Friday, September 28, 2012

A Beautiful Life



My darling daughter Annie does quite a bit of real work around our household and I have come to rely on it. This was yesterday's list for Annie and her good friend Johnny to accomplish while they spent the day here.  (There are a couple more items listed on the back of the paper; make lunch, clean up after lunch, counters, sink and floor, put dishes in dishwasher, etc.) All boxes were checked off and all jobs were completed to my satisfaction. Some chores they teamed up on and some chores they did on their own. I had to demonstrate a few things and offer a little supervision, but not much. I feel very proud of Annie, and Johnny for their willingness to work hard. I appreciate their amazing attitudes. I also appreciate that they don't question "why" or if there will be payment or reward for their time and effort. Of course I heartily exclaim my delight, pride and relief at the support they are offering, and how much it makes my life more beautiful, happy, easy and comfortable.
After all the jobs were done, they were clamoring for more!
What else could they do for me?
Pure ecstasy to my ears!





I cut a watermelon, popped some popcorn and pulled out some healthy treats I had squirreled away to make them a celebratory tray.


Tuesday, September 25, 2012

On the Loose



Quite the opposite of On the Loose, I have been experiencing my life as tightly wound. My sweet, spacious, stay-at-home, art teacher life, that balanced joyful go-with-the-flow life has had a strange, edgy fast lane feeling that I desperately want to transform.


A week of science camp with Annie deep in the primordial redwoods (no electricity or cell) re-calibrated and healed patterns of electronic pollution and over-work. 




Ahhhh! 

And just now, I'm sitting in a urban jugular point (downtown Oakland city center at 5:00 p.m. at a cafe while Annie is in chorus practice) and I am completely relieved of the notion that my life is scheduled and lacking in choice! I'm sipping tea with Jasper the Wonderdog at my feet as throngs of people race by me in uncomfortable looking work attire, expressions and intent. 


Oh! Thank you universe for this moment. My life is full of choice and freedom and joy and children and beauty and creativity. 
I choose MY LIFE!


Saturday, September 22, 2012

Me on September 22, 2012


Hello Blog world!


My last blog post was April of this year. Almost entirely I have turned my back on this blog, MakingPeace. My day-to-day life; parenting, running a household, being in a partnership, and operating my business Alameda StudioTime, require all of my computer time. And my writing time, creative time, photography time, and all the time in between. I scanned through the past five years photo files from this blog and it left me feeling sad. Sad that I do not have the time I used to to reflect, share and celebrate my life in this particular way! Annie has grown so much! I have too. I'm busier than I want to be. I will myself to be still, prioritize my personal connection time, and record my life, my times, my thoughts once a week in this format at least for a month. Not that I want to add one more thing to my plate... I just suspect/wish/hope that time spent writing and connecting this way might bring me back to myself in a beautiful way.