Traditions

It was a weekend full of traditions in our home. From hiking out back to find the perfect little tree and adding the handmade ornaments my little man and I made when he was three, to the return of the Advent gnome and his scrolls, to the Advent spiral on our table and the beginning of the journey to Christmas day.

This time of year is steeped in tradition for most families, and we are no exception. I often wonder at what age my little man will decide the Advent gnome is too young for him. I thought maybe this year, but when I asked I got a very enthusiastic response that he is definitely not too old for the Advent gnome. And his excitement over the spiral and our Christmas tree hike was just as enthusiastic. As his mama, and one who loves these traditions and this time of year, I am over the moon that he stills enjoys our traditions.

Over the next few weeks other traditions will be a part of our days, things my little man now remembers from year to year. Our drive along Old Scugog Road to see the Christmas lights, our outing to buy hats and mitts for those in need, a trip into the city for the Toronto Christmas Market, decorating our Solstice tree, and of course our Solstice fire, complete with sparklers. There is baking to be done and friends to visit, hikes to enjoy and movies to watch. And hopefully there will be outdoor ice skating and a little snowshoeing too.

As things quiet down a little bit for me with work, and the darkness descends as we move towards the darkest day, I find myself craving space and comfort. I think that's why these traditions hold so much value for me, there is solace in returning to them, year after year, a feeling of familiarity that brings great joy to my heart.

What traditions are you returning to this year? Have you added any new ones?

Ten Things

One
The leaves are gone, my friends, and we have had our first snowfall. It was magical, and pretty, and reminded me why I love the shifting seasons so much.

Two
It is not only seasons that shift, but we do too, and lately I have been shifting. The shift feels good, and has me feeling centered and grounded in a way I haven't been for quite some time. The shift began a few weeks ago when I attended a women's retreat. During that weekend I dove deep into my truth, and peeled back more of the layers to find me. It's a process, discovering who you really are, finding the woman who is hiding under all the "stuff" we are told we need to be. It's been interesting, healing and inspiring.

Three
Can I share with you how incredible a women's retreat is? It was my first one, and while I circle with my tribe of women monthly, and I have an amazing network of friends who love and support me, the retreat was a totally different experience. To be offered a sacred space to work out what's deep inside, to be held by beautiful women as you move through a range of emotions, to be able to cry, laugh, scream, dance, and feel safe doing so....that is an incredible feeling and one I think every woman should experience at least once in her lifetime. I know, without a doubt, I will be doing another retreat.

Four
Life on the homestead is full. There are still chickens roaming around, a dog, a cat and her two litters of kittens and the various wild animals that wander around. It's fun, and exciting, and very funny at times. My little man loves it, and for that reason alone it is worth it.

Five
For the last five months I have had a pile of garbage, a large pile of garbage, sitting on my driveway as I clean out space here on my land. When you live in a space for a long time stuff piles up. Now most of this stuff was indeed waste that should have been tossed a long time ago, but it wasn't and was left to pile up in the garage. And so slowly it has been cleaned out, and garbage piled, waiting for the day when I could have it collected. Well that day came last week, and I can't begin to tell you how freeing it was to have it all taken away. It was amazing, and I now have my driveway back.

Six
Cleaning up this land and space is a process, creating what I want here takes time, but I have dreams and visions of what this space will become, of what it will offer, not only to my little man and myself, but all those that come here to share in our journey. It's exciting to think about the plans, to dream and I know it will be exciting to bring it all to fruition.

Seven
I continue to work and live here on the homestead. Four days a week I have kiddos here, and together we learn and grow. We wander the woods, we keep nature journals, we craft, we play, we learn how to get along with others, we share stories, and we have fun. My little man is blessed with an amazing group of children that share in his days, and I am grateful for that. On the weekends I offer circles for young girls, mentoring them as they transition from childhood to young womanhood. I can't share how gratifying this work is....it fills my heart and soul with such joy. I am ever so grateful to the families that allow me to walk this path with their daughters. And here and there I still offer workshops on various topics including soap making, herbal medicine, self care product making and more, and I continue to sell the products I make. I am passionate about all of it, and while it is the way I support my little man and myself, I am hard pressed to call it work.

Eight
Did you know boys eat a lot? Like.....a lot. There are days I wonder where he puts all the food he eats. Last night we had dinner, he ate every last bit of food on his plate....which by the way was homemade pizza, homemade sauerkraut and pickles, and a cucumber salad....and not even five minutes after getting up from the table, asked for a snack. I am not kidding. And he is only nine! What's gonna happen when he is a teenager.

Nine
We celebrated Martinmas on the weekend, one of my favourite festivals. We made our lanterns, and together the two of us lit them, sang our lantern song and shared the story of St. Martin. Our lanterns still sit on our dining room table, shining bright, reminding us that our inner light is strong and that we need to shine it bright during this dark time of the year.

Ten
I am grateful. For various reasons, which I cannot share in this space, life has been hard, but I am here. I am staying true to who I am in this beautiful mess called life. I am living my truth, and sharing my passions with others. I wake every day happy to be where I am, to be living this life, to be sharing my gifts. I have an amazing son who reminds me every day what a blessing it is to be alive and to be a mother. I have the most incredible tribe of women who love me and support me. I have a loving family who has stepped up and helped in ways I will never forget. This life, my life, is messy, it is hard, but it's mine and I couldn't be happier or more grateful for this path and the lessons I am learning along the way.

Abundance

Hello there, it seems I have let summer pass and not stopped into this space, or yours. Sorry for my absence, it was not intentional, many times I thought to pop in with some photos, or an update, but then the day would pass and I would find myself at the end of the day wanting only to chill with a cup of tea before crashing into bed.

It has been a full summer, in so many ways, and I don't really even know where to start. Let's start with summer camp here on the homestead. It was amazing! Three days a week I hosted three different camps on my land. Tuesday was Kids Herbal Camp, Wednesday was a Nature Camp, and Thursday was an Arts and Crafts Camp. Kiddos joined me each day and together we explored in the woods, created, played, and enjoyed the beautiful July summer days. It was busy, in the best way, and I was sorry on the last day of camp that it was over. I took a week off after that, and then ran a three day camp for girls. There are really no words to describe the beauty of this camp. Young girls gathering, exploring in the woods, creating and crafting, and playing all while showing the greatest love and kindness to each other. It was a special three days, it made my heart so very happy, and on that last day when all the girls had gone home I cried....because it was over, and I so didn't want it to be over.

And since girls camp finished I have been off, enjoying time with my little man, working in the garden, putting food by, hiking, and soaking up the last bits of summer. I have been doing a little work getting ready for the launch of my new nature school in September, and preparing for my newest venture, running circles for young girls, playing a small role in guiding them through the transition from childhood to young womanhood with a program called Circle of Friends. Girls summer camp was the first step in the direction to Circle of Friends, and cemented my intentions to move forward on this journey, supporting and mentoring young girls. I have been working on this since last summer, studying online to become a mentor, and finishing my course a few months ago. I feel strongly pulled to this work, and look forward with excitement to see where it takes me.

You will notice in the photos that my little man isn't so little anymore, how exactly does that happen? I do my best to soak up every moment but still the years seem to fly by, and he changes and grows and I wonder how I missed it. This summer he passed two swimming levels, spent a lot of time with friends, soaked up a few beach days, climbed trees, hiked and explored, created and crafted, and so much more. We have been watching the Little House on the Prairie series this summer and he loves it, and we have been following Amazing Race Canada, which he is super excited about. He continues to amaze me as I watch him unfold into the beautiful human he is meant to be. Walking with him on this journey is the greatest honour, and I thank my lucky stars every day that he chose me as his mother. I still call him my little man, or my baby, but he always reminds me that he isn't my baby anymore. I remind him he will always be my baby, and he just laughs.

And me, well I hope the title of this post gives you an idea of how I am doing. I am feeling the abundance of life this summer. From the amazing support of wonderful families who support what I do here, to beautiful friends who continue to love and support me, to deepening relationships with both old and new friends, to feeling like life post divorce is coming together as the Universe intended it to. Abundance has been flowing in every direction of my life, and I have opened myself up to receiving. And that feels amazing!

In full disclosure, I will be completely honest and share with you that even with all the abundance there are still struggles, but by noticing the abundance and taking time to offer gratitude for all that has come my way, those struggles seem like little bumps in an otherwise pretty awesome journey. Single parenting is challenging at times, making ends meet financially is challenging sometimes, finding time for myself can be challenging, taking care of the demands of my homestead is challenging some days, but they are simply challenges that force me to find solutions, to think outside the box, to discover new ways to live this life I want to lead. This is the life I want to lead, I know that, and so every day I make it happen, one little step at a time. Some days are easier, some days are a little harder, but it's happening and if I focus on that I am more aware of the abundance in my life, and I can allow it to fill me up, and remind me that the struggles are just avenues to teach me to surrender and eventually they lead to growth.

So, my friends, how are you? What have you been up to this summer? I will do a little blog hopping this weekend, and take a peek to see what you have been up....so excited to catch up with all of you.

Happy weekend!!!!

Ten Things

One
The garden is planted. Seeds are sprouting. I am tending and nurturing. Truth...I spent a lot of time considering the garden this year, not my usual considerations about companion planting, what to plant, and so on, but did I actually want to plant a garden. I know, shocking! Life is full, there is lots going on and I questioned whether or not I had enough inspiration and motivation to tend and nurture from seed to harvest. At first I made the difficult decision to let it go this summer, to just sit in the beauty of summer, hit the farmers market and allow myself a bit more time and space. I am guessing you all know me better than I know myself, and already have guessed that I indeed did change my mind, and the garden is in full growing mode. I was late getting it all in, but it is done, and my heart is happy and my soul alive. What was I thinking letting the garden go? Just a small moment of crazy that quickly disappeared.

Two
That internal discussion with the garden had a lot to do with the time it takes to care for this land I call home. While my homestead is not huge, it still requires a lot of work to maintain, and that at times can seem daunting and overwhelming on my own. But then a friend steps in, offers her hubby up for a morning of chore help around here and before you know it things seem much less overwhelming. On Saturday said hubby arrived ready to work and help me out. He trimmed trees, and bushes, fixed some things on the chicken coop, and brought a happy, loving vibe to my homestead. I felt honoured and blessed to have the help, and am forever grateful to both my girlfriend for sharing her hubby, and to him for taking the time from his weekend to lend a hand. Thank you Holly and Jeremy...your thoughtfulness is greatly appreciated and will always hold a special place in my heart.

Three
While Jeremy worked around my homestead, I had the absolute honour of taking their three year old into the woods. Together their little man and I wondered the trails, followed deer tracks, searched milkweed for monarch eggs, examined scat and found animal bones, enjoyed a picnic trailside and climbed trees. I love seeing the world through the eyes of little ones, and spending time with this little person was such a joy.

Four
My little man cut his hair!!! He has been growing his hair for three years, at least, and was pretty adamant he was never cutting it. Then Monday he got up in the morning said he wanted to get his haircut and could we do today? Hmmmm...of course we can. So off we went, and he is now sporting a shaggy, short do...all his decision.

Five
Our homeschool year has wrapped up, and what a year it was. Lots of kiddos on the homestead learning, crafting and playing together. New friendships formed and other friendships deepened. It was a great year, not without it's challenges, but in those challenges we all learned and grew, adapting and changing along the way. It's all about the journey, for the kiddos and myself.

Six
I am ready for summer camp! There will be kiddos here on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday for the month of July. Three different camps...herbal kids camp, nature camp and arts and craft camp. I am not sure who is going to have more fun, me or the kiddos.

Seven
There has been a lot of growth in my little business, and lots of interest about what I do on my homestead. Abundance might the word to describe all the goodness that has flowed my way. With growth also comes change, and a big change next year is a slight shift in our days here on the homestead. As more families became interested in my day to day program there was a pull inside to move from a Waldorf based inspiration to a more nature/forest school inspiration. And so beginning in September I will be making that shift, and while there will still be a Waldorf inspiration, there will be a lot more time in nature, and a deeper focus on nature connection. I am excited for this change, and can't wait to bring my ideas to fruition.

Eight
Self care....is that a priority on your to do list? Are you making yourself a priority, taking time to care for your needs? This is always a challenge, isn't it? Finding and making time for yourself comes with many emotions, the biggest one being guilt. I have learned so many things in the last few years, but the most important for myself and my little man is that I need to look after myself...and that means carving out time for the things that make my soul come alive, things that make me feel nurtured and loved, things that allow me to fill my own bucket so I can fill the bucket of others around me. Self care looks different for all of us, for me that includes time in nature, every day, it means an indulgent soak in the tub most nights with a book, it means small moments throughout the day for a deep breath and a cup of tea, it means gathering with friends to share bits and pieces about our lives, it means being creative, it means dancing and moving my body, and most of all it means tuning into my heart and listening carefully to what it needs and craves, and then making the time and space to give to myself. Are you giving to yourself, my friends?

Nine
I am nearing the end of my course with the Journey of Young Women, and my plans for my first girls circle are starting to come together. I will share more about this journey, the circles and my plans as they take shape. I am excited to work with young girls, to help, in a small way, as they move along the path from childhood to young womanhood.

Ten
Life in general has been good the last few months, my friends. Divorce has a way of throwing you into a bit of a tailspin, bringing with it uncertainty and a lot of questions about what lies ahead. In the last few months I feel like I have come out of the haze of that tailspin, finding my footing on this new path, and enjoying the ride. It still has many ups and downs, but after every thing I have been through I feel pretty confident that I can handle pretty much anything that comes my way. There have been many low points on this path, but also some pretty amazing high points. I have learned so much about myself, grown as a person and as a woman, and am excited about what lies ahead for my little man and I.

How are things in your world, my friends?

Right Now

:: My home is quiet, little man is still sleeping, the birds are chirping and the sun is shining bright

:: I am enjoying a second cup of coffee and the quiet, alone time

:: I can't believe it has been almost a month since I have visited this space...how did that happen?

:: The glow of yesterday's beautiful summer like day is still lingering in my mind

:: My body is sore, a good sore, from working in the garden

:: There are fresh flowers on my table...purple tulips

:: In the garden daffodils, tulips and more are blooming

:: The rooster is waking every creature in the forest surrounding us

:: I am thinking about the day ahead, making plans, leaving space to just be

:: There is gratitude in my heart

:: I am happy

What's happening in your "right now", my friends? 

Simple Pleasures

Simple. Slow. Intentional. Mindful. Present.

Those are the words that I choose to live by. The words I choose to guide me as I navigate my way along this path called life. As with any path, there are detours, obstacles, barricades that get in the way, that cause us to stumble, but I am always brought back to these words and this weekend was a reminder of just how full and happy my heart is when my life is guided by these words.

This weekend was a quick visit with a friend who just had a baby. It was a walk along the waterfront, tea in hand, chatting with a friend. It was a Saturday night movie with my little man. It was waking to sunshine and a beautiful day, birds chirping, and the garden calling. It was time spent outside hanging laundry, tidying the yard, uncovering garden beds, and soaking up the sunshine. It was listening to two boys plan and start creating a treehouse. It was a cup of tea on the front porch with a friend. It was an after dinner walk with my little man. It was perfection.

This weekend was all the words I choose to guide me. It was simple, slow, intentional mindful and present. It was simple pleasures, of the best kind, filling me up and reminding me why I choose to surround myself with the people I do and why I choose to live the life I lead.

I needed this reminder, I needed to come back to these guiding words, I needed to stop, and enjoy the simplicity of the every day. And I did just that, and I am grateful I was open to receiving and accepting the message.

How was your weekend, friends?

Postcards From the Beach

Sunrises, walks on the beach, afternoons by the pool, tourist fun, sunshine, blue skies, knitting, reading and more....we have definitely found our bliss by the ocean this week. This has been a slow holiday, nothing extraordinary, just simple, ordinary days. Each morning we wake with no plans and let the day before us unfold as it would like. It's been a lovely rhythm, and one that I have welcomed with an open heart.

There were no big plans for this holiday, and I didn't intend to actually take a week away from work. I packed my computer, and my notes for website updates, homeschooling plans and more, but the Universe had other plans for me. My laptop, a brand new one, died on Monday. Literally died. I took it in to have it looked at and the estimated work time was two to three weeks. I'll be home by then, so I collected it from the shop, and it sits in my bag, with my work. That, right there, was my sign, a big one if you ask me, to sit back and relax this week. To let whatever I thought I would get done go, and to just soak up the chance to relax. And that is exactly what I have done.

Refreshed describes how I am feeling right now, and full...both heart and soul are full. We still have a few more days at the beach, and I fully intend to sink into them and soak up the ocean breeze, the sunshine and the fresh air before packing up for our drive home.

Wishing you a beautiful weekend, my friends.

Ten Things

One
The beginning of last week had us shoveling out from lots of snow. It was a lot of work, but also provided lots of beauty. I walked around the yard with my camera, snapping photos of last summer's flowers covered in snow. So pretty.

Two
Four days later we were enjoying sunshine, blue skies, and spring like temperatures. It happens this time of year, the huge shift in weather, and let me tell you it certainly puts a spring in your step, and fills you up.  The skies this weekend were beautiful shades of blue, the sun warmed my cheeks and my soul, and the snow...it's melting!

Three
We have entered into the stage of sleepovers in our home. My little man's best bud has been sleeping over quite a bit the last month. The first time was a "storm stay". She came for our homeschool day, and the weather made it impossible to get her home, so she spent the night. Since then two more sleepovers have happened, and I'm pretty sure the two of them have more planned. It's another one of those bittersweet milestones.

Four
On Friday evening I gathered with some close friends to host a blessingway for another friend. It was beautiful. We shared poetry and quotes, adding them to a journal the mama to be can look through as she awaits the arrival of her little one, we all made braided bracelets that we will wear until we hear word that her baby has arrived...a small way of connecting us all and a continual reminder to send her love and support, and we each brought stones and crystals and created a birthing bracelet for her. Then we ate, chatted, and the mama to be received a chiropractic adjustment and a foot massage (thank goodness for chiropractics and massage therapists in our beautiful tribe of women). It was a special evening, and I know the mama to be felt loved and supported.

Five
I have shared my morning yoga and meditation rituals on the blog before, and this ritual continues to be a grounding and centering way to begin my day. I am finding the longer I continue this ritual the deeper I connect to myself. Most mornings after my yoga and mediation I settle in to listen to a podcast, something to inspire me, and guide me on my continual journey of growth. Two mornings a week though I tune into my studies....yes I am a student again, taking an online course through Journey of Young Women. I am working towards a certificate to mentor young girls, helping to guide and support them as they transition from childhood to young womanhood. It is something I feel very strongly pulled to do, and I look forward to seeing where it takes me.

Six
I have jumped on the essential oil bandwagon, and I am in love. Young Living essential oils are amazing, and every day I am learning a little more about just how powerful these oils are. I have used some of their products, most notably thieves oil, over the years, and now with more oils in my life I am finding new ways to support the health and well being of my little man and myself with these magical oils.

Seven
The last few months has brought some new people into my life, people I am getting to know better, and am happy to call friends. Some have come through my work, some through friends of friends, and it feels so good to welcome new people into my life, people who bring a sense of joy and abundance to my life.

Eight
My little man and I are getting ready for the beach!!! Yes, we are beach bound again this winter, off to visit my parents. It's our annual trip south, and one we are both looking forward to. This will be our fifth year traveling south and it seems my body and soul now crave this trip...both are aching to be on the beach, to hear the ocean waves crash against the shore, to breath in the salty ocean air. You can be sure there will be a post or two from the beach once we get there.

Nine
Summer planning has begun around here. First up, summer camp. I am putting the final touches on my plans for summer camp and will be posting information over at Life at Nature's Pace in the next few weeks. There has already been a lot of interest, and registrations are coming in. So much interest in fact that I have hired someone to help me out. It was exciting to have so much interest so early, but to be hiring my first employee, well that is super exciting. I mentioned abundance in my last post...this is just a small amount of the abundance that has been coming my way. So grateful.

Ten
With the start of summer camp planning also comes garden planning. I am looking through seeds, putting together seeds orders, and making plans for the summer garden. I can't wait to get my hands in the dirt.

Wishing you a beautiful start to your week, my friends.

Handmade Homemade Swap Party

Yesterday afternoon marked my fifth handmade homemade swap party, and goodness they just keep on getting better. Each swap party brings out the creative talents of my girlfriends, some sticking with tried and true creative talents and others stepping out of their comfort zones and trying something new. There was so much beauty, talent and love represented on the gift table, and it truly was beautiful.

Ten beautiful friends gathered in my home, each arriving with their swap gifts, food and an open heart. We ate, drank tea, shared stories, and then got down to the business of swapping gifts, and what fun it was. For this party every guest brought four gifts, and our names were put into a draw four times. When your name was drawn you headed up to the table to pick a gift. We continued this way until all the names were picked and all the gifts chosen. It was fun, exciting, and truly amazing.

I had plans to snap a few photos of the gift table and our gathering, but alas I was just having so much fun, and forgot to pick up my camera. The photos above are the beautiful, lovingly made gifts I have the honour of calling mine. I am so impressed with the gifts I received, and am so grateful to have them in my home.

Hosting these handmade homemade swap parties has become a beautiful ritual in the rhythm of my year, and they always leave my heart and soul full. Big thanks to all the lovely ladies who joined in, it was a joy to share the afternoon with you. And be ready, we will be enjoying our next swap party under the summer sun.

***Much gratitude goes to the lovely Amanda for sharing her own swap parties, and inspiring me to jump in and give it a go.