A Return to Shell Beach

Earth Day was the perfect day for our clan's seasonal return to our beloved Shell Beach. Mother Nature was out in full force, offering up a perfect selection of sea life for the kids to explore in her honor.

They quickly set up an impromptu "touch tank area" with beach buckets housing a sea urchin, a hermit crab in a whelk shell, a non-stinging jelly fish, some presumed plankton and some snails - all found in and around the crystal-clear Gulf waters.

Mid afternoon, we all took a walk down the beach, collecting odds and ends of trash to help beautify "our place" in nature. Most all of our children began coming to this beach within weeks of their births, so their attachment to it is strong. As it is for us mamas, who have raised our babes together here upon this shore, strengthening the bond of our sisterhood while soaking in the sun. So happy to be back!

Strawberry Traditions

Spring arrives subtly in Florida. The days are sunny and marked by a cool breeze. Birdsong fills the air. And locally-grown strawberries are piled high at every produce market and farm stand.

To honor the season's arrival, we headed out to our local u-pic farm on Monday, as we have for three years now, for a strawberry picking jubilee! It's become an early spring tradition among our clan, and this year five mamas and 13 kiddos gathered to stock up on these sweet, edible jewels.

As I watched my girls and my nephew run through the fields, picking and eating berries with gusto, I realized the depth of this spring ritual. These children now know, on one level or another, that strawberry picking is more than just an outing...

...it marks the turn of a season.

...it offers a connection to a piece of local, fruit-bearing land.

...it yields homemade jam for countless peanut butter sandwiches over the year to come.

...it links them into a community of friends with shared values and interests.

...it deepens our family connection through a shared experience, repeated year after year.

As a mother of young children, so much of my energy and attention is focused on creating rhythms and rituals that will bring comfort, joy, beauty and unity to the individual and collective lives of my family. So when a tradition like this develops organically, weaving its way into the rhythm of our year without my intention, I can't help but notice just how sweet it is!

Henna & Mojitos

I hosted a "girls' night in" Saturday while DaddyBird was out of town. The mamas all came over with yummy things to eat - brie, baguettes & homemade jams; hummus & red peppers; homegrown mulberry cobbler and blocks of dark chocolate - and grown-up things to drink - bottles of wine, rum punch and mixings for mojitos.

We put a new spin on the typical "spa treatment" girls night fun, and decorated each other with henna tattoos. So much fun was had by all, and it was decided that a regular "girls' night" should be added to our gatherings, for sure.

Maggie's Mojitos

8-10 limes, for pulp and juice
1 bunch fresh mint
1 cup sugar
1-2 cup(s) white rum
2-3 cups club soda

Use a mortar and pestle to "muddle" or mash up mint sprigs with about half the sugar, releasing the mint oils. Place muddled mint in pitcher with lime juice, remaining sugar and rum; stir well to dissolve sugar. Add lots of ice and top with club soda to taste. Garnish with fresh mint and lime slices. Drink and be merry!

Peace Out to Summer Vacation (and S'mores Cookies)

Our village's second annual End of Summer Blowout moved to the beach this year, where we gathered for an evening potluck. We swam, played and ate until the sun set on the last night of summer vacation.

My S'mores Cookies, from the archives of Martha Stewart, were a grand hit! Definitely try these ooey, gooey, chocolatey treats when you want the authentic taste of s'mores but no campfire is in sight.

It's back-to-school week over here, which equals a bit more craziness, mixed in with a heavy dose of relief. I hope to be back in this space more in the days to come!

Seagrape Leaf Rubbings, on Location

A new element found its way into our beach day - art, of course! Why haven't I thought of bringing a drawing pad and crayons before?

The kids took turns wandering up to a blanket in the shade... we made seagrape rubbings and drawings of the sunny beach and flowers.

I've said it before, this never gets old!

Gifts from the Local Food Goddess

In my eyes, all my mama friends have achieved goddess status of some sort. There's the Domestic Goddess, the Birth Advocate Goddess, the Healing Goddess... and now, I officially pronounce one of our tribe the Local Food Goddess. She is a skilled gardener on a mission to procure all her food from local sources, or by growing it herself. Eating locally is something I've been slowly moving toward for some time. And now, I'm learning from - and with - my friend how to take this step for real.

So on her rounds today, the Local Food Goddess visited our local dairy farm, which houses grass-fed cows and follows organic practices. Finding the heavy cream on sale, she called me... "Yes, of course I'll take a half-gallon of heavy cream for $2. I'll take two. And, uh, what exactly should I do with all that cream?" The answer on the other end of the line was simple: make butter.

On her way home, my friend passed a sign by the side of the road that read "Fresh Eggs for Sale." She knocked on the residential door and was shortly out back watching free-roaming chickens, happily pecking away, and showing her young boy dozens of baby chicks! Another phone call... "Yes, of course I'd like a dozen free-range, farm fresh eggs for $2.50."

So after picking my own little chicks up from school, I swung by the home of the Local Food Goddess herself to pick up my goods. As we chatted about local meat sources and how to make butter, our kids romped through her expansive garden sampling strawberries, mint & sage, purple beans and cherry tomatoes. She hacked off a huge stalk of deep green kale for me, and filled the girls' hands with fresh herbs.

I loaded up my treasures - which cost a mere $6.50 - grinning ear-to-ear. And I just had to wonder, at what point, exactly, did it come to be that cream and eggs and kale could make me so very happy?

Stay posted for my adventures in butter making.

Treasure Mapping

About a week behind, I began my Aries New Moon treasure map adventure last night. I was inspired to embark on this journey with my moon sisters last year after reading this interview. It was such a powerful project, I was anxious to repeat it this year. However, as the planets would have it, I got to spend the New Moon assisting in the home birth of my niece... treasure mapping would have to wait.

The Aries moon welcomes the astrological new year, a most powerful time to set intentions for the lunar year to come. Its a time to plant seeds and dream big. So last night, I sat with my dear friend Rose, sipping red wine and nibbling dark chocolate, and began to clip images from magazines to represent where I want to travel in the year to come. As my map developed, a theme began to emerge. It appears I want to focus more on self this year (yay!)... healthy eating, exercise, a new wardrobe, creative pursuits and soul-fulfilling projects. I found images of "substance" vs. "stuff" kept jumping out at me. And so my journey begins...

Over the next week, I'll be completing my map (which will have a LOT more white space on it this year, representative of both a need for "less" and room to grow). I'm excited to gain more clarity and set more dreams in motion. Want to join in? Check out Erin's guide to get started on your own treasure map adventure.

{this moment}

Joining Amanda in a "this moment" post. And breaking the rules with a few words...

7 lb 10 oz. 19 1/2 in. - My sweet niece, born in the water on April 14, right into my nest. Bliss!

Happy weekend.

A Mother Blessing

A circle of women, gathering to honor motherhood and sisterhood, birth and life.

Cleansed by the smoke of sage and lavender, protected by the spirits of the four directions, and joined by all the mothers who came before us to to care, love and guide us, we honored a mother and welcomed a new baby to our tribe.

Crowned in flowers and painted with henna, the mother-to-be accepted blessings of encouragement and strength, love and support. These wishes were represented by prayer ties on a blessing tree for the mama's birth space.

Any fears were washed away, anxieties reduced to ashes. A web of sisterhood was woven around us and the circle was opened, but unbroken.

We feasted on quiche lorraine, Chinese chicken salad, cinnamon raisin walnut bread, pesto pasta, orange blossom spritzers and a fragrant orange blossom cake.

A very sweet blessing for my dear sister. Now, anxiously awaiting my sweet little niece!

Circles and Hearts

Come out of the circle of time, And into the circle of love. - Rumi

I know I've waxed poetic here many-a-time about my tribe, my village, my mamas. I've written about our new moon circles, our mother blessing ceremonies and all sorts of family gatherings. So it's only fitting I would spend Valentine's Day with this circle of friends, celebrating the love and friendship shared amongst our collective family.

We gathered out at the ranch to celebrate two Valentine's birthdays with a family campout. It was too cold - even here in Florida - to put up our tents, so we all cozied into the cabin in slumber-party fashion.

After the lights went out inside, the grown ups gathered outside around the campfire, under a new-moon sky. For the first time, on this Valentine's Eve, my sisters and I opened up the new moon circle to include our partners in an intimate ceremony under the stars.

My intention for the new lunar cycle was more of a mantra, adopted from one of the wise women of our clan: "I CAN TAKE IT!"

I CAN TAKE more good times and love...

I CAN TAKE more prosperity and peace...

I CAN TAKE whatever comes my way, for my circle is wide and my heart is deep. And anything that doesn't belong in these spaces will flow right out through my feet and into the earth below.

Nature & Friendship

Over the weekend, I was gifted with a full 24 hours off the grid. Under the majestic, old trees of a 40-acre ranch, we joined together with our village for a family camp out birthday party that will never be forgotten. It was a weekend overflowing with the beauty and abundance of both nature and friendship.

Late night and early morning campfires.

Hayrides and slow walks through the nearly-untouched land.

Natural discoveries, both big...

...and small.

Sweet family moments that celebrated diverse individuality...

...as well as loving inter-connectivity.

So happy birthday to a very special six year old boy! Thank you for sharing your most magical of birthdays, full of sweet surprises and much-needed reminders of what matters most.

Countdown to K :: Pool Party

It was an end of summer blowout at my house last night!
We celebrated our village of friends with pool time,

a potluck dinner complete with an ice cream sundae bar,

and a walk around the neighborhood that looked like our own personal parade!

Thank you, my friends, for 5 wonderful years - and a fabulous summer - full of community, friendship and fun. I can't imagine a better way to watch my children grow.

Countdown to K :: New Moon in Kindergarten

I gathered with my New Moon Sisters last night to honor the New Moon in Virgo, or as we renamed it, the New Moon in Kindergarten! So many of our biggest chicks are taking their first flights from the nest next week. So we set a group intention for smooth transitions - both for kiddos and mamas alike.

And then we got down to some mindful crafting. Last night's mission was power sticks. We each decorated found sticks, as well as began work on a communal one to use as a talking stick at our circles.

I used a piece of driftwood from Shell Beach and decorated it with stones and shells I've collected over the years, as well as some beads and ribbon. The idea is to keep adding to it as time goes by.

I plan to keep my power stick on my altar as a reminder of the peace the beach brings me - which is what inspired me in this craft. I'm not sure if I will use it in mediation, or just how it will come into play...but as my relationship with it develops, I'll let you know.