*

i am fond of re-arranging the house 

for each season.

i have also been on a mission to de-clutter

and create light, airy, calm rooms in the house.

each time i deep clean and/or re-arrange

i add more to our garage sale pile, and the house feels so nice.

i cleared off the sunporch and put a desk facing the garden.

it was the perfect spot for breakfast and pollywog and i have been drawn out

here often. we listen to music, read, and create.
it is also my art studio.

last night we sat looking at the stars.

"mom, listen...hear those crickets? its so peaceful."

i have filled this space with candles, favorite rocks and plants.

i moved pollywog's desk into her favorite nook in the living room.

her fish live here and she is often sitting in her rocking chair watching them.

we added another goldfish and a really large algae eater.

i hung her latest art pieces and organized her markers, crayons, pencils, 

paper and other craft supplies. she spends alot of time here.

the desk overlooks the front garden and trees and she likes to watch the 

wind blow the leaves. 

::nook::

with the desk out of her room we moved some furniture around

giving her more space.

brought her kitchen set back into her room, hung up her stuffed animals

and hung these pretty shear curtains she picked out at a flea market, up.

her room is so peaceful.

 with the renewing of the house, she has been so busy re-discovering,

 crafting and playing. 

the only room left to "summerize" is mine.

the rest of the house is ready for summer.

 lots of white and powdery blues...

spacious with pockets of our favorite trinkets, rocks, and shells.

the billowing sheers in pollywogs room and the dining room

inhale and exhale with each passing breeze

and the overflowing mint garden sends the most

amazing aroma through the windows.

::om::

weekend catch-up

it seems i have less and less time at this space.

that usually happens when spring and summer arrive.

its been so beautiful out and we spend a tremendous amount of time outdoors.

nevertheless i still make time for pictures.

so here is what we have been up too.

1. Saturday morning we went to the Farmer's Market before the soccer game.

The lil' one got a lovely rainbow painted on her face that she ooo'd and aah'd over.

We also got some yummy strawberries, honey sticks, poc choi, and red lettuce.

2.  Soccer game!!! It was muggy out but the kids played hard knowing there was a 

birthday party after.

3. We went to one of the best kid's birthday parties I have ever been too.

It was all outdoors and there was a beautiful courtyard with tables and refreshments

and a large yard filled with rubber balls, tree swings and jubilant children.

After the festivities the kids played with the bday girl's toys in the lawn, while the grownups sat

on blankets sipping wine and beer and having wonderful conversation.

4. At the party there was a rope hung from a tree with a climbing carabiner.

The kids sat in climbing harnesses and got to swing really high.

It was a popular spot. Pollywog LOVED this! 

It looked like sooo much fun! At one point she had her arms outstretched like she was flying.

5. Her best buddy came to watch her play soccer.

6. Sunday morning we planted herbs. This spot is at the bottom 

of the stairs just outside the kitchen.

I can't wait to add these fresh herbs to our meals.

7. We also made a terrarium. We went exploring for, and found moss, rocks

and other items and plants she wanted to add.

She calls this her Fairy Garden.

8. Later in the afternoon I was reading on the sun porch and pollywog

was busying herself. When I asked what she was doing she said, 

"making a fairy ladder" (duh). She explained that the fairies

can climb the ladder/ribbon to get in and find her Fairy Garden.

There is a crumb a bread to attract them, and the chopstick is a shortcut for them.

swoon

9. floral arrangement all gathered from the yard

a wonderful day 

::this space::

saturday pollywog had a soccer game.

we had to get up at 6 a.m. to get there before the game for pictures.

the lil one and i are not morning gals but we managed.

despite the grump bunnies the morning was beautiful.

the ground was covered in frost and a blanket of fog slowly rose

as the sun began to shine.

i must say i felt rather bad having pollywog pose, shivering and tired 

for pictures

you can see her looking at me like, "really mom? why?"

then it was time to run up and down the wet field and kick a ball.

i must admit it seems rather absurd and i felt kinda bad watching the children.

they seemed a bit miserable

 it was pretty humorous too...and in the end the kids 

warmed up and did have fun.

at this age it's really only about having fun.

they ran around confused.

they've been taught to share, be kind and play with others so the concept

of taking a ball from an opponent and kicking it to a goal is lost on them.

its sweet.

after the game and a rest we played in the back yard.

it was a crisp spring day.

i weeded the growing garden while pollywog played with her babies and ran gleefully

around the yard.

we identified the plants and listened to the different songs of the birds.

i feel such a peace when we are in the garden.

this life-long journey always leads me back to THIS place.

a place of simplicity. 

i feel aligned with my path when my days are filled

with being in tune with the outside world.

hanging laundry on the line, tending the garden, teaching pollywog about this world.

eating fresh, no phones, no tele, no cars or man-made noise.

 this is when i feel most at peace and a "rightness" fills me.

more and more i long for a life-style where these are not hobbies

but just our lives.

a small plot of land, a bubbling brook.

a humble art studio, few animals to care for that care for us.

a small community of creative, artistic, folks living off the land, 

sharing and raising our children together.

creators of our own lives not slaves to society's trappings.

in my heart i know this path of mine leads to this.

my spirit is pulling further and further away from the city.

the 9 to 5's. 

the processed and greedy food industry,

the deceitful and cruelness that i see society heading rapidly.

i am daily disinterested in what is going on "out there" in the man-made world.

the pharmaceutical and medical industry, celebrity obsession and comparison that one can easily 

fall prey.

dumbed down school system, technology that continues to separate us all.

my body wants to follow the natural rhythm of the earth.

to connect with my spirit, encourage my children to connect with their own.

have discussions with other humans that are real and life giving.

 as i continue to seek this and attract this.

i am slowly allowing myself to adapt and grow.

slowly transitioning myself for when it all aligns

and the opportunity presents itself to fully emerge into this life i crave.

in the meantime i will enjoy the pockets of these moments 

fully grateful and present.

moments recently passed and savored

1. last sunday a beautiful rain storm swept through. the little one

spent the day at grandma's with cousins and i find

a pocket of time to myself to savor and be.

i finished a painting and sipped a glass of wine with windows

open on the sunporch.

the rain poured then the sun came out and i observed the magic of it all.

2. this week with a new helmet pollywog blazed through the nearby bike trails

giggling as mommy ran to keep up!

3. my sister, moi, and mama.
 saturday was filled with cousins, grandma, aunt&uncle, and bubbie

as we all went to silver dollar city.

pollywog rode her first kiddie coaster (she's not a fan), we watched peruvian

scissor dancers, danced to music from ecuador, ate dipping dots, 

went through a fun house, dodged water shooting from the ground, ate yummy mexican food, 

watched a music light water show at the landing and all of us danced like children.

even grandma!

4. cousins

this moment