Wednesday, May 30, 2012
wrapping up the school year. busy as a beaver.
So nice to finally sit down. It's way past my bedtime; especially with me waking up at 4:30 am lately, wide eyed-bushy tailed and ready to go. (Sort of.) I feel my posting here has been a little sparse this past while. There's so much living going on and I often feel the need to "decompress" and process it all in the way I do here in this space. It somehow makes me feel a little more balanced when I take the time to blog and journal it all. Breathing in with the living part and breathing out with the reflecting and recording part.
It's been non stop action around here. I've especially been busy. It's all good, though.
With the school year winding down, we've found ourselves hither and yon with the different end of year activities and culminating celebrations. Sam's choir concert, (tears welled in my eyes watching him singing his heart out, and with gusto. Especially emotional when he sang that favorite of mine: Nella Fantasia. Grateful he has taken this opportunity to become a little more well rounded when a lot of his focus tends to be on sports.) Also, Eliza's 8th grade celebration dinner with all the parents and teachers who've supported and encouraged these young people along the way. Academic recognition assemblies, class parties, and now today's dance festival. Isaac and the other 2nd graders (their class focused on the 70's era and don't you just dig their handcrafted tie dye?) rendition of Funky Town was so cute. Seeing my kids dancing joyfully is one of my favorite things in life.
As for me, I've been busy supporting the kids in all this. Since Monday (after we got home from our Memorial Day picnic and graveside visits) I've also put a lot of my time and efforts getting the yard in shape, the vegetable garden and flowers finally planted. My hands are pretty much stained brown and the dirt underneath my fingernails won't go away. I can't tell you how many piles of weeds I've pulled in the last three days. Mountains, and I'm not kidding. We live on a half and acre lot with a tremendous amount of vegetation and bedding areas where, unfortunately, the weeds are constantly winning the battle, and it amazes me when I take each load to our towering "compost" heap (more like organic matter dump) on the edge of the yard.
I felt so exhausted last night after having labored hard outside in the hot sun all day, looking at what I had done and what still needed to be done. The sprinklers, again, were broken. The grass, in many spots, as dry as a bone. Keith's ongoing back issues/pain flaring up yet again. I was filthy. Sweat pouring down my face while sneezing my head off. Wiping my snotty, dripping nose on my shirt sleeve all day because I didn't care. I was to the point of tears.
I don't like this feeling of being overwhelmed with this yard.
But I do the best I can. It's getting there. It'll never be perfect, at least all at one time, and I need to learn to make peace with that.
Yet, though it all, I get a great deal of satisfaction knowing that I know and can work. Hard. Labor. And I'm not afraid of it, either. I receive a lot of happiness looking at the the ways I've made our yard and home a more beautiful place because of my efforts.
Along with writing long and detailed letters twice each week to Gary, I also put together a "care" package for him on Tuesday. Homemade Rice Crispy Treats, a favorite of his, included, and some photos I printed out of recent events that I knew he would be happy to see.
I've also been putting a lot of my energies into hosting a bridal shower this coming Friday for my niece Paula and my soon to be sister-in-law Alice. Their June weddings are two weeks apart so it worked out this way to combine our celebrating them. I might be scarce here until after the shower. I've got lots of fun things to share, so come back for lots of "pink" party goodness.
Take care, and see you soon.
xo
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
gathering, remembering, and honoring on memorial day
It's tradition.
We gather,
forging ties
at that same old park
every Memorial Day for as long as I can remember.
And the potluck spreads out long
as we share, we feast on
Papa and Reuben's jambalaya in the Dutch oven
and even some gumbo,
(a first this year)
in honor of our proud
Louisiana roots.
While Aunt Barbara's Cajun music
energizing us, reminding us all
where it is
we come from.
Later, the family elders,
Aunt Ione, Papa, and Uncle Cliff,
stand before us
reminding of the importance
of this family,
our ties,
our tradition.
And warm tears are shed,
this heart filled with pride
for this
my heritage.
This strong connection I have,
growing more and more
as I get older
towards
these roots,
where I came from,
who I am.
This day set aside
to gather, to remember, to honor
those beloved whose
legacy, memory, and sacrifice
we love
and will never forget.
Friday, May 25, 2012
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
little bits o' happy
But for me, it's time to move on.
Yippee!
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
hey good lookin'. whatcha got cookin'?
... not that I'm good lookin'. But you know. Just liking that catchy opening, is all.
Anyway.
I've been cooking up a storm this week. Not sure why, but I guess I've been in the mood and felt like with all my attention focused on other things this past little while, I needed to channel some of my creative energies back to the kitchen.
So here's a recap:
Tuesday
:: ground my wheat for the week.
:: made two pans of granola.
:: :: two different kinds of raw date-nut balls. "Cookie Dough" and "Brownie Bites". Good to store in the freezer for lunches and "when I need a little something".
(not pictured)
:: whole grain pancake mix
:: baked a batch of carrot cake muffins for Wednesday's breakfast
:: cheezy sauce (recipe here) to accompany this night's dinner of Mountain Man Hash (stir fried potatoes, onions, peppers, and zucchini spears)
:: big mixed veggie and greens salad bowl with Sweet Mustard Dressing (recipe here) to accompany.
:: mixed up dough for daily bread and pizza dough (to freeze). Stored overnight in the fridge. (I use Artisan Bread in 15 Minutes a Day method.)
Wednesday
:: green smoothies for breakfast to go with yesterday's already baked muffins.
:: baked the whole grain loaves to go with tonight's planned Sweet Potato, Corn, and Kale chowder.
Whew. Seeing all this written down makes me tired. I did a lot. It was work. It was satisfying. I hope it's worth it. I think it is.
Tomorrow, we garden!
|
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
a celebration getaway :: happy trails in red rock country
Keith asked me if there was something extra special I'd like to do on our little vay-cay.
I told him that I had a hankerin' for riding a horse. It had been so long. Like, since I was ten. |
Of course, he agreed that we needed to do it. He's good like that. |
Well... so long, partner.
Happy Trails to You,
Until We Meet Again...
(I just had to put that in.)
Happy Trails to You,
Until We Meet Again...
(I just had to put that in.)
Monday, May 14, 2012
a celebration getaway :: taking in a little history and a whole lot more
I love:
cities and towns full of character and charm
old houses given a second chance
old things and old ways
maybe I was born in the wrong century
looking, looking, looking for truth and beauty in the commonplace
the joy I feel when it's found
capturing the light
oh yes
that's what it's all about
pink hollyhocks
my favorites
peace in this holy place, as in every other
walking along with his hand on my shoulder
him getting out of the car when that couple needed help
when all they spoke was a little English with their French
could have given them directions, but took them there instead
how he found that twenty dollar bill on the grassy roadside and turned it in to the police station
that he loves the things I love
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)