{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.

Busy Little Hands

On Tuesday morning Reece and I sat on the couch with some sticks and yarn. Curiosity got the best of him, and he was just a tad bit excited about what we were going to do with sticks and yarn...according to him the two together was just "weird". I set up the first God's Eye, showed him what to do and off he went. Never has he taken to a craft the way he took to this one. He absolutely loved it. He was singing away as he wrapped the yarn, and then he started listing off the people he wanted to make one for. I just sat there, smiling at the great pleasure he was receiving from this simple craft.

He has quite the collection now, adding a few more yesterday. Some of them have been set aside for gift giving and others have been placed around our home. Last night he asked to have a stash of sticks and yarn in the car for our drive south in the next few weeks....can I say how happy I will be to have this lovely activity keeping him busy as I drive.

The simplicity of this craft, the pure joy he received from creating, and the time we got to spend side by side making them filled me with such warmth and made me so very happy.

Morning, Noon and Night

Morning, noon and night...three little peeks into my day yesterday.

Morning, 10am

Noon, 12:15pm

Night, 9:30pm

Dreaming

As we move into another deep freeze this week, I am dreaming of summer...the gardens, mornings on the front porch, meals on the back deck, evenings by the fire, laundry blowing in the breeze and the sun, the beautiful sun shining down on me sprinkling her golden rays upon my shoulders. Oh summer, I am so looking forward to seeing you again.

Our Weekend

With both Justin and I recovering from head colds this weekend, we kept things pretty simple around these parts. Reece and I attended Waldorf playgroup on Saturday morning and then we had a little lunch date before heading home. I love our little lunch dates. We hit local spots that serve healthy foods, we talk, we laugh, we play I Spy and we eat. Once home we just hung out, played, did a little reading and I managed to get a little knitting in. It was lights out early in the evening, we all needed the rest.

Sunday morning we did what every other Canadian was doing, we watched the Olympic hockey game. And it was a good one, so worth getting up for. After that there was a round or two of memory with the little man, some more reading and a little play while Justin went back to bed to get a little more rest. After lunch I headed out to meet a few mama friends for tea. So nice to get out without the kiddos, enjoy a cup of tea and chat. I always find these afternoon tea chats so fulfilling and inspiring.

Sunday evening was a little planning for the week ahead and some reading and knitting, all with a cup of tea close by.

How was your weekend?

Joining Amanda

8/52

"A photo of my little man, once a week, every week, in 2014"

The weather warmed up this week Reece, and it was wonderful. We meet some friends for a nature adventure one day and we both had so much fun. You enjoyed eating snowballs on sticks and running through the woods with your friends and I enjoyed watching you and spending time with like minded mamas. This little taste of spring was just what we needed to get us through the last little bit of winter. Spring we are ready for you...come out, come out wherever you are.

Joining Jodi for the 52 Project

{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 slow simple days

~ for winter sunshine and warmer temperatures

~ for time in nature...exploring, wandering, enjoying

~ for friends and their kiddos who love spending time in nature with us

~ for making time to do the things that make my heart sing

~ for the sun which is rising earlier and setting later...hello light!

~ for people who inspire me to be a better person

~ for challenges that lead to growth

What are you grateful for today?

Blog Swapping Fun

Blog swaps, I have read about them, but never taken part...until now. I couldn't pass up the chance this time, it seemed like the perfect way to add a little bit of simple joy to February. So with my name in the hat I got busy making some goodies, which are now all packaged up, addressed and ready to be sent off.

In the package a few self care goodies...homemade body butter, a healing hand salve and some peppermint lip balm, and a pair of fingerless mitts. I do hope she likes them.

A big thanks to Amanda for working so hard to organize over 70 bloggers in this swap, 70! How exciting is that.

Now I wait patiently for my package to arrive.

Reece got in on the swapping action this month too with a little bird flock migration mobile exchange over at Mud Puddles to Meteors. I created the birds for the mobile and Reece did a little hand stitching making a little bird puppet and a bird card for his little exchange buddy.

All the birds have been carefully packaged (I was given specific instructions on how to package them) and they too are ready to be sent off to his little exchange partner.

A Nature Walk With A Surprise

Family Day was yesterday. Yes, a day dedicated to spending time with your family, how cool is that? It is a fairly new holiday here in Ontario, about five years old to be exact. And although I don't think we really need a reminder to enjoy time together, I will admit it is a nice little long weekend in mid February that feels really special and kinda gives you that last little burst of energy you need to get through these last few weeks of winter.

We chose to spend it together and hit the trails for a hike. Not really much different from most of our days, it is just how we roll around here. This trail, the Samual Wilmont Nature Area, is a place we visit often, but had not been to since the big ice storms in December. There is a lot of damage, but still so much beauty. We started our hike away from the lake and didn't have plans to venture to the lake until we stood on one of the look out decks and could see huge mounds of snow and ice at the lake. We knew we had to go check them out.

What we found amazed us...ice volcanoes. We had seen them on the news a few weeks ago, but had no idea we would find them here. The ice volcanoes are built up by waves crashing at the edge of the ice, or sometimes driving under the ice and then breaking through a crack to the air above. They need the right combination of temperature, wind and wave direction to form. I guess this year has been perfect conditions because they were phenomenal.

Mother Nature never ceases to amaze me.

Our Weekend

A slow, quiet weekend spent at home, all plans cancelled so little man could fully recover from the little bug that invaded his body. We made an exception for a nature walk each day, a little fresh air is always good.

Little hands were busy with colouring, stickers and puzzles; big hands were busy with knitting, crafting, reading and writing. Together we snuggled under quilts with hot tea and watched a little bit of the Olympics.

Not the weekend we had planned, but in the end a really good one. And today, although Monday greets us, it is a long weekend. There are plans for our normal "school" morning and then a family hike before we return home to homemade bread and soup.

Have a wonderful start to your week.

How was your weekend?

Joining Amanda

7/52

"A photo of my little man, once a week, every week, in 2014"

Reece you were sick this week, your first real illness. You were a trooper through it all and slowly you are returning to your normal self. We spent lots of time snuggling on the couch, and on a few occasions you let yourself sleep, not something you like to do during the day. I sat during those little naps watching you, taking you in and at one point I grabbed my camera to capture the beautiful sleeping little man in front of me.

Joining Jodi for the 52 Project

{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.

Quiet

A sick little man, really his first illness other than the odd fever or runny nose. His little eyes looking up at me questioning just what was happening to his body. His little arms reaching up to be held. His little body sinking into mine as we snuggled on the couch.

Is it wrong that I enjoyed this time? I mean, I was not happy that he was sick, not at all, but I was happy and quite enjoyed the quiet time it allowed us. Time to do nothing, to just sit and be, with each other.

The two of us snuggled together on the couch all day long reading books, talking and sleeping. Well him sleeping, me reading and knitting. I enjoyed this time. I enjoyed him sitting, tucked up under my arm sleeping soundly. I listened, in the quiet of our home, to his breathing, feeling the rise and fall of his body with each breath. I checked his hands often, his hands are always super hot when he has a fever, running my fingers over the top of his hand and then holding his little hand gently in mine. I ran my fingers through his hair, stared at his long, beautiful eyelashes, and kissed his cheeks.

There was nothing else in my day, just him. Wishing him well, giving his body the time it needed to heal and soaking up every little bit of our time on the couch.

He is feeling a little better now, he was down and out for just the day, although he is still not eating much, but that will come, and if I look deep into his eyes, there is still a little shadow, not quite the light I am use to. Another day or two and I am sure he will be running around like the crazy little man he keeps telling me he is.

I See You

I see you
summer Sun,
peeking out from behind
the winter clouds.

You rise in the dark sky
a little earlier each day,
and set behind the trees
a bit later each evening.

You are joining us 
more often on
our morning walks,
warming the day
ever so slightly.
I often stop, eyes closed,
and turn my face towards you,
taking a deep breath 
as you sprinkle my cheeks
with your light and warmth.

We eagerly await your full
arrival.
When we can toss our woolens
aside, 
run outside,
bare feet on the earth.

We are dreaming of
gardens in bloom,
meals on the back deck,
late nights outside,
around the fire,
watching the fireflies
flicker in the dark.

Long summer hikes,
picnics by the lake,
days spent just soaking
you up.

Afternoons swimming 
in the pond,
or sitting under the shade
of a tree,
reading,
trying to stay cool
as you shine your glorious rays
down on us.

I see you,
peeking out.
I am waiting,
with great anticipation
summer Sun,
to welcome you back.

Morning, Noon and Night

Morning, noon and night...three little peeks into my day yesterday.

Morning, 9:45am

 Noon, 12pm

 Night, 8pm

Our Weekend

The usual Friday start to our weekend, little man off in the woods with his Forest Friday program and me enjoying a hike and thoughtful conversation with a very good friend. An evening at home reading and knitting, but not at the same time, I can't do that yet.

Waldorf playgroup started our day on Saturday. The afternoon was spent with friends playing in the snow, making snow forts, cooking up a stone soup over an open fire, singing and crafting, followed by the best community potluck ever...so much wonderful food and amazing people to share it with.

After breakfast on Sunday, I left Justin and Reece playing in the snow and headed to a little cafe to do some writing. Three hours to myself putting pen to paper, yes it was wonderful! When I arrived back home Justin and Reece were still outside, but they followed me in and we spent the rest of the afternoon and evening just hanging out doing whatever our little hearts desired, which for me was knitting, making body butter and reading.

How was your weekend?

Joining Amanda

***One of our winter walks is featured over at Imagine Childhood today, be sure to check it out.

6/52

"A photo of my little man, once a week, every week, in 2014"

Reece we had a few beautiful winter days this week...sunshine, warmer temperatures and snow. Really they were perfect winter days, and they called for us to come out and play. We had so much fun, and you, yet again, found the biggest snow bank to climb and jump from. I captured this between jumps while you stopped to catch your breath.

Joining Jodi for the 52 Project

{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.

Pen Pal Fun

My love of mail began as a child patiently waiting for letters from my pen pals. I wrote to my cousin in England for years and another girl in Denmark. Receiving those letters and then writing back was so much fun. I still love sending and receiving mail, as most of you know, and when I shared with you the 52 Letter Project a few weeks ago I not only received a lot of addresses, but also a request from Rosemarie wondering if Reece would like to do the pen pal thing with her boys. Of course I said yes.

Reece's first package arrived from Vermont full of rocks. He was so excited. And there was even a little something for me. As soon as the package was opened and I explained the whole thing to Reece and he was off to pick out some rocks to send back. The next day he had the package and a little note all ready to go.

And then two days a later another package arrived from Massachusetts, more rocks and postcards from a little rock exchange we did with Shel and her girls. Of course Reece was adamant that we had to send mail back and so another pen pal relationship has been started. Reece made up some cards, and added something special and Tuesday we dropped them in the mail.

I am so happy Reece finds so much joy in sending a little note off to friends. A simple pleasure we will both enjoy this year.