and we are off to do more of our favorite things...till the new year, we will have our toes in the sand, wind in our hair, surf under our feet and good friends surrounding us...may your days be filled with love and wonder and hoping your new year brings you more of your favorite things...
today in the sludge and rain i ran out to the end of my driveway, in rubber boots and hooded coat, opened my wee mailbox and lo and behold there was an envelope, a precious gift, completely sent by surprise, and with heartfelt intentions to my doorstep...i ran inside and out of the storm, opened it slowly...because that is the fun in receiving a gift unexpected in the mail...and there in front of me, was a gift of the most wonderous kind. For it was from a long time friend, who's talents amaze me, and she remembered this was so special to me...and will now be for many years to come...i love these women in my life, who bring me back to what matters and remind me of what is true.
marching out the door...lovelies destined to arrive as gifts just in time for st. nick... tis the season.
it is a proven fact that when sitting still, i cannot let my hands be idle.
they say 'tis the season' well, today i was out there in the hussle and bussle and let me tell you that folks are hardly as kind as they could be...lesson to self: it makes one quite simply happy when you let them in on a traffic line (which, i must note, i always do), and to not be so pushy and in a hurry makes folks a wee bit more gentle and kind...let us practice this season...the work of kindness and consideration, of being patient and seeing what is in front of us, instead of forging ahead of it all...may our hearts know that love and family, friendship and peace is what it is all about, not just for this 'season' but for always...
ta ta for now, you fine, delightful and kind folk.
this is a holiday week for us, all week, and sometimes at times such as these it is nice to have the quiet of home life, little mumbles of conversations in the corner from dolls and lego men, building grand ships and exploring new galaxies, baking cookies and eating them out of the oven, playing games at the table, spreading out on the floor to play together, reading on the couch, starting the making of christmas gifts...
The Girl Effect is defined as the powerful social and economic change brought about when girls have the opportunity to participate in their society.
When I was 7 my family moved to Africa...the middle of Africa, that is, to Bangui, the capital of Central African Republic...for a young, blond, California girl this was, to put it mildly, a HUGE shift in culture, language, lifestyle, family life, friends, all around LIFE changes beyond description...I saw things and experienced the raw reality of life, for which I had not been prepared for, no one could prepare me for that type of change.
The open market, unusal foods, shifts in security, I remember being viewed as a very different kind of person, my hair and fair skin was something of an awe-like nature to this culture, it made me feel separated and uncomfortable in a way I could not define at 7....this was to be my life for a few years.
Private French school, arts, education, music, so different from life in So. Cal....and I fit in, but always felt different. All the while, I would see the young African girls, close to my age, walking by and working everyday on the busy road near where we lived, carrying large bundles on their backs and heads, carrying babies, which I thought were brothers and sisters, but now do not know...I had no idea what was happening there at this time and now realize that life in these cultures, does not change or shift too much over time, and so The Girl Effect speaks to me on so many levels and I see this and it touches my soul...I know this to be true, I know it is real...let's make a difference...today.
Here is how you can do something right now: 1. Learn more here.
2. Donate to the cause right now.
Get in the know here.
on a recent sunny day, this wee family drove down a country road, out of the blue we passed an opening in the brush...
crumbling paths from a time long ago... 
men connected with the earth.
paths paved by broken down trees,
traveling on still...
up, up further into the hills... 
we danced...like no one was watching...
go gently and love the moment.
in the midst of chaos...i stop and remember the bliss of work, the love of my hands in the soil, the creating of things small and wide, the feel of grapewood in my hands and the connection i have with my work...
so, i breathe deeply and stretch my bones, feel the earth under my feet and move onward.
be kind and gentle lovelies.
portion of yard work before....
and ahhhfter...
reminder to self: stuff does roll downhill...afterall.
Carly Simon sure had it right when she sang, so many years ago, that she could see clearly now the rain has gone...here in Southern California we have experienced some unusual October weather in the way of lightning storms, thunder and rain...and it is really rather magnificent, to say the least. Everything is green, clean, fresh and feeling fall-like. Our weather changes here are subtle compared to other parts of this country, however, they are all I have known, and it is always refreshing to experience the change in seasons and the shifts into new pockets of the year.
I am seeing more clearly these days, as life takes busy turns with wee ones and their needs and priorities become so clear, and the time spent with them is so important, letting some other things fall to the side is just a natural occurence, of which I accept. I still struggle with the balance of it all, but embrace the resolution of completely being present for them and the attention they require. Around these parts we are shifting and making changes to our living environment and I realize that once you make some choices to move forward, you don't realize how stuck you might have been...now I do. The unstuck feels wonderful, the plans and decisions for our home/yard which FZ and I make together have been overdue and seeing our plans come to life lifts my heart and makes me smile.
On another note, some designs have made their way back from space and have landed on my wee doorstep in the country not far from the sea....soon, to land on a shelf here.
5 years ago in the early morning of October 23, i looked over at FZ and told him it was time to go to the hospital. i had had a great pregnancy, did yoga avidly up until the day before labor, had a fairly quick and smooth delivery and knew that i was having a boy, but when the nurse handed him to me in the delivery room and i looked down at his sweet face, my life was altered and my heart opened and warmed in the most amazing of ways. of course, i knew this feeling from delivering our daughter a few years before, but it is just a little different with each, i suppose. although, what was to happen over the next few days, was something i was in no way, prepared for, nor equipped to deal with...
i have vivid memories of our quiet, calm and peaceful bubble of a room. i remember just him and i sleeping surrounded by the sweet smell of new baby, wrapped like a burrito in that soft stripped blue/pinkish hospital blanket...then him in the bassinet/sleeper next to me, listening to his breath, crying softly out of joy and feeling so connected in every way to my new boy. on the second day in the hospital we were informed that there was an issue with his heart, unsure of the origin of the problem, tests were performed and large machinery wheeled into our previously peaceful room. visits from doctors i had never met, nurses checking in at all hours listening to his heart. i was flown headlong into a place of fear, desperation, disbelief and stress.
we went home, but with no real answers and much uncertainty about the upcoming days/months...he returned at 2 weeks to have his heart procedure performed, and it was a success (for now), no medications required in his life, just follow ups, no real restrictions per say. he is an amazing, beautiful boy, full of all the curiosities and wild indian ways of a wee man...he is constantly amazing us all with his quirky, fun and creative ways. he is a lover of kisses, cuddles and hugs, never holds back on sharing his affections. he looks up to and cherishes his sister (even while chasing her with a sword). he has changed my life, altered my views, caused me some stress and countless sleepless nights, i have experienced emotions and feelings of which i never knew existed. i have come out stronger, more grounded, more aware of the fragility of life, the simple fact that one little moment can truly change your world forever. he has taught me lessons of life that will dwell inside me forever, his being is so amazing, his presence always was meant to be.
happy birthday to you, our wonderful boy.
they swim till dark...
emerging in giggles
pockets of broken shells and rocks mix with wet sand 
sharing whispers about the fun and adventure of such a day....
some space inspired designs are heading into the shop next week and here are just a few glimpses...
have a lovely weekend...
taking part in a protest this week (to be carried on indefinetly) called The Perfect Protest, I just love love this whole concept, and Brene Brown for putting this out into the world to join in. I am embracing my imperfections in all their glory. With everything I have on my plate these days between kids, business, home, life, I find myself thinking that I have to do them all perfectly and appear to have everything all together...when in fact, I don't and that is just fine. I am letting go of so many ties that bind which are bred from the idea of having to be perfect. I am fogiving myself and loving all the imperfections, which in all reality, are me. So I am throwing perfection out the window and bidding it farewell, it was not a welcomed guest and has done no good. No more Mrs. Perfection here! 
may your day be peaceful and calm, even if it is not at the shore casting your line.
