Peach Coglo

Weekending~May 20, 2012

Joining sweet Amanda for weekending . . . .

This weekend beautiful and fun and eye-opening.  That is a lot for one weekend.

My dancing girl danced in her fifth recital.  I cannot believe she has been dancing for five years.   She really loves it.  I hear parents say this a lot.  I have heard kids say they love something.  It's hard for me to remember being 7 and loving something so much.  It looks like I have two seven year-olds who have their passions. 

Our weekend was full of clay, wood and dance.

Elijah made his first clay figure that I think is pretty awesome (I am his mama so I know I am super biased).  He took it to school before I could snap a shot for this post.  Elijah has been obsessing over clay for months now.  He loves making stuff with his hands and has asked for a Leatherman for his birthday.  This weekend he chisled a canoe.  I need a shot of that too; Elijah tends to make off with his creations, so I'll grab him when he returns from school today.

Helena danced her ballet this weekend and declared she wants to be a professional dancer-"definitely ballet, but if not ballet then other kinds of dance.  I just want to dance all of the time."  She had a wonderful time at her recital and her brothers rallied around her (Eden was asleep which was probably for the best).

Somebody enjoys posing.  I call this her Lena Horne pose.

As per tradition we hit Dairy Queen afterwards.  That is always yummy and fun.  Then we came home and Helena danced some more, leaping everywhere, practicing her form.  I think she has discovered what incredible things her body can do.  It's a wonderful reminder for me.

Last night almost ended in a few tears as Helena was already missing her ballet teacher and not looking forward to a summer without dancing.  So here we go looking up ballet and art workshops and  stockpiling more clay . . . .

How was your weekend?  I hope your weekend was grand and that your Monday is treating you well.

 

 

 

 

First Communion

I can't believe my two middle babies just celebrated their First Communion.  Where has the time gone?!  It was a wonderful celebration.  Helena and Elijah knew what was happening too thanks to those many Meditations held by the religious education director.  We talked about many things during those programs-forgiveness, kindness, open hearts and minds, seeing God/Spirit as a woman, compassion.  I could go on.  It was a very positive experience in which the children had a firm hand.  I love that Fr.  Tom had the children sit up on the altar steps with him for the majority of mass.

We had a wonderful and raucous lunch with my parents and brother after the service.  So now I am beat.  I didn't realize how worked up I was during this whole process.  But as quick as a flash it's over, and now onto the rest of the busyness of May.

How was your weekend?

Eleven Years

How this boy got to be eleven years old I will never know.  Eleven super speedy trips around the sun.  I can't believe his growing independence and ever-increasing determination and 'voice'.  He has a 'voice'; he has himself and now he shares himself with us.

He thoroughly enjoyed his chocolate cake.

This year he told me what he wanted for his birthday-such a change. I can even tell what he might like-hence the yoga cd and giant Twix bar I gave him.  Doran is a big fan of what he calls 'Zen and spa music' and the boy just loves himself some Twix.  

What a young man he is turning out to be despite autism and despite all of the "nevers".

Doran even likes a little girl in his class.  I guess this is the age.  He shows his affection by calling her "poopy head".  Rude, but it seems on target for typical 5th grade boy behavior.  We do have to help him refine his approach.

So yesterday, he was celebrated with chocolate cake with a blue balloon (Doran's request), his favorite music (BB King), gifts, kiwi, iced tea, birthday flowers picked out by Eden, hugs, inspiration and wonderment.

Happy Birthday my Sweet!

Easter Weekend

Super duper late, but I am joining Amanda for weekending . . .

 

Another fast weekend . . .

This one blew by me, despite having Good Friday off, but it was a good one

We took our first true family bike ride as I finally procured a bike-thanks Greg!  It felt great to be pedaling along again.  I was lucky to get this bike, as a neighbor was selling it at a low, low price.  His wife rode it only once.  I think he left her behind on a bike trail - in the woods, and that was the end of that.

We planted a willow tree in 0ur oft flooded backyard in hopes that it would absorb the excess water we get so parts of our garden would be less soggy.  Except this year, we don't seem to be getting enough rain or snow.  Go figure.

I had to give up my fantasy idea of attending certain services holiday because things were getting scrunched.  So perhaps next year, we'll make it to the Requiem on Good Friday and Easter Vigil.  This year was a bust for both, but it was okay.

I made two peach cobblers this year (one for my family and one for a dear friend and her family), and potato salad.  Unlike previous years, I wasn't up until 1am making them.  So there is some progress on the organizational front.

The kiddos received their yarn balls and promptly lost two in my mom's house, but they enjoyed them.  I knitted up some super tiny and regular eggs, but of course I forgot to take pictures of the tiny ones.

There was egg dyeing and hunting, good company and a whole lot of Easter food.  I won't have to eat for days.  My mother cooks marvelously so there was brunch and then there was dinner: biscuits, ham, deviled seafood eggs, mac and cheese, candied yams, roast chicken, collards, green beans, cornbread biscuits and brisket.  I don't know how she does it.  I can barely make dinner every day.  Speaking of which I need to find her recipe for roast drumsticks.

I hope your weekend was wonderful and your week started off gently. 

 

Weekending~March 25, 2012

Joining Amanda for weekending . . . .

 

It was a wonderful one.

My mother gave us the birthday treat of live theater!

While my parents watched the kiddos (thank you!), Greg and I went to see Ma Rainey's Black Bottom in Boston.  After wandering around the Prudential Center lost for a second, we made it out into the night air and down the street to the theater.

The performances were spectacular.  We saw an actress, Joniece Abbott-Pratt, that we saw last year in another one of August Wilson's plays, Gem of the Ocean.  Wilson's work is incredibly powerful and can be difficult watch at times because he relates pain in such a skillful and poignant manner.  He also portrays life's joys and silliness too.  It was amazing.

Oh and talk about range, Yvette Freeman was tremendous.  You may remember her from the show ER.  I never really realize how limiting these hit shows can be for actors, until I see them in live theater.  Wow.  Not to harsh on ER or anything, but I can see why, as an artist, she left to do other things.

We celebrated Greg's birthday (the first go-round as his birthday is tomorrow) with a wonderful  dinner made by my mom and a fruit tart.

I finished knitting my last felted ball.

I made a decision to push through the exhaustion and paint something everyday, no matter how small.  I am almost done with my color exploration charts as a result, and I am feeling calmer about getting my hands on my brushes.

And to top it off, I saw an inspiring documentary about a man and his topiaries-no joke.  If you get a chance, watch it.  It is unbelievable the art this man created.  He was 70 when the documentary was made.  I promise you will be inspired.

How was your weekend?

Happy Mardi Gras

Happy Mardi Gras everyone!  Since we can't be in New Orleans for at least the family-friendly celebrations, I decided we would have our own up here in CT.  I have made my first ever red beans and rice, gumbo,  and King Cake for our Mardi Gras dinner.  I don't dare try the etouffee or beignets.  I think next year we'll have to invite some folks over.  This party needs more of a crowd.  I do wish I could find my 1979 era beads.  I loved those things-the newer beads don't do much for me.  At least I have my old dubloons, yay!  I did pull out my green Halloween lights.  Turns out, I can use those for Mardi Gras  and St. Patrick's Day.  Sweet.

The day has been fun and busy so far with the kids stealing King Cake filling and helping me prepare.  Eden has been running around with her Halloween basket wishing everyone "Happy 'Olidays!", and looking for candy.  Hmm.  Now it's on to my bread pudding and fried chicken.  I have to put at least one vegetable dish in there somewhere.

Happy Mardi Gras!

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day my friends.  Now off to make some Valentine's magic . . . .

 

love rocks by Helena

Some Valentine's Links

So you know I am a reformed Valentine's Day celebrant.  I have my pink lights up but nothing else so far.  I have been grazing Pinterest and the interwebs, gathering bits of this and that.  I thought I'd share what I have found-so far, because the gathering never quite stops right. 

We are going to have a Valentine's Day tea.  I know it sounds all kinds of fancy, but in reality it could be anything from homemade cookies, cake and savory tea to Nilla wafers and milk, depending on how my weekend goes.  But I am going to try to bust out a few of these.  I know Martha says they are for cats, but I think they can work well for people too sans the catnip.  I just learned the kfb technique for increasing (thanks Tracey and Dee) so this should work.  Perhaps I'll stuff in some lavender with the bell.  I like jingly, good-smelling stuff as much as the next cat and so do the kids.

I also love these felt Valentine candy holders and these fingerprint hearts.  Those would be great for the Valentine's exchanges at school, as would these.  We have oodles of cardboard so this is a good way to reuse them.  This Valentine's votive is pretty darn cool too.  And have you seen this Zakka-inspired Valentine?  Cuteness.  And then there arefelt tea bags and cookies. I could go on, but for all of our sakes, I'll stop.

Time to get off the computer and get to making.  I hope you saw something inspiring.  Have a great Thursday!

Weekending~February 5, 2012

Joining Amanda for weekending . . . .

This one was a doozy.  I am a homebody at heart, even more so after kids.  I usually try to keep activities spread out and to a minimum.  However, this past weekend we spent much of our time away-kind of a perfect storm.

Friday blasted off with a birthday celebration for Eden.  Things got a bit off schedule due to an unexpected child pick up at school but the day was beautiful and a birthday girl with a cold.  Poor thing. 

I still cannot believe my baby is three.  Eden kept wishing everyone else "Happy Birthday" and there was nothing we could do to convince her that we were only celebrating her birthday.

She picked out yellow tulips for her birthday flowers, and we all enjoyed a set of grandparents for the party and accompanying southern fish fry (Eden's dinner request; she also asked for 'yellowey' cake with chocolate frosting).  The pinata was a hit and Greg was injured only once.

Saturday was another special day.  I finally finished Eden's penguin-a big deal for me.  Elijah and Helena participated in their first Reconciliation, a super big deal for them and the whole family.  Confession is so much gentler these days-more like sharing and an understanding shoulder to lean upon when troubled-much better and more humane.  It's not like the old days when I was wracked with guilt and fear.  I actually made things up for confession.  The kiddos spent the morning at the Reconciliation retreat where they got to play games, make things, and eat.  Then we spent part of the afternoon at our Reconciliation service-a long, but sweet day indeed.   After all of that church time, we made some birthday playdough for Eden when we got home.  She requested yellow.  This is by far the best recipe I have ever tried-the best.

That evening Greg and I went out alone to my friend Darlene's first annual fundraiser.  It was a blast even though I was scooped on my bid at the silent auction.  I really did want that Tibetan singing bowl and the prayer beads.  Then Greg completely missed a cool item-a plane ride for three.  Someone got for $70.  Better luck next year.

Sunday Elijah and I were back at church for CCD.  Our class took an intimate tour of the church.  There really are all kinds of cool symbols and art all over the place.  Of course, Elijah spotted St. Lucy, a rather gruesome statue.  Maybe it was the eyeballs on the plate she was holding.  At any rate, Elijah and I were able to discuss perspectives, social justice and the world family in depth.  That was very nice.  After mass, we made lunches and decorated lunch bags for people who are hungry.

Yeah we kind of used the rolling pin to break the pinata.

Then the whole family took off to see a ginormous and free train display.   We definitely got our miniature-enjoying nerd on that afternoon.  That was great fun.  Elijah is now convinced he wants to build and fly a model helicopter.

While Elijah took off for tennis, I am not sure what I did.  I think it involved watching sick kids.  Helena became ill later in the day and Eden continued on with her cold. 

Then it was family meeting time and dinner.  The evening finished off with weaving in ends of some finished knits.  Hmm on to something new!

Here's to being grateful for our full times and true appreciation for our slower times.

How was your weekend?  I hope it was truly lovely.

Long Weekending ~ July 4 2011

It may be Tuesday, but I am joining Amanda and others for her weekending series.

       Darlene's famous watermelon shark

This weekend brought a lot of fun and some cleaner windows

I scouted for some new painting subjects.  I found some but too bad, I forgot my camera

There was a pool BBQ at a friends house that was followed by an impromptu backyard campout

Eden and I were happy to campout in the house while a very excited Daddy, Helena, Elijah and Doran roughed it in the backyard

After checking the weather, Greg got the tent up despite the dusk and mosquitoes

With a quick trip to the store, Doran and Helena got new sleeping bags

The new camping lamp wasn't even used because everyone was too tired for bedtime stories

Sunday was unplugged.  After the "unplugging" ended, we all set off to get a new fire pit for the backyard.  I am already imagining roasted marshmallows, smores and various solstice bonfires

We added a few houseplants to our environs too

The plants and I appreciated the cleaner windows in the living room.  I don't know what got into me, but they had to be washed.  It was a rainy day-perfect for window washing.  Now of course I only did the inside of the windows ;-)  I don't even want to describe what the cloth looked like after I finished-ho boy.  I could swear the room is 5 times brighter now

Then it was time for a trip to Boston to celebrate the Fourth of July with my parents

Elijah and Helena made their Superbaby Pudding for the Fourth of July dessert.  They made one version on  Sunday only to find it wouldn't necessarily hold up well until the next day

After a super filling meal of collards, corn on the cob, cornbread, barbeque ribs and chicken, it was decided that we would trek up to Boston to catch the oh-so-late-but-awesome firewords show in person

Elijah was the main force behind this idea.  Usually we don't battle the crowds or mosquitoes or heat, but Elijah's eagerness persuaded me and my dad to go.  Eden, my mom and Greg opted to stay home

Am I glad we went!  My dad's expert driving got the van there and parked in the tiniest ever parking space.  We took a short walk to the Common opting out of pushing through the crowds to get to the Fiedler bridge. Their was a cool breeze, plenty of space to stretch out and no mosquitoes.  Can you tell I am a little anti-mosquito?

It was an amazingly communal experience sitting on the same ground where early Bostonians used to graze their sheep

I love watching all of the light and color and feeling the percussions from the fireworks.  That topped off a fun weekend

Then we had a late late ride home.  It was so late and we are so tired that we almost forgot about Helena and Elijah's dentist appointment this morning-oops.  Google calendar reminders are a great thing!

How was your weekend?