Peach Coglo

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?

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. 

 

Sweet Relief

Joining Amanda for weekending . . . .

Ah, a long (well sort of ) weekend.

Last week was long and we were all looking forward to the weekend.

My mom and dad came down for a quick visit.

We watched How to Frame a Figg-quite a hoot with Don Knotts.  We didn't even make brownies because the grandparents left plenty of treats, not to mention Girl Scout cookies had arrived the day before.

There was more color chart work and color discoveries-Winsor Yellow works wonders when combined with French Ultramarine.  Brown madder is also a nice new discovery.

Saturday evening I broke out the old tablecloths and placed them on the floor so the kiddos could have a "pic-pic", as Eden calls it.  Thankfully Greg made a tasty pizza for dinner because mama was tired.

Then off to a wine and cheese gathering at a friend's house-so good to hang out.  We "partied" pretty hard until 12:30am, or rather 1:30am, due to that dastardly daylight savings time shift.  It was such a relaxing evening after a full day.

Sunday we were tennis and obligation-free so there was space and time for going to the park together, watching Canada geese battle it out, sniffing flowers at the greenhouse and playing ball.

The heaps and heaps of laundry got folded by everyone working together - a first.  The kiddos learned that folding clothes wouldn't cause them bodily harm.

Dinner was a Bittman special: spinach spaghetti with mushroom sauce and a side of squash (so out of season, but Doran begged and I complied).

While the kiddos rode their bikes, I read a bit of Taproot.  It is a reassuring and lovely "community-zine".  That's the most accurate way I can describe it.  Shannon Hayes provided some of the most interesting quotes from the magazine: we "... must embrace what it means to fully be human.  This means spending a few hours resting, a few hours playing, a few hours creating, a few hours teaching, a few hours learning, a few hours nourishing our bodies . . . a few hours tending the soil and connecting with ourselves . . . and our planet."

How was your weekend?

Words to Live By

On this ninth day of Christmas and as we start to settle into the new year, I have been thinking about resolutions and habits and the ruts we as humans get ourselves into.  I don't have much truck for resolutions.  It is convenient to try to start new things on the first of the year, but why not start anytime.  As for resolutions, I think it's time to be more gentle with ourselves.   So often we are bent on improving ourselves, adopting and attaining an expectation or a goal someone else set for us.

As always, my children are great teachers, as I struggle and work through the challenges of life.  One thing I have been thinking in depth about this past year is expectations and assumptions.   Yesterday, I read a thoughtful post on Tiny Buddha about the meaning of expectations and what happens when my expectations or assumptions aren't met. 

I am starting to realize that when I get frustrated or angry about a messy room, autism,  a super-slow driver, my "inability" to plow through a pretty long self-inflicted to-do list or even someone else's expectations of me, something is a bit out of whack.  I was expecting something, the traffic, the state of my to-do list, the kitchen, the laundry or other people's behavior, to be different.  I was assuming that the other person would make the same choices I would make or do what I would do.  Why?

I realize I am not alone in having expectations, making assumptions and having feelings of frustration when things don't turn out like I expected.  It seems to be our condition.  Hopefully though, with some practice, I might lessen the effects of unmet expectations, unspoken assumptions.  I find that in the moments that I can achieve this, I feel pretty content.

In the article, the author, Lori Deschene, wrote what I feel to be some wonderful truths.  She stated  "the cause of most conflict in relationships: one person does [or says] something or doesn’t do [or say] something, and the other [person] makes assumptions about what [it all might] mean."  Lori was talking about relationships in her article, but I think this lesson can apply to pretty much everyone we run into during our day.  "[P]eople are generally doing their best", including you and me.

How about you?  Do you have words to live by?

Long Weekending ~ October 10, 2011

I am joining Amanda over at the habit of being for some long weekending.

This weekend was nice and long.

We kicked off the weekend with our usual Fish Friday meal and a fun viewing of George of the Jungle.  Surprisingly, I really enjoyed this movie.  It is an intentionally over-the-top parody, and doesn't taking  itself seriously.  Thomas Haden Church is always fun to watch too.   There was some potty humor which I could have done without.  Of course, Greg and the kids got a kick out of it, and I have to admit  that  I chuckled.

I was able to jet to my studio on Saturday and quasi-rescue a painting.  It's not done yet, but looks better than it did.   You never know how these things are going to turn out.  This one might call for some creative matting. We'll see.  I started another tomato painting.  I do love painting tomatoes.  I love painting and I especially love tomatoes.

The children had time for pastry from an old-fashioned bakery.   They constructed a new fairy house and left some Gorilla Munch out for the fairies.  The squirrels appreciated that meal.

Sunday we went to mass where Fr. Tom blessed the kidlets' stuffed animals blessed.  The blessing was in honor of St. Francis of Assisi.  St. Francis is one of my favorites.  I actually chose  his name for my "saint name" when I was confirmed so many years ago.  The blessing of the stuffed animals is always pretty sweet and fun.  Fr. Tom called them "keepers of secrets"-very sweet.

After mass, we headed off for some apple and pumpkin picking.  The recent monsoons have done a lot of damage to the apples.  There were mounds and mounds of apples on the ground. 

I am going to try making some apple jelly.  I need to find some cheesecloth quickly.  The pumpkins are going to have to wait to be carved as it is wicked hot outside.

After some time at the orchard, it was time for soccer for Doran, tennis for Elijah and knitting for me.  The cowl is coming along pretty well and the second leg of my legwarmers is moving along much faster than usual.

Monday was such a bonus.  Greg and I had toyed with the idea of hitting the beach, but opted to stay home and take care of house business.  Light switches were repaired, outlets replaced, sheetrock patched, and the garage roof is almost finished.  Greg took off the old shingles and nailed on the tar paper.  Adding the shingles will have to wait a day or two, but it's sealed now.  Maybe we'll go to the beach next weekend. 

I did laundry (of course) and helped the kids tie-dye some shirts.  Well they were content to watch.   They will add the jack o'lantern faces to them later.  Then it was time to make out the week's breakfast, lunch and dinner menus.  I am feeling pretty, pretty organized. I take it where I can find it.

Since Greg was on the roof, all of the kids and I went to the grocery store-something I never do if I can help it.  Some packages of straws being knocked off the shelf reminded me of why I have this rule.  Actually, it wasn't the kids' fault.  I blame the three people blocking the aisle and it's intersection for that little mishap.  It was no big deal though.  I wasn't about to trade places with Greg on the roof.   If he can be on the roof, I can definitely hit the air-conditioned grocery store with four young 'uns.

We finished up our weekend with some ricotta gnocchi for dinner.  We were all pretty beat, well maybe not all of us.  For some reason Helena, Elijah and Doran had loads of energy.  Eden passed out in the couch pre-bath, and still in her clothes.  Greg and I weren't too far behind.

Time to start up the week.  I hope your weekend was a good one.

Weekending ~ October 3, 2011

It's Monday and time for weekending with Amanda.

 

Another weekend has sped by, this first weekend in October.

I am in disbelief; I can't get my head around the fact that another year is quickly coming to a close.

The weekend was kicked off with this movie.  You gotta love Tim Curry.

Saturday was a good day to catch up on some housecleaning.  Hydrogen peroxide works all sorts of miracles on ceramic tile.

I got to put in some studio time.  So many ideas for paintings and not enough time, but I will get there.

Then Saturday evening the kids I and watched a 1971 episode of Soul Train featuring James Brown and the Four Tops.  This was on television.  Helena cataloged some new dance moves.  This was actually pretty enjoyable.  It turns out a lot of people were on that show from the Jackson Five to David Bowie.  I had no idea the Robot was such an old dance.  I am a little embarrassed about my ignorance.  I mean I did have a Soul Train line at my wedding and all.  Oh well, we learn something everyday.

Sunday brought our marathon CCD class.  Instead of going once a week.  Elijah, Helena and I participate in the family program.  There are lots of crafts, snacks, and such.  The time flies by pretty quickly even though we are there from about 9am until 12:30pm.  Mass is included.  But after that, we're done with CCD until the next month.  Works out pretty well, I'd say.

Then there was an afternoon trip to the craft store for more masks.  The kiddos have been on a mask-making frenzy around here.  It's rampant.  And yes, I let glitter into my house, but it wasn't too bad or maybe I was simply too exhausted to really care.

This cd has been playing a lot lately in our house.  It's funny seeing the kids rock out to Blue Oyster Cult.  I think their favorite songs are Frankenstein, The Devil Went Down to Georgia (which I loooved as a kid) and Ghostbusters.  Doran's absolute favorite is The Time Warp.  It's funny to listen to him sing it.

So there has been a lot of talk and questions about what a soul is, and also about what Ghostbusters do.

Sunday came to an end with Elijah's tennis lesson and my knitting time-pretty cool.

And so it's on to Monday.  

How was your weekend?

 

 

A Conversation with Eden

Oh this two year old of mine,  I know I am completely biased but her spirit just moves me!  She is quite the clown.  Lately I have been falling over laughing at her expressiveness; she stretches her eyes wide and cups her chin with her hands for emphasis.  I need to record this kid, but she's kind of quick.

Eden has always thought she could talk.  I guess she has; we just don't always understand her.  Sometimes I get it completely.  Other times it's like she is speaking a secret language.  Still it's fun to listen to her; soon she will be pronouncing all of her words correctly-too soon.  Often she sounds like the priest from The Princess Bride.  I relish it while I can.

The other evening she strolled into the kitchen where I was washing dishes and announced:

"I'm afwaid of da dahk."  (I'm afraid of the dark)

Me: "Oh, really."

Eden:  "Yup."

Then without missing a beat,

Eden said, "I'm afwaid of da moooonnnn."

Me: "Really?"

Eden, "Yup."  And with that she strolled back outside into the dark with the sky filled with a bright, waning moon.  Um, okay.

 

Happy Tuesday everyone!

Weekending ~ September 18, 2011

It's time for Weekending with Amanda at the habit of being.  If you like, join  in and share your weekend.

This was another one of those full weekends.  Alas, another opportunity to practice appreciation, mindfulness, and patience.

I was super excited to have two of my pieces accepted for a local Artwalk festival.  I met some different and generous artists.  I hung out with some friends who were sweet enough to spend part of their Saturday at the festival.  It's always fun looking at art with my friend Julie; there are always some interesting pieces to enjoy

My parents sent me a lovely flower arrangement-so sweet

Greg took all four kidlets (thanks for the delightful word Amanda) to Helena's dance class.  That is a brave man.  The children behave well, but I really have a difficult time with all of the energy and noise that gets bottled up in the teeny waiting area-from all of the adults mind you, not the children

After that, the whole family went back to Artwalk and made some tiles for a community art project.  The tiles will be the border for a quilt by Ed Johnetta Miller.  That will be sweet

Then we went on our separate ways, Greg and the kids to a birthday party and me to CT Pride to support a friend.  That was a fun time

Then because everyone was so darn tired, there was Chinese food for dinner.  Nobody was cooking anything.   The kiddos rewatched Honey, We Shrunk Ourselves!  Greg and I kept nodding out

Even with all of the activity and running about it was still a good and exciting Saturday

Sunday we didn't go nearly as many places, but it was still a full day-such is Fall (notice the attempt to adjust my 'tude)

The morning was slow.  I went off on a search for more canning jars and lids.  I have learned the hard way that a body can never have too many.  I am trying to plan ahead for Christmas; those jars are great for Christmas bark and other goodies.  Somehow I can never find them after September

I achieved my goal and managed to can five more pints of whole tomatoes for a total of nine.  The smell of cooking tomatoes is just heavenly.  We have done quite well considering the ill-timed rain we had at the beginning and end of the season.  There are more tomatoes ripening around the house and a lot green ones on the vine still.  Yes we have done well given the late blight and recent hurricane

Now we are eyeing our store of apples and pears-hmmm

Then late in the afternoon it was time for Elijah's tennis and Doran's soccer.  I figure I can handle this schedule for a few more weeks; both sports end the week of Halloween.  I like for the children to have as much free time as possible.  However, they still want to participate in a few activities.  I figure one activity each for the older children is not too much or too little-for now

We enjoyed grilled hamburgers and a bonfire for dinner and then 'poof'' the weekend was over.

 

How was your weekend?

 

 

Unintentionally Unplugged

Well Irene came and went.  She didn't take our electricity.  I am super grateful for that.  There are some people in town who will probably be without power for days.  She did, however, hijack our internet service ( I am at our public library typing this out).  I am not sure what happened, but maybe it has something to do with the 50 foot tree that fell on some wires a few streets over.   Thankfully, everyone here and in the neighborhood is doing well.  The only problems we had was our ten little stalks of corn getting flattened.  We are indeed very, very lucky.

 We are preparing for school to start on Thursday.  So I am organizing clothes, preparing menus, getting ballet shoes fitted, figuring out tennis schedules working with the kiddos on organizing their backpacks, and trying to remember to breathe amongst the busyness.  It is kind of harshing my summer mellow. 

I do miss all of you.  It's amazing how connected we all get across the ether.  I hope everyone is safe and happy.  I'll be back at this space when I can.

Have a good one!

xo,

Angela

Connecting

Summer is speeding along here, as I am sure it is at your house.  The days, although long, fly by at a breakneck pace.  There is a lot going on at the moment.  I am getting several hours in the studio four days a week.  The kiddos have swimming classes daily.  Elijah has tennis-something he can call his and feel good about playing.  There are appointments of course.  Greg and I are spending more time with our respective friends.  There is a lot going on.  I see the school year barrelling towards us and there is still so much to explore and quiet to be had.

Thankfully, during all of this we are still finding time to play and to just be.  Mind you I basically plan some of it; I block out time for no activity and no have-to's.  This is something that must remain a priority with all year 'round.  I think we are all the saner for it.

The other day, during a "nothing" time, Elijah discovered Doran's Connectagons. I have been donating all kinds of surplus, unloved toys.  The Connectagons remain with us of course.  These brightly colored pieces of what has to be balsa wood have provided hours of entertainment, outside no less.  The children pull them out at will and make all sorts of things-cooperatively.  It was great to see them content and exploring with no squabbles.  Unbelievable.  For a moment, I was back in my own childhood enjoying long hot, "nothing" days at my grandmother's house in Augusta-free to explore and just be.  Here's hoping that you and yours have time to just be this season too.

 

Have a lovely day everyone!