Enchanted Mama

Spring Dance:

We've been dancing around a few May Poles as of late. 

I love that part of the Waldorf school.  It calls in Spring and the end of the school year.  Brings out the fluffy dresses from older sisters and new pink sandals.  Everyone wears flower crowns (which really ought to be that way all the time).  There are boys who dress as Root Children that are awaken by the Spring Maidens.  There are little brothers and sisters dressed and dancing themselves as they watch all the laughing children bounce around with ribbons.  There are older sisters who end the orchestra serenade by informing me how many times they played the song.  27 times this year.  48 times last year.  She looks forward to graduating to Spring Maiden next year.  A group celebration ends the May Pole with the whole school holding hands and skipping serpentine style around the May Pole.  silly? maybe.  fun? Absolutely!  The whole thing is quite lovely.

Now... 

There is a big event happening for the sixth grade this week.  The Medieval games.  The favorite memory of most Waldorf students.  As the big daddy has a large role in arranging this, life has been full.  There will be costumes and correct medieval language.  A few "Fare thee well good sir" and "Let us go thither" and "Tis most splendid" and "Watch thy head dear sir" and " By my troth" and well, you get the point.  There will be floating platforms, ropes courses, obstacle courses and oh-so-much that I can't even say.  There will even be an opportunity for me to try my hand at "riddle master".  Just the thought of that makes me smile.  I love riddles. The "babysitter arranging" is really the last hurdle I have until we can be in the moment and watch the children have a fabulous day.  

I plan to pop in a few more times this week.  It seems I have some catch up to do.  I hope to see you all soon.

So, that's what we've been doing.  What about you?     

 

Whoosh::

Whoosh went last week...

Yes, intentions must have been set too high.  I arrived back home late last Monday and I had photos of a weekend well spent with my brother and family. Time seemed to evaporate while I was there. 

You see my littlest brother turned thirty last Sunday.  Yup, littlest brother I said.  So, to honor who he is and show the love I have for him I swept down to his part of the world armed with cake pans and good chocolate.  

It actually felt ironic as I used to giggle when I watched my grandmother unpack her cooking supplies from her suitcase.  As though we didn't have a cake pan or rolling pin.  Yet, here I was back in my home town unloading my suitcase of the very same items.  Granted, my brother is a minimalist and doesn't believe in tons of kitchen items so...I justified it in my head.

 

The cake was made in his quiet kitchen while he leaned against the opposite wall reading and enjoying the hint of chocolate in the air.  The cake certainly wouldn't have won for any fancy fashion shows but man, it was DELISH!  The recipe is here.  You may want to add it to your list of sure things.  A chocolate and coffee combo--how bad can it be? 

 

My brother shared his tomato operation while I was there.  Do you remember these?  I realized that I LOVE photographing tomatoes.  They are such helpful subjects as they rarely move.  It allows for a great focus even when using a phone camera.  I took a few photos of those lovelies.  Yeah, just a few hundred. 

 

The trip a success all the way around.  

Once home I spent the time resting and catching up on all the things I needed to catch up on.  

My intention was to post about tomatoes and family and chocolate last week.  Oh well.  I'll apply the "better late than never rule" here.

The rest of the week included cello lessons and a new bow for my girlie.  A May Pole celebration.  A Spring assembly.  A Circus that my oldest girlie has been in training for since February.  Lots of circus practice.  I'm sure I shouldn't be so glad that it's over.  But, I am.  I think I'm going to like the single school pick-up today.  

There you go...a mini catch-up on the goings on over here.  

I'm working on making some changes to the 'ol blog.  Things that I've wanted to do for a while now and have not the "techie-ness" to figure out.  I'm okay with that.  There are so many other people out there who do know what they are doing.  God bless 'em.  Don't hold your breath though.  Just know they are on their way, sometime soon.  

I'd love to know what you all are doing today.  Anything good, fun, amazing, mundane, basic, boring.  I plan to live vicariously through you as my big plans include a trip to goodwill and hopefully clearing out more stuff.

That has almost become my mantra...sad but true.  

Happy Monday to you all and please do share...  

 

Around here::

Yesterday was a busy one.  

One where you run as soon as your feet hit the ground.  I wasn't rested.  Neither was the big daddy.  We attended to our littlest ALL NIGHT LONG.  

She's not sick, well maybe a small cold nothing more.  She was fed.  Changed.  Read to.  I wonder if there is such a thing as baby insomnia because that may be what she was afflicted with last night.

 Around 2:30 a.m. she was fed again...banana to the rescue.  Finally about 4:45 a.m. she fell asleep.  My other children up and ready for action around 6:30 a.m..  The whole "it's light at six o'clock" doesn't help.  

Tired? yes.    

Plus, I've been attempting to "BE" a morning person.  Not working for me a self proclaimed night owl.  A workout at 6:00 a.m. just isn't getting more fun the more I do it.  I thought you were supposed to feel more rested when you exercise!!???! right?  

It's about forming new habits, I suppose, and those are never very fun. It gets easier? Yes? Say, yes.  

I literally stumbled from bed toward a latte.  The likes of which I hoped would have miraculous qualities.  After the second latte...yes two is what it took.  I felt better.  If not a bit jumpy.  So, I put it to good use and finished flip flopping my children's rooms.  Two were already moved, mostly.

The big daddy carried the tools and moved the heavy things while I cleared shelves, bedding, toys, etc. etc. etc.  

By 5:00 we were finished.  Or rather we were done for the day.  Two more children in their new spaces.  The two of us on the couch sipping Kombucha.  Legs elevated.  Wondering when the dinner fairy would arrive to make a scrumptious meal.  

She never came!

 

Typically, around here, I don't attempt to completely rip the house apart each day.  Just yesterday.  Which is good.  Exciting.  Exhausting.  Full of adventure.  

I look forward to having a day of writing and laundry today for it will, no doubt, seem easier than yesterday.    

How is your day going?

 

 

Dinner::

Have I mentioned how grateful I am that the big daddy LOVES to cook?  

Well, I am.  Big time.  Because there are literally thirty things I would rather be doing than that.  So it works for our family.  

What I love most about this delish dinner he made, is that we ate one last night and the other? Well, it's for dinner another night.  

Don't you love that.  Two meals for one.  Now that's my kind of cooking.  

The recipe is here from the ever talented Barefoot Contessa.   

Let me know if you try it.  It's worth making. 

At least I can say that after just enjoying it immensely. 

 

Play Well::

Sometimes they play so well together.  

They laugh and create worlds with forts.  They help one another and find endless things to talk about.  They share and imagine great things.  They are surprised when the day is over. 

Sometimes that happens.  

I'm really glad when it does.  

 

What you didn't see::

What you didn't see were the smiles on the faces of all the cousins, most of the time.  You didn't see that the pool was freezing cold and the children swam anyway.  You didn't see the ants which almost took over the kitchen of the rental house where we were.  Or the tight parking space that added character to our rental car.  

You didn't see the game pieces and paper strewn throughout the house with giggling children running right through it.  Or the labels my brother applied to the drinking glasses finally when no one could find their water.  

You didn't see my four year old in deep conversation with his four year old cousin talking about their lives and the things they will do, after they have a restaurant and both become painters.  

 

You didn't hear the stomping from the second floor as the cousins put together a Thanksgiving Play.  You didn't see the fire in the fire place where we warmed our toes and talked about life.  You didn't see the flowers that our little lovelies brought to us by the handfuls from the potted plant out front.  Or the dirt from that same spot.

You didn't see the creative hairstyles by all the girl cousins, matching of course.  Or the mermaid colored nail polish they all wore. You didn't see how all the children played so well together.  Or the memories that they made with their cousins.     

You didn't see the shifts of makers and bakers throughout Thanksgiving Day gracefully moving from one to the next in the kitchen as though we planned it. 

You didn't see the golden turkey the big daddy pulled off the grill.  Or the dishes that each of the family members lovingly created. You didn't see the rolls that I got up early to mix and watch rise.  Or the rolling, cutting, and baking required only to burn them in the last two minutes before dinner.  Nope you didn't see that!  

 

You didn't see the rainy afternoon that I spent with a dear friend who drove north to see me.  Or the lunch we skipped to under a small umbrella while being pummeled with rain.  Or the conversation that lasted for three hours non-stop.  You didn't see the message once she arrived home that said she thought of ten other things we hadn't talked about.  Or the smile on my face as I think of that now.  

You didn't see my musical brother who turned 40.  Or my daughter playing cello for him in his studio.  You didn't see the long walks that I took with my sister-in-law through "the hood".  You didn't see us panting up a steep hill that almost curved back on itself.  Nor did you see us trying to walk afterwards.  You certainly didn't see us laughing and doing it again the next day.  

You didn't see the table for six that we tried to seat twenty family members around.  You didn't see the assembly line of cereal for all the children each morning. Or the grapes that seemed to evaporate.   

 

You didn't see the traffic we got caught in that made a thirty minute journey into an epic two hour adventure.  Or the hula hoops that we made.  You didn't see my niece hula hooping in the living room with all the adults watching as she learned how to lift the hula hoop over her head.  Or the huge smile that she wore afterwards.

You didn't see the numerous latte runs each day and the hopped up mama I was because of it.  

You didn't see the teeny tiny washer, in the kitchen, that ran for two hours or the dryer that needed three hours to dry anything.  

You didn't see the dog food and collar in the house of the landlord who said she didn't have a pet.  Or the dog hair covered towels that my brother wiped his face on the first morning we were there.  You didn't see the tears of laughter we all enjoyed when he retold that story later.  Or the framed pictures of cats and dogs all through the house.  No, even we were supposed to pretend not to see those.   

 

You didn't see the tears of my eight year old as we said our goodbyes. Or the flawless plane trip back home.  You didn't see that we all were in bed by 9:00 Saturday night.  Or the lazy pajama day that we had yesterday. 

You didn't see me haul my computer on this adventure thinking I would have moments to blog.  I didn't see the likelihood of that being so slim.  

No, you didn't see it but I know you understood it.  For you probably had a similar week.  Right?  

Happy Belated Thanksgiving to you all.  

I know the time was spent well.  Memories were made and we have a great adventure to talk about in years to come, and not just because of the ants!  

 

Happy Monday to you all.  

 

Last Week::

Last week I nervously boarded a plane, by myself, for an adventure.  

A journey that I wasn't sure I could do.  I wondered until the moment I turned away from the car and my family at the airport if I had it in me.  Hence, the lack of letting you all know where I would be.  I wasn't sure myself.   

I met with a small group of lovely women and spent loads of time writing, brainstorming, laughing and being present in the "right now".

It really is beyond words and even now I'm unsure of all the aspects that will inevitably filter into my life.  Traveling away from my family to "just be me" was more challenging than I thought.  

The baby, whom I'd yet to leave, was home with the big daddy.  She was nurtured, cared for and fed from the stores of milk I left behind and she had a fantastic time.  

It all worked out.  exhale.  

 

Now I'm home, having had a relaxing Sunday, and I'm attempting to gather all that I learned this past week. 

I've learned that it's important to have time for ourselves.  Time to think, listen, and just be.  There were moments initially when I didn't quite know what to do without someone else to tend to.  

"You mean it's only about me for these few days?"  wow.  

So, by day two I'd settled in.  I became inspired.  I rushed out of the shower, practically wrapped in a towel, to write down an idea I didn't want to lose with much laughter from my new friends.  

I learned that I need time out in nature.  This I have known, but it was even more apparent as the days went on.  Time to breathe the fresh air.  Put my feet in the sand and walk through the beauty of mother nature.  

Ideas abound.  My spirit calms.  I feel more sure of my balance point.  

 

I learned that inspiration comes in many places.  Most of the time it's in between all the other things that I do--When I'm driving, upon waking, while knitting, or making my children a quesadilla.  

No matter what, it's there if I look. 

This inspiration and adventure was an incredibly thoughful birthday gift from the Big Daddy.  Time to put down on paper all that I've been talking to him about for years.  He gave me the gift of time.  Grateful doesn't even begin to describe it.  

Even as I write this I find it hard to believe.  I was focused, inspired and now I'm ready to embark on another type of adventure.  

It's thrilling.

 

I even made new friends.  Found crazy similiaritites with my roomie.  Laughed and discovered a new understanding of "what I want in this moment".  I uncovered, please excuse my "cheesball-ness", a bit more of "me".

So. Grateful. 

 

Finally I learned, as I endured an epic travel day home--with unpredictable weather and cancelled flights, that flexibility is important.  Patience a virtue.  Humor crucial.  

I will need these on my journey.  

The path, that was a mystery before I left, all turned out okay.  Memories were made.  Plans created.  My family there to welcome me home.  

It all worked out.  exhale.  

 

I feel that this will be one of those moments I look back on as, "The moment when I honored my wishes and made steps toward making them a reality."

Isn't that what we all want?  

Are you making your wishes a reality today?  

 

 

My View::

Afternoons::

Sometimes afternoons are lovely.

Sometimes they can be a challenge.  

Sometimes there are grumpy mamas. 

Sometimes the children are a bit fussy themselves.  

Sometimes though, like yesterday, they go well.  

Sometimes they go very well.  thank goodness.

 

The Weekend::

This weekend brought the Gypsy Farm Market to town.  Local indie artists with amazing creations to share.  Inspiring.  Fun.  Amazing weather.  Time with my children as we attended both days.

Treasure was found. 

 

A double rainbow, in the middle of town, over busy traffic, with the entire arc visible.  

I'm not sure I've ever seen one/two so beautiful!  We stopped and parked.  We watched and participated in its "AWESOMENESS". 

In terms of rainbows, this was a show stopper as far as I'm concerned.  

 

A latte.  A scone.  My two oldest and the wee one together.  

Knitting.  More knitting.  Some angst about thumbs in mittens.  A Pride and Prejudice viewing.  Plus, time to change my blog header.  whoa. 

Overall, a great weekend was had by all.  

It's beginning to feel alot like Fall....

 

How was your weekend?