Monday, November 9, 2009

Birthday Surprise

Well let me start by saying that it is very hard to surprise me. I am one of those people that just kind of picks up on things if not outright knows them beforehand. So when Laura showed up on Saturday with all the makings for a special birthday dinner including live lobster to say I was shocked is putting it mildly!!! I think that was the best part. I had one of my favorite dinners made for me in my own kitchen by a great friend and my food loving daughter, she even had Raine make me a from scratch birthday card (the best kind). There was mashed potatoes, lobster, baby yellow carrots, and a chocolate birthday cake with rainbow colored candles to wish upon. I am officially thirty and loving it!!! Also a dinner like this in my cute little farmhouse on the ridge makes me feel very grownup!

Monday, November 2, 2009

Our Halloween Story

It twas a dark and stormy night (literally) and my sweet daughter was acting a little strange, she was putting on a creepy dress and asking for her hair to be artfully arranged. As the evening wore on I noticed a startling change, her face had drained of blood and she was growing a pair of fangs. Her eyes were vacant and looked rather glassy, and when I asked her if she was all right and her reply was quite sassy! She said' "I am fine mother" and I replied, "I do not like your tone!" She them look at me rather wickedly and said, "You'd best leave me alone!"Well I looked up to reprimand her and had to stifle a scream, because my little girl was no more and before me stood a vampire queen! Oh no! I yelled, "Please do not bite!" and she told me all would be well if I took her trick or treating tonight. I agreed right away and off into the night did we go, to find witches, werewolves, and big giant gnomes. There were a few scary moments but they quickly came and went,
And by the end of the night my little vampire was spent. So it was straight to her coffin with a kiss to this little vampire's forehead, and a prayer to up above that she would wake up as Raine instead!
I awoke with the sun and breathed a sigh of relief because the last nights events were simply beyond belief! I went downstairs to find my little girl all back to normal and watching TV, and our Halloween night a creepy memory...

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Fond Mememories...

One of my favorite memories from childhood is of Joyce General Store located in Joyce Washington about a mile or two away from salt creek state park where we used to camp every summer. My brother and I and any friends that we brought along would get to go there at the beginning of our trip and fill up a little paper baggie of penny candy for 1 dollar (that's 100 pieces of candy) to snack on over the course of our vacation. This was a big thing and we looked forward to the sour patch kids and swedish fish every year. I will never forget it and was hoping to make it a memory for Raine as well but alas times are a changing and they no longer have penny candy anymore. Oh well we will have to make new memories and just cherish those of the past...A Replica of the store made from candy that resides on site greeted us this time when we visited and I found it to be fitting all considered...

By the Sea...

A few pictures from my recent trip home...

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

Autumn Home

Here are a few of the touches we made this weekend to celebrate the turning of the wheel. I hope to find all of you enjoying this beautiful time of year...Enjoy

Autumn Home

Mudroom Door

Front Door

7 year old mowing :)

Autumn fire under the stars - Sleeping not so little one who couldn't quite stay up

Autumn Wynter ;)

Very cool neighbors yard...

Autumn Wisdom

We took a short walk through our trees yesterday to sort of soak in the late fall leaves and let go of some of the less than lovely energies that had carried over from the rest of our day.
It was overcast and quiet, cold enough to keep most at bay but just right for our two restless souls.
I have not been feeling well lately and my heart being conflicted and focused inward has longed to be away from everything and everyone (Raine being the exception). Part of it is the season that almost begs those that are tuned in to walk away from the busy and begin the process of storing, gathering and settling in for the long winter and the other part of it is this deep feeling of self that says I am wasting my time with certain day to day things and ignoring my true path.
It has been a longing to use my creative side, my talents to support my family and not just work at a job where I make enough, but find no fulfillment. I need to enjoy once again all that I do and not feel like I have to always fit in the good stuff.
I want to look back at my life in ten years and know that the example I set for Raine is one that I am proud of. I want her to follow her dreams and passions because they are right and not worry about how much money that it may bring. I want her to leave behind footprints that tell the story of herself defining life with each turn of the wheel and not let life and modern day expectations define it for her.
I also want this for me and what better way to teach her this lesson than by first living it myself.
I will be making some major changes in the coming year to both my physical person and how I spend my time and energies. I am going to try a few things that I always wanted to succeed at and make them work for me and hopefully by next time this year the way I make my living will be exactly that...By Truly Living.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

That Girl!!!

At bedtime last night we cuddled for at least fifteen minutes and as I kissed her goodnight and was leaving the room she said to me with a completely serious and earnest looking expression...

Raine - "Mama, tomorrow I am going to need all the love you can give me!"

Me - "Ok honey, ok"

She is something else that girl of mine :)

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Unexpected Rainbows

I received a call on friday from a certain someone asking me to pick her up and after calling Tim to confirm, it was determined that I would be taking her for the whole weekend!!! She had come down with the flu and was pretty sick for most of it but we still managed to fit in some pretty great things...There was lots of kitten snuggling on the couch while watching movies and getting some much needed cuddle and rest... There were great bouts of laughter at that same kittens crazy antics... There was even a little bit of kitchen witchery to be had by turning last week's hand picked apples into some yummy apple butter to take us through next year (I can hardly wait to make an apple butter smothered pork roast)... There was an unexpected monday off and a day filled with sunny rain showers and warmth plus an invasion lovely ladies (there were at least 25 and they came out of nowhere)...And last but not least an evening rainbow over our autumn fields to spark a last second desire to bake a fall treat for our lunches this week...Sometimes life throws you stormy weather but I can't help but be pleased when a few rainbows are the end result...