To reach my 40 words

Some of you have seen the posts that I have done to honor this year in which I turn 40.  Ahem.

I have created a separate page  to best present collectively the reflections in those posts.  There is also a new button in the right column to get there easily from becoming claudine.

Enjoy!
Claudine

40 words, February 26

Cooped up all afternoon, the sun was getting low when we finally convinced them to go out.
Then we couldn't lure them back in.
The foot of snow that had fallen, now shoveled into mounds, was much too compelling.

40 words, February 25

it occurred to me then that
two and a half sticks of
butter was decadently 
acceptable

this moment

A Friday ritual in which I join Soulemama, and many others, in sharing a single photo.

In her words: "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."

 Wishing you a magically beautiful weekend!

Please feel free to leave a comment with a link to your moment.

Under 40, still

My birthday is in September.

I am currently 39.

So, that makes this year something of a year.

Not that I have ever been much to fuss about age.  I can't even recall what I did for my thirtieth birthday.  Maybe my husband remembers, I will have to ask him.

I have always enjoyed my birthday and do like some simple celebrations to go along with the day.  So this year shouldn't be any different.  But this year does seem different.  I guess some milestones give pause.

My pauses this year have always led me to wanting to embrace and honor this year.  Creating meaningful ways to celebrate as I enter this fifth decade of my life.

One of those ways of honoring is some creative sharing I will do here at becomingclaudine.

This idea actually is a coming together of several recent inspirations.
First, of course, this my desire to embrace and celebrate the number 40.
Second, I often find myself writing blog entries in my head or jotting phrases and ideas into my little notebook, but never getting them to full life as a blog post.  And I have thousands of pictures on my computer that have never seen the light of day, er, blog post.
Third, is my love of words, poetry, and the thrill of good editing.

So, alongside my usual posts, I want to also post most days in a format not unlike this amazing blog here.

I will share a photo or two and a thought, story, idea, or question in under 40 words.

So here I present my first 40 words

they wouldn't nap
so we made cookies
instead
of losing my mind

a wee bit icy

In all of my 39 years I have not seen anything like it.

I have seen ice storms.

I have seen sunny days.

I have never seen the two coincide quite this way.

An unassuming ice storm happening as we sleep, followed by a brilliant blue-skied sunny as the day is long day.

Trees normally brown are coated with sequins as if dressed for New Year's Eve.  Ladies in swishy gowns, arms extended out offering diamonds and glitter.

Some gracefully bowed down from the weight of their unending tinsel as if greeting Her Majesty.

And it is majestic.  White as far as the eye can see, glowing neon advertising nature's infinite surprise.

The beauty beckons, daring you not to succumb to the sparkle and shine.

It causes you to pause underneath the laden trees, creaking as a comfortable farmhouse, drip-dropping cold onto your face and camera lens pointed upward.

It causes you to ride with your car window down, in 28 degree weather, camera on lap, not wanting to miss a single breath-taking view,  afraid it will have melted the next pass this way.

A contrast to the usual February gray.  Even different from the jewel-toned fall that too can mesmerize.  Those colors come each year.

But these.  These cut crystal sparkle of Waterford on display, is for a limited time.

Once every thirty-nine years.

Mr. Dave

You know that scene in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.

The hysterical one.

The one with the squirrel jumping out of the fully decorated Christmas tree.

Seen here in the trailer.  Go ahead, I can wait while you watch.

It is hysterical, isn't it?

That is until you have a squirrel in your own house.

Yes, a squirrel in your own house is decidedly un-hysterical.

So un-hysterical that you simply have no idea what to do.

So the neighbor, Mr. Dave, comes over with some walnuts.  And a cooler.

And Mr. Dave, who regularly befriends squirrels with walnuts, is not at all concerned about the jumping abilities of squirrels.

So he opens the window beneath that very squirrel as it crazily goes from one end of the curtain rod to the other end of the curtain rod.

Back and forth, back and forth.

Mr. Dave even tries to nudge him with a Swiffer.  A SWIFFER.

Even with that easy access out the window, the squirrel has different ideas and leaps out into the dining room, and tears around the living room, until he eventually finds his way out the open front door.

Yes, it is very un-hysterical when, later that evening, you then spend over four hours scrubbing as much of your first floor as possible to satisfy your squirrel germaphobia.  Trying to remove any trace of that leaping, tearing, crazy squirrel.

So that scene, in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation may be hysterical, but only to you.

reading

I am a total sucker.

With a capital S.U.C.K.E.R.

Oh yes, when I get into the library I simply cannot help myself.  I load up on books that I want to read, that I have to read, that I will simply die without reading.  Okay, maybe not die without reading, but boy do I really, really want to read that darn book!

This leads to piles.  Piles of books near the bed, near my purse, on the desk.  Piles that at times mock me because my desire for reading far outpaces my actual time for reading.

I often am making my way through multiple books at once.  Which means that these books hang around the house a long, long time.  Thank goodness at our library you can renew books up to 20 times.  Yep, twenty.  Times three weeks at a time.  Hallelujah!

My interests cover oh so many areas; parenting, sewing, crafting, novels, acclaimed novels, memoirs, photography, more crafting, homing and even more parenting.  Wait did I say sewing?  Hmph.  See, so many books, so little time.

So not only have I had to learn the fine art of restrained book selection at the library -- they let you take so many at a time -- and for FREE my friends!  I also am having to learn the fine art of returning unread books, reluctantly, knowing that I won't ever get to reading them.

I try to think of it altruistically. 

By my returning some books in the stack, maybe someone else will get the chance to discover it, and actually read the words inside, not just dream like I do of the story that unfolds between the covers.

But I read on.  It is the hardest with novels because once I begin a good story I become so engrossed in their lives that it is hard to transport back to my own.  When it is a novel, my husband wishes for a quick reading because he finds me with my head half-hidden at the craziest times, like when riding along side him in the car, when falling asleep at night, when helping the kids brush their teeth.  Really.  Told ya' I was a sucker.


I did get to read a quick, delightful little story this weekend.  I am not usually a romance kind of gal (reference list above) but knitting.  Come on, who could resist?

I think I do happen to also have a thing for any cover that has the Tiffany-ish turquoise on it.  So charming.  So it must be good, right?

And of course, the request list I have is long too, often coming from suggestions from other Mama bloggers.

So, tell me, what are you reading now?  

And if you could be a dear, please send along the Cliff notes as well.  Chances are I won't have time to read it.

this moment

A Friday ritual in which I join Soulemama, and many others, in sharing a single photo.

In her words: "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."
Wishing you a playful (in t-shirts even) weekend!


Please share your moment too.

happenings

Over the past several days many happenings have been, well, happening.

At times as if in hyper-drive, the week's end quickly becomes the weekend and in a blink we are back to Monday, then Tuesday.  Some weeks passing in such a rush I barely remember.

But here I get to slow time.

Just.  A.  Bit.

If only for a short while.

A while just long enough to share some of those happenings.

Marveling.  At the confidence and poise of my nephew (on the left) as he acted in a delightful production of Guys and Dolls with his classmates.

Legoing.  Sometimes one, sometimes two, sometimes all three kiddos at once.

Building.  A snow friend, with snow finally just right for rolling.

Loving.  Each other simply because.

Appreciating.  "Hey Mom, look out the window at the sun," Big Brother called from the next room.

Cruising.  In our (new to us) mini-van.  Still marveling at how at just the right moment a need that seems so far from being met is easily and generously met.

Painting.  "I want to paint," Munchkin said after getting a glimpse of the master Bob Ross on PBS. 

Chunking.  Through two inches of ice as it slowly, s l o w l y melts under the warming sun.

Scoring.  The coolest cart at the grocery store.  Beeping and making engine sounds at the right times.

Partying.  With Chuck E. Cheese.  The first visit ever.  Instant love I think.

Savoring.  A Daddy-made homemade blackberry galette.  He really is so good!

Discovering.  Glitter.

Thanking.  For each and every happening, and the moments in between.

What happenings are you enjoying right now?

discovering {valentine's day}

That even after 11 years of marriage Honey can still surprise me!

It is pretty hard to surprise me, so what an extra treat to be gifted with this special Lisa Leonard Designs necklace today.

The word "discovering" on the front is my word for the year.

On the back of the circle are the names of my children.  Love it!

Love him!

every day

Happy Valentine's Day to you dear readers!

There is much I love about sharing a bit of myself with you in this space.

It nurtures my self-reflection, helping me make meaning of my every day.

It feeds my photographic creativity, encouraging me to see the lovely in my every day.

It forces allows me to continually write, putting into words my thoughts, feelings, and ideas about my every day.

It creates connections to others, people close by and far flung, some of whom I would never come into contact with in my every day.

Thank you for being part of my every day!  I share much love with you on this Valentine's Day, and every day!

this moment

A Friday ritual in which I join Soulemama, and many others, in sharing a single photo.

In her words: "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."

Feel free to leave a link to your moment in the comments!

Wishing you a delicious homemade weekend!

I see

"I see the moon 
and the moon sees me.  
God bless the moon 
and God bless me."

I love this little saying.  I often recite it aloud to the children if one of them notices the moon.  I also hear it in my own mind when I am alone and I notice the moon.

That connection to the moon makes the world seem a bit smaller to me.  And the heavens a bit brighter and wider and, well, blessed.

Even during busy weeks (and this one is oh so busy) I try to recognize those quiet moon moments.  Even if only for a breath long.  For in that breath, I can be thankful.  Thankful for those blessings.

And the blessings are many! Here are a few I'm honoring right now:
* a warm home, when many are out in this cold cold winter
* snuggles and snuggles and snuggles with one, two, and sometimes three kids
* some unexpected generosity we've been gifted
* sunshine and blue skies, made even more brilliant with the snowy ground
* coffee my husband makes in the morning
* watching the kids make Valentine's cards

If the kids were to weigh in, I imagine topping their list would be discovering Wild Kratts on PBS.  (Though honestly don't you think it should be "discovering Wild Kratts on PBS, and having a super cool Mama that lets you watch Wild Kratts.  Every. Day.?")  

What blessings are you honoring right now?

quirky message magnets {tutorial}

One of the cousins recently turned nine and we had the chance to make for her the cutest present ever.  Ever!

These quirky message magnets were inspired by Amy Karol's Aunt Sarah and Uncle Pete Dolls, and were made to be used on a magnet board for my niece's new desk.

This gift was so easy and so fun, and was even more meaningful because it was hand-made!

Here is how we did it.  I say we, because as I like most projects, little hands helped.

The first step, and probably the most time consuming part, was finding head shots of the kids where you could see their entire face directly from the front.  I'm not necessarily known for those posey posed pictures.

But once those were found and printed on regular paper, the rest was super easy.

I cut around the faces, trimming right along the chin and hair.

On cardstock I did a simple doodle sketch of a body wearing a t-shirt and added arms, legs, and a neck.  I made it small enough that the heads would be a bit over-sized, similar to bobble-heads.

On the t-shirts I wrote out fun messages, like "I heart..." and "Girls Rule!"

I pasted the heads onto the cardstock bodies and, before trimming, covered the front and back with clear contact paper

I then trimmed around the entire body and head, making sure the paper was never thinner than the width of the clothes pin, which really only seemed to be a concern around the neck area. 

Helping hands then glued the bodies onto one side of a clothes pin and stuck a magnet on the other side.  We used magnets that had a peel-off sticky side, but I imagine glue would work fine as well, and old magnets could certainly be re-used for this part!

And voila, here are your quirky message magnets! 

Even though I had been brainstorming these for a couple days, I didn't anticipate how adorable they would turn out!  Perfect for gifting and bringing a smile to the lucky person whom you want to send messages of love!

The next time I make these -- and there is bound to be a next time -- I will tweak them a bit.  But I think these are quite perfect themselves.

Whose face would you like to have on a quirky message magnet?

good will

When I was a teenager, 15 or 16, I was involved with a youth organization that planned retreats for young adults throughout the area.  Also involved was a girl slightly older than me who lived in the next town.  I am sorry I can't remember her name, I wish I could, because I have thought about her pretty often in my adult life.

This is why.

When I knew her I did not yet have my own driver's license.  She happened to have hers, and a car as well.  She had quite a car.  And by quite a car I mean one that was pretty old, pretty unattractive, pretty run down.

I rode with her once in that car, and something she said to me on our short drive to whichever youth group event we were headed, has stayed with me all of these years.

We got in her run-down, beat-up, probably noisy car, and as we we started down the street she turned to me, likely sensing my embarrassment, and said, "You know, this is my good will ambassador car."

Hmmm.

"Yes, every time I drive this old car around I get to let everyone else feel better about the cars they are driving  No matter how old their cars are, when they see my car they feel better about their own.  So I am spreading good will."

Good.  Will.  Ambassador.

Wow. 

I don't recall my exact feelings at that moment, maybe some relief, and some silliness at being so pretentious, about a car I was riding in no less.  Though isn't that something many of us tried to make sense of as teenagers?  I suppose we still try and make meaning of it as grown-ups.  Careers.  Education.  Parenting.  House.  Oh, and even cars.

I do know that as I have matured, that simple statement she spoke has changed my perspective.  Of the car.  Of her.  Of oh so many areas in which I wonder about my own accomplishments or possessions or humanness.  And I am thankful for needing a ride that day.  

I've come to embrace those times when I simply allow myself to be an Ambassador.

So, I share this with you today, as the Good Will Ambassador of the Laundry Piles.

Half of it is clean. Half of it is dirty.

Some is folded, most isn't. 

And don't mistake that really large combo laundry basket/clothing rack for a crib!

So no matter what your laundry piles look like at your house.  Know that you can look at mine, and feel better about yours!  After all, isn't that what a Good Will Ambassador is for?