Peach Coglo

Photographic Friday ~ Sixteen

It's Photographic Friday, the day when I share practice photographs from the past few days or so.  They aren't perfect.  What is really?  I'm enjoying the process of concentrating, creating and working up my 10,000 hours of practice.  If the spirit moves you, feel free to share your own creations, photographic and otherwise with a link!

Have a beautiful weekend everyone.

Green Babies

So our little garden is chugging along.  It has been a little different this year.  We were all set and ready to go when it stayed cold for a great while.  Then the monsoons came.  It rained so much that our lettuce seeds were literally washed away.  We have about four little red lettuce plants that are struggling in the heat.  A couple of black-eyed pea plants survived the floods of water.   There were plans to plant spinach among other things but it didn't work out.  We already have a pretty short growing season around here so the season has been shortened a little bit more in our backyard.  We chose to cut our 'losses' and focus on what was working.  It's a good thing we don't depend on the produce from this garden as our only food source.

But there is good news.  The corn is doing well, and of course the squash is fine.  The birds are loving our green blueberries.  The bushes are slowly getting bigger.  We had a nice little crop.  Next season the bushes will be big enough to net.   Our tomatoes are coming along well and the collards are coming to life.  Even though Spring was a bit disappointing, I am happy with the bounty we are going to have soon and there is always the Fall planting season to try again.

 

Have you been gardening this season?  How's it going?

One Leg and an Announcement

Today I am joining Ginny and a whole lot of others for Yarn Along.

Before I delve into my knitting and reading adventures, I wanted to let you know that I will be taking part in The August Break 2011 hosted by Susannah Conway.  I love blogging, writing and reading blogs by such inspirational people.  However, at times, we all need to slow down.  I know I have a lot of outside-computer things I want and need to do.

Participating in the The August Break 2011 is easy.  Link up at Susannah's blog (link to her blog is provided above).  Then during the month of August just post one or two photos of your summertime (or your chilly photos for those of you in the Southern Hemisphere).  Just photos no words.  You post when the spirit moves you.  If it's every day-great.  If it's twice a week or less-great!   It's just a little break for everyone.   I'll still continue with Yarn Along if I have things to share, perhaps just in picture form, and of course, I'll still continue with Photographic Friday.  As Susannah says, it's just a way to "look at August through your camera lens as a way to be more present in the summer".  So feel free to join us!

 Okay back to knitting and reading.

Not much new on the knitting front.  I finished my stone chat bookmark.  I have returned to my peppermint legwarmers for a bit.  You probably can't tell that I have added much to it.  I could stop the one leg now (many people would) but I want the legwarmers to be very long, not thigh high, but a little slouchy.  One thing about carrying this leg warmer around so much is that I managed to spill watermelon juice on it.  Luckily it's the same color and could be rinsed out.  Such as the risks of portable, summertime knitting I suppose.

Ah and since we are heading out to the woods for hiking and are starting to take some family bike trips, I figured I needed to make some cozies for our water canteens.  I love Kleen Kanteens but they heat up in no time.  I found this lovely pattern by waldorfmama over on Ravelry.  It even calls for Malabrigo so you know I am all in!

As for books, we are reading The Boxcar Children as a family, as well as Buddha at Bedtime.  The children are enjoying both very much.  There are even some nice meditation for children guides in the book.  The book includes a traditional Buddhist blessing which I think helps us all come out of ourselves:  May all beings be well.  May all beings be happy.  May all beings be free from suffering.

I am peeking back into Creative Time and Space.  Summer is soon coming to a close and my wonderful studio schedule will also change.  I am looking at this book with new eyes, and for inspiration to include creativity into my "have-to's", some attitude adjustment as well as for ideas on getting art made outside of the studio.  I admit I am a little freaked out by the prospect of the school schedule rearing up again, but I am trying to enjoy now, go with the flow and be flexible and positive about the whole endeavor.

What are you reading and creating this week?

 

 

 

A Walk in the Woods

As many of you know, I don't do well in heat, especially really hot heat.  I also don't have the best of relationships with mosquitoes and deer flies.  Add to that, I have a husband who likes to hike at the drop of a hat.  I like to hike - but only in the most perfect of conditions.  Since the most perfect of conditions rarely exist and I would miss out on so much by waiting, I am trying to adapt.

The other day, Greg announced, "Oh we should go for a hike."  I am eyeing the laundry, the dust everywhere and literal upside down feeling/fear of absolutely-nothing-getting-clean in-the-house.  Then I think about the bugs.  Then I think about how I would kind of like to go so maybe we should.

After scampering around the house trying to find appropriate summer hiking gear.  We weren't hiking the Adirondacks mind you, but I am person that needs to be prepared.  Thin long-sleeved shirts and pants are necessary in bug and heat season.  Realizing that we are taking along four children also dictates some preparation.

So we hiked and it was fun (until the bugs got really thick).  We saw tiny little frogs hopping across the trail, rock formations, fern, mica, mushrooms, creeks and all sorts of things to rock the imagination.  It was bliss until I spotted four Godzilla-sized mosquitoes hovering around Doran.  Then I saw them everywhere as our bug repellant was wearing off.  Then it was time to go.

All in all, I enjoyed it and I want to venture out more.  It's great for my spirit.  I love the quiet (well semi-quiet) and adventure.  After listening to my concerns, Greg also agrees that yes if we want hikes to be a family thing some prep is required.  That very evening I purchased bug head nets and an emergency medical kit, you know important stuff like that.  For more advice, you can check out Heather's blog over at  Unplugged Sunday.  She has lots of great thoughts on how to prepare for hikes with the littles.

Some kind of super-freaky, X-Files plant whose name I forget. . .

Just one of the fallen logs that blocked the trail here and there . . .   It was while crawling over and under one these that I got the idea for the medical kit.

So now I am open to the idea of more hikes especially since there will be some prep involved.  I have instituted an all-hands-on-deck cleaning session for Saturday mornings, or whenever the house needs it.  This system does a lot to rid the Cinderella feeling one can get around here.  I also found an awesome pattern for kleen kanteen cozies that I will share with you later.  Soon the outdoor merchants will be hosting sales.  I plan to scour them for the little bit of stuff we still need, like my fantasy, super-cute wide-brimmed hiking hat.  I hear it holds up a bug net well.

Have you been pushing yourself out of your comfort zone lately?  If so, I'd love to hear about it.  Have a great Tuesday!

 

Weekending ~ July 24 2011

Today I am linking up with Amanda at the habit of being for Weekending.

 

This weekend was filled with a bunch of time lazing around

It felt pretty weird, and I almost felt guilty-almost

It started with a trip to the beach on Friday

It was blazing hot, but the beach was a wonderful relief

As usual the ocean was pretty, pretty cold

On our way home, we saw a thermometer that said it was 105 degrees at 5:30pm

Unheard of around these parts-whew.  I don't do well in heat, but I also try not to wish the days away, as that is time I can't get back.  I think it is better for me to just "be" in them-as hard as it is.

We watched Honey, I Blew up the Kid!  I think I would have to hurt Rick Moranis' character.  His wife was very "understanding"

Saturday was spent milling about.  I ran errands with Eden while Greg and the other kiddos took off to ride bikes on a trail.  Doran is doing very well riding his bike.  He just hasn't quite mastered braking yet

The boys and I took a quick trip to the library to stock up on books for the hot days ahead.  We got there about thirty minutes before closing, the librarians had aleady started turning out the back lights.  I couldn't tell if it was because of the extreme heat or to remind some of their more entitled patrons that closing time was upon them.  Having worked at a library in the past, I kind of get it.  At any rate, our librarians were most helpful with a few titles and we picked out some good books in breakneck speed

We ended the day with an evening swim at a friend's house.  Thanks Darlene!

Sunday was unplugged and super slow

For some reason I was completely exhausted, but I did manage to paint four sets of moving nails and help put the tomato cages around our growing plants

I finished a bookmark

I watched Elizabeth 1.  It was beautifully done; I love history and historical movies.   All I can say I am glad I am me and not her or Mary Queen of Scots, Dr. Lopez or the Earl of Essex.  Sheesh.

The children did  a  lot of reading.  Helena finished The Boxcar Children, which she had proclaimed to dislike in one sitting.  Interesting.  Elijah started in on a Hardy Boys adventure-his first reading of the series.

The children received their individual watercolor paints (yay!) and commenced to painting

We had our second 'meeting' of our family creative writing club-inspired by this fine lady. This one went much better than the first.  It's a great idea that Iwas about to let go to possibly try another time, but thankfully everybody got into it and I was able to play too!

Greg utilized his grilling cookbook and whipped up an awesome meal with a lot of "help" from the kids

By the end of the afternoon though, Greg and I were both looking forward to the kids' bedtime.  It's like they got together ahead of time to plan out their strategy to conquer us.  I think I am still tired.  I might actually have to go out and get some coffee today

Despite the tiredness, we are prepared for a week of no swimming or tennis lessons.  Even the scaled back version of activities we have can be a bit much.  It's great to have this freedom!  Now what shall we do-at home that is? ;-)  I think we have some ideas.

 How was your weekend?  Wishing you a smooth start to your week!

 

Photographic Friday ~ Fifteen

It's Photographic Friday, the day when I share practice photographs from the past few days or so.  They aren't perfect.  What is really?  I'm enjoying the process of concentrating, creating and working up my 10,000 hours of practice.  If the spirit moves you, feel free to share your own creations, photographic and otherwise with a link!

Wishing you a wonderful and cool weekend!  Stay safe!

Cicada Memories

It has been wicked hot around here lately.  We had been spared for a few weeks while the rest of the country was wilting.  The heat has now moved here for a spell.   I don't know if it's the extreme heat or if it's just one of those banner years for cicadas, but they are everywhere.  We see their old skins all over the ground and a few on fence posts and trees.  When I was growing up in Georgia, cicadas plumb freaked me out.   I would find fifteen abandoned cicada shells on only one side of a tree.  I think it was the sheer numbers and their prehistoric look that got to me.  I am not freaked out anymore and actually find them fascinating.  The children of course love them. 

Yesterday while waiting during Elijah's tennis class, she noticed she could see where the skin split and the cicada escaped.  She also figured out she could use the front claws like tongs to pick up things if she squeezed gently on the shell.  Okay that got to me a little bit, but it was still fun watching her discover.

Even though I found them unsettling as a child, I always loved their buzzing sounds they made in the heat of the day and during the evening.  Something was very comforting about their conversations.  Sometimes I didn't even notice the sound because it was ever-present, but usually I did notice.

The other day, I was hanging clothes on the line and heard their familiar buzz-I mean really heard them with new ears.  The sound immediately transported me to my grandmother's house.  Those were some hot summers I spent there and they were some of the best times of my life.  I remember hours sitting on her front porch glider doing nothing, watering her many plants, reading or talking and listening to the cicadas.  I remember her walking in the black river bottom dirt that fed her lush vegetable garden.  I would watch her bend, tend and water all the while hearing the cicadas' songs.  I remember lying in her big bed hearing the cicadas between and even over the booms of the trains coupling and uncoupling.  I do miss my grandma tremendously.  It's funny and wonderful how all of a sudden the sounds of a bug can bring a wash of such pleasant memories of my time with her.  It is a gift and a joy to hear them now - to really hear them and remember.

Have a beautiful Thursday and stay safe in this heat.

Still Searching

It's Wednesday so it's Yarn Along with Ginny day!  Feel free to link up and join.

There is not much new going on in the knitting front.  I am still working on the stone chat bookmark from last week.  It should have been done by now, but I have been doing other things.  I meant to finish it up on the drive to and from the beach the other day, but I managed to lose one of my tiny needles somewhere in the car or in the sand.  Oops.  Luckily the needle company provides an extra needle in each package, but that extra needle was at home.

I am still looking at different knitting projects.  I do love to peruse knitting books and patterns.  I am pretty sure I will make a scarf or a cowl.  It will be someone's Christmas present.

As for reading, I am still enjoying Buddhism for Mothers of Schoolchildren.  There have been reassuring passages about not "clinging" to our own views and biases about who our children are or who we think they should be, as they always change and if we look closely we can see all of their different facets.  They will surprise us, no matter what label or diagnosis has been placed upon them.   

Napthali also talks expertly about balance in our lifestyle being aware of how "grim-faced and driven" we mothers can be in our quest to get everything done, obsessing with our ginormous to-do lists.  She writes about being so busy we don't make time to truly relax.  "Seeing a friend in the distance feels like a threat; our time is too valuable to give away for a chat. . .We look at the sheer length of our 'to-do' list and feel we have no choice but to be rushed and driven." 

This is a hard one for me and a lot of people since planning, driving, erranding, etc. can fall on the shoulders of mostly one person by circumstance or necessity.  I am not sure the workload changes but I am working on my attitude towards it and the idea of free time.  Napthali notes that many of us are "attached" to the idea of completing everything on our lists but we can never get it all done.  If we do manage it one day, the victory will be short-lived simply because we have to feed our families.  So I am working on giving up the idea that I can get everything done or under control.  One way I can do this is to stop responding that I am "busy" each time someone asks what or how I am doing.  I have already started and I must say it feels better.

The other books we are reading this week are  Zen Shorts and Time of Wonder.  Both books are slow and beautiful.  They are just right for summer and an attitude adjustment.

What are your making and reading this week?

Weekending ~ July 17 2011

Today I am joining Amanda at the habit of being for her Weekending series.  You wanna know why I am joining today, on Tuesday?  Well I hit publish yesterday and nothing happened.  At least I think I hit publish.  Summertime brain.  Thanks for the "heads-up" Mom!

This weekend was full of summertime doings.

The kids camped out in the backyard-again

We took in a spectacular and local fireworks show

It felt a little like what some folks call "the old days" sitting out in a high school lawn watching the sky

Next time I should bring a blanket.  This is the second time I have forgotten to bring one to a fireworks show

I was feeling very grateful for the moment, cradling the littlest in my arms watching colors explode in the sky

I couldn't believe that she actually fell asleep with all of the commotion and excitement

There was a spontaneous hike to this interesting place

I survived thanks to bug spray and a keen eye

Greg agreed with me that if he wants some spontaneous hikes with four children, then there needs to be some appropriate gear and planning in the mix

Later that evening, I took a trip to the store and bought several of these and thought about buying this and these for myself

Sunday was pretty unplugged with a trip to the beach

We had a little bit of forsight and packed some goodies that the kids actually ate

Everybody returned completely happy and wiped out.  That was a great outing

The beach is always so restorative, plus there are no bugs

Luckily Greg had enough energy to make some blueberry cheesecake ice cream

After days of begging to make it, take a guess at to whether the beggars actually ate it.

 

How was your weekend?

Breather

Today I am taking a bit of a breather from this space today.  Summer is flying by and there are many adventures to be had.  I see myself taking a few more "breathers" soon.  I'll be back at this space tomorrow.  Have a great Tuesday!

PS:  I also posted yesterday's Weekending due to a little technical difficulty yesterday-mainly summertime brain.  ;-)