Celebrating Michaelmas

"As the dark of winter gathers, and as affairs of the world seem grave, 

we are reminded of the power of courage, of hope, and of gratitude for the gift of life."

Responding to the Call of Michael

Over the last few years we have slowly been adding some festivals to our year; this year we decided to add Michaelmas. We invited another family over to celebrate with us and had the most wonderful afternoon. We decided to keep the festival on the light side with more of a harvest celebration and some outdoor fun.

Sitting around the fire roasting apples, eating popcorn, making corn husks dolls and playing find the hidden corn on the cobs around the yard was how we began the afternoon. I then shared a little story about a dragon who had been setting fires in the forest and how he was convinced to stop and instead use his fire to help the forest gnomes make bread for Michaelmas and then we all shared a little gratitude before enjoying a meal of homemade soup and bread.

It was a simple celebration, one that will grow and deepen in meaning as the years go by.

{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.

Gratitude

~ for cool crisp mornings that turn into the most beautiful autumn days

~ for our little family and the life we have carved out on our little piece of the earth

~ for community...those that inspire me, hold my hand, share their lives with me, listen with an open heart and make me laugh

~ for the fall beauty that is slowly beginning to make its grand entrance

~ for little ones who remind me to slow down, laugh and just roll with it

~ for moments of stillness in busy days

~ for time to sit in nature and take it all in

~ for lessons that guide me and challenge me to grow

What are you grateful for today?

King for a Day

During our story time over the last few weeks there has been a dragon starting little fires in the forest, and this week the King of the Forest, wearing a crown of autumn leaves, introduced a prince to help the forest gnomes convince the dragon to stop lighting fires in the forest.

As we ventured into the woods this morning for a little hike I began to collect leaves, and of course Reece jumped right in to help. He asked a few times what the leaves were for and I just said that I liked them and wanted to bring them home. His mind must have been working over time because not a few minutes later he suggested we make a leaf crown like the king from the story. I smiled and said of course, that is a great idea!

So home we went to make a leaf crown. He loved it and spent the afternoon wearing it around the yard before adding it to our nature table.

Over the Open Flame

I stood in the kitchen, the autumn light streaking across the counter. The smell of smoke soon wafted in through the open window. He had started a fire. It seemed so perfect as I peeled apples in preparation for lunch. I called him in, and as my little man played busily in the other room, quietly asked if he could carve up a couple of sticks. Of course, he said. I got busy peeling a few more apples, added a sprinkle or two of cinnamon and asked my little man to join us outside.

Around the fire we stood, sticks in hand, apples over the fire. A little fall treat on a beautiful fall afternoon.

Welcome fall, we are so happy you are here.

Our Weekend

This was one of those weekends where we need a few days to recover. It was full, but in such a good way. We started on Friday by having some friends over for dinner. It was so lovely. The kiddos played well, the food was delicious and the time with our friends was just amazing.

Saturday morning was spent getting wet at the farmer's market. Reece rather enjoys our trips to the market in the rain, me, not so much, but you gotta do what you gotta do. After coming home and drying off, we enjoyed a hot bowl of soup for lunch with some fresh bread, just perfect on a rainy day. We spent the afternoon in the woods walking, talking and learning about the wild foods in our area at a lovely little spot not far from our home. The rain kept many people away, but not us and the handful of others who were game for a fun, wet afternoon. We identified quite a few wild foods, collecting some as we walked to take back and prepare for a little tasting session. Our host welcomed us into her home and our wild foods expert began creating some pretty amazing things. There was creeping charlie tea, baked golden rod leaves, an amazing flat bread with wood sorrel and chives and the most amazing wild grape cake. We also enjoyed a vegetable lasagna and some couscous blended with a variety of wild foods. It was all so delicious and sharing it with this wonderful group of people was the perfect way to finish the day.

On Sunday we welcomed friends into our home to celebrate the fall equinox. There was a hike at our local conservation area, great conversations, kids playing inside and out and delicious food. One of those days you just want to wrap up safely in your memory so you never forget it.

It was a very full weekend indeed, and one that has left me filled with gratitude and feeling so very blessed.

How was your weekend?

Joining Amanda

{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.

***Join me at Anchor and Plume Press today for a little guest post.

Make and Listen

Making:

~ my first little gnome door for our fall nature table

~ a fall banner for our fall nature table

~ a pair of fingerless mitts...another Christmas present done

~ some plant hammering by my little man

~ little hands creating a fall bunting for the front porch

Listening:

~ a little Colbie Caillat, a little Chantal Kreviazuk and a little Sarah McLachlan...love these ladies

What are you making and listening to this week?

Joining Dawn

Rocks!

They are everywhere, and I mean everywhere...rocks! They have been picked up, washed, polished and sorted. They line the windowsills, they fill baskets around the house and they are separated into a container by differing colours, sizes and shapes.

He is in his element right now, enjoying the adventure of finding the next perfect rock for his collection, and I am loving every minute of it. Watching him, seeing his face light up with each special find, witnessing the care he takes as he washes and polishes each rock and then how he finds the perfect spot for it to sit and be admired. It is all pretty amazing.

I can't walk through any part of our home without bearing witness to his latest project, and it brings a huge smile to my face. I am not sure where he is headed with this growing collection, but for now I am happy to sit back, and just enjoy the excitement it brings to his days.

Little Hands at Work

:: a little drilling

:: a little sanding

:: a few fall flowers and leaves picked

:: taking time to place them gently in the flower press

:: tightening the wing nuts

:: and now he waits, a few days, then it will be time to take a peek

Choosing Motherhood

I have called myself by many names in the past...dance teacher, triathlon coach, conditioning coach, personal trainer, sports nutritionist, holistic nutritionist, writer, doula and finally mother. When Reece was first born people would ask what I did, I would answer that I was a nutritionist. After a few years the answer was nutritionist, writer and doula. But lately the answer is simply mother.

The last few years have seen a shift in my work schedule. Some of that shift has been by choice, some of it circumstance, but whatever the reason it has been a shift I have welcomed.

You see being a mother is all I want. Being with my little man, enjoying him and his journey, seeing life through his eyes and experiencing motherhood to its fullest extent is where my heart is. It is only recently I have come to this full realization. As things have shifted over the last few years, as work slowed down, life took me on a different course. A course of learning to live with less, of being very careful with our budget, of living life with what we have and reassessing whether we need or want the things we are buying. It is different to live life this way, it is sometimes a struggle, and it creates a strength in us I could never have imagined. It is powerful and constantly has us looking at our life and assessing what is working and what is not.

As I have stepped fully into motherhood with my entire being, I am at peace. I am happy to answer the question what do you do with a response of  "I am a mother". It if fulfilling to me on so many levels and brings much light and love to my days.

Yes, some of those days are not easy. Living on one income, struggling with bills, but at the end of each day there is a long list of gratitude. I sit with that gratitude and I smile. Yes, life could be completely different if I stepped out of our home and worked, but it is not a life we, as a family, want. This is our life, we are living it, full on and even though there are days we might question our sanity in regards to this decision, at the end of the day we are happy, we have all the things we need and we are surrounded by wonderful people, both family and friends. What more could we ask for?

So I am choosing motherhood as I move forward on my journey. It may be something you already knew, but it has taken me awhile to come to the full realization that this is what I have been choosing over the last few years. And maybe, it has taken me this long to be okay with that.

Joining Lydia

{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.

Gratitude

~ for beautiful late summer days

~ for the beauty found when I slow down and notice

~ for connecting with friends in a place I feel so at home...the woods

~ for conversations that make my heart sing

~ for slow meals with friends and family

~ for food from the backyard

~ for trusting my little man enough to let his journey unfold as he wants it to

~ for new adventures that will undoubtedly stretch me both as a mom and a person

~ for the inspiring people in my life

~ for moments of stillness when I can breathe deep and take it all in

What are you grateful for today?

A Visit to the Apple Orchard

The slow shift into our fall rhythm has happened, it was seamless and for the most part enjoyable. After struggling with the end of summer, we have now fully embraced fall. This beautiful season has so much goodness to offer we have jumped in with both feet to immerse ourselves in it.

Last month, as summer was coming to a close, I spent some time doing a little planning for our days at home this fall. Things to keep us busy, having fun, learning and growing together. We began this week with a little focus on fall and harvest time, with apples being a main focus. I worked on creating a little story to share with Reece about a happy, kind gnome and the adventures he has. Of course this week this little gnome is having some fun adventures in an apple orchard, and making lots of wonderful things with the apples he picks. And so with the story weaved, we too headed to the apple orchard to enjoy the same adventures as the little gnome.

We had a great time at the orchard, and some friends joined us, making it extra special. We did a little picking, enjoyed a picnic and played a little before heading back home with 40lbs of apples. In the story the little gnome arrives home and jumps right into making his all time favourite apple dish...apple crisp. And so did we! And yes, it is delicious.

In the days to come, just like the little gnome, we will bake an apple cake, make some applesauce, and whip up some apple strawberry fruit leathers. I will share the story of how the apple got its star and then we will cut one open to take a peek and make some apple prints. And I can pretty much guarantee we will be reading and rereading Christopher's Harvest Time, a current favourite in our home right now.

It has been great settling back into our rhythm and the storytelling, something I am focusing on to improve in myself, is going to be a really fun, new addition to our days.

Joining Country Kids over at Coombe Mill