a summer wish...

i send you tiny seashells in a toddler's hand

jewel tone glass bottles

a private poetry recital, just for you

homemade biscuits with soft butter

and the applause of your ancestors...

-sark

This little light of mine...

There are times we are called to be a light in the darkness.

Now is that time. Be a calm presence of love.

Let your heart shine like a beacon in dark times.

It is surprising what a difference one light can make.

-An inspirational reminder this morning from my brother Tony. He is a gift in my life and I was most definitely INSPIRED! xo

lime green

A second grader at my school was "star student" this week, and was asked to fill out a poster all about herself. In typical second grade fashion, she answered every question very well with lots of really good information. And then there it was: What is your favorite color? You know what she said? LIME GREEN. Not just green, but lime green. First of all, I have to agree that lime green is right up there with the most amazing colors, but the big thing for me was this: she was so specific, so clear. I had to ask myself when was the last time I was that zeroed in on what I like best? In fact, in my sometimes much too busy life, when was the last time I even thought about what my favorite color might be, much less elaborating on it? So...I pose this question here...what is your favorite color? Does this answer come to you easily and if not, can you tap into that little person inside of you that once knew the exact answer to that question (and many others) with all kinds of swirly details?

Stargirl

She was elusive. She was today. She was tomorrow. She was the faintest scent of a cactus flower, the flitting shadow of an elf owl. We did not know what to make of her. In our minds we tried to pin her to a corkboard like a butterfly, but the pin merely went through and away she flew.

-Stargirl

I saw this quote and it spoke directly to me. I was so insprired by the words. This was Friday. I brought this home and knew I would share it here. Saturday morning little charlie and I were at a garage sale (one of our favorite places to be) and he found a mermaid doll with a star on her chest that lights up, plays music, and goes in the water. He said I had to have it. He actually went to the guys running the sale to get the price (one dollar) and insisted that I really needed this doll. As we walked home, I realized two things: one...I really did need that doll in my life. And two: I am so humbled and astonished by the powerful love I receive from my beautiful little boy every day. To him I am the mermaid, the princess...i am stargirl. He somehow reminds me of something I may have forgotten...and for that, I am forever grateful. xo

Scenes from a hibernation...

Hibernating is wonderful. I have photos to prove it. I have spent the last six glorious days in my house with nothing but my boys, Lola, warm socks, and lots of good food.

Our courtyard looks magical...

My baking partner who dressed himself and is my biggest helper in the kitchen. I can't believe how much baking we did...brownies, cookies, chocolate cake, granola, banana bread, and other stuff too.

We stayed very busy gathering snow for our homemade snow ice cream. Yes, just add sugar, milk, vanilla and of course snow.

We discovered that while the seagulls can walk around and sort of huddle on the icy lake all day long...the ducks, not so much. They were a little disoriented.

Little one loves to throw snow balls. He also apologizes after each one.

This sweet bird visited us at our breakfast table. I think he lives with his family in the bird house around the corner. Could he be any fatter or cuter?

Add one iced in front door, and a dance party with my two super heroes...you get me...a deliriously happy girl.

Iced all the way in...what to do? Build a fort, put on my monkey suit, and put on a talent show for my proud parents.

Yes, hibernating is simply wonderful.

So is Silly Cow hot cocoa by the way....

Here we are....six days later...the snow and ice is gone, but....this six days will never be forgotten. xoxoxo

The ABC's

Cuddled up on this cold snowy morning, watching Winnie the Pooh, I was seriously not prepared for the ending. It's time for Christopher Robin to go off to school to learn his abc's and about places like Brazil. He tells Pooh that all he really wants to do is stay in the hundred acre woods and do nothing. (His favorite thing to do) I looked over at my sweet, sweet four year old boy, who's favorite thing to do is the same...(as is mine) and began to cry. He hugged me really tight, and I of course could not give a good explanation as to why I was crying....I just said I am so happy and sometimes people cry when they are really happy. I was reminded at that moment that he will go off and need to learn all of those things soon too. But....and this is the really important part....he is here with me now and just four years old. So there we were, me crying, him comforting me and drying my eyes with his precious blankie, and what else was there to do but jump up to make pancakes? Life...all at once so incredibly beautiful and yet tender, sometimes sad, and so very dear.

My boys

Here is the deepest secret nobody knows

here is the root of the root, and the bud of the bud

and the sky of the sky of a tree called life;

which grows higher than the soul can hope or the mind can hide and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart...

I carry your heart - I carry it in my heart.

-ee.cummings