A Natural Nester

Fresh-Squeezed Bliss

2012-01-26T08:46:00.000-05:00

Our backyard orange tree is dripping with golden navels, hanging low on the tree and perfectly ripe for picking. Up higher and out of reach, a smaller variety of wild oranges are beginning to come into their own. I believe the best way to enjoy the navels is to devour them just as they are - the whole fruit - letting the sticky-sweet juice run down your chin and arms. It's unavoidable, really. A neater, and equally yummy way, to consume these fresh orbs of sunshine is to squeeze them into a tall pitcher of delicious, golden juice.

And if it's a special occasion - like a perfectly sunny Florida winter day - give that juice a whirl in the blender with a little ice and vanilla sugar for a frothy and fun Orange Julius. Sipped from a straw, outdoors. Orange bliss.

Fresh-Squeezed Orange Julius

A traditional Orange Julius uses raw egg yolks... we skip that and add a little protein powder for creaminess. You could also add a fresh or frozen banana to this recipe to thicken it up!

1 cup fresh-squeezed orange juice
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 or 2 tablespoons vanilla protein powder
1 teaspoon local honey or vanilla flavored sugar (optional)
1 or 2 handfuls of ice

Blend everything in a blender and enjoy. Add more ice to your taste.

The Fall/Winter Garden

2012-01-12T09:53:00.005-05:00

Remember how nervous I was about my fall garden? Well, it's doing pretty well despite my steep learning curve and bouts of neglect. I've had beautiful harvests of green: lettuces, collards, kale, beans, green onions, many herbs ... and the spinach & chard are just taking off. Purple has been a big producer too with eggplants, basil and lots of pole beans. I've had modest crops of little carrots and radishes. The peppers, broccoli and sugar snap peas are struggling, but producing. And I've got GOBS of tomatoes on the vine!

Of course here in Florida, it's citrus picking time and the branches of my orange and lemon trees are hanging heavy and low. The orange tree produces mostly navels, but a shoot sticks straight up the middle with compact (still green) wild oranges growing up high. The lemon tree is magic, I've written about it here before. I never know what to expect... this year, big bright yellow lemons, smaller golden ones and a few limes - yes limes - grace my tree. Three banana trees are fruiting right now too. I'm in paradise.

So, I got my new Baker Creek catalog in the mail a couple weeks ago, and I'm dreaming of my spring garden already. With a new drip irrigation system in place (installed by yours truly last weekend), I'm dreaming big. Like, maybe it will get fertilized more than twice. And properly mulched... baby steps...

My Kids are SO Attached

2012-01-08T09:47:00.000-05:00

In bringing up my gals, I've followed closely the ideals of attachment and natural parenting. I birthed them both gently and naturally at home, and held them skin-to-skin from their first breaths. I breastfed them on demand. We co-slept. I responded to their every cry and whimper. I wore them in a sling until my back nearly broke.

As my girls grew, I began feeding them healthy, whole foods; organic whenever possible. As their cries turned into words, I encouraged gentle communications. As they began to explore their world, I surrounded them with natural-material playthings and helped them to engage in imaginative play.

They each grew quickly from infant to toddler to little girl. I've adjusted and continued on my natural parenting path. I limit and monitor screen time. I strive to ensure they have lots of outdoor time with physical activity. We regularly commune with nature on walking trails and at the beach. We hug and snuggle a LOT. I keep a wealth of art supplies and musical instruments on hand for them to express their creativity. We work together in our vegetable and butterfly gardens. We read stories and poetry out loud every day and night. We work side-by-side in the kitchen to roll out cookies and toast up granola. I continually strive for mutual respect and, as the parent, I try and lead by positive example in all I do.

My parenting ideals have expanded beyond our home, too. We belong to a community of like- minded families that support one another and share the same basic values and ideals. Our children have played together since birth. As families, we've celebrated together, cried together and grown together. My girls have developed real relationships with both the other kids and the adults of this community. They know they are surrounded by people who support them unconditionally. We are a strong village and my girls are experiencing a deep sense of belonging to a community.

On every level, every day, almost every move I make is calculated to ensure my children know in a deep and real way that they are loved and safe. Their needs and desires are always heard, and most always met.

At ages 7 and 4, my girls are officially attached. So. Very. Attached.

In fact, I'm beginning to suffocate a bit from their close attachment. Lately, I've felt a growing desire to push them away a little. To create some space around us - some breathing room. I feel my children struggling with this too. They squabble with one another. They struggle more with unstructured time. And they NEVER stop demanding someone's attention.

So I've been asking myself, what's the next step in our journey together? I know it is my childrens' natural developmental work to detatch from their parents. And I wonder, at what point - and how- do I help facilitate this gradual process? I believe all the things I've done with them to-date have set the foundation for them to have confidence in themselves and their world so they can start peeking out at it and taking their first solitary steps within it. But how do I foster this independence while holding them close? How do I safely create more space for both them and myself without pushing them away?

We are all a bit on edge, feeling the pull of something new and different on the horizon. I'm looking now for ways to move forward on this new path...

If you've walked it already, I'd love to hear your thoughts.

Hello 2012

2012-01-08T08:52:00.001-05:00

Farewell 2011... the last sunset of the year plunged into the chilly Gulf of Mexico and we cheered from our blanket spread upon snowy white sand. A new tradition was born.

We've always celebrated New Year's eve with the girls early, counting down to an imaginary "midnight." But the sunset! Oh, watching as that magnificent fiery ball dropped into the water was better than any ball dropping on TV. Better than any petend midnight we've done before.

We enjoyed a memorable picnic dinner (sushi & sesame noodles - our favorite portable beach meal), toasted with sparkling cider (Mama & Daddy were a little more festive with our beverages) and waited for darkness to come. So we could do this...

A perfectly sweet, family celebration from our beautiful winter wonderland by the Gulf.

Happy New Year to you and yours!

Salt Dough Ornaments

2011-12-23T15:48:00.001-05:00

Need a last minute gift? We whipped these up today with materials already in our kitchen and craft cabinets.

Mix 4 cups flour, 1 cup salt and 1 1/2 cups water to form a dough. Knead it, roll it out and use cookie cutters to cut out shapes. Bake at 225 degrees for 2-3 hours.

Paint and decorate as you like. We used glass beads and glitter paint. And a piece of the Christmas tree and kitchen knife to make impressions.

Happy holidays!

Sweet Mice Stocking Stuffers

2011-12-19T19:47:00.000-05:00

I needed 19 stocking stuffers for my gal's 2nd grade class. So, for the cost of a few sheets of felt and a couple boxes of candy canes, we went to work making sweet little mice candy cane holders. These are so easy and so cute!

First, cut out a teardrop shape from one color of felt to create the mouse body (mine was 4.5" long and almost 3" across at the base). Then, cut out a long oval (mine was 4.25" x 1.5") in a coordinating color of felt to create the ears.

Fold the body of the mouse in half so the nose touches the base, and cut two half inch parallel slits (about half an inch apart) in the center of the body - when open, these are about 1" long.

Pull the "ears" through this slit and voila! - you have a mouse.

Paint on the eyes, tuck a candy cane in the slits, and you have a simple little stocking stuffer, sure to please!

St. Lucia Day

2011-12-15T20:45:00.001-05:00

For the second year, we honored St. Lucia Day in our home with a celebration of hope and light. Selby was beautiful and confident delivering homemade sweet buns, pepparkakor and coffee to our multi-genraltional household. She first served Daddy, then little sister Sage, then Nana & Papa, and finally, I crawled back into bed and enjoyed being served my goodies too.

Like last year, I gifted my girls new holiday outfits on this morning, to remind them of how they light up my life. And to mimic the sweetness of Lucia buns, they received a couple of felted cupcakes I got at a craft & food swap last weekend.

Speaking of Lucia buns, we did not get to making the traditional lussekater (a yeasted saffron bun) served on this special day. I was prepared to let it go, okay with just serving cookies and coffee. But not my gal; as we spoke about her duties the evening before, her face clouded and she said in a panicked tone, "But we didn't make the buns!"

I told her my thoughts to go without and watched disappointment fill her eyes. So, I woke Selby early in the morning to make a non-yeasted sweet roll dough. In the quiet darkness, we rolled out the dough and twisted it into traditional lussekater shapes. We glazed them with a sugar & milk wash, and sprinkled them with vanilla sugar. The sweet buns were a perfect stand in, and the act of baking them together was preserved thanks to my little love.

It's been my goal, last year and this year, to begin new holiday traditions with my family that honor this very special season. As they grow older, it's my hope that my children will hold holiday memories of togetherness and love close to their heart. So you can imagine my pleasure that this sweet, simple tradition had already impressed upon my girl - a beautiful gift of hope and light for mama, indeed!

Homemade Holidays :: The Swap

2011-12-12T12:04:00.001-05:00

We decided to include crafts in our local homemade food swap for December. What a fantastic idea this was! Simple rules: everything - food and craft - had to be homemade, handmade, homegrown or hand foraged. No money was exchanged, we could only trade goods.

My swap offerings included Sugar & Spice Pecans, Sweet Pepper Relish and Florida Tangerine Marmalade, which for the potluck I paired with my mother's Southern Cornbread (made using her mother's "quick mix" recipe).

I also brought "peppermint indulgence" goody bags with peppermint beeswax candles, peppermint lip balm and peppermint body butter (based on this recipe, but I used sweet almond oil instead of olive oil, and no Vitamin E ).

It was a lot of work to prepare all this yumminess. But so worth it! You'll never believe all I came home with...

...Limoncello and Irish Cream for a little holiday cheering!

...handmade holiday cards!

... a gorgeous homemade pinecone wreath!

...an original stained glass ornament made by my sister!

...felted cupcakes and hair bows for my girls! ...a hand quilted bag for me!

...organic cinnamon strudel flavored creamer!

...and a super funky knit purse that I just love! But wait, that's not all... I traded for all kinds of other goodies, including a handmade bracelet, silver stamped earrings, a felt crown for my girls, white chocolate & apple cider toffee, a "sore throat & cough-be gone" tincture, pine cone bird feeders, fresh lemons & herbs and some Thai Red Roselle seeds.

This was the swap coordinator's loot, all packed up to tote home.

I can't tell you enough what a great idea it is to swap homemade stuff. If you're looking for a food swap near you, or want details on how to host one, check out the Food Swap Network site. To see more pictures of our event - which was full of great homemade holiday gift ideas - visit my Facebook page and view the entire album.

Sugar & Spice Pecans

2011-12-06T22:12:00.001-05:00

I about made myself sick sampling these Sugar & Spice Pecans as I made them for a food & craft swap I'm attending this weekend. Oh my, these are lovely with a glass of Sebastiani Chardonnay. Sweet and salty with a bit of a kick. And my house smells like Christmas morning. Hmmmm......

Sugar & Spice Pecans

2 cups pecans

1 1/2 Tbsp. extra virgin olive oil

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 tsp. cayenne

3 1/2 Tbsp. organic cane sugar

Heat oil over medium heat in a large saute pan. Add in pecans and stir about 4 minutes. Mix sugar & spices together and sprinkle over nuts. Stir constantly over medium low heat for 6-9 minutes, until sugar melts and caramelizes. Spread on a parchment lined baking sheet to cool.

It's Better to Give Than to Receive

2011-12-05T23:03:00.004-05:00

St. Nicholas Day is a beautiful tradition, and a sweet reminder for kids that this season of gifts is not all about receiving, but about giving too. We've been talking a lot about giving over here in my nest. The joy of sharing, the thrill of gifting in secret to those in need. We've been preparing for St. Nicholas Day, you see, reading the sweet, easy-to-follow stories by Christine Natale about this selfless man who inspired the traditions of Santa Claus.

Last night, the girls each put out a shoe for St. Nicholas to fill with sweets and treats, as is the custom of this holiday. This year, I suggested they use traditional wooden shoes and offered an authentic pair my grandfather brought home from Europe during his time in World War II. My eldest loved the idea, but my little one balked and insisted on her scuffed up old "tennis sneaker." Seeing it as an opportunity to practice letting go (an ongoing theme for me), I obliged.

Sometime during the night, St. Nicholas visited our home, filling their shoes just as they hoped he would. They each received an orange to remind them they can be like the sun, giving their love to everyone; and nuts to remind them to be loving and kind (as shared in Natale's stories). They also received chocolate coins and sugar cookies, like those Nicholas carried in his pockets for the children he met. A well-crafted ornament is always in their shoes as well. And this year, St. Nicholas left each a book.

As part of our St. Nicholas day tradition, we will "adopt" a child in need from a local charity and help to make their holiday wishes come true. We'll shop together, as a family, for clothes and toys to fulfill the child's list, then donate them anonymously. This year, I've also encouraged each girl to do a kindly deed for someone else, or give someone a gift that they come up with on their own. After all, it can be just as much fun to give as to receive!

Holiday Lights Sweet Pepper Relish

2011-12-02T13:26:00.000-05:00

The bright colors of these sweet peppers called to me, reminding me of old-fashioned holiday lights (remember those big, brightly-colored lights that used to adorn our homes before they all froze over with LED icicle lights?)

I threw them in the food processor with a couple jalapenos and then jarred them up using this recipe for sweet pepper relish.

A cherry and delicious holiday gift! What are you cooking up for edible gifting this season?

2011-12-01T12:37:00.000-05:00

It's my pleasure to be featured in the winter edition of Rhythm of the Home, which debuts today and includes my article, Ring in a New Beginning with Homemade Prayer Flags. As a new season and a new year unfolds, it’s an ideal time to create and hang homemade prayer flags, marking a new beginning and sending silent blessings out on the winds.

The winter issue of Rhythm of the Home captures the magic of the season with lots of inspiration and ideas for beautiful celebrations, unique crafts & treats and new holiday traditions. Be sure to stop by the Rhythm of the Home blog too and enter to win in their Winter giveaway!

A Carnival Party

2011-11-28T11:47:00.000-05:00

My baby turned 4 this month. How can that be? We hosted a sweet, carnival-themed party for family and a few playmates to celebrate my fun-loving girl. After spending hours (I kid you not) looking at carnival party ideas on Pinterest, I tried to keep it pretty simple.

The birthday girl matched the color scheme in her party outfit of red and aqua, with a splash of pink! A dozen balloons in red, aqua and white dotted the house, as well as matching bunting over the food table.

Speaking of food, it was carnival fare all the way! Kids and their grown ups snacked on chicken nuggets, mini corndogs, fresh homemade popcorn in red and white popcorn bags, rainbow fruit kebabs inspired by these, tiny cups of cotton candy, and chocolate chip cake.

My kids loved setting up activity "booths" for the partygoers. I was going to make signs using this font, but my artistic 9-year-old nephew beat me to it, and I love what he created. There was an art booth with circus-themed coloring pages, a ring toss, bean bag toss and pick-a-duck with carnival-themed ducks. Each game had a prize, including mini plush teddy bears, boxes of animal crackers and circus make-a-sticker scenes. The kids filled provided treat boxes with their prizes as they played.

Of course there was face paining, courtesy of my talented sister.

And clown noses for a little extra fun!

With so much inspiration out there, I could have gone crazy with this theme. But we kept it sweet and (relatively) simple and it was so much fun. Yay for 4!

Homecanned Apples, Three Ways

2011-11-20T10:23:00.001-05:00

After visiting North Carolina last month, I returned home with a mixed bushel of crisp, juicy, sweet and tart apples. Turns out a bushel is a lot of apples! So armed with a friend's peeler and corer, as well her crockpot apple butter recipe, developed over many years of testing, I set to work.

The apples had to cook in the crockpot for 12-14 hours, so I set them up before I went to bed one night. Perhaps 10 pm cooking is not my thing, as I messed up my sugar ratio, adding a lot more white and a little less brown sugar than called for (don't ask me how), I weighed my apples after peeling them (so the sugar probably evened out) and I had no cloves on hand as called for. It turned out perfectly delicious, nonetheless. I netted 11 pints of apple butter, and had lots of apples still left....

So I canned 3 quarts of homemade applesauce - not even a drop of sugar needed! It took a lot of apples to make only three quarts. And still more apples awaiting their fate....

Apple pie filling, of course! I canned 5 quarts of it, plus made one on-the-spot pie. I've made two pies with this filling now, and both met rave reviews. Another pie is on the docket for Thanksgiving; maybe that one will actually get photographed before eaten.

I'd really like to share all the details of my apple canning endeavors here. Both for you, my readers, and myself, to chronicle exactly what I did. But I failed to record any of it in the moment. How could I do that? I can tell you I loosely followed this recipe for the applesauce, and this recipe for the apple pie filling (with no yellow food coloring - why would one do that?). As for the apple butter, with no disrespect to my friend's recipe, here is what I think I did....

My Unintentional (but still super yummy) Apple Butter

5.5 lbs. peeled, cored & chopped apples (tart variety)

2 c. light brown sugar

1/2 T cinnamon

pinch of salt

1 1/4 c. white sugar

Put apples and all ingredients in crockpot, stir. Cook on high for one hour, then on low for 12 hours. Remove lid, stir and cook until thickened. If desired (I did), puree the apples with an immersion blender for a smooth texture. Pour the hot apple butter into sanitized jars, wipe rims with a clean cloth, apply lids and rings and process in a boiling water canner for 20 minutes. Remove the jars from the water and let them cool on a towel-lined countertop. When cool to the touch, check the seals by removing the rings and lifting the jars by the edges of the lid. Store in a cool, dark place for up to six months.

Happy Halloween

2011-10-31T11:17:00.000-04:00

Yesterday, my sister and I took the kids to our local Children's Garden for some Halloween fun. It had transformed into a Monster Garden, and we ventured inside to discover all kinds of frightful, spookery.

There were mummies,

and gravestones,

and a little shop of horrors...

...complete with some very wicked plants.

The kids had a blast swinging into a hay pit,

dressing up in the costume shop,

and running around acting just like kids should!

What a TREAT! Happy Halloween!

Quickly-Disappearing Croutons

2011-10-18T11:01:00.001-04:00

My household is crazy for croutons. And they are so easy to make. I keep a large plastic bag in my freezer for cubed, discarded bread crusts. You see, I make a lot of crustless sandwiches for my gals. They have simple (aka: picky) tastes, so peanut butter and jelly and/or grilled cheese sandwiches are near daily occurrences in my nest. And true to kid-form, they like them without the crusts. So, before I make their sandwiches, I cut off and cube the crusts and add them to the plastic bag. Once it's full (and it doesn't take long) we make croutons.

I make a huge batch, because they get eaten very quickly, often right out of the skillet. The girls love to help. Here's what we do: drizzle olive oil around the skillet a few turns, dump in bread cubes, drizzle with a bit more oil and stir. Then sprinkle the croutons generously with salt, pepper and Italian herbs. Sometimes we add minced or sliced fresh garlic to the pan. Sometimes a shake or two of garlic powder instead. Cook, stirring often, over medium low heat until crispy and brown.

Eat as many as you can while cooking these, as they won't last long. Trust me.

This Morning in the Garden

2011-10-14T13:52:00.000-04:00

Welcome October

2011-10-01T08:27:00.000-04:00

Happy October 1st. My article on Food Swaps is now live over at Bamboo Magazine. What an honor to be a part of this beautiful publication, which is packed full of informative and inspirational information for conscious family living. Enjoy!

Let It Rain!

2011-09-25T21:03:00.002-04:00

It rained a lot here this summer. And every time it came down, I cringed, knowing the rain barrel I'd picked up from our county extension service last spring was still sitting in the garage. Setting it up seemed daunting somehow... cleaning the gutters, cutting the downspout, cutting the necessary holes in the barrel, connecting all the parts correctly...

And then the rain stopped. Every day was sunny and hot and dry. So my worries shifted... had I missed my window? Would it rain again before my fall garden went in the ground? (Yes, I know I worry too much.) I sheepishly confessed my rain-barrel-guilt to my friend and garden mentor. To my surprise, she admitted she had four rain barrels sitting unconnected in her backyard. She too was overwhelmed by the project (although hers was a much more complicated set up, including connecting two barrels to a drip system for her vertical planters). We made a pact to help one another; and then more time passed...

Finally, with some help from my hubby (OK, he did it all) my barrel was up and ready for rain. Now experts, we offered to help my friend connect her barrels the following weekend.

I couldn't help but wonder, as we worked in my friend's garden - my husband showing her how to operate a jigsaw, our kids playing together in the sunroom, me very helpfully taking photos for my blog (ahem) - I wondered why we don't do this kind of thing more often. Why don't we spend more time in our community of friends helping one another? It was so enjoyable to help someone who has helped me so much. It felt really good to give back.

When we left, my heart was full. And a few days later, after one good downpour, so was my rain barrel. I'm thinking now that I definitely need at least one more ... sorry honey!

My Fall Garden

2011-09-22T20:45:00.001-04:00

I've been busy working on my fall garden, the first full-fledged garden I've ever actually planned out and grown from seed. Our bean tepee (purple pole beans and pole bean supermaconi) is the only thing actually in the ground - save some spring plantings of eggplant, pepper and basil that made it through the harsh summer heat. Oh, and a few zinnias, all leggy and ugly now, but still somehow producing beautiful blooms.

This slimy guy was crawling around near the beans over the weekend, much to my gals' delight (not so much to mine). They actually made him a little home on a boogie board with an in-ground custom mud pond! Hmm, I hope other critters don't get wind of our hospitality...

The real action is actually happening indoors, where my dear seedlings are sprouting and growing with the help of plant lights. I repurposed the shelf under our nature table, outfitting it with a shop light. It's just the right space to fit two seed trays (about 100 seeds), bringing a whole new meaning to the "nature table!"

Being my first real garden, I have to admit the whole process is both inspiring and a bit nerve wrecking. I just love to watch the seeds sprout and grow (as do the kids); but I worry it's not happening fast enough and I'm behind schedule. I'm ecstatic I could harvest both of my compost bins to boost my soil, as well as a new batch of vermicompost for future fertilizer. But I fret about transferring the seedlings to the ground, about planting everything in the right place, about companion planting and succession planting and so on. But with the guidance of a dear friend, a master gardener with a fabulous backyard garden (that I promise to share when it's in full force for the mere inspiration of it), I'm taking it step by step. Wish me luck... and I'll keep you posted!

Food Swap!

2011-09-17T08:37:00.001-04:00

When Bamboo Magazine asked me to write about the rapidly-growing food swap trend for their upcoming autumn edition, I'd never even heard of the idea. But only a little research into it and I was hooked. In no time, with the help and participation of my natural parenting community, a group of homemade and homegrown food lovers gathered for an inaugural food swap in my beach-side Florida town.

What a great idea! I brought my homebrewed water kefir and some homecanned tomatoes and returned home with fresh herbs, backyard eggs, homemade yogurt, syrups, chutney and more. Everything was displayed on a central table, where we placed "bids" - essentially offering this for that. Our only rule was it had to be homemade, homegrown or hand foraged.

As we deliberated and negotiated over gluten free boules and raspberry jam, the spirit of our community shone bright. Children ran all about our feet, while little ones were strapped to mamas' backs. Potluck dishes were shared. Recipes were exchanged. And everyone went home with others' home-produced goodies and a lot of inspiration.

I can't wait to share the whole story with you - including tips from food swapping pioneer Kate Payne - in the autumn edition of Bamboo Magazine, set to publish next week. Subscribe to receive an email as soon as it is released.

Foraging Ride

2011-09-13T11:45:00.001-04:00

This morning's bike ride to the park turned out to be quite fruitful, forgive the pun! My poor gal was lifted on and off her perch at the back of my bike multiple times to forage these gorgeous avocados and star fruit from neighborhood trees. "You're funny mama," she giggled each time I spotted more fruit.

A fresh-from-the-tree mid morning snack.

Our Afternoon & Dinnertime Rhythm

2011-09-08T21:33:00.000-04:00

Last week I offered a peek at our "new school year" morning rhythm. Since then, a few readers shared with me how they've adapted our routine to fit their mornings. One mama posted a to-do sign, ending with free play, to help get two kids ready for school and fit in some before-school playtime. A homeschooling friend put her morning routine on a chalkboard to help focus her boy and set the tone for their daily work together. It's in this spirit - of inspiring others while getting my own act together - that I share another peek inside our nest, at our afternoon and dinnertime rhythms.

After-school snack. As soon as we arrive home from school, the kids and I sit down together at the dining table to share a bite to eat, as well as bits of our days. The goal is for everyone to reconnect as a family and with our home (or second home in the case of my nephew who is with us daily after school). I find this is most successful when the snacks are really appealing; favorites at our table include apples & nut butter, popcorn & fruity water kefir, and, of course, cookies & milk. Sharing an after school snack with my mother was something I enjoyed all the way through high school. It's a memory I hold dear, of a time and place where I always felt safe, nourished and deeply loved.

Relaxation. The kids move from snack into an hour or so of down-time to play, read, do art... anything but TV or the computer, which are off-limits on school days. Whenever possible, we spend some of this time outdoors, playing in the yard or garden, or taking a walk. Often, I begin preparing dinner, or doing my evening chores, while the kids play.

Homework. At the same time every day - no exceptions - we start homework. Back at the dining table, or from the kitchen, I offer guidance, answer questions and keep everyone on task. Absolutely no grumbling is tolerated around homework, a rule I enforced the first week of school. There is now an understanding that homework is serious work, to be completed purposefully and efficiently, so we can enjoy our family time together.

Dinnertime. Everyone has a role in dinnertime in our house. The kids have rotating responsibilities posted on the refrigerator. They take turns, on a weekly basis, helping to set the table, clear & wipe down the table, sweep under the table, and load & wash the dishes. This way, everyone is involved - and invested - in dinnertime. Plus, by keeping busy, the children aren't squabbling in another room while I try and pull together, or clean up after, a meal for seven. After dinner and clean up we typically just hang out; the girls put on shows, or when it's nice out we'll go for a walk. Then it's right into our bedtime routine of baths, stories and lights out.

So that's it... the rhythm we strive for, but, admittedly, don't always hit. Because, you know, it can get pretty crazy here in the afternoons and evenings (just like at your house, I'm sure). As a multi-generational household of six, we have people coming and going on all different schedules. My sister picks up my nephew at varying times each evening. My husband works two nights a week. There's Girls Scouts every other week, and the occasional school or community function... But for the most part, we stick to it. And like the morning routine, its working.

'Rhythm of the Home' Welcomes Autumn

2011-09-01T07:03:00.000-04:00

It's my pleasure to be featured in the autumn edition of Rhythm of the Home, which debuts today! My article, Bringing Nature Indoors, offers simple and affordable ways to invite the restorative and uplifting benefits of Mother Nature into your nest. I invite you to read it; and then to comment here about your favorite way to bring the outdoors into your space.

The autumn issue of Rhythm of the Home is packed with articles, recipes and crafts that celebrate the warmth and beauty of fall. I hope you stop by; then head over to the Rhythm of the Home blog to participate in their Autumn giveaway!

Our Morning Rhythm

2011-08-30T11:37:00.004-04:00

I'm learning to make friends with the morning. If it was up to me, it would go something like this... sleep until I wake naturally. Sit on my back porch with hot coffee and look at the garden, the birds, the water. Exercise. Eat breakfast. And so on. But there's those little people milling about, so it usually goes a bit more like this... wake to the call of "Mama!" from a still-too-dark room or to a little finger poking at me under the covers. Followed by requests for food, drink, markers, play-dough, TV, bathroom assistance, and so on.

With school starting last week, I decided to grab hold of our morning routine from the get-go. Each night, I now work with the girls to pick out their clothes and lay them out on little chairs in the foyer, by their room. Also the night before, I pack lunches, set up coffee, make a breakfast plan, set the breakfast table and lay out my own exercise clothes (no excuses). In the morning I wake at 6, before everyone else, to work out. When the girls get up, they go right to their "dressing area" and get dressed. I posted a sign there that outlines our routine and they have really taken to it! The steps are clear and the reward is clear.

Such a simple thing, to set a routine. Kids love routines. Mama loves routines. Everyone is happier and mornings have been (almost) grumble-free! Having this little dedicated morning space has helped us develop a rhythm that really works. This week, I plan to replace the paper sign with a chalkboard I have stowed away. Here, I can also add little messages and drawings for the girls to discover.

What is your morning rhythm? I'd love to know what works for you and your family.

'Keep It Simple' Manifesto

2011-08-23T21:34:00.001-04:00

My gals went back to school this week. It's hard to believe the summer passed by so quickly. We spent it just as we wished, with lots of time in the pool, at the beach, playing with friends and even some camp thrown in. We explored the natural world around us with weekly "camp mom" themes ranging from reptiles to wildflowers to the sun & moon. I blogged about very little of it, as we were too busy having fun. Long, lazy days... we will miss your simplicity and sweetness for months to come.

So, now we're working on our back-to-school rhythm. I've posted a sign to help facilitate smooth morning routines... I've posted a chore chart to help facilitate easy dinner times... I've made myself a bazillion lists to try and organize my time among family, household, garden, writing assignments, creative projects, and part-time work at my husband's business... I'm waking early to squeeze in some exercise before my morning "bus route"... And I'm calmly and patiently trying to keep it all straight; to get back in the groove.

Calmly and patiently are relative terms, as I tend to lean more toward high-strung and slightly neurotic. In fact, the last sentence above is really more of an affirmation than a declaration of truth. Nonetheless, it is my intention right now, to be calm and patient. I want, if I can, to hold on to a bit of the simplicity of summer as we dive into the craziness of fall.

And so, here is my Keep it Simple Manifesto (to-date):

I will say NO to more commitments and YES to less.
I will expect LESS of myself whenever it is a reasonable option.
I will ACCEPT less-than-perfect situations for what they are and not make myself crazy trying to fix them.
I will set clear BOUNDARIES for myself and my family.
I will BREATHE more and do less.

What about you... how do you keep it simple in this season of change? I'd love to know!

*Note: I can't get images to accompany this post for a host of technical reasons too boring to list... But I am calm & patient about it. I accept my less-than-perfect, pictureless post for what is is. I hope you will too!

Seeds of Hope

2011-08-08T08:12:00.003-04:00

It was one of the hottest days yet, when the sun wouldn't relent and the humidity hung heavy as a wool blanket in the air. The kind of summer day in Florida where you shut yourself inside with the AC roaring; or plant yourself firmly in a body of water and try and remember what moving air feels like. So, you get it... it was unbearably HOT. Mid-afternoon I ventured out to collect the mail and there it was sitting in my mailbox like a beacon of hope... a fat envelope from Baker Creek, full of seeds. Hundreds of tiny little reminders that autumn will in fact arrive.

Seeds for my Fall/Winter Garden:

French Breakfast Radish
Calabrese Green Sprouting Broccoli
Emerald Giant Peppers
Riesentraube Tomatoes
Amish Paste Tomatoes
Rainbow Swiss Chard
Bloomsdale Long Standing Spinach
Cimmaron, Big Boston & Blonde du Cazard Lettuces
Sugar Snap Peas
Purple Pole Beans
Parisienne & Little Finger Carrots
Bush Buttercup Squash
Genovese Basil
SloBolt Cilantro
Giant of Italy Parsley
Dill
Stevia
Flowers: Autumn Beauty Sunflowers, Snapdragons & Calendula

What will you be growing this fall?

Thank You, Zinnias

2011-08-04T20:03:00.002-04:00

The zinnias in our garden are still blooming! All summer we've had magnificent cut flowers in a sunset of shades. I tuck them into jelly jars and tall, skinny repurposed capers jars. Sometimes I'll add a sprig of fresh herbs, or a few fern leaves; sometimes nothing. Just zinnias.

I really love to place these simple arrangements where I know the light will shine on them. I've learned the early morning sun brightens the edge of a half wall in our main room. And in the late afternoon, the last golden light of the day pours through my kitchen window.

Oh, thank you sweet, cheery, lovely zinnias. You make me smile.

This Moment

2011-07-22T07:56:00.001-04:00

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. - Amanda Soule

Wildflowers, Butterflies & Bees - Part 3

2011-07-20T08:40:00.002-04:00

Finally, part 3 of our wildflowers, butterflies & bees week of "camp mom"... butterflies! We've been raising monarchs since spring, and have had the pleasure of witnessing about a dozen transformations on our back porch. It's still amazing to watch these caterpillars in action. The amount and rate at which they eat and poop (and grow) puts any newborn baby to shame.

We've had the pleasure of witnessing one actually spin its chrysalis, as well watching a few hatch and emerge. Recently, we awoke to a set of triplets drying their new wings.

For wildflowers, butterflies & bees week, I decided to expand our butterfly garden in hopes of attracting a few new beauties. We took a hot, buggy trip to our local native plant nursery and returned home with an assortment of nectar plants, as well host plants for Zebra Longwing, Gulf Firtillary and Swallowtail larvae.

Now, we wait for our garden to grow, and new visitors to come...

Wildflowers, Butterflies & Bees - Part 2

2011-07-06T22:44:00.001-04:00

Our lakeview jasmine bloomed just in time for wildflowers, butterflies & bees week, attracting a bunch of busy bees for us to observe.

In an effort to attract more native wild bees, we made a bee house out of some old bamboo from our yard. Unlike honey bees, native bees are solitary and make their nests in hollow stems, or holes in wood. We tucked the bee condo into a tree near our new butterfly & bee garden (more on this in part 3, butterflies). If a bee makes her nest in here we'll know, as she'll plug the end with mud and leaves.

I really like to include a kitchen project or snack with our camp theme if I can. This week's treat - honey buns, of course. I combined and modified a couple of recipes to create my own and these wholesome buns created quite a buzz around here! Tip: while we waited for the dough to rise, we watched the Bee Movie, pausing it to roll out the dough and spread on the filling, roll it back up, cut it and let it rise again. When the movie was over, the honey buns were ready.

Wholesome Yogurt Honey Buns

Dough:
1/2 cup warm water
3 tbsp local honey
1 tbsp dry active yeast
1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup rolled oats
1 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups whole milk vanilla yogurt, room temperature
2 tbsp melted butter

Filling:
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened

In a large bowl or a stand mixer, combine water, honey and yeast, stirring well. Let stand 10 minutes. Combine flours, baking soda, oats and salt in another bowl. Beat half the flour mixture into the yeast slurry, then mix in the yogurt and butter. Add in remaining dry mixture and knead, at medium speed, until dough forms a smooth ball, about 4-5 minutes. Place into an oiled bowl, turn to grease the top. Cover and allow to rise 1 hour.

Meanwhile, make filling: in a bowl, mix the sugar with the cinnamon. On a lightly floured work surface, roll out the dough to a rectangle (about 12 by18 inch). Spread the butter over the dough, leaving a 1-inch border all around. Sprinkle the dough with the cinnamon sugar. Starting at a long side, roll the dough into a log and turn it seam side down. Cut the dough into slices (about 16-18). Arrange the slices on a parchment lined baking sheet. Cover and let stand 45 min., or until the buns about double in volume.

Preheat the oven to 350°. Bake the honey buns for about 15-18 minutes, until golden brown. Remove from the oven and let stand for 5 minutes. Serve warm, drizzled with honey.

Wildflowers, Butterflies & Bees - Part 1

2011-07-03T08:47:00.003-04:00

We've been having "camp mom" in our summertime nest, with weeks themed around our natural Florida environment. This week's focus - wildflowers, butterflies & bees - has had us very BUSY! So I present part 1 of 3, wildflowers:

After a rainy night, we headed out early in the morn for a flower-collecting walk around the house; our mission was to gather "toppings" for mud pies. Then we sat down in the mud and got to work...

While these colorful pies baked in the emerging sun, we took our stash inside for some flower pounding on cloth napkins...

With a lot of flowers still left, we pressed a bunch between sheets of paper and placed them under a large stack of books to discover on another rainy day (the plan is to make bookmarks and botanical pictures with those). The rest I cut up into tiny pieces and we put them in a small jar, then filled it with alcohol to steep into our very own wildflower perfume.

This week, the girls also made wildflower coloring books found here, browsed Florida native wildflower field guides and enjoyed a few favorite flowery reads, including Planting a Rainbow. Coming soon... part 2: bees

Garden Fresh Icing

2011-06-30T07:37:00.001-04:00

"Chocolate mint cupcakes" was the request... so of course, I obliged. A mama never denies her child the desired birthday dessert. Without hesitation, I pulled out a long-ago-filed recipe, torn from a magazine, and saved just for this occasion.

The process was relatively simple, using a base of mint syrup from fresh mint leaves. Of course all claims of all-natural went out the window with the loads of confectioners' sugar required to thicken this syrup into icing (just keep adding until you reach desired consistency). But the sweetness was perfectly balanced when piped onto a not-too-sweet, dark chocolate cupcake (sorry, it's a secret recipe that I'm not at liberty to share).

For the non-mint lovers, a strawberry syrup icing topped cupcakes made with this sinful yellow cake recipe. The pastel cupcakes were a perfect touch for a super-sweet tea party for seven little ladies and one seven-year-old birthday girl. Check back soon for a glimpse at the event!

Summer Fun :: Camping

2011-06-26T07:39:00.001-04:00

There's only one way to camp in Florida in the summer... on the water. Last weekend we took the girls and my nephew for a one-night campout at a nearby state park where we pitched our tents under the oak and palm hammocks along this beautiful, brackish creek.

For our first official family camping trip, things went pretty well. (I think I exclaimed "this is so much fun" and "we will never do this again" an equal number of times!) At the campsite, the kids stayed busy exploring and filling up their nature journals.

They watched for the threatened Florida Scrub Jay, which makes its home in the scrubby and pine flatwoods of the park.

And collected natural treasures from the creek bank and surrounding area.

After setting up camp, we cooled off with a long swim in the park's lake, and some playtime on the sandy beach. The kids caught little minnows in the shallow waters and I kept a vigilant - near obsessive - watch for alligators (thankfully, I never saw any).

Of course, no camping trip would be complete without a campfire and some toasty marshmallows for s'mores. After a glorious night's sleep in the fresh air, we cooked up a Father's Day breakfast of pancakes and bacon on the still-smoldering fire pit grill.

Then before it got too hot, we took a nature hike to a scenic outlook on the creek, where we sat and watched mullet leap out of the water, and waved to folks canoeing by...which we promised we could try on the next trip. Because - despite the sweltering heat, the effort of setting up camp, and the grumbling and squabbling amongst the kids - for some reason, I find myself wanting to go again. Perhaps it's the lure of quality family time, spent discovering the good and the bad of the natural world around us, and of each other. That, and the promise of memories made that none of us will ever forget.

Reveries Francais

2011-06-06T21:50:00.016-04:00

I want to see this movie. And I want to read this book, once I finish reading this one.

I want to get lost in a little summer reverie where I dine on, and learn to cook, the finest French cuisine... sip champagne with artists of the lost generation... dance the night away in jazz-age Paris... and steep myself in the joie de vivre of a time and place far from home, but close to my heart.

Where are you "traveling" to this summer?

Pickles, Good While They Lasted

2011-06-03T08:21:00.017-04:00

Before pickle worms destroyed my entire crop of cucumbers, zucchini and yellow neck squash, I made a small batch of pickles. Three pints of tangy, garlicky, crunchy deliciousness now gone, along with my poor plants.

The recipe I used came from Heartland, as published in April's Country Living magazine. It caught my eye because it was so. very. easy. No processing, and they keep in the refrigerator for up to one year. (Warning: in my household of 7 eaters, 3 jars lasted one week.)

I prefer a true salty dill, which this is not. But for a sweet pickle, it was quite yummy - not too sweet, with lots of garlic and dill flavor.

A Perfect Pickle
1 cup white wine vinegar
1 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 pound pickling or baby cucumbers, ends trimmed and quartered lengthwise
8 garlic cloves
2 teaspoons black peppercorns
2 large seed heads fresh dill, with some stalk

1. In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine 1 cup water, vinegar, sugar, and salt and bring to a boil. Stir until sugar and salt dissolve, about 2 minutes. Let cool to room temperature, about 15 minutes.

2. Divide cucumber spears, garlic and peppercorns between two sterilized pint-size canning jars (note: I had enough brine for 3 jars). Stuff a dill seed head into the center of each jar. Pour cooled vinegar mixture over jar contents to cover. crew lids onto jars and refrigerate for at least 24 hours before using. Keeps, refrigerated, for up to 1 year.

Summer Writing from my Nest

2011-06-02T09:23:00.009-04:00

I've been busy over the past several weeks, writing articles for the summer issues of local and online publications.

I'm honored to again be featured in Rhythm of the Home with an article on Summer Fun with Seashells, including projects to do with all those shells collected during visits to the shore. The summer issue, which launched yesterday, is packed full of creative, seasonal ideas. Please check it out, and if you get a chance, let me know what you think!

Even the youngest artists enjoy painting on shells!

I'm also excited to share a piece written for a local (Sarasota, Florida) magazine, SRQ, about my homebirth experiences. The June digital issue hasn't hit the web yet, so check back soon for a link.

Flower Art

2011-05-31T08:37:00.016-04:00

It's been a while, I know. I'm still here, just running around like a crazy lady in the end-of-school-year madness. Sage wrapped up her preschool year with a hands-on festival, where the parents planned and ran creative stations for the kids.

My booth was flower art. I picked zinnias and cosmos from my garden, as well as lemon basil, mint, pentas and more from the preschool garden, to display on my table. The kids chose whichever flora they liked and sandwiched them into a large folded piece of paper. Then they pounded the heck out of them with play dough hammers.

Let me tell you, the kiddos LOVED this activity. The results were stunning - especially the cosmos prints (pictured above). I think the children enjoyed the banging the most; and seeing the flower "guts" was a close second. Needless to say, I ended up with a mega headache from spending 2 hours with preschoolers hammering their little hearts out. But it was worth it!
For the less aggressive, I had a quieter table where the children could paint a still life of a small flower arrangement. So simple - just painting - and so much creativity from the little ones. I wish I had taken more pictures (I snapped all these quickly with my phone), but I was kind of busy.

Tomorrow is Selby's wacky water day class party... I'll be there working up another headache, I'm sure. But again, it will be worth it, because, despite the class celebration-award ceremony-end-of-year event madness that is right now, I'm deeply grateful for the opportunity to share these special days with my gals, celebrating the accomplishments and developments they've worked so hard for over the past nine months.

Happenings In My Nest

2011-05-17T07:32:00.019-04:00

In her book Radical Homemakers, Shannon Hayes says the happiest among the homemakers she interviewed "saw their homes as living systems and accepted the flux, flow, dirt and chaos that are a natural part of that." I've been thinking about this over the past week, as my nest has been full of all the above - and I've been quite a happy homemaker. We've been...
...composting. Our worms moved into a new two-level bin, ala the project plan outlined in The Urban Homestead. (Welcome new worm babies!) All the beautiful, rich compost from the former bins went into the garden.

...gardening. The garden is producing eggplants, peppers, tomatoes, squash, cucumbers, beans and lots and lots of flowers.

...releasing. We've witnessed the homebirth of three monarch butterflies, released into our garden, and have four caterpillars on the back porch preparing for their transformation.
...nurturing. Tadpoles are back in our backyard pond, much to my gals' delight. Every morning before school and then again after school, Selby goes out to check on the tadpoles, which involves catching (at least) one and feeling it wriggle in her hand.

...reveling. Gorgeous, sunny, just-the-right-temperature weather has led to lots of dining al fresco.

...harvesting. I joined Rose from The Laughing Monkey at a local farm where we each picked approximately 75 pounds of vine-ripe tomatoes (for about $4!).

...preserving. All those tomatoes led to enough canned whole tomatoes and marinara to get us through the year (maybe?).

What's happening in your nest?

Through the Filter, Part I

2011-05-10T08:46:00.000-04:00

I have a new thing I'm doing. I call it "putting it through the filter."

It started with this year's treasure map. I just love all the images and words I artfully and thoughtfully placed upon it to guide me in every aspect of my life. Through the process of filling my treasure map, I gained clarity in who I want to be, and what I want to create and manifest. I developed a deeper insight into what I'm most grateful for, where my priorities lie and all the opportunities for gratitude that surround me.

During this process, I also began reading Organized Simplicity. As suggested in the book, Daddy Bird and I created a family purpose statement that details who we are as a family, it reflects how we wish to live. Our statement outlines what we value, our priorities and our guiding principles. I also created a family budget, based on the suggestions in Organized Simplicity. Believe it or not, I have never in my life operated on a budget. It's changing my life, putting me in control and relieving so much unnecessary stress over money. (Thank you Simple Mom!)
So back to the "filter thing"... Before long, I found I was putting everything through the filter of my treasure map ideals, our family purpose statement and the budget. How I spend my personal time reflects what's on my treasure map... I'm reading, journal writing, gardening and exploring new creative outlets. Our family time goes through the filter too... is an activity or commitment in line with our purpose statement? ...is it within our means? ...does it support our authentic selves? How I spend our money, what I bring into my home, what I put into my body... everything is going through the filter.

And it's really working for me! I find I have more time in every day. How is this possible? Because my days are primarily filled with only the things I want to be there. I'm enjoying the moments, experiencing less stress, and feeling like there is, in fact, time to fit it all in. I do have a smidgen of control. I do have the power to create the life I want.

"Putting it through the filter" is an exercise in mindfulness. It is also an exercise in intention and attention. And it's spurred a second part to this process that I'm currently working on. I'll share it here soon!

Animal Spirit Energies

2011-05-05T08:57:00.010-04:00

Ancient Native Americans believed all animals had healing or inspirational power. I was thinking of this last week while walking over The Ringling Causeway Bridge with a couple of friends. After chatting it up on the way over the bridge, we decided our walk back would be silent.
(*I did not take this image.)
As we began our ascent, I spotted two dolphins out in the distance in the water. Their fins bobbed up and down in the bay, which was sparkling gloriously in the sunlight. I continued to watch them as they came closer to the bridge; and when I reached the highest point they were right below me, swimming under the bridge in a fluid, graceful up and down movement. I was charmed by their majesty and beauty. Later, I looked up the spirit energy of dolphins: joyful harmony, use of breath, and the power of rhythm. Yes!
A few days later, a black cat entered my life. She lives across the street, but has taken a liking to my back yard. We have a small decorative pond that she likes to sit next to. She rolls in the dirt in the garden. And yesterday, she found her way onto our back deck where she crouched by the pool and playfully dipped her paws into the water. She is back this morning, keeping me company as I write. I looked up cat spirit powers: curiosity, independence and healing. Apparently, a cat's energy field rotates in a counterclockwise direction, opposite of the human energy field. This allows it to absorb and neutralize negative energies for humans. Yes again!
One day, I noticed a turtle basking in the sun in my backyard: love & protection, healing and knowledge. We've been hatching and releasing monarch butterflies that now live in our butterfly garden: transformation, balance, grace.

I'm so comforted in all the powerful healing and inspirational energy that surrounds me in nature. Noticing, and honoring, animals as they appear in my world has become a wonderful practice of mindfulness. So I ask you, what animals have visited you lately?

{this moment}

2011-04-29T17:23:00.001-04:00

The First Harvest Meal

2011-04-28T09:03:00.000-04:00

Our little backyard garden is starting to produce. We ate our first meal from a small harvest this week. We had bowtie pasta tossed with pesto made from our basil, and topped with home-grown tomatoes, yellow peppers and green onions (as well as some leftover peas, kalamata olives and feta cheese). On the side was tender spring lettuce, grown in a pot on my deck, and fresh Florida-grown corn (not by me) with cilantro from our herb garden. It was one of the best meals I ever ate. Really.

An extra bonus, two of the three little mouths I was feeding gobbled up every last bite of that pesto pasta... the other ate tender lettuce leaves by the handful. This is progress for my picky eaters. Big time.

Growing your own food rocks!

A Return to Shell Beach

2011-04-26T17:29:00.009-04:00

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!

Earth Day-Easter Eggs

2011-04-22T19:58:00.011-04:00

We dyed our Easter eggs today. In honor of Earth Day, we used all-natural dyes and created several botanical eggs.

Our dyes were made from beets (red), yellow onions skins (yellow) and purple cabbage (blue) [see this post for a list of natural egg-dying resources and recipes]. Then, we mixed the colors to create more shades.

The botanical designs were created by laying a flower or leaf face down against an egg, wrapping it in a square of pantyhose secured with a knot, then lowering it into the dye.

We wrapped a few eggs with rubber bands, and others we wrote on with a white crayon. I couldn't believe how many different colors and effects we got from just three dyes. Two dozen naturally, beautiful eggs.

*Note: This was not very time-consuming, difficult or expensive. The project held the attention of my 3 and 6 year old girls for well over an hour. They loved the idea of using natural dyes and materials from around our home and garden to color the eggs. And I love how simple and natural they turned out.

A Little Self-Indulgence

2011-04-19T21:05:00.005-04:00

Recently, I made a commitment to treat myself better. To value my personal time. To indulge my senses. To feed my soul with creativity and beauty. Here are a few of the ways I'm making good on that promise...

I'm reading stacks of books (I love this print of the classics!). On my stack right now are: Last Child in the Woods, Half the Sky, Organized Simplicity and My Life in France.
I'm listening to inspiring music like this album from Les Chauds Lapins, the soundtrack from Away We Go and Ella Fitzgerald & Louis Armstrong.

I'm swooning over hand-picked bouquets of cosmos, zinnias and jasmine from my own yard. These little bursts of color and perfume are tucked on tables and shelves throughout the house... so lovely!

I'm journaling in two new Moleskines... a Recipe Journal to house only my very favorite, tried and true recipes. And a sketchbook where I'm trying my hand at art journaling.

I'm nourishing myself with lots of fresh, local food and so proud of my little beach town's initiative to eat local.

I'm thinking I really like this self-indulgence thing. And wondering why I waited so long to put myself back on my own to-care-for list. What about you? How are you filling the well?

{this moment}

2011-04-15T11:14:00.005-04:00

A blank slate...bright colors...infinite possibilities.

(A simple, extraordinary moment to share, inspired by SouleMama.)

Domestic Bliss

2011-04-11T19:22:00.008-04:00

Sunday morning sweetness: french toast made with locally-baked bread, farm fresh eggs & buttermilk. Homemade butter from local cream. Freshly-made orange vanilla marmalade. Sticky, smiling faces all around.

Wishing you a week of sweet, simple pleasures.

Worms!

2011-04-05T09:55:00.017-04:00

The day before Selby's last Girl Scout meeting, I received a group email addressed to the parents, looking for a volunteer to bring home a worm composting project the girls would be making the following evening. I quickly responded, saying I'd LOVE to bring the worms home. I hoped I was the first to reply... I really wanted those worms.

Turns out, not only was I the first parent to lay claim to the worms, I was the only one. I couldn't believe my incredible good luck! So, after the meeting I loaded up two small plastic bins, filled with red wiggler worms in a bedding of cardboard and soil, and covered with oh-so-cute hand sewn cloths.

The worms now live under the sink basin in my laundry room (yes, inside), munching away on our food scraps and creating a rich compost fertilizer for our plants. What a great - and easy - project to do with kids! To make you own vermi-compost, check out this simple tutorial from Martha Stewart, which includes a video.

Farm to Table: U-Pick Flowers

2011-03-27T07:51:00.010-04:00

Happy Spring!

Right Now I Am...

2011-03-22T11:32:00.011-04:00

...planting a backyard garden with my mother: zucchini & yellowneck squash, cucumbers, eggplant, collards, a variety of herbs, EarthBox tomatoes, beans, nasturtiums, zinnias, cosmos, sunflowers, wildflowers and more.

...making almost every meal from Feeding the Whole Family; so glad I finally got on this bandwagon!

...clipping lots of pictures from old magazines in preparation for a Treasure Mapping new moon.

...enjoying absurd amounts of Florida-grown strawberries, oranges, tomatoes and onions.

...looking forward to Selby's Girl Scout meeting, where the girls are making a worm compost! Guess who volunteered to take the project home after the meeting?

What about you?

Where I've Been...

2011-03-16T09:31:00.014-04:00

How can it be that nearly a month has passed since I wrote in this space? Life took up every moment of the past several weeks!

There was a weekend visit to Aunt Cathy's, paired with seeing the Weeki Wachee mermaids at the Florida Aquarium. My girls were completely enchanted by this underwater show with real, live mermaids.

Later, we concocted Spring Strawberry Spritzers (recipe below) to sip on as we soaked in the hot tub. Ahhhh.

Then, there was the "grown-up spring break" weekend away to Key West, filled with bright orange sunsets, salty margaritas and fabulous, fresh seafood.

I delighted in seeing wild chickens freely roaming the streets of paradise (over 2,000 inhabit the island!). And I treasured a visit to the Hemingway Home, where six-toed cats lounge about lush, tropical gardens.

Finally, the gals celebrated their week-long spring break close to home with lots of free play, inside and out. The simple joys of playgrounds, art, blanket forts and mini golf filled our days. (Yes, there was also a fair share of "I'm bored" grumbling and sibling bickering too!).

This week, as I get back into the swing of "real life" I'm missing the easy, breezy days of the past few weeks. I've traded in sunscreen and lazy, slow days for backlogged laundry, taxes and the resetting of off-schedule kiddos. Oh well, there's always these...

Spring Strawberry Spritzers

1 bottle of Riesling, chilled

Seltzer water
Fresh strawberries

Sugar (to taste)

Puree fresh strawberries and sugar. Mix with Riesling and seltzer in a pitcher until it tastes like spring. Sip over ice, in the sunshine, with a cool breeze washing over you. Smile.

Strawberry Traditions

2011-02-23T11:13:00.016-05:00

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!

A Whole Lot of Love

2011-02-14T08:48:00.007-05:00

Happy Valentine's Day! My family has been celebrating our love all weekend long... On Friday, my dear husband and father surprised the gals of the household with beautiful, hand-strung orchid and frangipani leis, imported strait from Hawaii! They smell so very divine. Red tulips and candles grace our dining table, compliments of my mother. And a bottle of Cupcake Vineyards Red Velvet wine awaits for tonight's meal.

This morning, I served my sweetheart Chocolate Swirl coffee in bed. And my little sweeties enjoyed handmade scones, strawberries & whipped cream and chocolate milk. I feel so blessed to be graced with so much love in my life. XOXO

Sweetheart Scones

3/4 cup all-purpose flour

3/4 cup whole-wheat flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. coarse salt

3 Tbsp. packed dark brown sugar

1/2 cup rolled oats (not quick-cooking)

1/2 cup dried cherries or cranberries

1 tsp. vanilla extract

3 Tbsp. unsalted butter, melted

1 large egg, lightly beaten

1 cup buttermilk

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Whisk together flours, baking powder, salt, sugar, oats and dried cherries. In a separate bowl, whisk together butter, egg, vanilla and buttermilk until combined. Stir wet ingredients into flour mixture until evenly moistened. Drop batter by 1/3 cupfuls, 2 inches apart, onto a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake approx. 15 minutes, until golden brown, rotating sheet half way through. Cool on wire rack and store in airtight container. Makes 9 scones. (adapted from Martha Stewart's Raisin & Oat Scones recipe.)

Slowing to a Stop

2011-02-07T08:06:00.002-05:00

On Friday, I was struck down with the flu for the third time this winter (fourth if you include the stomach flu). This time, it took up stubborn residence in my sinuses, filling my head with pressure and pain. Finally, I admitted defeat and crawled into bed. For three days I did nothing, truly slowing to a stop for the first time in years. Here is what I discovered:

- I have the sweetest most compassionate husband in the world, who is quite capable of making me the perfect cup of tea, getting Selby to a Girl Scouts field trip, handling a midnight vomiting episode after Sage's overindulgence of birthday cake, and keeping our busy household of six running smoothly with a patience and grace I can only dream of...

- I can be entertained for three days by the community of birds in my backyard: a cardinal family has taken charge of our bird feeder; a dozen blackbirds like to feed on an orange tree across the lake; a couple of mockingbirds can fill an entire day with song; an osprey can plunge from great heights into the lake and catch a fish as big as my foot...

- My mother's chicken soup really does have magical powers; my friend Rose knows exactly how to naturally stave off a sinus infection (I may have the cleanest sinuses in town!); my own simple bedroom can serve an oasis of calm where rest and recovery are truly possible...

- In the span of a weekend, my household can produce a remarkable amount of laundry; junk food can sneak into my kitchen; my children can easily cover nearly every flat surface in the house with toys, books & art; and my desk can be swallowed by mail, school work and every sort of miscellaneous paper....

As I emerge from the fog of sickness this morning, I know I still need to take it slow. I'm resisting the urge to sprint from the starting line and, instead planning an easy day of puttering about my messy house, sipping on chicken soup, folding laundry, watching the birds. And I'm thinking and wondering about how to bring this slower pace to daily life without four rounds of sickness in two months time...

Dwellings

2011-01-24T08:46:00.011-05:00

Our front garden was graced with a new fairy house yesterday. The girls and I spent a long afternoon scouring the yard for items to decorate a new space for visiting fairies. Selby set the rules for gathered materials: nothing was to be picked and everything must be natural. (Exceptions were made for two pink plastic heart rings hung from a stick, and a small broken fairy figurine.) It was magical work, and apparently much appreciated, as this morning the dwelling was covered in a sprinkling of pixie dust that shimmered in the early light!

During our hunt yesterday, two fallen birds' nests were discovered. We carefully tucked them both into the branches of a bush that holds an earlier found nest. The girls delighted in filling all three with leaves and flowers to "fix them up" for the birds. The birds in our yard have been particularly active the past few days and I feel pretty confident some new nest-making is about to take place. This week, we'll repurpose the three fallen nests into a nesting station, filling them with a sampling of materials the birds can use in creating their new dwellings.

It's such a blessing to watch (and join) my gals in their exploration and play around the outside of our home. Some of my fondest childhood memories were born in my backyard... baking orange blossom frosted mud pies, retreating to a secret clubhouse high in a grapefruit tree, running barefoot through the grass without a care in the world. There's still nothing better for a child than a slow sunny day with nowhere to go beyond the endless possibilities right outside their own dwelling.

Lighten Up

2011-01-20T08:55:00.006-05:00

My intention for the month - and the year - is to lighten up. I stated it with confidence at my January new moon circle. I set it with purpose, knowing I've been too tightly wound, handling responsibilities with too much seriousness, operating too short on humor and lacking in the lightness of being that would allow me to move through these often trying times with grace. I boldly put my intention out to the universe and here is what happened...

- I got sick. again. And so did most of the people I care for in my six-person household. again.

- I became even more tightly wound and increasingly irritable.

- I became acutely aware of the weight of life bearing down on me.

- I became reacquainted with my old friends insomnia and anxiety.

You know that feeling you get when you're uptight and someone suggests you relax? It's a mix of defensiveness, stubbornness and helplessness that just makes you even more tense. Well, I've felt as if I received a great universal "relax." In return, I've been pushing back, embracing resistance and remaining solidly on edge.

Last night was the full moon, a time when intentions set for the month should start to materialize. But I felt heavier than ever, run down from consecutive illnesses and a course of antibiotics, drained from excessive care taking for the people I love. Exhausted but unable to sleep, coughing, restless and agitated, I looked out my bedroom window at the full moon, hoping for an answer. Nothing.

But this morning, when I shook off the grogginess of a (finally) drug-induced sleep, it was there, sitting in my mind ready to be discovered. One single word, gently rolling around, whispering its name: surrender. A beam of clarity pushed through the darkness.

With a bit of relief I realize I already know this path... the one of least resistance. The one where I practice letting go. Accepting. Being in the moment. I've walked this way before, many times. And I'm pretty sure, with some concentrated attention and a lot of patience, I can find my way back.

Becoming Friends

2011-01-12T08:45:00.009-05:00

One of my favorite parts of our winter break was how close my girls became. With two full weeks off school - and quite a bit of illness keeping us close to home - they had a lot of time together.

I'm amazed at Selby's patience with her little sister (Poochy); the time she takes to help her, to care for her and to guide her along is remarkable. And I'm enchanted by the way Sage admires her big sister (Bubba), watching her every move, striving to be just like her.

During the break, the girls truly learned to share - not just toys, but ideas and space and time. They discovered how to create together, rather than just along side one another, and celebrated their accomplishments hand-in-hand. They developed a little more patience for each other, and fostered a deeper understanding of who they are.

I watched with wonder as their friendship bloomed and their love for one another strengthened. There is nothing like the unconditional, enduring friendship of a sister.

Today's My Lucky Day

2011-01-08T20:03:00.009-05:00

Yesterday I took Sage to the doctor for pink eye. Both of her sweet eyes were swollen, red and pouring all kinds of goop. On the way out, she got to pick a sticker from the basket. Right on top lay a shiny Dora and Diego sticker (to my horror, she really loves Dora). And despite the fact that she felt really bad, she happily stuck that sticker to her jacket, looked up at me all icky eyed, but smiling, and announced: "Today's my lucky day!" I couldn't really see how such a small, ordinary thing could bring her so much pleasure that it transformed a pretty rotten day into a 'lucky' one. But for the rest of the day, she showed everyone in our household that sticker; and each time she proclaimed "today's my lucky day!"

Today, I found myself particularly grumpy for no particular reason. Wanting to do something for me, I headed out to the farm, where I was surrounded by gorgeous locally-grown, organic produce. (If you read much of this blog, you know I have a thing for fresh produce; and this is the cream of the crop!) It had been so long since I'd visited the farm, I'd forgotten how truly fabulous the selection is. First off, I reached for a bunch of fresh-from-the-earth dill and there, in the delicate green fluff, was a bright red ladybug. I smiled and proclaimed, "Today's my lucky day!"

And just like that, things shifted. I filled my basket, making a bouquet of bok choy, swiss chard, red leaf lettuce, arugula, leeks and sorrell. I left believing I'd struck gold! Back home, I got to work prepping my leafy green treasures for the week, concocting homemade vegetable soup and - best of all - feeling genuinely blessed.

Many thanks to my sweet Sage, and that lucky ladybug, for the reminder that the true treasures are usually hiding in the most ordinary of moments and things.

New Year's Eve in Our Nest

2011-01-01T19:36:00.001-05:00

Homemade party hats.

A bit of bubbly.

Wishes, resolutions and intentions shared.

Sparklers and some serious noise making!

Happy New Year!

{this moment :: friends}

2010-12-31T08:01:00.004-05:00

*** *** ***

A Friday ritual, inspired by SouleMama. A single photo capturing a special, simple moment from the week.

Happy New Year!

Honoring the 12 Days of Christmas

2010-12-27T08:02:00.005-05:00

As we readied for bed on Christmas Day, Sage whispered to me "I wish it was still Christmas." I assured her it still was, but she replied, "No, it's dark now." I knew there would be some letdown after the big day, no matter how gently I tried to ease my girls in and out of it this year. So I shared with them that Christmas was, in fact, not over. I told them how it extended for 12 days and assured them we would continue to enjoy all we had created this holiday season for many days to come. I let them know the tree and decorations would stay up a while longer. And that we would keep trying to eat through the gingerbread house and the wealth of cookies we baked on Christmas Eve. We would spend lots of time together huddled in front of the fire, playing with our new toys, reading our new books, and enjoying each other's company. And we would be visiting with more friends and more family. They went to sleep content in these thoughts.

And so yesterday, the day after Christmas, we all stayed in pajamas all day, snuggled by a fire that roared from dawn to bedtime. We ate cookies and leftovers from our Christmas feast. The grownups enjoyed eggnog we forgot on Christmas Day. I read and knitted and the girls played with a new fairy house and created with new art supplies. We went for a short winter walk to gather a few items for the nature table and to feel the nip of the cold wind. And sometime toward the end of the day, Selby said to me, "It still feels like Christmas... like it has been one long day." I felt it too. For the 12 Days of Christmas, we won't be exchanging any gifts, or celebrating any specific days. We are simply and gently honoring this special time with a lot of togetherness, reflection and appreciation for all the wonder the holiday season has held. Merry Christmas!

Winter Solstice II :: Honoring Nature

2010-12-22T08:28:00.011-05:00

We celebrated the Winter Solstice with a party for the little creatures in our yard. The kids strung Cheerios and oranges and made pinecone bird feeders to hang from a tree in our backyard.

In the branches, we tucked ears of dried corn, saved from a Thanksgiving centerpiece. Oh those lucky little squirrels!

The children also made a Yule Log for the evening's fire. They wrapped a whole log with evergreen branches from our Christmas tree and tied on as many items from the Fall nature table as possible with raffia.

The log was adorned with dried leaves and flowers, moss, pinecones, seed pods, feathers, wheat stalks... even a snake skin! As evening approached, we turned out all the lights and prepared for the darkness. Candles were lit around the house and a fire was built, awaiting the Yule log.

The whole family gathered around the fire for an early supper. The Yule Log snapped and sizzled as the flames engulfed the offerings we'd collected throughout the Fall. Everyone lingered here for the evening, telling progressive stories, singing a few carols, and soaking in one anothers' company. We welcomed Winter with an abundance of warmth and light and love. Here's wishing you the same all year long!

Winter Solstice I :: The Nature Table

2010-12-20T21:34:00.009-05:00

Of all the Celebrations of Light we decided to honor this holiday season, I've most been looking forward to the Winter Solstice. I love the changing of seasons and the feeling of a new beginning each season brings. So in the spirit of a fresh start, I cleared off our Fall nature table, making room for some new residents and setting the scene for the first day of Winter.

Our new residents are two little tomten inspired by Astrid Lindgren's The Tomten. They are standing upon snow (foam circles) underneath enchanted, glittering spun-cotton mushrooms. The tomten and the mushrooms - one each for each of my girls - were crafted in under two hours using mostly materials I had in my supply. Each winter scene also includes a new crystal - green calcite for "joy" and an amethyst for "peace."

Another addition to our winter table are beeswax candles, poured into seashells this afternoon. The wax came from a local bee farmer and marks my first foray into candle making. We'll light them after the sun sets on the Solstice, as we plan to enjoy the evening hours in the glow of only candlelight and a yule log (more on this to come). Happy Winter Solstice! I'd love to hear how your family celebrates the return of the sun.

The Gingerbread House

2010-12-19T22:26:00.005-05:00

We made a gingerbread house! After much debate (in my mind), in the name of simplicity I purchased a pre-baked kit. I figured the experience would be more about the decorating of the house than the eating of it (although I'm certain my girls would give equal importance to both). The kit came with an assortment of gum drops and candies for embellishments; we also used leftover Halloween candy I'd put aside just for this purpose.

Ta-da! My gals had a blast making our gingerbread house. And I did too; I completely let go of expectations and let my little chicks direct the creative process. I'm so glad I did, as I was relaxed, the girls were empowered and the house turned out really darling!

Feather Ornaments

2010-12-17T10:57:00.005-05:00

Inspired by these gorgeous floating feather ornaments by Roost, I gathered my little chicks for a quick craft project yesterday afternoon. We filled inexpensive glass bulb ornaments with peacock feathers we found at The Ranch this Fall, and craft store feathers leftover from my Halloween nest hat. They are gorgeous! Each gal wrapped one up as part of their teacher gift; the rest will adorn the tree right here in our nest.

St. Lucia Day

2010-12-13T21:26:00.002-05:00

In the dark of a cold, windy morning, I met her in the kitchen. She was dressed in a gown of white with a red silk sash. Upon her head sat a crown of candles, nestled into an evergreen wreath. The candles illuminated her face in the darkness and I could see excitement dancing in her eyes. On this morning, for the first time ever, she was Lucia.

Quietly, she went about her duties, arranging plates of homemade lussekatter buns (recipe here) and pepparkakor, traditional Swedish ginger cookies. She poured cream into freshly brewed coffee. Then ever-so-carefully she made her rounds, delivering her treats to each family member in their beds. She visited DaddyBird first, followed by Nana, Papa and finally (after I snuggled back in bed), me.

As she entered each room, Lucia's sweet voice softly sang the words to a simple Santa Lucia song she'd memorized the day before. In the quiet darkness of the early morning, her glowing presence was nothing short of magical.

Under the weather, Lucia's "attendant" slept through the bedside visits. So upon waking, Lucia presented her with a plate of goodies. She ate them reverently, by candlelight, in honor of this seasonal celebration of light.

Although St. Lucia Day is not linked with traditions of gift-giving, each of my gals received a new holiday outfit - simply wrapped in a red ribbon, with a candle card. This is a tradition I hope to carry on annually, as it is clear to me now that St. Lucia Day will be part of our winter holiday celebrations for many years to come.

{this moment :: comfort & joy}

2010-12-10T08:21:00.003-05:00

**A single photo, capturing a moment from the week - a Friday SouleMama ritual.**

On Peace & Relaxation

2010-12-09T08:33:00.012-05:00

The focus of our family Advent devotion for the week is peace. When we gathered around the table to light our Advent wreath candles on Sunday, I asked for thoughts on what peace is. My oldest gal shared: "peace is calmness, like a nice wind." Yes! We talked about being calm in our hearts and working to find individual moments of peace throughout the week. We also set a group intention to peaceful and cooperative with one another.

Personally, I've focused my attention on trying (and I stress trying) to relax. It seems I don't ever hold still anymore; I go and go all day until I collapse at night. And when there has been no moments of quiet, no relaxation all day, when my head finally hits the pillow, my mind keeps on turning. This is not good. I read something recently where a mother shared that while she was an excellent model of efficiency and productivity for her children, she was a poor model of relaxation. This struck a chord in me. So, for my December peace intention, as part of the Piece Together Peace project , I'm reclaiming relaxation. I can't think of a better time than right now to cozy up and slow down. I'm gathering some books for pure pleasure, pulling out my knitting, stocking up on firewood and bringing out the tea kettle! What are your favorite ways to relax? (I'm open to ideas!)

**I missed posting & reporting on my November peace intention, which was to practice acceptance (mainly to counteract a resistance that was growing within me, creating chaos and robbing me of vital energy). I did a lot of work on this, releasing judgement and resistance in many stuck areas of my life. It was a great practice in mindfulness, and has definitely brought more peace to my world. **

Celebrations of Light

2010-12-07T22:58:00.004-05:00

A few weeks back, I was having a conversation with a friend about the impending holidays. She mentioned her boy was most looking forward to repeating a new tradition she introduced last year, a Santa scavenger hunt where he followed clues to find a present in the backyard. I asked if he'd remembered what last year's gift was. No. I asked if she remembered. No. It was not the gift that stuck with them; it was the joy of the celebration.

Our talk got me thinking about what my gals will remember and treasure from our holidays together. I want our seasonal celebrations to be meaningful, centered around traditions we build together and let evolve over time. We have a spiritual, but not a religious home. We are not a Waldorf home, yet the philosophies provide inspiration. We're building our nest with insights and ideas that feel right for our family. And so, in this spirit, I made a plan for our holiday season (resources listed below).

My two main goals were to (1) shift the emphasis of Christmas away from Santa and onto the true meaning of the day and (2) to expand our horizons and honor celebrations throughout the season, rather than concentrating on just one day.

To meet the first goal, I started by sharing the story of Christmas with the girls. The first week of December, we read and talked a lot about the events that lead up to the birth of Jesus. The next week, when I felt they had a solid understanding of the nativity story, we gave them their first official holiday gift, a wooden play nativity scene.

I also introduced an Advent devotion, inspired by both the Christian and Waldorf Advent traditions. Every Sunday evening, for four weeks, when the sun sets we light candles on our Advent wreath. Each week we honor a different natural kingdom of our Earth (stone, plants, beasts, humankind) and a traditional Christian teaching (hope, peace, joy, love). The girls are also enjoying counting down to Christmas on the Advent calendar of my youth.

To meet the second goal, I chose four special days to honor throughout December. We started with a Saint Nicholas Day celebration; to follow, we'll be honoring Saint Lucia Day, the Winter Solstice and Christmas. Our Christmas celebration will be less gift-centered, with each girl receiving one gift from Santa, and one individual gift and one shared gift from Mom & Dad.

To unite all our festivities, we've been talking and reading about celebrations of light around the world. We've learned how people throughout history brought light to the dark days of winter with festivals promising the return of the sun. We're noticing and enjoying the many lights of the season, from lighting candles and spending time around the fire, to enjoying holiday lights in our home and neighborhood. Selby will wear a crown of candles on St. Lucia Day. A Yule log will be burned on the Solstice. We'll honor the light of Christ on Christmas Day. And it is my hope, that I've lit a spark that will grow into meaningful holiday traditions my family will treasure for years to come.

**A few resources from our family celebrations of light:**

Books about the story of Christmas: The Christmas Story by Kay Chorao; Lift the Flap Nativity (great for preschool & elementary school age children); One Shining Star by Anne Vittur Kennedy (great for toddlers & preschoolers)
Wooden nativity scene by HABA.
An introduction to the Waldorf Season of Advent
An introduction to the Christian Season of Advent
Books about celebrations of light: Lights of Winter, Winter Lights, Lucia and the Light, The Shortest Day: Celebrating the Winter Solstice, Yule: A Celebration of Light & Warmth

St. Nicholas Day

2010-12-06T10:35:00.004-05:00

My little chicks are enchanted by the story of St. Nicholas, which I introduced for the first time this year as part of our advent season. We've been reading about this patron saint of children in The Legend of St. Nicholas and on the St. Nicholas Center website.

Last night before bed, each girl left her cleanest Mary Jane on the hearth, with a carrot and some hay tucked in for St. Nicholas' horse. (Selby was very careful to line her shoe with hay before placing her carrot in it... "I do not want carrot toes tomorrow," she explained.) The girls were delighted this morning to discover their offerings had been replaced with: a little bag of nuts, chocolate truffles, a candy cane, two shiny new quarters, a small wooden ornament, and a fragrant pomander. It was a simple and sweet reminder of the blessings and joys of the season.

After school today, in the spirit of St. Nicholas, I'm taking the girls to select tags from a local Angel Tree, so they can each provide a gift to a child in need this Christmas. I love the simplicity of honoring St. Nicholas Day and the way it supports my efforts to refocus our holiday festivities this year (more on this coming soon). I believe it may be the beginning of a new family tradition that we can embrace for years to come.

*My gals also had fun decorating St. Nicholas coloring pages, found here.

December 1!

2010-12-01T14:17:00.003-05:00

December 1st greeted me with a grey, windy morning and, finally, some fabulously cool air. Sunshine has peeked on through, but a crisp breeze remains. Ahhh... Another pleasure greeted me this morning as well: the just-released Winter Issue of Rhythm of the Home, in which I have the pleasure of being featured again. Hop on over and check out this fantastic publication; you can read my article on winter potlucks here.

There's also a great listing of winter festivals and celebrations in this issue that's definitely worth checking out. I've been busy planning and prepping seasonal festivities for my little chicks, and this article will be a great resource. Here in my nest, we're focusing on celebrations of light this holiday season. Currently, we're loving: Lights of Winter, which shares the winter customs and festivals of many cultures, and Winter Lights, a poetry book on celebrations of light. More on all this to come.

Happy December, and be sure to let me know if you get a chance to read my article on the Pleasures of Potluck!

Welcoming Advent :: Hope

2010-11-28T11:09:00.009-05:00

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

This is the first year we are honoring the Christmas season with a family Advent devotion. We began our preparation yesterday by making an Advent wreath. For the greenery, I chose to use Magnolia leaves from a tree in our yard; they offer the traditional representation of continuous life, as well as reflect our personal environment.

Tonight we will light the first purple candle on the wreath, which represents HOPE. I've thought a lot about how to share the concept of hope with the girls. I want them to learn that it can mean something more than "I hope I get a Pillow Pet for Christmas." I wish to share with them that hope allows one to dwell on the best possibilities. That it is an aspect of living positively. Hope allows one to let go and let things unfold in their own time. It offers courage when facing the unknown and determination to keep going in the face of challenges. I don't know how much of this the girls will or can understand at ages 6 and 3. If nothing more, I believe it will begin to lay a foundation for this basic tenet of spirituality.

How do you honor the Advent season in your home and with your children?

Give Thanks

2010-11-23T08:12:00.007-05:00

"All I Really Need,

is a Song in my Heart,

Food in my Belly,

and Love in my Family."

- Raffi

Give Thanks Banner Tutorial

Apple Love

2010-11-17T10:39:00.012-05:00

Here in Florida, apples definitely do not grow on trees. Orange groves we have a plenty. But apple orchards, not so much. So on a recent trip to North Carolina, I was a bit crazy about gathering some local apples. We were too late in the season to pick any ourselves, but a couple of market stands sufficed quite fine. I returned home, happily, with fresh apples, apple butter and apple cider in tote. (Thank you DaddyBird for the many roadside stops without a single grumble!)

Much of my bounty was used in apple empanadas for a friend's potluck-style Day of the Dead Party (recipe below). The rest was gobbled up by the many apple-loving members of my household. A favorite after-school snack: sliced apples drizzled with melted caramels.

This season, we've also had fun apple stamping (not with those precious NC apples, of course).

And with bobbing for apples and apple races at our annual family campout.

Here I am again, going on about produce. But really, what's not to love about a fruit that brings so much joy, in so many ways?!

MamaBird's Apple Empanadas for a Crowd

4 large apples, peeled & diced
1 cup apple cider
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
2 Tbsp. cornstarch
2 boxes refrigerated pie crusts* (4 premade crusts)
1-2 egg(s), beaten

Filling: Simmer diced apples, cider, sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg over low heat until apples are soft. In separate bowl, mix cornstarch with enough water to thin; stir into apple mixture and cook until thickens.

Assembly: On a floured surface, roll out refrigerated crusts (one at a time) to about 1/8" thick. Cut into 3-1/2" circles with biscuit or cookie cutter (you can also use a glass or bowl). Brush pastry circles with beaten egg & place a spoonful of apple filling in the center. Fold pastry over to form a half moon and pinch together; seal edges with a fork. Brush top of empanada with beaten egg and sprinkle with cinnamon sugar. [Note: make these in batches, reserving unused pie crusts in refrigerator as you work; the empanadas hold their shape better in assembly when the pastry is cold.]

Bake at 375 degrees, on a parchment-lined baking sheet, until golden brown (about 15 -20 minutes). Yields approximately 30 empanadas.

*Of course, if you have the talent and time, homemade pastry would elevate this recipe to the next level. Although, the storebought crust was delicious - and fail safe. Great advice my mother once gave me is that not every aspect of a dish/meal must be homemade. So make the filling, buy the crust. Or buy the filling, make the pastry. Or, if you must, knock yourself out and make it all!

3! and Pink Strawberry Cake

2010-11-12T10:06:00.013-05:00

My baby turned three this week. Three! She is her own little person now, with her own big ideas. She knows what she wants; and for her birthday, she wanted a pink strawberry cake.

I scoured the internet for a strawberry cake free of red food coloring and strawberry Jell-O (there's something familiar about this...). It was hard to find, but I finally came across this fantastic recipe. To my birthday gal's delight, the cake was both pink and full of strawberry flavor. And to my delight, these were both accomplished naturally by using, of all things, real strawberries. This recipe is a keeper!

Farm to Fork Dinner

2010-11-09T08:33:00.020-05:00

Have I mentioned my love for local produce here before? Ahem. I do have a bit of a thing for farmers markets, produce stands, local farms, roadside produce stands... you get the picture. Sunday night, I was treated by my dear sister-in-law to a locavore's dream: a Farm to Fork Dinner on a local farm! (Thank you Cathy, the best "Secret Santa" ever!)

The setting was picturesque; we gathered family-style at tables set under the exposed beams of the market stand roof. Draped in white linen and burlap, the tables boasted centerpieces that featured produce and flowers grown right on the farm surrounding us. As the sun set, candles were lit, champagne was poured and hors d'oeuvres were passed: tomato & mozzarella tartlets with basil puree, fried local grouper sliders with housemade tartar sauce and mini popovers with Florida grass fed roast beef & creamed horseradish.

We were seated and the artisan meal to follow was to die for, featuring a bounty of ingredients from farms and producers within a 70-mile radius of the area. The first course was a farm to fork salad with locally harvested greens, herbs & heirloom tomatoes, red onion confit, Humboldt Fog croustade and champagne-Dijon vinaigrette. It was paired with artisanal bread & local butter. This was followed by an appetizer salad of warm scallops, stone crab and crispy uncured bacon with an apple, walnut & freshly-shucked black eyed pea relish.

{photo by Chad Spencer, Edible Sarasota}

The main course was a fragrant and savory turkey pot-pie baked in acorn squash, and potato, leek & mushroom dauphinoise served family-style. Dessert was a caramelized spiced rice pudding with pumpkin pie ice cream. And yes, it was all every bit as delicious as it sounds! The evening was perfectly magical on every count, and a memory I will always hold dear to my local produce-loving heart.

{this moment}

2010-11-05T06:42:00.010-04:00

A simple, extraordinary moment to savor. Inspired by SouleMama.

Sweet & Scary

2010-11-02T22:37:00.000-04:00

My sweet Ladybug Girl and my scary Vampiress.

Selby, worthy of a horror flick, spread bone-chilling fright...

...while Sage fluttered about spreading luck & delight!

I hope your Halloween was full of sweet delights & scary frights!

Fall Journals

2010-10-28T08:25:00.007-04:00

Yesterday, I had the pleasure of crafting with 18 first graders at Selby's Fall party for her class. Charged with leading the craft, I decided on these darling journals. The books were preassembled (see directions below) so they were ready to be decorated by the kids.

I provided a pile of leaves and triangular crayons for leaf rubbings, as well as a plate of apples and red & green stamp pads for apple stamping.

The kids were enchanted! It was such fun watching their wonder at how a leaf appeared right before their eyes... or how the shape of an apple was miraculously reproduced on the page.

The results were fantastic! I went home feeling so grateful for the opportunity to work with these unique children, and overwhelmingly grateful for the teacher who guides these 18 six & seven year olds all day, every day. (Whew!)

And the kids went home with hand-crafted books filled with samplings of Fall's natural beauty. How 'bout them apples!

How to Make a Fall Journal:

Fold 1 piece of construction paper and 2-3 sheets white copy paper in half.
Punch 2 holes in side of book at opposite ends.
Push rubber band through top hole and loop around end of a stick. Pull rubber band down backside of book and push through bottom hole; loop through other end of stick. The stick should now be secured along the "spine" of your book.
Decorate and fill with pieces of Autumn nature, such as leaf rubbings and apple stampings.

The Halloween Nester

2010-10-24T14:18:00.006-04:00

Perhaps I've taken this "Natural Nester" thing too far? Last weekend, I attended a Halloween party as a tree with a nest on top, complete with bird and eggs! My sweet husband indulged me and dressed as a bird watcher, including knee high socks, binoculars, sun hat, canteen and a field guide tucked into his shirt pocket.

This was such an easy costume: hot glue Spanish moss and feathers on a skull cap, then top it with a bird and eggs from the craft store. I wore a brown shirt, brown pants and lots of glittery, bronze eye makeup.

How are you dressing up for Halloween?

It's Creepy and It's Kooky -

2010-10-12T16:17:00.007-04:00

- Mysterious and Spooky -

- It's all together Ooky -

We're getting ready for Halloween!

October Peace Intention

2010-10-06T10:03:00.007-04:00

When I read about the Piece Together Peace project on Threading Light, I knew I wanted to be a part of it. But with chaos heavy upon me, like a dense morning fog, I knew not where to begin. I searched for a point of clarity, a beam of light in the dark, and it finally appeared. The message I received was simple: start at the beginning - start within. And so it is, my October peace intention is a straightforward commitment to live with a constant, calm heart. To find peace in the sanctuary within me. To help me along this path, I'm committing to meditate every day. Even if it is just for one minute, I intend to sit quietly, to breathe deeply, to feel peace in my heart, and to fill my body with light. From here, perhaps, I can begin to transform, to create something new... to piece together peace in my world, and the world around me.

First Meal of Fall

2010-10-03T12:11:00.004-04:00

Despite the craziness of the move, I managed to pull off a proper "Welcome Fall" dinner on the Autumn Equinox. We feasted on a few of my favorites: Kale Salad from Love Soup, Butternut Soup with Pear, Cider and Vanilla Bean from A Homemade Life, baked chicken with herbes de provence and ginger cookies for dessert. There was no time to make homemade cookies, so I tried the organic Ginger Spice cookie dough from Immaculate Baking Co. The cookies were nowhere near as good as our favorite Fresh Ginger Cookies, but OK in a pinch. Yay to the flavors of Fall!

Expanding My Nest

2010-10-02T09:17:00.007-04:00

It's been over a week since I've visited this space. And for good reason - I have two new residents occupying my nest! Due in part to circumstance, and in part to choice, my parents have joined us in our family home. We are now a multigenerational household of six!

Everyone is trying to get settled. Things are piled up everywhere, looking for a new space. On my end, we condensed three rooms to one, combining the girls' bedroom and playroom into one space (my former office & project room). My project space now lives in the former brunch area off the kitchen - I love it!

My mother, a professional artist, has artfully merged her full art studio & bedroom into one room with good light. And my dad, who has special needs after a permanently disabling spinal chord injury, is gracefully managing a new space and new routine.

It's BUSY here! Everyday after school we also have my 8 year old nephew with us through dinnertime. We have occupational therapists a couple times a week, working with my dad. Oh, and did I mention we have a dog now too? My parent's Westie Daisy is also part of the new mix!

It is chaos, but it feels like relief to me. The time and decisions leading up to this move were mentally and emotionally draining, and dragged on for months. The move itself was physically exhausting and took two full weeks of sorting, packing and heavy lifting. So this aspect - this crazy mix of people and things all bunched up in one space - I can handle this.

One. Breath. At. A. Time.

The Perfect Recipe Collection

2010-09-22T09:03:00.001-04:00

After much procrastination, I'm taking on the project of organizing my recipes. I don't know how to keep it simple; it's just not in my nature. I want a recipe collection that's functional, creatively put together and pretty to look at. And it has to be organized just right too - I want it to be not only by the type of dish, but by season as well.

A writer by nature, I think it would be nice to include stories with some of the special recipes that have been passed down from family members; or anecdotes about when or how I've served certain favorites. I want room on the recipe pages for new notes, too.

So you can imagine, with all these lofty ideas for the perfect collection, plus a basket stuffed with recipes I've collected over the years, it's a project that has felt just too overwhelming to tackle. But now, for some unknown reason, I feel ready to try.

In searching for ideas of how to make my creative vision into a reality, I found these great vintage-inspired digital images on Digital Two for Tuesday. I was so inspired by the five different ways these images were used to create personalized, artistic recipe collections. (Go to the blog archive for June 2010 and follow the links for the recipe challenge; be sure to visit all 5 days to see all the images offered). Plus, check out this link I found in the comment section to a post I can't read a word of, but her recipe book looks beautiful.

How have you organized your recipes? I'd love to hear your ideas as I get started!

Before 9am

2010-09-17T09:35:00.009-04:00

Three mornings a week, my littlest chick goes to preschool. With about 45 minutes of idle time between her big sister's drop off and hers, Sage and I have been in search of a way to spend our early-mornings together. Inspired by my dear friend over at Snip and Snail, and enticed by slightly cooler morning weather, we headed for a local park today.

With the playground all to herself, my gal explored happily amongst the "pom pom" (also known as palm) trees while I sipped my coffee and soaked in the morning sun.

We took a short walk over to a dock on the water, greeting morning glories along the path. There, we sat together and watched the sun dance on the water. We listened to the birds singing away. We welcomed a gentle breeze.

And I'm pretty sure we both felt how very blessed we are. Happy Friday to all!

So Long, Sea Treasures

2010-09-14T08:19:00.010-04:00

It's about time to clear the summer nature table and make way for Autumn. And as ready as I am to see pumpkins, fall leaves, pinecones and acorns grace our space... it's hard to say goodbye to our summer treasures.

Farewell seashells, driftwood and seagrape leaves. See you next summer sea sponges, coral and oyster shells.

Beautiful feathers, we'll keep you around; I simply can not bear to see you go yet.

What's your nature table full of on these final days of summer?

{this moment}

2010-09-11T07:10:00.002-04:00

Happy Weekend!

Adapting to Change

2010-09-09T08:15:00.010-04:00

a.dapt (verb) :: to become adjusted to new conditions

While driving the kids to school yesterday, I saw this tree, growing all sideways and crazy-like through a hole cut in a fence. After I dropped the kids off, I actually went back to look at it again. Like a good blogger, I slowed down, rolled down the window and snapped a few pictures with my phone. Please don't think me crazy, but this tree was speaking to me.
It had a message for me about adapting to one's environment. See how the homeowners adapted their fence to accommodate a tree in the way? And notice how the tree adapted to the fence and changed its course of growth. Hmmm... pretty big stuff for a simple suburban tree! There is a lot of change going on in my home right now that requires huge amounts of adaptation. I need to be the fence (to open up and allow something to coexist peacefully in my space) as well as the tree (to recognize a new path opening for me and change my course of growth accordingly).

Also - now stay with me here if you can - this tree presented me with a clear image of an intention I'm trying to hold. It's an intent to break through the obstacles and change I'm facing to see what's on the other side of the fence. I have no idea what it looks like over there, what paths will unfold, what possibilities are waiting...

I know all of this is a little crazy, getting these deep messages from some random stranger's wonky fence and tree (I didn't actually hear the tree speak, in case you're worried). But I love the reminder that the answers we seek are everywhere, offering reminders and providing direction like signposts on our path. We just have to pay attention...

Henna & Mojitos

2010-09-07T20:20:00.001-04:00

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!

Another Trip Around the Sun

2010-09-03T09:32:00.005-04:00

It was blissfully cooler yesterday morning, so I did my yoga on the back porch. It felt so good to stretch and center myself outdoors. I could hear the birds singing; the sun sparkled on the water; an easy breeze gently moved the trees. Peace!

Sage and I spent the early part of the day at Shell Beach with the mamas and just the little ones, since school is back in session. It was so quiet; the water was like a sheet of glass; and the sky stretched blue forever. Bliss!

Did I mention it was my birthday? After school, the kids & DaddyBird threw me a little party complete with streamers, games, and a sparkly Birthday Princess crown. It kind of felt like I was turning 6 instead of 36. Joy!

So it was perfectly fitting that my gift was a shiny, new pink cruiser - a wish that has graced my treasure map for a year and a half. Yippee! I am one lucky mama, for sure.

The Journey/The Destination

2010-09-01T06:00:00.002-04:00

After a super-long hiatus, I'm writing again. My novel is back on my desktop, taking a new direction and perspective. Although at the rate I'm going, I may have grandchildren before it's complete. I try not to think of it that way; I try to remind myself it's about the journey, not the destination.

But the destination can be nice too. It's been 18 months since I began writing an article on mother's circles. Two months after completing it, Mothering magazine retained it for publication; six months after that they released it due to a backlog of articles; six months after that I pitched it again to my favorite online publication, Rhythm of the Home; and today (yes, today!) it debuts in their Autumn issue.

I am so honored and excited to be a part of this beautiful and engaging magazine. So while I know it is mostly about the journey, I couldn't be more pleased about the destination. I invite you to head on over to the latest edition of Rhythm of the Home and browse through all the creative projects and insightful articles inside.

You can read my contribution here:

A Mother's Circle - Uniting Ancient Magic with Modern Motherhood.

Season-Crossing in the Kitchen

2010-08-30T19:52:00.005-04:00

Fall is in the air... OK not really in our air. It's hot and muggy and raining here in southwest Florida. But it's in the stores, and it's in the magazines, and there are murmurs of Autumn throughout the blogosphere. So, the changing season is on my mind (a gal can dream, right?).

With tomatoes still aplenty (and groans from DaddyBird at even the mention of more gazpacho), I took some inspiration from SouleMama's Carrot-Tomato Soup and Rose's Tomato (Alphabet) Soup, and pulled out my soup pot today. I've been working through the seasons in Anna Thomas' fantastic Love Soup, and settled on a hearty summer Kale and Tomato Soup. Thomas calls this a "truly season-crossing tomato soup" where "flavors from summer and winter meet beautifully in early fall..." I served it, as recommended, with a spoonful of her Simple Basil Pesto and Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese toasts.

I also turned out a batch of Lemon-Zucchini Cornmeal Cookies, another great season-crossing recipe, which I made last year about this same time. (I used 1/2 the sugar called for this time and they are perfect and kid-approved).

In case you're up for some season-crossing cooking, here's the recipe from Love Soup. (Note: like most of the recipes in this cookbook, it takes a long time to prep and cook this concoction, which is overflowing with farm-fresh ingredients.)

Kale and Tomato Soup (from Love Soup)

8 oz. Russian kale, or any kale
12 oz. Yukon Gold potatoes
1 1/2 lbs. red tomatoes
1 stalk celery
8 oz. leeks
1 1/2 tsp. sea salt, plus more to taste
2 Tbs. olive oil
1 red onion, chopped
5 cloves garlic, finely chopped
1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
1/4 cup chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes, plus more to taste
3 cups vegetable broth

Wash the kale & trim away the hard stems. Cut the leaves into 1-inch strips (cut them in half if they are long). Scrub the potatoes & cut them into 1/2-inch dice. Peel the tomatoes & chop them coarsely, and thinly slice the celery. Trim the leeks, cut them in half lengthwise, wash them thoroughly, and them slice them, using only the white & palest green parts (yields about 1 1/2 cups).

In a large soup pot, combine the kale, potatoes, tomatoes, celery, about 3 1/2 cups water and a teaspoon of sea salt. Bring the water to a boil, lower the heat and simmer, covered, for about half and hour, or until the vegetables are soft.

Meanwhile, heat a tablespoon of oil in a saute pan and cook the chopped red onion in it over medium heat until it softens, about 5 minutes. Add half the chopped garlic & 1/2 teaspoon salt and continue cooking, stirring often, until the onion is beginning to color, about 20 minutes. Add the leeks to the pan and keep cooking until the leeks are soft, then add the mixture to the soup, along with the basil and parsley.

In a small saute pan, heat the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Add the remaining chopped garlic and stir for a minute or two, just to let it lose its raw edge. Add the red pepper flakes and stir over medium heat for another minute or so until garlic turns golden. Immediately pour this mixture into the soup, deglazing the pan with a ladle of the broth, then adding it back to the soup.

Add the vegetable broth, correct the seasoning with a bit more salt & red pepper to taste, and gently simmer for another few minutes to marry the flavors.

Late-August Nature Walk

2010-08-26T08:22:00.010-04:00

"I believe there is a subtle magnetism in Nature, which, if we unconsciously yield to it, will direct us aright." - Henry David Thoreau

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

2010-08-24T09:51:00.012-04:00

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!

Adventures In Produce

2010-08-17T20:23:00.005-04:00

Today, I dragged all three kids (my 2 gals and my nephew) to the produce market with me. I dreaded going ... it's so hot and I had, well you know, three kids tagging along. But we needed veggies & fruit and milk & bread to even make it through the day.

To my delight, the kids were amazing. They have perfected their market game, which goes something like this:

Selby (6) holds up a piece of produce and asks little sister Sage (2), "Is this a banana?"

Sage giggles and replies, "Nooooo. It's a (insert whatever it is)."

Then it's Ethan's (8) turn to ask "is this a banana?" while holding up an eggplant, or bunch of cilantro or whatever.

They all thought it was hilarious and kept this game up the whole time I shopped. And as I half-listened in, I was completely amazed to hear how many items Sage knew by name. I may not be able to get them to eat much of it yet, but these kids are getting something from our weekly produce foragings.

As we left, all three kids became enamored with a bin of Florida key limes. They were smelling them and squeezing them and running their fingers through the pile of little yellow-green fruits. They begged me to buy them each one; at 10 cents a piece it was an easy request. And they carried those little limes around for a strangely long time.

So everyone went home happy. Now, what to make with 3 key limes...

Summer Blooms

2010-08-14T20:26:00.007-04:00

As the temperature climbs outside, so it seems does the energy level of my little ones. Our summer break is near the end, with school starting up again a week from Monday. These last days of summer have been busy, packed half full of fun and the other half mere survival. We jump from pool to beach to any place with cool-running air conditioning. The girls cycle randomly from lazy, too-hot-to-move slumps, to crazy, solar-powered outbursts. It's erratic and exhilarating and exhausting. And I've finally hit that point I do every August, the very pit of summer in Florida, where I am done.

Since I have to keep going anyway, I've been putting my attention on all the "seeds" we planted this summer, literally and figuratively, that have started to sprout or bloom.

The sunflowers we planted in June are blooming.
My pantry is stocked with fresh preserves, canned tomatoes & sauce; my freezer is full of fresh corn from the cob, sundried tomatoes, blueberries & strawberries.
I've been inspired to write again and have an article scheduled to be published this Fall.
The tadpoles in our pond are growing, changing, becoming something new... just like my little girls, with one exercising new reading & swimming skills, and one almost completely potty trained.

As these sun-soaked days of summer start to wind up, I can feel my mind starting to shift toward fall. I'm thinking about baking bread and candlemaking. Bike rides and journaling. Handmade gifts and organizational systems. I can sense the winds of change on the horizon... and right now, any wind would suit me just fine!

{This Moment :: Fancy Dinner Night}

2010-08-06T15:04:00.005-04:00

A simple, extraordinary moment to savor. Inspired by SouleMama.

Summer School :: Seashells

2010-08-04T10:10:00.019-04:00

As a young girl, one of my family's favorite pastimes was to go shelling on our Florida shores. We combed Jacksonville beach regularly during a time when it was being dredged and the shells were amazingly abundant. We vacationed and camped on the beaches of Fort Meyers, Sanibel & Captiva, Siesta Key, Key Largo and Marco Island, and collected shells from each one.

However, as I got older and shelling was no longer the highlight of family vacations, I forgot about the magic of our collection. My mother did not; she kept them all. A few years back, I discovered the plastic tub full of "old shells" when helping my parents with a move. And I teased my mom over her collection, completely forgetting my part in it. But two weeks ago, as I began a seashell unit as part of my girls' summer school-at-home curriculum, I remembered that old bin of shells. And sheepishly, I asked if we could have a few for art projects.

As I dug through the mass of shells, memories came rushing back to me. Memories of my mother, my sister, family trips. I knew each of these treasures intimately, I remembered the thrill of finding them in the sand and surf. I recalled the fun of learning their delightful names, like sharks eyes, kittens paws and turkey wings. I remembered the way shells like jingles, olives and slippers sparked my childhood imagination. I looked my mother straight in the eye and apologized for ridiculing "her" collection. And then I asked to bring them home.

Over the past two weeks, I've sat with my girls on a sheet spread out on the floor, covered in my family shell collection. I've watched as they discovered and explored each shell for themselves. We've sorted them into piles and relearned their names. We've painted some...

...and made some into shell creatures.

We've glued them on picture frames and made plans for more and more projects.

Our nature table and project spaces are covered in shells.

And for the first time in the years I've been visiting Shell Beach with my gals, I took them on an official shelling walk. The shells we found weren't the beauties that graced the beaches of my childhood. But they held their own charm and delighted my treasure seekers. And that old, familiar magic of the hunt was alive, filling the salty air and feeding the soul of two young girls, and one still young at heart.

Thank you, Mother.... I am eternally grateful for all you have shared and preserved, and all you continue to teach me.