belatedly welcoming new friends

Finally, finally, finally, we have picked up our little friends. 

We have been wanting to do this for so long and now we finally have! 

I am so proud to introduce our 7 little friends better known as the baby chickens. 

Their is Spot, Candle, Paisley, Clucks-a-lot, Bohem, Red, and Speckle (our little crooked beak baby). 

It is such an exciting thing to be creating our tiny little semi-urban homestead step by step. 

With each new addition my spirits raise and I gain more confidence that this indeed is how I should be living. 

Welcome to the family little friends!

camping through little eyes

What a Summer Solstice, what a Father's Day! 

the little things

It is with trepidation that I put in my most recent article to a new magazine; the Bamboo Family Magazine, for their Summer Publication. I agonized over the article...it is a tutorial on how to make Cloth Poi for practicing your dance moves. I am pretty knowledgeable on the subject. I know that it is a good article. And yet there it is the little nagging sensations. Is it a good article? Did I edit it properly? Is all of the information there? Do my words flow or are they condescending? Basically am I good enough?!

And as I sat up last night going over  again in my head the details of the article and the pictures I sent in I couldn't help but laugh at myself. I remembered back to when I was dancing and performing with my old company and with the school I attended. I was in studios 90% of my week; I even worked at two so I could go from work to lessons. I remembered all of the hours spent repeating, perfecting, freaking out. All of the nerves running through my system when I stood back stage (or on stage if it was a black box performance). Would I forget the moves? Would I fall? Will anyone think my performance was worthy? It is all the same sensation.

Back then, though, I realized the same thing I re-realized last night. There will always be someone who does not like what I am doing or saying. There will be those who are indifferent. There will be those who think I have captured the moon. And really none of that truly matters. The important thing is that no matter how anxious putting my work out in the world makes me I must do it. It is my gift, my contribution, the way I share my essence with others. And being vulnerable is good because it keeps me humble and honest and these are qualities I value greatly and would not wish to lose. So I continue to share, through my writing, through my Front Porch Summer Camp, through my interactions and my crafting and I trust that at the end of the day all of these little things will bring others the joy they have given me.

his 8th year

Wednesday was a turning point in my home. My son turned 8! His requests were simple and few; a cake (surprise him), 3 simple gifts, and a BBQ with family and a few friends. As I move with him into his eighth year I can not help but be fascinated with this budding young man. He is a delicate and sensitive lad, always willing to sacrifice for the greater good. He is a beautiful musician, scholarly in a youthful way, creative and quirky! He is quick to point out injustice but willing to discuss (in depth) ways to find solutions. His mind moves at the speed of light and the thoughts he has blow my mind. What his future holds I can not even begin to imagine but I know it will be awesome! These eight years have been such a beautiful journey getting to know and reknow this beautiful boy I am blessed to call my son. 

{this moment}

{this moment}- A Friday ritual. A single photo- no words -capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor, and remember.
If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. (Inspired by Amanda Soule of Soule Mama)

************************

hey there how are you...

Life is grand and I am always amazed at how many new and exciting projects or experiences I can take on and still not cry for mercy. I have been away for a few days collecting my thoughts, getting last minute items for projects, mulling over new ideas for articles and the blogs appearance, and designs I wish to start sharing...on and on it flows! This week has been a busy little bee with birthday parties attended and sweat lodges and preparing for the first day of my newest project "Front Porch Summer Camp"! This is the start of one of many books I am working on. It is a book aimed at building creativity and community and encouraging time spent as family instead of shuttling children off to summer camps all summer long. Our first meeting is this Thursday and I could not be more nervous and ecstatic! The first project will be featured in Bamboo Family Magazines Summer issue and I couldn't be more blissed out! I want this to be a success and I know it will be! I apologize for the distinct lack of pictures...my camera is slowly but surely dying. It has been dropped in the sand and wont zoom or load properly anymore and I can no longer remove the smear from the tiny lense. I am hoping to get a new camera very soon so that I can continue to share all of the beautiful things I get to see in my day to day life! Below are a few things to look forward to soon!

There is much to look forward to in the days to come...

~redecorating the living room~

~new sewing projects~

~new recipes~

~a new articles for Sacred Pregnancy~

~a first article for Bamboo Family Magazine~