today.

"This is the beginning of a new day. You have been given this day to use as you will. You can waste it or use it for good. What you do today is important because you are exchanging a day of your life for it.  When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever;  in its place is something that you have left behind... let it be something good." -author unknown-

giving thanks...

glorious weather all week long:)

spontaneous tea with a dear friend this morning

2 hours in the hair chair and looking more civilized

suntea

supportive, supportive husband

date night somewhere warm and sandy tonight

fresh salmon in the freezer

the happy thoughs that jam making season bring

a clean living room

sleeping in on the weekend

yummy smelling body.hair products that are "friendly"

the security of being deeply commited to my man

cosmos blowing in the garden

a pumpkin!

fresh sheets (this is often on my grateful list i think)

photos...always photos...it was a great photo week

courage in the face of adversity...

(wondering when i will feel better...really when?)

lists

fabulous friday

i am breaking with my blog format and posting more than one photo..somewhere inside of me this is bothersome because i like the continuity of one histimatic print to go with my thoughts...but today was fabulous and these photos tell that story:)

happy friday everyone!



breathe in...breathe out...

and drink homemade almond milk out of canning jars

breathe in..breathe out..

and smell the sweet peas in the garden

breathe in...breathe out...

and notice with great delight

that tomorrow is Friday!

already Friday!

breathe in...breathe out

and trust that every little thing is gonna be alright..

breathe in...breathe out...

and continue to live a blessed life!

quiet.house.

the house is quiet

and i am feeling quiet right along with it.

sometimes

during this break in my day

i feel the need to race around and do so much

but since my weekend of rest and time well spent

i am trying to preserve some of the peace and calm that came with it.

today

i can feel the busyness wanting to creep back

and the voice in my mind

telling me to

do.do.do

but i want to savor the peace and calm

i want those words to become

me.

so i am being still and quiet

and letting my heart and my mind

and my body

settle.

time.

i took time this weekend

to just hang out with my kids.

a mother-daughter dinner date on friday night

became a mother-daughter-son-son

dinner date

at the restaurant of oldest son

who cooked for us.

there is something very satisfying about being fed

perfectly prepared food by your child.

perfect

in that he knows i can't eat anything from the menu

and without me having to say a thing

he spoke to the waiter and said

"just punch in "mom"- i know what to make her"

awww...

so my children and i sat around the table

and talked of random things

like fish farming, genetically modified banana's,

their dad, old house stories

and lots of random memory stuff.

it was good.

hannah insisted on photos

which the boys insisted can't be used for my blog

so they remain hidden away for me to treasure

and make a mini-book out of one day.

times with all my kids at the same time

is rare. sacred. a treasure beyond words

and i cherish the moments deeply.

i love the happiness that radiates from my face

in a photo of all of us-

me surrounded by these big, burly boys and beautiful hannah.

and

hannah's love note in the photo above

reminds me

that time is really the most valuable gift we can give -

to ourselves and others.

noticing right now..

it is time to fold the growing pile of clean laundry

a lady stopped traffic while on her walk for a small dog to cross the road

(i found this sweet)

tea is delicious cold as well as hot

i have not vacuumed nearly enough this week

my fridge and cupboards are slowly beginning to look healthy

i have a fondness for putting things in glass jars

the sun is glorious and hot this morning

i don't do nearly enough journaling

i no longer dread being alone for a few days

the grass needs cutting

(dandelions need cutting actually)

we have a second batch of peas coming

there is a stack of mail to be sent at my front door

(if you like snail mail, send me your addy and i will add you to my list)

i have Becky's wedding on my mind all the time

pj's really are my favorite outfit

hannah's hair is crazy

i feel, deep down inside, that the rest of this summer is going to be glorious