weekending

It was when we sat down for family dinner on Sunday that I, somewhat surprisingly, realized how much we experienced this weekend.  We hadn't planned it that way.  But sometimes your moments, your days, your weekends come together in a busy goodness that can only be described as adventures.

Adventures of bowling, pancakes for dinner (with the dearest of friends), soccer, soccer, soccer (that is one game for each of the big kids), hayride, cousins, campfire, polka dancing, hiking, toads, frogs, caterpillars, and snakes.

Adventures, it all.

Wonderful, it all.


Linking with Amanda at Habit of Being.

this moment {well played}

Joining Soulemama, and many others, in this moment. 

In Amanda's words: "A Friday ritual. 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."

Please link to your moment too -- I love to see what you are enjoying this week!

Wishing you a weekend full of goodness!

here and there {gladsome}

It is hard to describe all of my feelings as gladsome nears.  Emotions tumble over each other as I fully realize what is about to take place.  Excitement makes way for nervousness, which is quickly replaced by delight.  Anxiousness peeks in every so often, but so does a persistent and deepening sense of goodness.  But mostly I feel grateful.  Grateful to be putting into the world something that I believe to be authentic and special.

The past several weeks I've squeezed time in, here and there, to work on the many aspects of the retreat.  The schedule is being refined, supplies are being gathered (and made, of course), special deliveries are being delivered, meals are being planned, and the park landscape is cooperating in its own beautiful preparation for our arrival.  The women participating are enthusiastically awaiting this weekend of creative nourishment.  Some are coming individually, others coming with a friend.  All are coming for the opportunity to gather in a relaxed, reflective, meaningful way.

I believe that when you create something and offer it out to the world it can be surprising where your hard work might lead you.  I imagine that as November nears I will simply need to hold on tight and enjoy this ride through one of my long-awaited dreams.

While I may not know exactly where gladsome will take me and those participating, I can say for certain that it will be good.  Great even.  When you bring together positive, lively women in a gorgeous setting and encourage exploration of their creativity, how could it not be?

There are just a handful of spots remaining for this oh-so-good experience.  Maybe you need an extra nudge to consider attending.  Consider this your nudge. 

a good yarn

Sometimes for a little girl who has to tag along to evening soccer practices all that is needed to pass the time is yarn out of Mama's project bag.

I am quite happy to share these bits if that means I get to sit (for the first time all day.)  Sit and breathe in the cool evening air and fiddle with projects of my own.

this moment

Joining Soulemama, and many others, in this moment. 

In Amanda's words: "A Friday ritual. 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."

Please link to your moment too -- I love to see what you are enjoying this week!

Wishing you a weekend full of goodness!

instagram 41

I turned 41 recently.  Much less fanfare than a year ago.  I'm quite used to being in this decade of my life and wear forty as a bit of an honor thankyouverymuch.

Mid-morning of my birthday I realized that the day would really be much like any other day around here.  So, to make it a bit lively, I decided to chronicle my day with a photo taken every 41 minutes.  Admittedly, some photos clocked in a few minutes later, and I took a couple bonus shots for fun (and to prove I didn't spend the entire day in the car, ahem), but nevertheless they all made up my day.

My forty-first birthday.

A bit of a habit.  Scrounging change for drive-thru iced tea.

If you are counting, this is the third picture in the car...

CSA pick-up.  Our favorite day of the week.

As I end many days...

in the backyard

 

 

These past few weeks have found me shoving coaxing the kids outside to play.  As if a timer is counting down when shorts and t-shirts will give way to jackets and pants.  When bare feet will no longer be an option and open windows for Mama to hear the sounds of play will wreak havoc on the thermostat.

The evenings come sooner and bring a briskiness of chilled cheeks and damp shoes.  I will take those over the sliminess of sun screen and sweaty high noon of summer heat any day. Every day.

Granted the coaxing isn't difficult when any neighborhood friend comes by to play.  It is a mad dash to slip on Crocs and bound out to the backyard.  And run the riding toys ragged, creating games of crash 'em derby and gas station.

Then there is the piling up of almost everything out of the garage into the corner of the yard in a quite imagined castle that has remained for days and has suffered rainstorms and squirrels.  But stays even and is central in the game of donning bike helmets and defending its fortresses by deflecting balls pelted by Dad, or sometimes Mama.

Sometimes Lovey plays princess of that castle.  Other times she pulls up fistfuls of grass to concoct cookies on her stepping stone oven.

Fall is gentle in its coming.  Thoughtful to rain enough to keep the grass lush but not so much that mud puddles dominate.   The cool is comfortable and not at all goosebumby, letting us feel the play of summer, even if it happens after a full day of school or soccer.

The play simply sounds like childhood.  Intense and loud and free.  And, if the calendar is to be believed, fleeting.  Though I am not believing the calendar right now.  I'm inhaling this breathable air, keeping my eye to the bluest of skies and listening carefully.