Ode To May: Symphonic Serendipity

Wherein we reach another Milestone! On Mother's day, I awoke to a letter on my desk that the cub wrote the night before.  He worked the Mother's Day brunch at the restaurant, and brought home some tulips and yummy treats from the event.  He took me out for a bite at a local pizza joint and then we to the lake to watch the sunset.  As the sun sets on this chapter, it rises upon a new chapter.

The next day, he left for trade school and a serendipitous detour routed me over a covered bridge that I never knew existed.  After I got him settled in his dorm, I came home, stripped his bed, washed his remaining laundry, and deep cleaned his bedroom and bathroom.  The house is very quiet, but also clean which feels good.  A generous friend is sending her son to mow the back yard while S is away as that was his task. 

My peonies all bloomed at once, so I shared some with neighbors.  My herb garden is getting lively.  I learned that chive blossoms are edible and delicious so I sprinkled them on top of the pizza that I made.  I tried a recipe by Lidia Bastianich that I heard about on NPR and it's a keeper. 

I love getting sunset texts from friends, knowing that we are watching the sky at the exact same time.  And the neighbors' email saying that they are looking forward to my rainbow pics now that the storm has passed. 

A dear friend of several decades and I are planning a mini road trip together this Autumn and I'm greatly looking forward to spending time with him - and the laughter.  

Jai Maa!

"Mother,
Formed from the depths beneath your heart."

- John O'Donohue (To Bless the Space Between Us)

It's my first mother's day without his father.  It's strange.  There is no other way to describe it.  I imagine it's strange for my in-laws too, having lost Sheila in March.

In celebration my son made me a pot of his homemade Ginger Tea.  A recipe he's saved since Kindergarten.  It was delicious.  We took a walk in the forest and saw a school of ginormous carp.  He's now determined to catch one.

Soulful Beauty

Getting a jump on Mother’s Day because Sunday’s going to rain. Dinner by the lake, bourbon glazed donuts for breakfast, then hunt for soulful beauty.  The Locust trees are in bloom and the scent is otherworldly!

Happy Mother's Day!

“Blessed be the mind that dreamed the day
the blueprint of your life
would begin to glow on earth,
illuminating all the faces and voices
that would arrive to invite
your soul to growth.

Praised be your father and mother,
who loved you before you were,
and trusted to call you here
with no idea who you would be.

Blessed be those who have loved you
into becoming who you were meant to be,
blessed be those who have crossed your life
with dark gifts of hurt and loss
that have helped to school your mind
in the art of disappointment.

When desolation surrounded you,
blessed be those who looked for you
and found you, their kind hands
urgent to open a blue window
in the gray wall formed around you.

Blessed be the gifts you never notice,
your health, eyes to behold the world,
thoughts to countenance the unknown,
memory to harvest vanished days,
your heart to feel the world’s waves,
your breath to breathe the nourishment
of distance made intimate by earth.

On this echoing-day of your birth,
may you open the gift of solitude
in order to receive your soul;
enter the generosity of silence
to hear your hidden heart;
know the serenity of stillness
to be enfolded anew
by the miracle of your being.”

― John O'Donohue, To Bless the Space Between Us: A Book of Blessings

Time Flies: Mother's Day Giveaway 2015

I am both of the earth and I am of the inexplicable beauty of heaven
where I fly so easily, so welcome, yes,
and this is why I have been sent, to teach this to your heart.
 ~ Mary Oliver

Several years ago, whilst my son and his pals sat on the floor creating their own talisman necklaces with colorful beads, I decided to make an early Mother's Day gift for myself. I made myself a little bird's nest with one tiny turquoise egg to represent my son. I wear it on Mother's Day or whenever I need to remember my own divinity. 

Each year for a limited time in my etsy shop, I offer this Mother's Day talisman to you...to remind you of your own divine nature.  A portion of proceeds of this sale help support Mighty Girl Art empowerment camp.  The early birds get the worm and I will stop taking orders after May 2nd.

In honor of Mother's Day, I will be giving away a custom nest necklace to one lucky reader. Just leave a comment here, tell me about your favorite Mother's Day!
 
(Please share on fb, twitter etc. and post your shares in the comment section of this blog.  *Also provide a way to contact to you to get your  shipping info.)

Winner will be chosen by random generator and announced on Monday morning, May 4th.


Happy Mother's Day!

Made so and rooted by love,
Wendy

Time Flies: Mother's Day Giveaway 2014

I am both of the earth and I am of the inexplicable beauty of heaven
where I fly so easily, so welcome, yes,
and this is why I have been sent, to teach this to your heart.
 ~ Mary Oliver

Several years ago, whilst my son and his pals sat on the floor creating their own talisman necklaces with colorful beads, I decided to make an early Mother's Day gift for myself. I made myself a little bird's nest with one tiny turquoise egg to represent my son. I wear it on Mother's Day or whenever I need to remember my own divinity. 

Each year for a limited time in my etsy shop, I offer this Mother's Day talisman to you...to remind you of your own divine nature.  The proceeds of this sale help support Mighty Girl Art empowerment camp.  The early birds get the worm and I will stop taking orders after May 2nd.

In honor of Mother's Day, I will be giving away a custom nest necklace to one lucky reader. Just leave a comment here, tell me about your favorite Mother's Day!
 
(Please share on fb, twitter etc.)

Winner will be chosen by random generator and announced on Monday morning, May 5th.


Happy Mother's Day!

Made so and rooted by love,
Wendy 

 PS - It's no secret that Ram Dass is one of my favorite peeps on the planet.  Well I've got a story to share...

The other day I was taking a long walk to the lake, when I heard someone yell, "Hello Satchel's Mom!!!"  It was one his schoolmates.  I smiled at the little girl and bowed before continuing my walk.  If I ever meet Ram Dass I'm going to tell him that you don't have to take LCD and get kicked out of Harvard to experience loss of the ego, just become a mom.

Inspired by the cover of one of my all time favorite books "Be Here Now", I made myself this shirt and you can order one for yourself too...just click here!

Mother's Day: Peace of Wild Things

I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief.  I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light.  For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free. — Wendell Berry

For Mother's Day we took a trail ride in the mountains on horseback. I've missed the rush of it, the dust on my skin, the scent of horse breath - and most of all - the language that has no words but is every bit as real and true...and of course, the peace of wild things.

Time Flies: Mother's Day Giveaway 2013

I am both of the earth and I am of the inexplicable beauty of heaven
where I fly so easily, so welcome, yes,
and this is why I have been sent, to teach this to your heart.
 ~ Mary Oliver

A few years ago, while my son and his friends sat on the floor creating their own talisman necklaces with colorful beads, I decided to make an early Mother's Day gift for myself. I made myself a little bird's nest with one tiny turquoise egg to represent my son. I wear it on Mother's Day or whenever I need to remember my own divinity. 

Each year for a limited time in my etsy shop, I offer this Mother's Day talisman to you...to remind you of your own divine nature.  The proceeds of this sale help support Mighty Girl Art empowerment camp.  The early birds get the worm and I will stop taking orders after May 6th.

In honor of Mother's Day, I will be giving away a custom nest necklace to one lucky reader. Just leave a comment here, tell me something good!
 


Winner will be chosen by random generator and announced on Tuesday morning, May 7th.


Happy Mother's Day!

Made so and rooted by love,
Wendy

Mothers Day Love All Around

"May we be happy, may we be well
May we be safe and sound
May we be peaceful, may we be at ease
With love in our hearts and all around..." - Charity & the JAMband

He wrapped my gift in a drawing of Mother Earth...

Mother's Day

"That you live a goddess, but mortal..." - Marge Piercy

And there were gifts...Poetry and an EarthBox from my loves!

Lets scream for joy, altogether now!

Meaningful Mother's Day Gifts (& Giveaway)

I am both of the earth and I am of the inexplicable
beauty of heaven
where I fly so easily, so welcome, yes,
and this is why I have been sent, to teach this to your heart.

~ Mary Oliver


It's been a while since I've given my two cents about gift picks. Please indulge me for a moment, then indulge your mother, indulge yourself...

These two books, "Momma Zen" and "Hand Wash Cold" by Karen Maezen Miller have changed my life in that they didn't change my life, but rather taught me to live the life I already have which, after all, is the greatest gift I've been given.

Buy it, read it, teach it to your heart, then unwrap the gift of your life!

If adornment is what you are seeking, I offer a custom mother's nest necklace to honor your divine nature, mother. Mine has one turquoise egg to represent my son. Please visit my etsy shop for details or try your luck as I'm giving one away. Details at the end of this post.

In honor of Mother's Day, I will be giving away a custom nest necklace to one lucky reader. Just leave a comment here, tell me something good!

Winner will be chosen by random generator on Friday morning, May 6th.

Happy Mother's Day!

Most Alive Monday: The Days

Thank you for the days,
Those endless days,
those sacred days you gave me - The Kinks

S hopped in his red wagon and I pulled him to the Farmer's Market to buy some goodies for a picnic dinner at our beautiful Nature Center. I always say, in my next life I'm going to marry an Amish cheese maker...well I don't have to wait that long OR don a bonnet. We found one at the market who makes raw goat's milk cheddar! We also bought some homemade cacik and spooned it into pitas stuffed with roasted soy sausage. It's the vegetarian version of a gyro and the combination of flavors tastes quite similar.

After our meal we walked down to the stream and caught a few tadpoles to raise and release because Satch loved the experience last year. There were hundreds, perhaps even thousands of them. And considering the odds that maybe only 10% make it to toad-hood, it was like a heartfelt mission.

"They feel like slippery soap.", he said.

We brought them home and transferred them to our tank where they are quite happy, dining on fresh baby greens.

S received a new set of wheelz from his Noma for his upcoming birthday...a balance bike! He's been zipping around on that thing all day long, and after dinner. And when it's time to bring it in the house and get ready for bed, he sneaks in a little ride around the dining room table in his pajamas. It's amazing - HIGHLY recommend! Check out their demo video and you'll see what I mean.


I cried as I washed off his tricycle and put it down the basement. He's such a big boy now!

On Mother's Day, the Great Robinsky made me breakfast and S presented me with a gift certificate for a much needed massage. Sigh. 'Nough said.

Lastly, and this may not be a big deal to most people, but it is to me. I finally made yogurt and we've been slurping it up like it's going out of style. I hope we remember to save a cup to start a new batch. It's that good and that easy. We love it with berry preserves and a drizzle of blackstrap molasses. We love it with raw honey and a slice of toasted homemade boule...now I want to try making homemade cheese...of course, S wants me to try making stick candy, but that's way out of my league.

*About Most Alive Monday: I've decided to make at least one "most alive choice" each day and post my favorite each Monday. This, of course, is to motivate me to consciously "live juicy"! I hope you'll join me and share your "most alive moment" in the comments section so we may inspire each other.