures and way to go on the cool scooter moves.....love you mama

Unconditional Love

The power of unconditional love. I mean, there is no power on earth like unconditional love. And I think that if you offered that to your child, I mean, you’re 90 percent of the way home. There may be days when you don’t feel like it — it’s not uncritical love; that’s a different animal — but to know you can always come back, that is huge in life. That takes you a long, long way. And I would say that every parent out there that can extend that to their child at an early age, it’s going to make for a better human being.  Author: Warren Buffett

Just a beautiful song

My Morning Jacket
Wonderful (the way I feel)

Save this song for my funeral party set list.  Dave, mom, anyone that reads this....I want this played at my funeral party.




The best part:

With the sun on my shoulder
And the wind in my back
I will never grow older
At least not in my mind

I feel so wonderful, wonderful, wonderful the way I feel
I feel so wonderful, wonderful, wonderful the way I feel
So wonderful, wonderful the way I feel
I feel so wonderful, wonderful, wonderful the way I feel

I'm going where there ain't no fear
I'm going where the spirit is near
I'm going where the living is easy
And the people are kind
A new state of mind

I'm going where there ain't no police
I'm going where there ain't no disease
I'm going where there ain't no need
To escape from what is
Only spirits at ease 

Recent observations

1)I have a ton of cookbooks, in fact, I have three boxes worth.  WHY AM I NOT COOKING MORE?  No excuses.

2)In all situations, kids + water = happy children.

3)Mexican themed parties are always successful.  It must be the tequila?

4)We are going to be eating very creatively the next few weeks as I attempt to get rid some of the stuff we have frozen. Note to self: be sure to label bags/containers with ingredients so you know what you are attempting to eat.

5)Raspberries off the bush, taste the best.  Rhubarb pie made from your garden is divine.

6)My sesame is growing well, what am I going to do with it?

7)I rode my bike to the local farmers market Saturday under grey skies...and it felt soooo good.

8)I am overjoyed that my daughter loves spaghetti because I hated it at her age.

9)I am reading Just Kids by Patti Smith about her friendship with Robert Mapplethorpe.  Totally fascinating.

10)Fireflies are the best.

So...

Blessed
Tired
Excited
Overwhelmed
Downright giddy......


First things first.  Well, I think my penchant and love for entering contests and sweepstakes is not unknown on this blog. But the deal is, I never ever win.   I think it is that sort of "eternal dreamer"-thing I have going on where I actually think that I am going to win a dream vacation or a washer/dryer set or camera or a years worth of laundry detergent.....BUT GUESS WHAT..I won.....I actually friggin won something!!!  And it is so COOOOOOOOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL. 

So Mrs. Emily Rooney custom made this piece of art for me. (she has made two others for me, here and here It is hanging (sitting) in my office right now and it is my mantra.  The real quote is a Buddhist quote that I altered slightly to reflect the life I want to lead.  I just absolutely love it.  I love it so much, that I am probably going to have to decorate a whole room around it ;)  Thank you so much Emily!! 

As for life, well it is a tad nuts these days.  We sold our house and are getting ready to take the plunge and empty out our house.  I am thinking about a garage sale, but my inner lazy bum says donate it all.  We will see.  We will be moving to the little 1 bedroom cabin that sits in our little paradise as we work to either build a house or work to find another house.  You are thinking...did she say  1 bedroom cabin??  Yep,  1 bedroom.  1 bedroom with a crooked floors and cottage kitchen. 1 bedroom, 4 people.  It is scary and exciting all at the same time. 

So I know awhile back I said I was quitting television, well I tried and it didn't work so well and I still ended up watching the trashy housewives.  BUT, guess what....three weeks ago, we came home to find that the cable television we had been receiving for free (we weren't pirating it) for 10 years...was cut off......WE WERE CUT OFF COLD.  No warning.  Nothing. Like cutting a junkie off,  I was totally sad at first but now I have found I have no excuse and have been getting more done. I think I will survive....I am not so sure how in the one bedroom cabin over winter, but that is why we have Netflix. All in all, there is a reason the universe doesn't want us watching cable. 

Some summer photos.....