Monday, September 7, 2015

Around Here
























We have been enjoying a bit of a heat wave around here, with humidity that has us sweating just sitting down. And while many have been complaining, we have not. We know these days will soon be a distant memory, so we will take them, enjoy them, and soak up the sunshine and heat while we can.

I have been waking early, in the dark, for my morning rituals. It took a while for me to adjust to the dark mornings, but they are now a welcome embrace as I rise each morning. Some mornings, just as the sun begins to rise, I take my mat out to the back deck. My yoga practice always centers and grounds me for the day ahead, but there is something about yoga outside that truly connects me, not only to myself, but to the world around me. One morning that stands out had my mat set up east to west, as I did my practice I watched the full moon set, and behind me the sun was rising over the horizon. It was an honour to be out there, to witness both the moon setting and the sun rising as I connected to a deeper part of myself. It inspired my day beyond words, and I have carried that morning with me for over a week now.

We have slowly, over the last week, been moving into our fall rhythm, welcome for the slight changes in our day that it brings. Our rhythms shift with the seasons, and I find that towards the end of each season we are ready for the shift, ready for a little something different in our normal day to day life.

The garden is doing well. Some things have been cleaned up, others are still producing. The tomatoes are rolling in day after day, to be enjoyed fresh, or roasted up and added to our freezer stash. I harvested the last of the summer beets, and canned them. The fall/winter ones will be ready soon, and those we will roast to enjoy with our fall/winter meals. The butternut squash has taken over the trellis, and has enough squash to keep us happy for a while. Carrots are rolling in here and there, but we tend to leave them in the ground as long as we can, they taste better after a frost, and we love them roasted up with beets. Strawberries and raspberries are trickling in. I love late season berries, such a special treat this time of the year. Our sunflowers have reached thirteen feet, and we are waiting patiently for them to bloom. In the next week or two I will begin harvesting the beans I have let dry on the vines, which will be stored away for soups and stews this winter. The fall/winter garden is doing very well, and currently needs me to spend some time thinning a few things. The garden is always a work in progress, there is always something to be done. It is joy filled work, and it always feels good to be out there with my hands in the dirt.

Our time in nature has been filled with exciting changes. Acorns have been found, the leaves are starting to change, and slowly things are beginning to die back. We have spent time on the trails as a family, and with friends. I also managed to squeeze in a few solo hikes, just me, my backpack, and my camera. A few hours on the trail, time to think, to breathe, to go at my own pace, to stop and notice. It was truly wonderful, and there are plans for weekly solo hikes throughout the fall and winter.

As the sun sets on each day, the nights cool down a little, and I find myself reading and knitting once Reece is tucked in. The Christmas knitting has begun, and my goal of reading more fiction this year is right on track. So far this year I have read forty four books, all fiction. I, of course, have also done some other reading...homeschooling, herbal medicine, gardening, and self help, but I had a goal of more fiction this year, and so have been keeping track of what I have read. After years of non fiction reading, it has been a welcome change, and I am so happy I set that goal at the beginning of this year. 

Today is a big day, the first day of grade 1 for my little man. His little friend is joining us again this year, and I have a special day planned for them. A little rose ceremony to welcome them to first grade, a circle time that includes the gift of their school supplies for the year, a little pep talk about what an exciting time this is for them, and then our school day, complete with time in nature, read alouds, handwork, and form drawing. The family of the little one I homeschool will join us later in the day for a celebratory dinner, on the back deck, with food fresh from the garden. I am pretty sure it will be a great start to what will be a wonderful year of learning and growing.

There are still a few weeks of summer left, and as the earth slowly shifts from one season to the next, so will we, taking our time to say good bye to summer, while opening our arms to embrace autumn, and the absolute beauty it bestows upon us. Autumn is a glorious time, and I am looking forward to those first cool days when I can bring out my woolens and wrap my hands around a hot cup of tea. Good days to come, for sure.

My friends, life is good around here. Yes, there are ups and downs on this path we travel, but I have discovered that I can dwell on the downs or I can dwell on the ups. I choose the ups, and with that comes seeing the good in my life, even when life might be trying to bring me down a little. I think it's a pretty good way to live my time on this earth.

So, tell me, how are things in your world?

44 comments:

  1. Pretty post! I love to see how beautifully you prepared things for Reece first grade, always inspiring! Autumn feelings are right here too, with low temperatures and beautiful lights. We are waiting for tree colors in the mountains. I did begin a regular practice of yoga last week at home and I must say how wonderful it was, not only at the moment, but further in the day and in the week, to fully breathe and appreciate the present moment. I love your words on that feelings.

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    1. Thank you Sandra. I love preparing everything for Reece and his little friend for first grade, such a big step for them, and I wanted to make it special.

      I am hoping our tree colours are vibrant this year, but I fear with all the dry weather we have had they might not be that great. Time will tell.

      Yay for starting an at home yoga practice. It's good, isn't it? So centering and grounding. Glad to hear you are enjoying it.

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  2. Your garden is doing so well and it looks so pretty! Good luck to your little man on his first day of first grade! Love all the German school supplies you're using. ;-)
    By the way, if you'd like to knit a hitofude for yourself, I'd be happy to send you the pattern. :-)

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    1. Thanks Anke, the garden has been wonderful this year, and I feel so very blessed with what it has given us. Thank you, we had a great first day. And yes, Waldorf uses a lot of German supplies. They really are wonderful, such great quality, and so worth the little bit extra in cost.

      Oh that would be wonderful, I will email you. Thank you!

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  3. I am thrilled to see you in this space this morning Kim, I've missed you.
    Just look at all your beautiful produce!
    It is still hot and humid here, and we have had rain every day for weeks.
    I am so disappointed that despite Mike getting my vegetable spot disked
    it has been too wet to do anything else. I have been rethinking this fall's
    garden and it may have to be in containesr if I stand any hope of growing
    something.
    I hope Reece and his little friend enjoy a wonderful year of learning!
    Happy Monday my dear friend.

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    1. Aw, thank you Tracey. I would so love some of your rain. Things are so dry here, and it is so hot. We really need some rain.

      Oh no, darn rain. Sometimes we can get a little too much, eh? Containers is a good idea. Can't wait to see what you come up with.

      Thank you. If today is any indication, we are going to have a great year :)

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  4. Yoga practice between the Sun and the Moon, as are beautiful! I have never experienced this, but I hope I have the honor to live it one day.
    All that you described in your post is simply marvelous: the present moment here and now ...

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    1. It was truly beautiful, and I hope one day to experience it again :)

      Thank you.

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  5. welcome back Kim!!! I wish for you and Reece a wonderful year of learning and growing. Our school year starts tomorrow, I don't know who is more excited (me or my kids...hee hee)

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    1. Thank you Erica. It feels good to be back, I missed all you guys :) Here's hoping your kiddos have a great year too.

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  6. I too am looking forward to the Autumn and like you have been spending time doing planning for our learning over the next month or so. We don't follow a curriculum so I just follow the children's interests and desires with bits I choose to throw into the mix too! My garden has been suprising productive nothing like last year but better than I expected. I have had my first red tomato in seven years, in the coldest wettest year too! I have masses of green ones which is just as well as my daughter has been requesting green tomato ketchup since the last lot ran out earlier this year! I have sown my autumn/winter seeds and am waiting for them to sprout, the garden needs a good weed after being a bit neglected in August :(. Lovely to hear what is happening in your part of the world, enjoy the sunshine :).

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    1. It is a lovely time of year, isn't it? And for me the shift is the best part, the return of rhythms and rituals to our days. Always love the seasonal shifts.

      I am so happy your garden has surprised you. I know it has been a tough year for you guys. Enjoy all the goodness you harvest.

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  7. What beautiful pictures and happy first day of 1st grade! We officially began homeschooling last week (kindergarten!) and our first week went so well. She woke up each morning very early bouncing down the stairs wanting to know what she was going to learn. We are slowly getting into a rhythm of lots of read a-louds, lots of time outside, some sit down work (at her request), lots of art & handwork. We all are so excited and happy to have finally made the decision to homeschool after a summer of lots of back & forth and anxiety on my part. Each day that passes I am more and more convinced in our decision that this IS the best for our family!

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    1. Thanks Jen! We had a great first day.

      Oh that is so wonderful to hear. I can just imagine your little one bouncing down those stairs all excited to learn. It's wonderful. So very happy to hear you are feeling content in your decision, and that it is fitting in with your family. Enjoy the ride my friend.

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  8. Hello dear friend, nice to have you back. Sounds like the shift is agreeing with all of you. That is nice to hear. It is agreeing with us as well. Although my husband and I are surprised at how much more we notice from year to year since starting on this seasonal rhythm, we are greatly impressed by how quickly and naturally our daughter has taken to it. I know most kids are very much "in the moment", she has been living that truth even more this year. It's been wonderful to watch. Like you, the garden are half and half : tucked away under layers of ground cover or still producing and re-seeded. Parts of the gardens look so much like spring with little pea shoots and baby spinach that it is a bit confusing for my mind sometimes. :-)

    Wishing you a wonderful first week of school! The chests are beautiful.

    xox

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    1. Aw, thanks Yanic. Yes, it is a welcome change, and feels right for all of us. It is amazing how just paying attention, stopping to notice the seasonal shift and all the changes can open our eyes to so much more. Happy to hear you are noticing. How wonderful that little miss is soaking up the shift too. Little ones are so perceptive, and often notice things we never do :)

      It is fun time in the garden, some things dying back and others just sprouting. Enjoy!

      Thank you, Justin made them. They hold their school supplies, but also double as a foot rest, so their feet sit flat when they are at the table working.

      xo

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  9. You have such a wonderful outlook on life, Kim. I can feel the peace and joy that you bring to everything you do when you write about your family's life and the connections you have to nature and the seasons. I love the look of your produce, those tomatoes are beautiful and I want to eat them all right now!

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    1. Oh Jennifer, thank you so much for those very kind words. I love this life I lead, it is my dream, and it feels just wonderful to be living it. I am grateful every day for the choices we have made, and for the courage to walk a slightly different path.

      I wish I could send some to you, we have so many right now. I am picking daily, and they are so very sweet.

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  10. I can feel the shift in your words, I love the school boxes that I'm sure your husband crafted and I love the supplies you tucked inside. First grade....my time is flying. I just did a yoga routine this weekend in the morning and I've vowed to return again (daily!). I initially thought of the flexibility I lost but then I celebrated doing what I was doing and actually doing it. Positive thoughts do wonders!

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    1. Yes, Justin made the boxes. I am a lucky lady have an artist who can bring all my crazy ideas to life :)

      It is flying Karen, but at a good pace. Although I can't believe he is in grade 1, I do feel like I been present and mindful, and really taken the time to soak up every moment of the last seven years. I feel truly blessed.

      Yay for getting back to your yoga routine. So good for the soul. And yes, celebrate just doing your yoga. Every day you do it will bring a deeper connection to yourself, and your body will slowly adjust and loosen. Enjoy.

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  11. So good to hear from you again. We have started our homeschool rhythm up again too. My daughter searched the other day for little signs of fall coming to add to the nature table and I was surprised when she-too- ran in with acorns!

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    1. It's feels good to get back to it, doesn't it? We thoroughly enjoyed our first day, and I can't wait for tomorrow :)

      Looks like everyone is finding acorns these days :)

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  12. Love all your photos Kim. I think I'd like to have fun with those school supplies too. Winter here has been a colder one than normal. My boys are out and about in the community more than in previous years. With that has come sickness. Nothing terrible, just typical winter flus. I am so looking forward to warmer weather and some health for my family. On a big plus, my eldest boy, nearly 18, is working part time in his dream job. He is a Fireman!!! He has been away for 5 days training and has one more block coming up. He also works part time at our small local airport. Homeschooling gave him a wonderful grounding and he is loving life. Enjoy your days Kim. xo

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    1. Thank you Julie.

      Oh Julie, that is such wonderful news. I am so happy for him, and for you. I can just imagine how proud you are. You must be so happy for him. Wish him all the best.

      Thank you, you too, my friend. xo

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  13. You have been busy. Love those boxes, who wouldn't love a box like that filled with art supplies like that. So cool.
    We've been making the most of our last few days of summer vacation - the kid's are off to school tomorrow (Grade 4 and Grade 1).

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    1. Yes, but in a good way :) Thanks, the kids love them, and were so surprised to receive them and see all the goodies inside.

      Hope your kiddos enjoyed their first day of school.

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  14. Welcome back Kim!I missed you!;)
    I love this time of the year: it feels like the new year starts in september!
    It's been some years since I practice yoga, and after some months of variable practice, during the summer holiday I have started to practice in the early morning..blissful!
    So now that I am back to work I decided to carve out even 10 minutes every morning to start the day with the right foot.

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    1. Aw, thank you my friend. I agree, there is something about September that has that New Year feeling. I like it too.

      Hey, 10 minutes is perfect, and who knows if you are feeling the benefits you might start to increase that. Enjoy.

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  15. Welcome back to your space dear friend. Your beautiful (as always) garden seems to be a veritable font of tranquility, peace and good honest dirt. I love those boxes too - a beautiful idea for children to keep their treasures in. I think I might have to steal that idea for these little ones of mine! :) Can't believe how time flies. They are beside me every day and I can't believe how they've grown. I love looking back over the years on those changes and just enjoying them.

    Wishing you a great school year!

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    1. Thank you Alexa. The garden has surpassed my expectations on so many levels this year, and I couldn't be happier.

      The kids love the boxes, and were so happy to receive them yesterday. I bet you kiddos would love to have one too :)

      Hope your kiddos enjoyed their first day of school.

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  16. That one picture of the flowery meadow with the small path reminded me so much of path I walked daily in France.

    I love those boxes! I can just smell the beeswax. We've started grade 1 here as well though I don't really call it that. So much excitement to learn new things. My husband has even stepped in and started doing fun hands on history lessons including drawing and building irrigation canals in the backyard leading to full on mud play.

    This is the summer of the tomato and okra! I planted some bush beans and more pole beans in hopes of getting some beans to put away. I've also put in the first part of the fall garden, with radishes and kale and chard and carrots.

    Those sunflowers are just huge. I love it all!

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    1. Really, that is cool. That is the conservation area just up the road from where we live. I love that spot.

      Thanks, the kids were so excited when they saw those boxes on Monday, and all the goodies in them.

      Yay for the fall garden. Ours is growing so well, and I have been enjoying food from it already...I missed spinach and salad greens and am so happy to have them back in the garden.

      They are, still not open yet. Hopefully soon. Thanks KC!

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  17. Hello Kim, I've just discovered your lovely blog :) Your photos are beautiful, thanks for sharing. I'm interested in the fact that you are a Waldorf home-schooler. I'm familiar with many of the concepts of Rudolf Steiner and Anthroposophy. We try to live a simple but joyful life over here in England and it's great reading about what other folks are getting up to. Best wishes, Fiona

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    1. Hello Fiona, thank you so much for stopping by. Yes, we use Steiner's philosophy as an inspiration for our homeschool journey. I love his thoughts on education, and feel like it is truly the best path for our family. We have embraced Waldorf, and see it, not only as a way to educate our son, but also as a way of living.

      So happy to hear you are the same path, living simply and with joy. It is wonderful to "meet" you. Hopping over to your space now.

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  18. Your garden is divine!! Everything looks so well tended!! Happy first day of 1 st grade to Reece! I love the idea of giving new art supplies every year. So lovely. Wishing you a beautiful start to your schooling rhythm. We are starting some "flexible preschool homeschool" this week as well (if you can call it that. More a steady rhythm of nature based activities (to keep this former preschool teacher Mama sane and to give E a bit more structure to her days).

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    1. Thank you Summer. It has been a really great growing season here, and I am so grateful for the gardens and the food they produce for us.

      I will pass that along to him. He had a great first week of lessons, and is really excited about this new "work" we are doing. We have moved nicely into our new rhythm this week, and it feels just right.

      How fun for you guys, that is exactly what we had been doing for the two years prior to this, a daily rhythm with lots of outdoor time, stories, crafts, and read alouds. It was lovely, for both of us. Wishing you both all the best on this new journey.

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  19. oh! your garden is SO beautiful! i love your school plans and the beautiful supplies you chose and the way you stored them.

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  20. Your special morning of yoga sounds an incredible experience, it sounds silly but I always feel moments like that are like the best kind of food, they fill you up so perfectly and make you grow too. It is always such a pleasure coming here to read your words, life here has many moments and experiences that are 'filling' in those ways, but reading the words of someone as centred as yourself, who makes such conscious choices, and is as content and happy with their life as you obviously are is more of that kind of food in itself! And just reinforces everything inside me too.

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    1. Oh yes, Sally, I totally agree. Such a filling experience that morning of yoga was.

      Goodness my friend, you are making me blush. Thank you, ever so much, for those very kind and sweet words. This life is the only chance I get, and I feel so very grateful to be living it the way I am, and to have the freedom to make the choices we have made.

      xo

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  21. A beautiful summer and intro to fall. I love the rose ceremony and evening meal. That will be so lovely. I had forgotten how my mother used to let beans dry on the vine for the same reason. Our gardens are done for the year, as I plan for next year I will keep this in mind. Shine on.

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    1. Thank you! It was a special first day of school. The look on their faces when I presented the roses to them was just beautiful, and the dinner, both families together, was a perfect way to start off our year.

      Yes, such a great way to carry the beans into the fall/winter season, especially when you have had enough of eating the beans fresh from the vine :)

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