Simple Delight :: Slow-Down Handiwork

It's hard to get little ones to hold still, to slow down now and then. So every so often, I pull out a handiwork project - something to engage little hands and little minds - and just leave it out to be discovered. This week, it was a basket of large wooden beads (found thrifting) and yarn for threading (I wrapped the ends with tape). My little chick went into deep concentration and worked for some time stringing the beads. Then, she delighted in throwing them onto the floor and watching them bounce and roll!

Other good slow-down handiwork projects for little hands I keep in my nest: a small embroidery hoop with kids needles and bright colored embroidery thread, puzzles, modeling clay & play dough, lacing cards and small spray bottles on the back porch for watering flowers.

What slow-down projects do your kids enjoy?

On Attention and Intention

I've been thinking a lot about the power of intention, and chatting about it with my new moon sisters. I've been pondering, too, the power of attention, and noticing where I'm putting mine. According to Deepak Chopra, "attention enlivens while intention transforms." So, if you want more or less of something, direct more or less attention to it. If you want to change something, or manifest something new, set an intention to do so.

I've been directing too much attention on fear lately, dwelling on worst-case scenarios for situations in my life and those of the ones I love. And my intentions have been kind of out of focus. So, with great compassion for myself, I'm working on these areas. I'm consciously shifting my attention back to love - the opposite of fear. And as I seek clarity for my intentions, they are jumping out at me, loudly and clearly, like they're so happy that I'm back in the moment!

Here's what you're supposed to do with your intentions once you're clear on them:

1. Write them down. Then look at them a lot, like when you get up in the morning, before bed at night and moments in between (perhaps in the car pickup line, or while doing laundry).
2. Surrender the outcome to nature, trusting it knows what is best for your highest self.
3. Keep your attention on the present moment, which empowers and energizes your intentions. Accept the present as it is, then watch as your intentions become reality.

*The image above was taken at Disney's Animal Kingdom in the area designed to look like Nepal. I'm so in love with prayer flags and I took bunches of pictures of these.

Backyard Bird Watching

We spent a lot of time watching birds in our backyard over the weekend. I assembled a small kit for the girls, stocked with books, field guides, a blank notebook and pencils (we couldn't find the binoculars).

Our house is on a small pond, so we get a lot of water birds. We saw a great blue heron, a great egret, two ducks and a snake bird along the coast or in the water. In the trees we spotted two blue jays, singing and playing. A rusty blackbird was gathering grass on the ground. And soaring high above we spotted three birds of prey...I'm not certain what they were.
Selby had great fun identifying the birds we saw, then recording them in her journal. And we're all looking forward to doing some of the activities in the Smithsonian Bird Watcher book we borrowed from the library. It's full of easy ideas for birdwatching with kids, including creating a "bird buffet." This is setting out several small dishes of bird fare, such as breadcrumbs, sunflower seeds, soaked oats, soft fruit and bacon fat, and then watching what different birds select. Other ideas include making bird feeders & bird baths, bird gardening tips and collecting feathers.

Birdwatching with my gals was back-to-basics fun, allowing us to connect with nature and one another without spending a penny or leaving our home.

Simple Delight :: Peeks of Spring

Despite the fact it was below 40 degrees this morning (in Florida, in March!), the morning sun shone boldly into our nest, illuminating little bits of Spring beginning to peek through.

Simply delightful signs of change and growth and new fun to be had.
Who can resist that? Happy Friday!

From Farm to Fridge to Table

A weekend trip to my local organic farm brought me deep green bunches of spinach, chard, sorrel, cilantro, lettuce and collards. And jewel tones of golden sweet potatoes, red peppers, pink apples, amethyst onions and Florida strawberries. A carton of farm fresh eggs and my basket runneth over!

I spent about two hours prepping vegetables - it was like a moving meditation - and ended up with food for the week, all neatly packed into plastic bags, ready to go. For dinner Saturday, we had shrimp fried brown jasmine rice, full of fresh veggies, with homemade chicken soup. Sunday, it was chard & onion quiche, a mixed greens salad with honey vinaigrette dressing and warm corn muffins. Tonight, chicken & veggie soft tacos.

I love knowing my planning & prep work is done for the rest of the week. Spicy white bean & sweet potato stew with collards; turkey & spinach lasagna; baked apples filled with honey & raisins... if nothing else goes right, at least I know we'll be well fed. And every last leaf of that glorious, farm fresh produce will be consumed.

What's on your table this week?

One Stitch at a Time

I'm teaching myself to knit. It's requiring a lot of patience and a hefty dose of humility. Right when I get into a rhythm, and what I'm knitting actually starts to look like something, I drop a stitch, or twist something up. So I end up with random holes and wonky stitches. After a while, I decide I want to try again, and I unravel the whole thing. With the aspiration to get it right this time, I cast on again... And so it goes.

The life lesson here has not escaped me; I see the metaphor. At 35 years old, I finally feel like I'm having to grow up. Real life things are happening to and around me now. Life & death stuff. Safety & security stuff. Learning to balance these responsibilities is a lot like learning to knit. I don't always get it right. There are gaps in judgement. There are twists of fate. And my rhythms get broken again and again.

So I'm focusing on taking it one stitch - and one moment - at a time. Both knitting and this grown-up life.

Simple Delight :: Tea To Go

Selby was gifted her very own tea travel mug for Valentine's Day (thank you Nana). Mini-sized, it is perfect for little hands; she LOVES it. It is so cute watching her carry her tea out to the car, backpack on, ready to sip it on the way to school. "I look like you, Mommy," she says, beaming. And I smile too. My gal is experimenting with different teas and flavors... right now she likes Tension Tamer from Celestial Seasonings with a fair share of wildflower honey. Mmmm, simply delightful in every way.

What teas are you sipping right now? How about your little chicks?