~ a simple womens daybook~

I was over at Owlhaven and was inspired to join Mary in the Simple Women Daybook..

for today...

Outside my window… sunshine streaming through towering fir trees...dappled shade on the lawn.

I am thinking… about the amazing bonds of women and the beauty of relationships

I am watching… my kiddos bound around the house doing their morning chores and being all around silly

I am thankful for… my life in every way....the challenges I have faced that have brought me here, the people with whom I get to share this journey, being a mother

From the kitchen… crepes leftover from Eden's 11th birthday...thawing on the counter for supper tonight. the question: do we fill them with fruit and yogurt or steamed veggies and cheese sauce??

I am wearing… brown well worn gaucho's, a brown t-shirt and a super soft grey v-neck sweater

I am reading… Eragon to my daughter Eden (whilst daddy reads Franklin and dr.Seuss to the wee ones) for myself: African Ark: People and Ancient Cultures of Ethiopia and the Horn of Africa (Hardcover) by Carol Beckwith, Angela Fisher and Graham Hancock AND Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

I am praying… for my Dad as he journeys through his battle with lung cancer. Also for patience and strength for those families who are waiting to pass court so that they can be together forever.

I am creating…costuming for my dance performance tomorrow at the Canada Day celebration

I am looking forward to…Going to Vancouver with my family to be with my Dad while he undergoes surgery.

A picture for today

beautiful falls near our home

wanna do this? share a link to your blog ok??

seven things.......hmmm

well, I was tagged by a loverly lady over at Dreams of Quill and Ink to play the "seven things about you" game. I'm not quite sure who to tag....

Anyway, my list.

1. I'm growing my hair out. For me this is a rather big deal.....manifesting the vision of the medieval goddess with curly tress that hang below her waist. You see, every time I have a baby I get this itch to hack it off. To somehow re-claim my image by doing something funky with my hair. I have succumbed to this urge after every baby EXCEPT Sweetie Boy. My hair now hangs down below my shoulder blades!! I'm getting there, I just need to fully embrace my stubborn side and keep going. That said, I have a hair appointment on Thursday. Just a trim...some long layers....keeping it fresh and alive whilst maintaining length. I can't wait!! (I get to go by myself, which is exciting in and of itself!!)

2. Dad-e-o and I decided to tattoo our wedding rings when we were married. Because we both play music and work with our hands neither of us ever wear rings.....not to mention we thought it was a pretty fantastic way to say "Forever"!

3.I am afraid of the dark....sometimes. Not always for some reason...haven't figured that one out yet. Actually, I have but thats a post all onits own.

4. I LOVE to sew!! I am in the process of making a pair of jeans from 2 pair that I didn't like....we shall see how it all turns out. I dream of one day making clothes by the rack full and selling to inspired people who like to express themselves through what they wear.

5. I am super "crunchy"....what ever that means. All I know is that whenever I read someones description of themselves and "crunchy" is present, usually we have a lot in common. I tend to do nearly everything differently then the general population, which I find liberating. I believe it makes it easier for me to dare to do somethings that others shy away from...I've never really gone with the "flow" and so I feel no need to join the flock o-sheep.

6. I love ancient bits from other lands. things drenched in history and rich culture. I guess this is why I feel so drawn to Tribal Belly Dance......the costuming is absolutely amazing!!

7. I use cloth menstrual pads and LOVE them!! I really think that every women should give them a try....no guilt, soft comfort, no nasty toxins to taint our sacred places.

so, now the tagging part...actually, I don't have time to tag....so, if your reading this and you feel so inspired to write your own "super 7" list then please, consider yourself tagged!

~20 totally random things about me~

1. I yearn to live minimalistically....I would love to dwell in a yurt with my family with only the essentials, of course this includes instruments and art supplies.



2.I am allergic to horses, which is unfortunate as our darling Beena Loves to ride. The up side: we have discovered a breed of horse that is "hypoallergenic" so we're crossing our fingers that we can still realize our dream of horses in the pasture on our land.



3. The first time I sang in public I was 4. The song was called Wisdom...it was rather prophetic, describing me so well.


"Wisdom, Wisdom make me strong,
Bring me joy when birds have lost their song.
Wisdom, Wisdom I love you more then gold.
All my heart will seek for you until I'm very old."


I sing this song with my children♥



4.I dream to record an album with my husband some day....there is magic in the music between us.



5.A friend once called me "the baby whisperer" and the thought made my soul sing.



6.For many years I was held captive by the fear of illness. I have been liberated from this fear which inspires me more then I can say.



7.Watching our children grow gives me more joy then I though possible.



8.I love to cry. Tears heal me and I find so much more is released then the moment seems to call for. My tears often make my hubby smile for they are rarely tears of sadness.



9.I feel blessed to have the love that I do....overflowing and ever fruitful



10. Dancing frees my soul and re-balances my mind.



11.I LOVE to cook....especially while listening to something fantastic and dancing all the while.



12. It's true, I'm a health nut.



13. I am very opinionated.



14.I am learning when to speak and when to listen.



15. I love unconditionally, with all of my being.



16.I believe that the moon cycles of a women are sacred. There is a power within the celebration of our womanhood in its completeness and I truly believe that so much of the world will change when the pain that lays within our centers is healed.



17.I love oatmeal.



18.I wonder if my dream of being a midwife will ever manifest...I wonder if I want it to



19.adoption has been a dream my whole life. Recently I have come to realize that the time is coming soon...my heart has already left on its journey across the sea.



20.I see a harp in my future.

~10 things that....joining the land of lists~

~10 things that make me blissfull in the morning~


1~ sunshine....the way it angels through my windows, through the towering trees the separate our house from the road.....(Eazee...what a great name for a road...)no matter the season...oh, but especially in the winter when a heavy frost fog comes through and everything is covered with ice...OMGosh, like being surrounded by a cathedral of diamonds.....truly breath taking.


2~the sleepy smell of my sweet babes.....lingering coziness, warmth that seems to cling to their hair. I love to hold them and inhale that morning smell, mmmm. especially when they rather sleepily tell me of there dreams....oh~oh the sweetest thing.


3~tea...I LOVE my morning tea.....speaking of which I must go grab my freshly steeped mug, uno momento....ahhh, thats better. my mug, steaming, filled with an organic Rooiboos with a touch of sugar(organic...I ran out of honey) and a splash of soy milk. other favorites: masala chai, licorice spice...which is kinda odd since I really don't like licorice...tea, early gray, hot....lol...lovely red raspberry leaf...oh heck...just toss some herbs and spices in a cup and I'll probably love it. I do have a rather expansive tea collection.


4~ oatmeal.....I LOVE oatmeal and no, not quaker quick oats (ewww, glue like nastyness) my precious organic, slow cooking oats....thick cut and fragrant. I love the ritual of it...going into the pantry, reaching up to the shelf covered with glass jars filled with grains/pastas/nuts. Boiling the water, turning it down, adding the oats...letting them simmer, unstirred until they reach a state of perfection. Filling my bowl, adding raisins and hemp hearts...maybe sliced apples and cinnamon....drizzling pure maple syrup and adding the ice cold soy milk. mmmmm. (okay, I realize that this may seem a bit excessive, after all it is just breakfast, but I'm a passionate person and this is FOOD we're talking about!)


5~ sitting on the couch with my man for a few minutes of chatting, he with his coffee, I with my tea. a bit of calm before the whirlwind of the day.....pure bliss


6~ hearing the phone ring and knowing that its my sis C declaring that she is coming over because she absolutely MUST get out of her house. saying that we will be productive...maybe fold laundry or paint something...but knowing full well that we will sit and drink tea (yes, more tea) and get engulfed in amazing conversation whilst we watch the babies play and referee the big guys outside.


7~ hearing the phone ring and knowing its my other sister, S (I always seem to know when its them calling) calling to fill me in on the happenings in her life way the heck out in Manitoba, which, by that way, is WAYYYYY to far away from me!!! (notice the pout.....(stamps foot)) we chat between her clients (she's a hair dresser) and I hang up longing to sit and share tea face to face (again with the tea....) and hold my sweet Monkia, who is getting so big and soon might forget that her Auntie Jenn is the next best thing to her momma.....(I can't actually think about it to much because my throat and eyes fill with the pain of it all)


okay....dry eyes.....back to bliss


8~ fresh air. I so rarely get outside first thing in the morning, when I do I swear I can hear a chorus of lil' fairies singing praises to the sun. I can't wait until we move and have our main living space on ground level and I can walk outside with my tea (okay, enough with the tea...I might be obsessed, not addicted.. I very rarely drink caffeine...really!) wander through my garden...dew on the toes of my woollen slippers....collect the eggs (I'm gonna have chickens!!) have a conversation with my cat who tends to walk along with me and tell me of all her mid-night adventures.


9~listening to my kids play....they always seem to get along so well in the morning.....ooh....yeah (ignoring the yells of eldest daughter aimed towards littlest brother as he takes down her fabulous something or other....sigh) well.....they light up my life even still.....see, and now there is peace again...problem solved and I didn't even need to get my tooshie off this chair!


10~getting ready for the days activity while listening to melodies that set the tone.....right now I'm listening to my lovely friend Kim's play list...a tune I've never heard before and am loving...Love Song by Sara Barellies. thanxs Kim darlin'!