{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 Soulemama.

Our Days

I often get asked what a day in the life of our family looks like and so today I thought I would share our day yesterday. Although each and every day is different, there are some things that remain the same as we move through our week regardless of the day.

The alarm goes off at 5:30am, I usually hit snooze and get out of bed around 6am. And by get out of bed, I mean sneak, ever so quietly out of bed so I don't wake Reece. This is my morning time. I boil up some water for a cup of hot water and lemon and then settle in to check email, link up blog posts and maybe check out a few blogs. Then I am off to get myself dressed before Reece wakes up.

Once Reece is up we work together to make juice or smoothies, and then get started on breakfast. At some point Justin wakes up, gets dressed and heads out to check on the chickens and do whatever needs to be done out there. The three of us then sit down to breakfast, usually around 8am.

After breakfast we tidy up the kitchen, Reece gets dressed, we make beds and tidy up anything else that needs to be tidied up. Reece and I then get started on our morning circle time and Justin heads out to his workshop to start work.

Reece and I went on a little nature adventure at Lynde Shore Conservation Area after our morning circle yesterday. We fed the birds, tried to identify as many birds as we could, tracked bunnies and searched for other signs of our forest friends.

We headed home happy and ready for lunch. While I prepared lunch Reece played and shared our morning with Justin. We sat down together to eat and then tidied up the kitchen. Justin went back out to his workshop while Reece and I got to work dying some eggs for Easter. While the eggs were boiling and then sitting to cool we read some stories, played with cars, did a puzzle and had a little snuggle.

Justin comes in everyday from his workshop at 3pm and spends some time with Reece while I do a little bit of work. This might include answering client emails, working on protocols, maybe a little marketing and if there is time, some blog reading. And some days I forget the work and hit the trails for an afternoon run.

This usually takes me up to dinner preparation time. I hit the kitchen and get dinner ready. We usually sit down around 5:30pm for dinner. After dinner we tidy up the kitchen and with the extended daylight we have started our after dinner walks again. Once home, Justin gets the bath ready for Reece and the two of them head in for some water play and fun. I get a bedtime snack ready, make a cup of tea, get the beds turned down and might get a few rows of knitting in.

Reece enjoys his snack and then we are off to bed for a bedtime story or two and then off to dreamland, which might take 5 to 45 minutes.

By the time Reece is asleep Justin has settled in to watch something on TV. I hit the shower and then sit down to write my post for the next day and catch up on some blogs. Then a little knitting or reading before heading to bed myself around 11pm.

Our days are pretty simple. Mornings are often activities which might include a nature adventure, skating, a play date or swimming. Afternoons might include a combination of baking, crafting, playing, inside and out, walking the dog and reading. Morning and evening rhythms book end our days and our meal time rhythms bring us together as a family throughout the day to check in with each other.

We do have a regular day for grocery shopping and usually take some time on Friday afternoon for a full clean up around the house. I sometimes have to book in appointments with clients during the week and will do this in the morning and Reece will hang with Justin.

Soon our days will include much more time in the garden as we build some new raised beds, do some garden clean up, get planting, get ready for the arrival of our bees and just enjoy the sunshine we have missed so much over the winter.

Simple days filled with the things we like to do, things that fill our hearts and souls and things that make us happy. What more could we ask for?

What do your days look like?

Yarn Along

Well, the knitting came with me on the trip, and I made a little bit of progress. I love how my shalom is knitting up and hope with the long weekend coming up I might get it finished for next week. Fingers crossed.

I have just ordered some more of Linda's lovely patterns, a few requested by my little man. It looks like I will be knitting up a wolf, fox and dog in the very near future.

Doula reading is going well and I am trying to finish up When Children Love to Learn before I get started on another book. This magazine has been taking up a little of my reading time too.

What have you been knitting and reading this week?

Joining in with Ginny and Nicole

Seven Things

Joining Lisa today for Seven Things - expressing gratitude for the simple little things, and appreciating the sweet spots of life.

:: Signs of spring

:: The garlic bed peeking out from the snow

:: So many tracks, where do we start?

:: Him enjoying the last of the snow

:: His curiosity

:: Spring walks

:: Spending my days with him

What simple things are you grateful for today?

I See You

The sun is shining.

Our dog joins me for a walk.

Robins and chickadees are singing their songs of spring.

I leave the road and head into the woods.

Rabbit, fox and squirrel have all left their mark in the snow.

I follow their tracks.

A crow caws.

I look up.

It flies overhead.

I notice the buds.

I take a deep breath.

I smell her,

Spring.

She is ever so slowly awakening from her deep slumber,

leaving her mark.

I am in the moment.

I force the week ahead out of my mind.

I stay aware,

with the intention to enjoy 

where I am right now.

I feel

the awakening of the earth.

I hear 

the happy sounds of the season.

I smell

the freshness that comes with Spring.

I see

the renewal of her beauty.

Then,

I close my eyes.

I breathe deep,

I let the freshness of the air fill me.

You are here, Spring,

slowly peeking out.

I see you.

Thanks Little Man

This little man, my little man, well he is pretty darn amazing. To say we have had the most amazing two and half weeks together would be an understatement. The drive down was tough, the storm was brutal and driving on unfamiliar roads was even tougher. Reece sat calmly in the back, quietly playing with his stickers before dozing off for two hours...the only two hours he slept the entire trip there and back. While he slept I gripped the steering wheel and hoped for the best.

We made it and what followed was an amazing two weeks. We both enjoyed lazy mornings, little day trips, walks on the beach collecting treasures to bring home, afternoons in the pool and after dinner walks to Starbucks.

Reece not only enjoyed plenty of time with me, but lots of time with his nana and papa. Nana and papa made Reece laugh, they swam with him in the pool while I sneaked off to the hot tub, they joined us for after dinner walks, they had Reece up way to late most nights and made our stay so very enjoyable that we are already planning our trip for next year (just kidding mom and dad). 

I had not expectations for this trip at all. It was a go with the flow kinda trip with Reece in the lead and it was totally amazing!

Thank you, my little man, for some amazing memories.

{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 Soulemama.

On The Road Again

Reece and I packed up and left the sunny south yesterday morning. We had a wonderful time visiting with my parents (thanks mom and dad for everything) and taking in the sights in and around Myrtle Beach.

The drive yesterday was great, sunshine and clear roads all the way. Much different than our drive down two weeks ago in a storm. Still, though, the drive home always. feels. longer.

I am looking forward to getting back home. As much as I have enjoyed being away, it is always good to go back home. Justin has been busy while we were away. Floors have been refinished, the bathroom has been painted, glow in the dark stars, comets and a moon have been added to a certain little man's room and sap has been collected and boiled down.

So much to look forward to when I get home. Can't wait!

Hello Spring!

I have been lucky enough to be enjoying the beauty of flowers while visiting the south. Everywhere I turn a flower is blooming, bringing a little smile to my face. It has been truly wonderful. At home, there is snow, and from what I hear lots of it. I was hoping to have a little green peeking through the snow when I got home, but I think that is a wish that won't come true. The arrival of spring though means it won't be long before the snow leaves and the bright colours of spring start popping up at home too.

Many people have a favourite season, but I don't. I love each season for different reasons, but what I love most is the shift, as we move from one season to another. It is an exciting and magical time to see nature change and shift, and something I am grateful to be able to witness.

Over the last few weeks Reece and I have been reading our spring books. His favourites are The Story of The Root Children, The Children of the Forest and How the Robin Saved Spring. Before we left we had been hearing the call of the robin every few days, and while we have been gone the maple trees have been sharing their sap with us. Usually there is a lot of spring crafting but being away from home for the month has meant very little of that. We have chatted a little bit about the difference between spring in the south and spring at home, which has totally fascinated him.

Today the Root Children will pay Reece a little visit, leaving behind a little gift to celebrate this first day of spring. He remembers the visit from last year and is pretty excited about this years visit.

Hello Spring, we are so ready for you. Bring it on!

41

 
Ups 

Downs

Love

Hurt

Family 

Laughter
Discovery

Living life

Community

New friendships

Deeper connections

Seeing the light through the dark

This last year has been full, and there is not one part of it I would take back. Each and every moment has had a lesson for me. Lessons that have forced me to look deep inside to determine what is important to both me and my family. Lessons that have helped me grow. Lessons I don't regret.

It has been a good year.

But 41, oh I see really great things for 41. I feel like the last year was a little bit of discovery for me. Discovering who I really am and prioritizing what is really important to me and to us, as a family. I have shed a layer and underneath that layer is someone who is happy in her own skin and excited about what the path ahead holds. I feel more like me than I ever have before. I am being honest with myself about where I (and we) want to go, and I (and we) am working hard to make the path a fun filled adventure of the best kind.

There are no goals for 41, only an intention to live life to the fullest. To laugh, to love, to offer gratitude and to enjoy the world and all of its beauty. To continue growing, to deepen my connection to nature and to be true to me. To live more in the moment and to be mindful that each day is a gift.

Hello 41!

Brookgreen Gardens

"In 1931, Archer and Anna Hyatt Huntington, founded Brookgreen Gardens, a non-profit garden museum, to preserve the native flora and fauna and to display objects of art within that natural setting. Today, Brookgreen Gardens is a National Historic Landmark with the most significant collection of figurative sculpture in an outdoor setting by American artists in the world and has the only accredited zoo on the coast of the Carolinas."

On Friday, Reece and I had the privilege and honour of visiting this incredible place. From the moment I turned into the driveway of this estate I was in awe. Majestic oak trees, world renowned sculpture, beautiful gardens and a zoo of both native and domestic animals.

We decided to wonder the zoo first and we were not disappointed. The Cypress Aviary, which is the only known aviary built over an existing cypress swamp, is a lovely stroll on an elevated boardwalk. We saw black-crowned night herons, egrets, great blue herons, hooded merganser and ibises feeding and flying in their natural setting. No words can describe how I felt standing in this aviary, it was pretty amazing. We traveled along the path to see the otters, the foxes, bald eagles, owls, red tailed hawks, deer, cows, horses, sheep and goats. And on our second trip around the zoo we saw the alligator.

Lunch was enjoyed at a lovely cafe and then we were off to explore the sculptures in the gardens. It is really hard to describe how beautiful the gardens and the sculptures are. There were many "take my breath away" moments as we walked.

We visited the lovely children's garden filled with sculptures for the kid in all of us. Reece wondered the woodland setting, following the paths, walking under archways, admiring the sculptures and taking it all in. He didn't want to leave.

The highlight of my day was Live Oak Allée. Standing here are oak trees planted in the early 1700s when Brookgreen Gardens was a thriving rice plantation. These trees are over 300 years old. It was magical to be standing among them. Their strength, their beauty and their power was overwhelming. I felt insignificant in their presence. I felt so much gratitude for them, for Mother Nature, for this earth and for the people who donated the wonderful land in which these trees grow so that I could experience this breathtaking moment.

Hand in hand, Reece and I finished our journey at the gift store before heading back to the hotel. I was in a special place driving home, filled with such gratitude, happiness and love for our experience at Brookgreen Gardens.

The brochure for Brookgreen Gardens says "it is a place to restore your soul and renew your spirit." I couldn't agree more.

A Little Visitor

Reece and I had the most wonderful day at Brookgreen Gardens on Friday. I was not prepared for the awesomeness of this wonderful place and will share more with you tomorrow.

Our first stop when we arrived was the zoo. We walked the entire zoo and saw every animal except the alligator. As we headed back to the car Reece asked if we could go and see the foxes just "one more" time. I obliged and away we went. We had to pass the alligators on the way to the fox den and this old guy decided to come out and say hello.

It was amazing to find him hiding in the tall grasses. We stood and watched him for a while. Then we noticed a little movement and he started to make his way, ever so slowly, out of the grass. He ended up on the grass, where he relaxed, closed his eyes and enjoyed the glorious sun shining down from above.