The weather is winning...

Not too long ago....

We had this....

Now we have this...

and this

and this!

 

The weather here has been taking on a life and story all it's own.  It has reminded us that Mother Nature makes the rules, and she can be both beautiful and devastating, all at the same time. 

 

 

Winter has brought with it ice, extreme cold (think eyelashes freezing if your are not careful!), snow (snow and more snow!), crisp cold wind, grey everywhere you look and brilliant bright sun.  Winter has brought with it much mixed emotion, happiness, frustration, moodiness and a desire for it to all be over.  From a roaring, warm fire, settled in an arm chair, with piping hot coffee, and gazing lazily out the window, it looks, serene and magical.  Standing in the wind, waiting for the kiddies to come out of school, hat, gloves, extra gloves, long underwear, hood, boots and neck warmer firmly in place, while still losing feeling in your legs it is brutal. 

 

 

Here is to celebrating all that winter is and learning to love all that comes with it (or at least tolerate it!)

 



The Creative Life

Snow!  So exciting!

Winter is coming.....

 

There has been so much to notice.  The weather has been changing, sometimes teasing us with the next season, and then stepping back into warmer temperatures, but finally....the snow has come and it seems to be sticking.  I am learning to try and love each season for its unique beauty and offerings. 

 

Winter, may have taken me some time to appreciate but I am making strides.  I love sledding with my darlings, skiing and sitting by the fireplace getting warm after a run in the brisk cold.  I adore the look of joy on my girls faces as they see and scream in excitement about the first snow fall.  It is contagious.  If you dress right, meaning layers of warmth, there is much to be enjoyed.  I do love hearing the snow crunch under my boots and how calm everything looks after it has snowed.  There is also hot chocolate!  best enjoyed on a winter day.

 

Being grateful can change things, shift my mood, calm me, remind me that I have much to be grateful for.  Help me find my way back, help me to let go.  A season of renewal, a time for getting cozy and see what can emerge, only to grow again. 

 

 



Red...A Spring Walk

Big News!  My husband won the photography contest at the local library for a black and white version of a photo very similar to this...he is a talented and humble guy with a great visual eye.  I am encouraging him to really celebrate this affirmation of his skills as a photographer!

And also....I won the adult poetry contest for this gem....read and enjoy!!!  What a thrill and one step in the direction of the creative life....and my family was there when the awards were handed out.  A great moment!

Red

 

It stopped

My heart

Your breath

 

The line in the sidewalk

Crooked, red, dripping

Paralyzed and enshrined

 

 Things moved in slow motion

No one knew what to do

There was looking, followed by looking away

 

It was supposed to be a rush

An immediate adrenaline filled push

Emergent precision, everything counting

 

I’m screaming now

This is not the end

This is not the beginning

 

I want the meantime back

The in-between, the waiting to,

The uneventful

 

The red line is still moving

Flowing, while you are still

A hurricane of the unacceptable

 

I am free falling

Watching the red become shielded in white

Begging for movement

 

Move

Move

Move

A time for thanks

Its the little (BIG) things......

1.  A hot cup of coffee shared with a friend in leisure
2.  A hot cup of tea drank without hurry in silence
3.  "Mommy..I love you"
4.  Snuggling next to my beautiful daughter(s) first thing in the morning
5.  The whole family reading on the big bed
6.  Quiet
7.  A hot meal - with pie!
8.  A long run with crisp air and dynamically coloured leaves
9.  Sitting by the fireplace
10.  A clean home

A nature walk, on a long weekend, with your healthy (relatively) happy family, excitement over the awesome amount of leaves, caterpillars, and giant trees.  Exploring it all together....

The Apples are Calling

Listen

If you are quiet you can just barely hear it

Quieter

Quieter

That's it

Hear that....

The gentle whispers, the soft sound

the wind, the leaves...

The trees are talking

 

The apples are calling

Big and bright

Small and juicy

This is the time

The apples are calling

 

Climb the tree

Reach for the sky

pull

Ahhhhh

The jewel is yours

Red and green

 

Crunch, Snap, Yum

Feel your smile spread easily

Your mouth dance

Your heart lift

Your tummy alive

The apples are calling

 

Run in the fields

with reckless joy

See the corn

Feel the stalks

Get lost and find your way home

The apples are calling

Travel Near and Far

Certainly, travel is more than seeing of the sights, it is a change that goes on,

deep and permanent, in the ideas of living

- Miriam Beard

 

 

From our family vacation.....to the capital of our great country....this was a lesson in history, philosophy and living.  Time together as a family, just us, no dishes to wash, home repairs to complete, laundry to do, birthday parties to attend.  I love this time when there is no distractions from connecting with each other.  I feel so grateful for this time to just be with each other, learning and loving together.

I also love exploring a new place, the history, how our world is so big and small, different yet so very familiar.  I loved walking hand in hand with my darlings taking it all in, learning about how and why, when and where.  Learning with them, and at times, being the teacher.  These memories will hopefully carry me through the next transition - back to school - ahhhh! 

Here is to travelling near and far with those you love the most....

 

 

 

 

Try the Tri...

Getting ready

Swim Baby Swim

Ride like the wind

Well, this is a new adventure...the 'try a tri' or the 'give it a tri'....the beginner triathlon experience.  I needed a new adventure, something to take me out of the everyday, shake things up, and luckily I was able to do it with friends, where the focus really was on having fun, completing your own race, and being in it together.  This was a totally new experience for me and I was not nervous until the morning of the race when I went to register and looked around and realized...I was really going to do this! 

I loved that this was done with friends, for fun, and that everyone after enjoyed their achievements and still swam with the kids in the lake after all was said and done.  I love that these pictures represent a zest for life, a passion for something outside work, sleep, etc....

So would I do it again...stay tuned....