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Walking in the woods with my Little Bear today, both of us bundled in jackets and boots, it suddenly hit me...FALL!!! The sights, the sounds, the smells...
I'm not quite sure what it is about this wonderful season that stirs up such comforting feelings of nostalgia, maybe its the crisp air, or the abundance of colorful leaves on the ground, but everytime Autumn rolls around, my thoughts turn inward as I begin to mentally prepare for our winter hibernation. Carefree summer is gone, and now is the time for self-reflection and more Earth-connected activities. Garden harvest, canning, apple picking followed by applesauce making, playing in the leaves, scarves and sweaters, holing myself up with my sewing machine, bonfires...ohh, the list goes on and on.
Wishing you all a Happy Equinox this weekend! Get outside and breathe fresh air!!
My cup runneth over...
We've purchased a home in Deep River! It is so beautiful, and the best part is, besides it being a two minute walk from the beach and incredible parks, ten minute walk from Grandmama and Grandpa's house, in a small amazing, clean, safe and friendly town, is that we get to move in in two weeks!!!!
Nothing like a cool bath after a long day in the sun.
Amidst all the summertime play, my mind often wanders to the coming months and all of the necessary preparations that need taking care of before our cold, long winter.
Especially with the rising price of gas, it is now more important than ever for us to severe our dependence on commoditized foods and start growing our own.
This year has been my first attempt at gardening, and I must say, I love it! It is so much work, and the bugs are relentless, but so very rewarding. Henry has been helping with the strawberry picking, the jam making, the basil picking, the pesto making, the weeding, the getting dirty, and everything in between.
It is really important for us to introduce Mother Earth to Henry at an early age, and avoid nature deficiency disorder at all costs. And I am so happy that he seems to absolutely thrive outdoors. As far as I am concerned, his love for sand, grass and dirt will forever be nurtured.
Summer time in Quebec is so wonderful, and so fleeting. The seasons are so drastic and change so fast, that we are trying to really enjoy ourselves and spending as much time as we can outside, appreciating Mother Natures gifts. Henry and I have been heading to the beach most days. Frolicking around in the waves, making sand castles, and fully enjoying the precious moments of warm weather and sunshine.
As some of you may know, I have a major crush on handmade goods. In particular, handmade quilts. When I was a child, I had a quilt hanging from my bedroom wall, and I can still remember how special and beautiful it was. But it has only been in the last few years, as I have collected a few for myself, that I have truly come to appreciate the real beauty of a quilt.
Old quilts, to me, are especially magical. The more worn and frayed, the more, I am sure, it was loved. Every time I come home from the thrift store with a vintage quilt, I find myself thinking about the women who made it. Who was the quilt for? How much love and time was put into the project? Where was the fabric from? Who did it keep warm? And how did it come to be alone and separated from its original family? Oh, I could marvel for hours over a beautiful, beat up, old quilt!
When Pete's sister and brother-in-law announced they were pregnant, I knew right away that I wanted to make them a baby quilt. I decided Amy Carol's quilt pattern was simple and lovely, and perfect for my first project.
And finally, after three months, I am finished. It is my hope that my niece Rio, loves her quilt, as it is, a gift from the heart.
Lately, I've been thinking a lot about celebration and traditions, and how exactly I want to incorporate them into our lives. Pete and I are both turned off by many of our major holidays for the simple reason that in so many respects, we have deviated from the original spirit and meaning of the events we are meant to be celebrating. So many of our traditions have been corrupted by money and consumer impulse. That being said, I think that we can make the decision to celebrate in a deliberate and unselfish way that honours our traditions and our modern views and ways of living. And besides, I love a reason to cook. Any chance to prepare a slow cooked meal, made with love, care and patience is brilliant and in itself something worth celebrating. I also believe that in all of our celebrations we should take time to venture outside and connect with Mother Nature. After all, without our natural environment there's no ground or possibility for celebration what so ever.
Birthdays have never been terribly important to me, until I gave birth. Now, I know that the day we entered into this world is worth celebrating.
So, today is Pete's birthday! Pete is such a dream come true and my soul mate who helps me to be the best that I can be. He has such integrity and conviction and always supports me in following my dreams. He is a wonderful father and for all of these reasons, I wanted today to be extra special. So, I made him something from my heart (shown below), and for the rest of the day, we are going to walk the mountain, hit up the flea market, and make a yummy dinner and cozy up on the couch!
Wishing you all a wonderful, relaxing weekend!
Hey everyone,
Sorry I have been M.I.A. for the past few days, I'm visiting my family out west! Pete, the babe and I are having a wonderful, relaxing time. I will post pictures when we return later in the week.
I just wanted to pop in and remind you all that today is International Womens Day.
One in three women suffer from domestic abuse. It is not just happening to strangers. It is happening to our friends, family, and neighbours. It's happening to us.
Life starts with a Mama and child. The way we raise our children, literally, helps shape the future of the world. If you are a parent, grandparent, aunt, uncle or friend, you can help change the world through the eyes of a child. I want to raise a babe who is aware of the problems in the world, educate him on how to make changes, love him and teach him to love others.
This is it. It starts now, with us.
UN International Womens Day information for children
Faces of Survivors-Voices Reclaimed photo project
Stop Violence Against Women Amnesty International
End Violence coaching boys into men
Have a fantastic weekend! Let the women in your life know how much you love and respect them!
As some of you may know, Henry has given us quite a hard time in regards to his sleeping. In the past, he has been completely sporadic with his naps, and let me tell you, this little man needs his sleep. When he doesn't nap, he doesn't sleep well at night, and a vicious cycle forms, where Mama and Baby are both miserable and sleep deprived. So you can imagine our delight when a few weeks ago, he decided to really start napping, and I must say, we are all much happier. Just that little break gives me the chance to recharge and it makes all the difference in the quality of our afternoon playtime. There is something so magical about nap time. Besides the chance to rest, it's also another opportunity for that special, falling asleep snuggle, as well as the refreshing opportunity for 'beginning again' upon waking. And then there's the quiet whispering it prompts, as we constantly remind each other, "he's sleeping!!" His heavy, rhythmic breathing is the pulse of the house in these hours, as Pete and I settle in to our quiet, individual activities. Until that waking moment when we are greeted with his cheerful squeals, and we both race to get him. Open the door, and there he his, a smile spread across his face, ready to start all over again. It is really, very special. And I will cherish this time always.
i just whipped up a batch of granola, and man, its good.
super easy and healthy!
3c oats
1c unbleached flour
1/4c brown sugar or sucanat
1c chopped walnuts and almonds
handful of sesame/sunflower/pumpkin seeds, whatever you have
1/2c apple sauce
5 tbsp maple syrup
3 tbsp of whatever juice you have it the fridge
mix it all together and spread out on baking sheet, cook for 45 min at 400. when you remove it from the oven, make sure you really seperate the granola, so it doesn't become one big, hard sheet.
voila! serve with yogurt or whatever milk of your choice (soy, rice, almond, cow, goat) and enjoy!
Well, some pretty exciting stuff is happening around here. Can't wait to fill you all in when things firm up a bit. For now, please send good vibes our way. We need all the luck we can get! Hope you're all having a great week! Stay warm, my sweets!
As Henry is getting older, his need to explore and absorb everything around him is growing. I've never witnessed such an eagerness to learn and develop. Our days are mostly spent with him reaching for everything, and me, making sure he isn't getting into anything he shouldn't. But then there are a few precious hours a day, when his search for entertainment subsides, and its just him and I.
Breastfeeding Henry is almost beyond description. Being able to sit still, and really feel the connection with my child has been one of the happiest and most tranquil moments of my life. Amidst all the playing and laughing and singing and dancing, he and I can sneak off and just be mother and son. Where he can rest his head next to my heart and I can see in his eyes that he knows he is loved. It is during these moments that I know I am doing my job well, and that things are just the way they should be.
A few days ago, Pete was driving to work, following a dump truck. The truck caught an overhead cable attached to a lamp post and pulled the whole lamp post down on top of our minivan. (i drive a minivan. i know...) Well, just thank god the babe wasn't in the car, because he sits in the back, where the crash occurred. Scary stuff. My love is okay, but we are vehicle-free for a few days. Which, actually, is great, because I want to walk more anyways, but a bummer as well, because you can't drive a stroller around in the snow.
Pete is also sick, poor angel, so it's a lot of tea, napping, and quiet time around these parts. Well, not so quiet actually, because Henry has developed quite the set of lungs. Henry LOVES to talk. But, that is just music to our ears, so sing away, my sweet love.
Actually, this change of pace is perfect for me, because I have been trying to slow things down anyways. More lingering, less hurrying. More time with the babe, less time in front of a screen. More doing and less agonizing about what needs to be done.
So this week, I think its going to be more of this, mixed with some yoga, studying and cooking. I just made some delicious hummus, if I do say so myself, and this week I'm going to tackle some soup, marinated tofu and maybe a pizza!
Have a great week! Slow down!
Cilantro, Jalepeno Hummus, adapted from 28cooks!
2 cloves garlic, minced (i just threw in whole cloves)
2 (15oz) can garbanzo beans
1/2 tsp salt
3 tbsp lime juice
1/2 c olive oil
1-2 jalepenos, seeded and chopped
3/4 c cilantro
In blender, puree garlic, beans, salt and lime juice. Slowly stream in oil until well blended. Stir in jalepenos and cilantro. (I just threw it all in the blender, to be honest, and it was divine. Plus, tons of pepper!) Enjoy!
Yesterday was just one of those days. Up all night with the babe (he's not a sleeper, I tell you) and up very, very early with him. Ran out of diapers. Okay. Used a towel. He wouldn't eat. His new thing is making himself gag, because its fun. Not so much fun for a scared mama that constantly thinks he's going to vomit.
Once in awhile, I just let everyday things get to me. Sometimes, I just feel overwhelmed, overworked. Luckily, I have this man, who reminds of the important things. Like breathing. After a much needed meditation, things seemed so much better. More clear. And we did what always works. Danced around the house to ZZ Top. He loves it. We love it.
Time is slipping by. The days go quickly. Someday, not too soon I hope, this little man will no longer need me as much. I need to gobble these days up, ingest them, consume them, treasure them. From now on, I most assuredly will.
So, this weekend was my first ashtanga yoga teacher training workshop. Man, did i sweat!
I cannot even describe how amazing it was. There is so much to learn, going back thousands of years, and the energy in my group was so, so warm. I have been living without a care in the world of the detailed and magnificent work going on inside my body. Its time to make some changes, and i am so excited, and so ready. Lets go!
Yesterday was spent recuperating with my love and the babe. First, we walked the mountain, and then had some homemade soup and cookies and some much needed rest on the couch. A wonderful day, indeed!
Oh! I'm including a recipe for an amazing salad from this cookbook, Enlightened Eating, by Caroline Marie Dupont.
It's so delicious and super healthy!
Cabbage Delight
dressing:
2 tbs apple cider vinegar
1 1/2 tbs olive oil
1 1/2 tbs hemp or flax oil
1 tbs honey
2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp ground fennel
vegetables:
2 c green cabbage, chopped medium fine
3/4 c red cabbage, chopped medium fine
1/4 c sweet onion, finely chopped
1 rib celery, finely sliced
1 carrot, quartered lengthwise and sliced
1/2 c fresh parsley
1 apple, cored and diced small
1/2 c raisins or currants
1/2 c pecans or walnuts, chopped
-or 3 tbs pumpkin seeds
1/2 c cheese, diced small
Combine dressing ingredients in the bottom of a large salad bowl, add veg and toss to combine. Keeps well in fridge for a few days.
Enjoy, friends!
Hope you all have a wonderful week!
Last night, Pete and I were lying on the couch, long after the babe was sleeping. We began talking about how quickly Henry is growing up. It got me thinking about life and how fleeting and brief it seems to be. It just feels so incredibly fast. Wake up, tidy up, play, cook, clean, drive, and on and on and on.
But then, there are those little moments. Those tiny, yet significant moments that are so easy to miss and that in reality, amount to only minutes worth of time. But the impact of those little moments make them so much bigger. A smile, a giggle, a snowfall, a cup of tea, a hug. So here's to enjoying them, one special moment at a time...
pete listens. he makes me laugh all day long. he gets me, and never judges me, and makes me feel beautiful and whole and worthwhile.
he is polite, considerate, and exceedingly intelligent.
the most amazing father.
and a total babe.
i love you so much, sugar.
to the moon and back a million times infinity...
well, my little love is sitting up. how has 6 months flown by so quickly? every morning, he and i practice sitting up, and every day, i cannot believe the progress that he makes. he's a special one, for sure. he just absorbs everything in front of him. mimics his daddy, speaks in his singsong way. and the hugs... the bury his face in my neck, squeals of delight, pull me in tight, kind of hugs. be still, my heart.
every new year i consciously construct resolutions in my mind with the absolute best intentions of keeping them. usually, i do pretty well in the beginning. but like most, my determination, along with my goals, begin to decline and dissolve.
this year, i want to document our lives. stay in touch with loved ones.
and slow down.
this blog is my steadfast attempt.
