L'Shana Tova

The Great Schlep from The Great Schlep on Vimeo.

this is not a political blog. but i couldn't resist. something to talk about while we are dipping apples in honey tonight. happy new year!

words to live by

"I get up every morning determined to both change the world and have one hell of a good time. Sometimes this makes planning my day difficult."
E.B. White





it's my birthday. 38. feeling thoughtful. but unable to put all those thoughts into words. 37 was a tough year. and while i did cross quite a few items off the list
(nos. 2,4,5,6,9,10,11,12,14,15,20,22,23,26,29,32,35,36 & 37)
there are many i want to come back to and new ones to add. i want to change the world. and have one hell of a good time.

placemaking

1. stop, look, listen

2. make the most of what you've got

3. offer people a place to sit

4. think small for big results

5. enjoy more time out in public

6. rediscover the front yard

6. tear down fences

from The Great Neighborhood Book by Jay Walljasper

have you met rufus leaking?

find out more at pancake mountain.

::

feeling really good about this working from home bit. it seems to have found a lovely rhythm of its own and is meeting my needs in ways i didn't expect. it is helping with my commitment to "grow where you are planted". a friend reminded me the other day. (thanks melissa.)

as is the change in seasons. (at least as much as you can call it that here in socal.) so glad that autumn is just around the corner...

the problem as i see it.

we are driving down a major thoroughfare in our neighborhood and stop at a red light. there is a large conspicuous billboard advertising a local "gentlemen's club" with a large conspicuous scantily clad woman on it - mouth open, eyes partially closed. my 4 year old proclaims, "look mom! it's hannah montana"

and that is the problem i have with disney. pretty much anyway.

groovin'

yes we seem to have slid somewhat painlessly back into the groove the school year brings. i credit a lot of it to the fact that e has a teacher who is also a dear friend and neighbor. i have always been very keen on the idea of a child having the continuity of teacher and classmates through their early years - but alas (gotta love them!) lausd doesn't agree. but this works as well. e's ease and comfort with mr. john have allayed her shyness and have her actively participating in class. (last year she didn't speak in class for the first four months.)

k is enjoying her pre-K year - and the morning transition with her seems to be smoothed out by the bike ride to school. nothing like 20 minutes of hearing the wind blow and watching the birds as your morning commute.

and i am back in "my shed". checking things of my list. digging around our raised beds. and daydreaming about the possibilities our (now in shambles) backyard holds. i am going to take these classes. and ask the chickens what they thing i should do. ahh yes, the chickens. (for you shanna!) they are very settled in. with free run of the backyard whenever we are home. and their comfy coop when we have to dash out. they also have a new fondness for the shed. good company. i have to say they are very good pets. albeit they do leave behind a bit of a mess. (i am not encouraging the time in the shed - and much prefer them to be fertilizing the garden!) they are very friendly and social, and have been spotted falling asleep in e's arms. yes. lots of chicken love over here.




p.s. my beloved camera's run-in with the nanaimo bar didn't go well. am looking around for ideas. any suggestions? love/hate what you are using? thanks!

gone back

i still get back-to-school butterflies. it is my favourite time of year. always has been. its not just the new pencils and outfit and shoes. there is an energy in the air you can feel - all those little minds open and ready to play and learn. my mom has an archive of first day photos of my brother and i. there i am with my just a little too big raincoat on (it always seemed to be raining) with a grin ear to ear, and my brother looking terrified that summer is over and he has "to go back". e is a lot like me. she has had such wonderful teachers - she really loves school - and i am so very grateful for that.

the first day of second grade was a great one. a little nervous excitement at first turned to big smiles when familiar faces appeared in the same classroom. and her teacher. wow! (and i am not just saying that because he is such a good friend!)

she came home hungry and tired and spouting "oh mom, i LOVE room 17!"

looking back

horizontal format

a few more shots from our getaway. thanks for all your kind comments to my list below. the blogging thing hasn't been coming easily for me this summer. too much other stuff drawing my attention and energy. i do feel renewed. and (almost) ready for the return to our regular routine tomorrow. it has been a wonderful summer. but i also feel my heart yearning for autumn. (spoiled by the cooler temps we had up north.) i promise myself not to take on more than i can comfortably handle this school year. to know that others are there - and eager - to take up where i have left things. to let the long days of summer and the pace and joy they bring linger through the year.

bring it on.

from the forest to the sea

a few snaps from our time at the cottage...