~this moment~

A Friday ritual. 

A simple...

extraordinary moment
from my week.

A moment I want to pause...savor...

remember forever.

 

No photo...

just words.
 

Sharing my special moment.

See her reclined
at her desk...
feet propped on a nearby
chair that has been
drawn close to
accommodate the posture
A coffee rests beside her
*half full*
still warm
begging to be drunk
a soft light illuminates
from the computer sitting
on her lap
busy at work...
diligent
focused.
To the keen observer we see
a control at her hip
with a red button glowing
on the display panel to
*full back*
no wonder she has such a
serene expression
She is
multitasking
a bad word in her world
since she has been unable to
 accomplish such a feat...
and so she finishes
the work on
her laptop
and proceeds to the
task at hand

a shiatsu massage
awaits.

Happy Weekending, All!

(Apparently,
she has yet to work out
that glitch!)





technical difficulty

 

So...

 you may have been wondering...

or not

I am thankful for those

who were...

 

Yes...

I had a lovely

Thanksgiving...

rich with food and family

and a

grateful heart.

 

Yes...

I watched the MICHIGAN

ohio state

game

all by myself

because

my boys were out shopping...

and no,

I am not kidding.

 

Maybe they were

in tune with the dreaded

outcome and

therefore

opted out.

 

Yes...

James was confirmed on

Sunday and I had

a small gathering of family

to share in his

accomplishment.

 

He looked so handsome

in his black attire

and bold red

tie.

 

Unfortunately

I do not have any pictures

to prove my stories

because apparently I have used

all my storage and

am unable to upload

(for free that is)

 

So...

cheap me will find

a way around that little glitch...

I will consult with my

learned sister

(Rosebud, expect a call)

and the proof

will once again

be in the

pic.

 

Until then...

lonely words on a blank

screen.

So very sorry.

 

Now...

I've been wondering...

 

How was your

holiday weekend?

 

 



this child

As I held his hand

and looked into those sparkly eyes

I started saying the only thing that

came to mind...

 

Now I lay me

down to sleep,

I pray the Lord

my soul to keep,

If I should die

before I wake,

I pray the Lord

my soul to take,

In Jesus name

Amen.

 

Joey and James were with me

and out of habit we began

to sing a little

lullaby

I wrote and sang each

night with them...

 

When the sun shines bright it washes

all my fears and tears away,

When the moon beams through my window

I know what it's trying to say

Sleep tight my little bundle

Sweet dreams will come your way

And an angel will watch over you

Until the dawn of day

 

 

I put a cross on his forehead and

kissed him goodnight.

 

goodbye.

 

Knowing he found his way home

I again turned to a

prayer that my mom said each

morning before we

boarded the bus

for school.

 

Help him Lord

this day to be...

Guide thy child

to follow thee...

Help and save him by the hand...

Until he reaches

 heavenly land.

In Jesus name...

 

 

amen.

 

My father-in-law...

"Big Rudy"

a man I was
proud and grateful
to call

Dad.

 

 

 

 



november soup

 

a cold november morn

frost on the ground

sun peeking over the

horizon

 

the perfect time

or so i'm told

to forage

 

with a mug to warm

my hands

i begin my

journey

 

where i will

stop to

enjoy one of the

last specimens in my yard

with

vibrant

leaves

 

continue on the path

to this very spot

 

my winter garden

 

all that remains

lavender sprigs

that when touched still

produce a lingering

aroma of summer

 

chives

protected by fallen leaves

and used

when needed

 

and tender oregano

thriving at the base of

its mother plant

 

and the reason for my

visit

 

because this day

deems necessary

a bowl of satisfying

and hearty

warmth

 

pesto from the freezer

fresh-snipped

stand at the

 ready

 

as do my glasses

 

to read the

fine

 print

 

november and soup

two words that

somehow

belong together

 

maybe followed by

a game of

parcheesi...

 

o happy day!

 

~this moment~

 

 

"preparing for winter"

 

Happy Friday

 Friends.

 

blog share :: fimby

 

subtitled:

women helping women

(and men!)

 

my thoughts have been taking

a bend toward community

and the art of

true sharing

 

i say art because

in my experience that is

exactly what

it is...

a well-honed skill

and what it takes...

a heart for giving 

to truly

share.

 

 

here's today's thought process...

 

after visiting

soulemama who gets

a three love rating

(love*love*love)

and today's post on making soap

i went down memory lane to

my very first

(successful)

attempt

at the craft

 

and yes, these are pics from that

very day...

i have made improvements in

photography!

 

digression...

 

soulemama...amanda soule

 has a link to the site

of a woman i've come to know

through a different

avenue

 

renee tougas

of fimby

(fun in my backyard)

 

i first met renee

when i took

the whole food's kitchen workshop

(heather :: beauty that moves :: sidebar)

and she was a guest contributor

her

cauliflower potato curry stew

remains my favorite recipe

from the course

just typing it makes me

drool just a bit.

 

 

back to soap making

(circa 2010)

there i am

making joey commemorate the event

with a pic

goggles on

rubber gloved-up

book that was read and re-read

turned to the recipe i had

all but memorized...

cuz lets face it

when you're playing with stuff like

lye

it makes one a bit

nervous

cautious

fearful

 

enter renee

who shares openly

each and every step

with calming

clear

words and

tutorials

(yes! for the visual learner in all of us)

she shares techniques

and recipes!

and in the process she

erases that fear

which could possibly

deter one from achieving

a beautiful

block

of

handmade

soap

 

now that would be a

shame

 

nothing like washing with

soap made by

your own two hands

:)

 and sharing it with

those you love

 

true sharing

involves a gracious and

giving spirit...

 

one that

shines through

in each lovely word

written by

renee

 

she is so much more than soap

and i will leave it in her

very capable hands to

explain her approach to

living creatively

 

at

FIMBY

(soap and body care

at her sidebar

if interested)

 

while visiting

please read her recent article

am i living it right? (is the wrong question)

where she challenges each of us to

live in freedom

 

her contribution

of freeing anyone

who would like to make soap

from the fear that may

surround it...

is a small step in getting there.

 

thank you, renee.

and thank you for visiting.

 

stop back soon for my next

installment

of

blog share :: women helping women

(and men)

 

what?! 

real men do make soap!

 

 

 

totally

restless

 

 

With that feeling

like I'm supposed to be doing

something...

just not sure what that

something

is.

 

antsy

 

With Thanksgiving

right around the corner

shouldn't I be

planning

ordering

cleaning

in preparation?

 

I throw a load in the wash

until the

feeling passes.

 

uneasy

 

A list is composing in my head

of what I

could be doing

rather than nothing...

finish that knitting

start creating

more cleaning (like I said)

complete that reading

decide on paint...begin painting

sweep

dust.

 

Nah...I don't wanna do any of that.

 

Swished the duster about

so I wouldn't feel like

a complete

loser.

 

 

 

Did I mention my boys

declared yesterday a holiday?

 

Didn't you know?

 

The newest Call of Duty

was released

at midnight...an annual event

that has them waiting in lines

at midnight (thanks cousin Jeff)

and playing until the wee

hours

only to resume play after a quick

nap.

 

Homeschool is forgiving

like that.

 

So with a day off you would

think I could be clever.

 

 

 the opposite

 

 

 

the boring television

the messy house

the upcoming (real) holiday

the abandoned craft room

 

all left me feeling

uninspired...

 

what to do, what to do...

 

oh...

how I wish I could embrace

this fidgety child

within.

 

 

Constantly sensing

I was forgetting something.

 

We did go visit

Grandpa...

so I have that going for me.

 

When I remember what

it was...

 

an appointment perhaps?

a bill due?

 

I will let you know.

Unfortunately

as of this posting

I have no idea what

it is.

 

I will say I finally found a bit of

comfort in the kitchen.

 

Where I sipped on some Roma

and made a most fabulous dinner.

 

Sauteed Mushrooms with Honey Miso

Baked Tofu

 

Pan Fried Brussel Sprouts

 

Olive Oil and Garlic Couscous

 

Warm Crusty Bread

 

Sangria

 

Sure the Roma was great

but the Sangria made

all

the difference.

 

 

Today is a new day.

I will rejoice and be glad in it.

 

:)

 

 

easy like...

taking her out 

first thing

 

 

what?!

 

don't judge me...

 

she needed a new

red

adorable

reversible

 coat

because she

gets so shivery outdoors.

 

now that

that

job is done...

move on to the

important stuff.

 

vanilla soy latte

swirled

with

love

 

leftover last night's dessert

apple and mixed berry

crumble

mmm...

i've discovered a

perfect pairing.

 

settle in together

as we start our day

 

 

begin surfing...

 

fibber!

 

well...

 actually

i went right to

channel 49

 

the list is long

but

a hallmark countdown to Christmas

movie has me in its grasp...

a Christmas visitor...

gotta watch it.

 

really.

look for it

on your local listing

and tell me how

many tissues you go through.

(5...

 or 10 if we are counting

rudy :)

 

snuggle close...

watch a good movie early

(feels almost sinful)

take it nice and easy.

 

you have the rest of the day

to make things

complicated.

 

Happiest of Mondays!

 

~this moment~

 

 

"a boy and his dog(s)"

 

 

Happy Friday!

 

staying the course

 

Right about now you

might be asking yourself...

Is she really going to go

there?

 

 

Quite simply...

no.

I will say however...

this is a great country we live in...

where each person has a voice

that is heard.

The people have spoken

and now is the time

to rally together

and support the President of

the United States.

 

Do I hear...

amen?!

 

Switching gears

to the true purpose of this post...

 

Our October read

carried over into November...

as we began Frankenstein

we all had mixed reviews.

 

Now I am a firm believer in

putting a book aside

after giving it a good

solid start...

but there were aspects of Shelley's work

that made me want to

stick it out.

 

Foremost...

we have all heard or seen

so many inaccurate

interpretations of this novel

that I had a true desire

to know the original

version.

 

Secondly...

written in the early 1800's

we encountered language not

used regularly in today's world.

(loved the dictionary feature

on Kindle:)

Score one for vocab!

 

Finally...

when a story guides

you naturally through serious

issues of

exploring the unknown

following your dreams

personal responsibility

feelings of rejection

the importance of love

balancing intellect and emotion

heart and mind.

Well...

one must

stay the course.

 

It may not have been the gripping

page-turner I was hoping for

but it was thought provoking

and a wonderful

means for open discussion.

 

Getting your teens to

open-up...

well worth the effort

put forth!

 

Leaving me eager

to devour the classics...

one by one

in an attempt to learn

more about

ourselves

and our

world.

 

Any suggestions to our stack above?

We are planning on

The Gift of The Magi

for our December read

but welcome your

input.

 

Good day to you!

 

Now go read a good book!

 

 

whatcha been doin

 

minute by minute...

hour by hour...

day flows into night

night to day

and we begin again

 

 

 

 

some weeks are

like that...

so you might as well

begin a knitting project

way above your skill

level

for something tangible to hold

in times such as these.

 

happy monday

:)

~this moment~

 

 

"which way to go"

 

Happy Weekending!