there is nothing to do and no where to go

jennifer louden spoke on the mindful connection 

 she started off with a poem by marc nepo

"...there is nothing to do and no where to go

 excepting this,

we can do anything and go anywhere"

living our soul's work

be present to what is

let me be with what it

what could i do in this moment right now to feed us

are you going to order out

what would i really love right now

this is our life to shape

this is our life to create

mindful questions remind you that you have a choice

remember that you have a set of glasses on at any set time

and you are seeing the world in only one way

but you are just a little fish to experience

you are a creator

you create your life, you do not have to around reaction to it

you have nothing to do and no where to go

what your natural strengths and talents

and strength them, repeat for positive benefit

build your lives around your strengths

a lot of freedom that comes from living your life the way

weaknesses are things that weaken you

drain your energy, exhausts you

come up with some creative things or simply don't do it

who says i have to cook dinner? who says i have to iron?

mindful questions 

what do i want?

what would i love to do next?

what are your desires?

self-care becomes more of a way of life, not just at the end of the week after your "work" is done

i want to live a life that cares for me

what do i desire

what is interesting me

what is calling to me? what do i desire? pay attention to your desire and following it

let yourself be nourished by it

follow your desires, they nourish you

what our soul is hungry for

self care are simple and available and free

if you get 15 minutes, grab onto it whole-heartedly

1. if i am in hyper alert mode

dialogue with the parts of yourself that is hyper alert

these parts of you are afraid, what are they afraid of??

2. start at the level of the body

choose relaxing music to calm your brain down

choose something physical to transition yourselves

giving yourself mindful transitions

3. keep log or chart for taking care of yourself

how you felt before you took care of yourself

how you felt after you took care of yourself

exhasted?

if you need rest, get to bed early, make up your sheets, use lavender soap in the shower

do it with love and intention

yoga nigeria= relaxation technique

how do you handle something that exhausts you that you have to do, ie cleaning?

so much of what exhausts us in life is the conversation that it should be different than it is

get curious how you could lower your standard around "cleaning" and asking for help

we assume that there are things that need to be done by us, why?

sandwich it between things that strengthens you

what makes you think that the world will need?

get curious

self care = an attitude of lightness

get to a place where we can be deserving of pleasure and kicking back in the middle of the day, make a 3 column list

1. what do you have to do?

2. what could you do?

3. let go of?

(buddism) the problem is you think you have more time than you do

today may be the last day that you get

let's show up for it, let's enjoy it, let's stop and reflect

let's reflect , have a cup of tea, catch up with our souls, and then go on to do the next thing

i trust that the choices i am making right now are based on (what i know in this moment)

trust in your deepest experiences of meaning

i am living my purpose

my purpose is unfolding through these kids (homeschooling)

i am engaged and strengthened

i did something, i feel engaged with life

i feel alive

deflect negativity

websites mentioned:

thelifeorganizer.com    52 weeks of mindful questions,

the comfort cafe   monthly subscription

comfortqueen.com

wip

:: we have a birthday coming up - lucky number 6. 
 

corners of her room

:: as i finished up simplifying and organizing her bedroom, i left a new book "fairy houses" with some tiny needlefelted acorns and hoped that it would be well received. i was very happy with the results of our hard work in simplifying. it brought a smile to my face, looking at the things that bring joy to my daughter. from her crystal and rock collections, the basket of shells that my mother made for her years ago to her amazing ability to find heart shaped rocks. to her handwork basket that contains the flower press that we have used for many years that makes me realize how much she has grown. to the weaving she did last year that she made into a rug for her dollhouse and the little nature corner that contains a little beeswax bluebird in a nest she made. and i am most excited about seeing how this new space will allow her creativity and imagination to take flight.

making flower children

:: we wait in anticipation of each blossoms we will see unfolding around us. each day brings even more beauty into our lives ~ snowdrops, daffodils, magnolias, cherry blossoms, pear blossoms, rhododendrons, violets, dandelions, grape hyacinth, bleeding hearts and our hyacinths anyday. 

:: my daughter and i made a little snowdrop in preparation of spring. we used the pattern in feltcraft. the little snowdrop has been sleeping under my little one's pillow every night and i can tell her love for him comes from us crafting him together. i especially enjoy these days when we can look at our festival resources together and decide what we would like to create. in the background is the flower book with beautiful ida bohatta morpurgo illustrations from 1946, which my little one found in her easter basket. 

 :: i found some violets and dandelions on my walk with the baby today. i arranged them on the nature table for my little one to discover. i hope you too are enjoying the beauty that is unfolding around you.

first day of spring

:: happy spring 

happy saint patrick's day

happy saint patrick's day. i was up a wee bit late last night, inspired by this posting from golden sun family from years ago. it is a fantastic idea.

the magic and wonder that it brought this morning was so beautiful. her initial discovery was the wee little book and she wondered where it had come from, who's it was, what was it going to reveal. she headed for the magnifying glass as the writing in the wee little book was very tiny. 

she searched around the house for any other traces of the leprechaun and discovered the outfit. her questions, her thoughts, her wonder had my heart smiling.

then, just as we were getting ready to leave for school, she wanted to bring in the wee little book to show her classmates. but then, she hesitated and i asked why. she went on to say that the others at school did not believe in fairies. as we discussed it further, she figured out that the others had not opened their eyes wide enough to notice the fairies or the treasures they leave behind. and we left it at that.

reminders of the seasons

:: summer flowers being pressed. summer seems so far away with the snow yesterday.


:: and some of ava's pictures reminding us that we are in autumn. i wonder what weather tomorrow will bring?

in the woods - a cluster of berries

:: we discovered this on our nature walk the other day. it was so interesting that i had to take a few pictures to ensure that one would come out clear. notice my little one was captured in the distance.

it has come the time to stock ourselves with some field guides. it sure would be pretty nice to have some fields when we are out in the woods. slowly i add some field guides, in addition to other unschooling/homeschooling resources.

:: Arum maculatum. this looks very close.

rocks & fossils

:: my little one's interests lead our way. allowing her opportunities for her own discoveries.

i secretly purchase items from museum shops and on ebay and place them out at special times. they are frequently used in play and they accompany many stories. natural elements really facilitate our little one's sense of wonder.

going into autumn

:: i love this time of year. with the crisp mornings, the warm sparkling afternoon sun, the soft ruffling sounds of the grasses in the breeze. and as the colors of summer fade, a display of vibrant warm hues comes into play.

:: the hydrangeas brings warm fiery reds to my little ones "rainforest". a beautiful lime green is hiding on the underside of the flowers.

:: "butterfly, butterfly, butterfly" is said with excitement. butterflies were scarce this summer around here. i think we are really able to experience the wonder and beauty of these graceful creatures more than in the years past.

tomorrow is the first day of autumn. i am planning on going up to the farm stand to get some apple cider and indian corn. indian corn is one of the highlight of my little ones daily autumn activities. lots of indian corn love here and here. the corn gets sorted and poured, baked into muffins and stews and some goes for feeding the animals. i also have a sweet little wool indian corn necklace from rosemary for remembrance.

Enjoy your first day of Autumn!

where's the inch worm

:: the inch worm vigorously traveled up my little one's arm in a matter of seconds. amazement and giggles filled the air

:: mica discovered in a friend's yard

:: a fairy toad house among the foxgloves and daisies. we have seen evidence of the toads being out and about in the neighborhood but have our them in our bushes or yard as of yet.

lovelies in the garden

:: Blue lace hydrangea

:: Usually an early bloomer, Sanguisorba menziesii burgundry

:: Centaurea dealbata

:: Campanula cherry bells

:: Sedum 'Angelina'

:: Echinacea purpurea 'Magnus'

:: a daisy beginning to open

:: Allium drumstick sphaerocephalon in bud

While, I continue to enjoy the beauty of my garden, I am noticing that some of my lovelies have not returned. Most likely they did not prosper in the conditions, maybe too sandy for some or not enough sun for others. I am sad to not see the return of any flower as much planning and time has gone into my garden. I sure have learned a lot, from when I first started 5 years ago and have enjoyed much beauty along the way.