Monday, September 3, 2007

Zee!! You're here!!!

Im so excited to see you and I haven't been on in a while!
Life..I am trying to view every minute of everyday as an opportunity to be peaceful and accept what unfolds before me..so far so good as its only 10 am and everyone is still in bed:)
I need to especially practise good listening and acceptance with my little sister who I think feels Im being judgemental. Breathe.......
Today I am doing what I seem to do with great vigor every once in a while...somehow make my home more tidy and organized, thus magically creating more space. Our home is barely 900 sq feet...Ive measured. We dont have a large accumulation of stuff...I totally believe in living simply, but every little thing we have seems to be in full view making it cluttered. Folks dont seem to realize when they leave their sh!t out on any available surface, it drives me crazy! With homelearning having its official start sometime this week, Im feeling a slight urgency to be organized.
On Annie's list of things she'd like to do: arts and crafts, letter writing, planning next years garden, have me start reading the Harry Potter series to her, library visits with a stop over at Scaliwag toys and to the Organic Underground for a drink, and Im hoping to find some sort of volunteering opportunity.
Kate..we'll see how school goes...and Stef..Im hoping her online courses will fall into being.
Thats all for now:)
ps..I did not know that Megan Follows played on the Facts of Life!!

Saturday, September 1, 2007

Home Alone!

Wow Lee your yer way ahead of me... Slackerzee!

To all of our fans out there…. Bows to the left, bows to the right, notice the twinkly li’ll star on our teeth?

All by myself, sitting in front of the computer but also watching “Booky Makes her Mark” on the tube beside me, now this is multitasking.

M.F.F's (Megan Fallows Facts)
Born March 14, 1968 in Toronto, Ontario, Canada
.
She played Jo Polniaczek's cousin on The Facts of Life
!
I’m not even going to go Anne of Green Gables.


My deastest husband has taken a van load of children to Toronto to vist Disney World!.. I meant Wonderland. DS said this morning it's fun saying "Wonderworld" and "Disneyland" (hold on I think Disney has intellectual rights over the world and the land) What an adventure! School for the mainstream crowd begins in a few days, the rebels of our clan begin when they say, so they say ;).

Here is what's on the curriculum agenda so far:

~Create a game of cards.. using Greek and mixed mythology.
~Go fish, with magnets out of juice can lids and fish cut outs.
~Bake the best bread in the whole world, including li’ll bunz.
~Spin wool, knit the wool.
~Start a wheatgrass grow-op.
~Learn Cantonese or Mandarin
~Get back to making soap, hand cream, tinctures and wildcrafting.
~Of course the A.B.C’s and 1.2.3’s
~Ukrainian Canadian internment (creation of Banff National Park)
~The list goes on….

My RADical child is testing my ability to breathe then duck her smites seeing them for what they are. Nothing I can’t handle, something I’d rather not be doing.. but nothing I can’t handle. When she’s thirty something! I’m going to let her know, “What a ride that was, and thank you for letting me take it with you” I’m going to leave the “but…” out. Having said that, there are times when I feel like jumping off the merry-go-round, rolling under a bush, staying silent long enough to have myself believe I don’t exist in this capacity (I’m actually imagining a TV cop show where they lunge from a moving car (cop car) and tuck and roll tidy like, bouncing up on my hind legs ready to trap the criminal, cept I’m not wanting to trap anyone… just hiding for a while. My striving for Buddha nature makes each morning even better. I look forward to waking with the knowledge everything is changing even though it may not be obvious, it’s changing, some good, and yes some not so good, but each day brings the potential of much goodness. Change is good, it gives us all an opportunity to re-evaluate and change accordingly. Some grasp the opportunities quicker than others, while some let it slip away not realizing it was actually an opportunity. Did ya know hinddight is awesome unless it leaves you with regret. Life is mighty awesome!

Ten-ten good buddy…
Zee


Saturday, August 4, 2007

Cool and Calm

So nice in here today. We have been having a heat wave the past few days 30+...today it is 27 or 28 degrees. In the shade it is lovely and breezy and I have the hammock out. (I've even been in it!) Inside tho it is truly wonderful! The house really cooled down last night and I have the shades closed. Its dark and cool with the soft hum of the fans going. I'm alone. I feel totally calm and peaceful. I feel like I can breathe this cool air, unlike the past few days where I feel that there is not enough air to breathe. I wish to be able to have this feeling of mindfulness and peace and being calm even when things in life are challenging...lots of challenging moments where I'd like to hold onto this feeling of empowerment.

Sunday, July 29, 2007

Introducing Zee

Before I go on, I want to introduce Zee...of Zee and Lee. (get on here Z!) She is not my alter ego, she is a real live person and is my closest, dearest friend. Her name is Grace and I have known her since grade 10 art class where she lent me her pencil crayons...she was a giving person even back then!! (this was like 25 years ago!!) I knew of her before then, but always saw her as a "miss Priss"....really quet, little white frilly shirts and bangs so long you couldnt even see her face. We have remained close thru the years, even after her numerous moves, we somehow stayed in touch. She now lives a little over an hour away from me but we talk everyday on the phone and see each other relatively frequently. She is my hero...the light in my life..a blessing....an inspiration...calming like cool water on a hot day...the wind beneath my wings (sorry Bette)...I wish I could be more like Grace...her name totally suits her! She sees the best in everyone and everything...the world through rose coloured glasses (meant in a good way, no sarcasm here). We have the greatest relationship....people think we are sisters....I would have a very difficult time in my life without her even tho I try not to be dependant on people. I tell her everything and she somehow understands and still loves me!! I think a relationship like ours is rare and I am so lucky to have it!!! We are Lucy and Ethel..Im definelty the one getting dragged into things by Lucy and her crazy ideas!!

Saturday, July 28, 2007

Avoiding plastic

Today at the grocery store I battled with my conscience and decided not to buy lemonade in plastic bottles even tho they were ON SALE and I really wanted them! I did buy a case of iced tea in cans however, justifying that it was at least better than plastic. I almost always say no to plastic shopping bags altho I havent totally gotten into the habit of taking my own cloth bags in with me. I'm working on it. I purchased some small Perrier bottles of sparkling water just so I can have the glass bottles (to reuse) as they seem to be converting to plastic as well. I have used a mason jar to take water in the car with me (ands its easy to drink out of) but this may be a difficult sell on the kids. So many things are just covered in plastic wrappings..its depressing! I look in my recycle box and wonder what is actually recycled, and what is just thrown in the dump anyway. The trick is to not but it in the first place!

Friday, July 27, 2007

Washing Dishes

From Thich Nhat Hanh Peace is Every Step......
"Once you are standing in front of the sink with your sleeves rolled up and your hands in the warm water, it is really quite pleasant. I enjoy taking my time with each dish, being fully aware of the dish, the water, and each movement of my hands, I know that if I hurry in order to eat dessert sooner, the time of washing dishes will be unpleasant and not worth living. That would be a pity, for each minute, each second of life is a miracle. the dishes themselves and the fact that I am here washing them are miracles!"
Now, how can I look at dishes as a chore ever again....I hope to project this message to my children as well....its so true...not only is it a miracle...but the fact that doing dishes means we had food to enjoy and hopefully will again, is a miracle in itself!
In the book Buddha Mom by Jacqueline Kramer, she talks about being a house holder. How nurturing and soothing it is to make a peaceful, joyful, home! If I spend all my time grumbling while doing housework, then its not love in the clean clothes or clean dishes or swept floor, its anger and resentment. Its also a job that needs to be done, so I'd rather set a positive example that it isn't drudgery..that there is enjoyment and satisfaction to be had.
The reason for this post and why I cant wait to wash dishes (insert sarcasm, but heh I am trying!!) is that I received the most beautiful package in the mail today from Zee. It was in a purple box with thoughtful quotes all over it (hand written) and inside was a lovely card with the most kind and considerate words that one could ever hear! She made me 6 dish cloths out of (I think) cotton yarn..off white...with flecks of color...I want to post a picture and MUST learn how!! She is such a considerate person to send me a home made gift!! I was so happy to receive it!! Nothing like a package in the mail!!! Thank you ZEE~

Friday, July 20, 2007

Why do I get so frustrated by my children?????

Why can't I just be calm?? Why can't they just willingly help out when I ask instead of being always in opposition?? Why can't I just smile and let it go..not caring whether they really want to help out or not as long as the job gets done?? Why can't I remember that this too shall pass and they are generally great, considerate, caring people?? Breathe......

Sunday, July 1, 2007

Keyboard Scum and Fireworks

Dh painstakingly cleaned the keybaord..behind every key, in every last nook and cranny..no more sticky keys...no more Stefanie eating at the computer!! I was contemplating buying a new keyboard but didnt feel good about buying something I dont need. This one is as good as new now!!
We went to see the fireworks tonite in Cobourg...Happy Canada Day! It was lovely sitting on the rock beach (my favorite place to gather small lake washed stones for my garden) and loads of people had little bon fires going, all down the length of the beach...we made a little one too, borrowing someones lighter and gathering little pieces of wood from the ground. Kate and Annie had a fun time together...Stef was away at a friends cottage. We got home quite late and the girls went right to bed. I havent stayed up this late in a loooong time!
Current favorite music....The White Stripes!! They are rough, edgy with a bit of blues and a touch of folksy Arlo Guthrie IMO..

Tuesday, January 30, 2007

I'm here Zee

Ready to get started:)

Friday, January 26, 2007

hey Lee!

Howz it goin'??