TCHUSSIE 2023

Dankeschön für alles 2023

UND HALLO 2024

frankie says RELAX

When the DEMANDS aren't drowning me - I revel in the fact that I AM more RELAXED in the big picture the more (children) I have to tend to.

But I have been collecting skin abrasions on the hands (holiday production, paperwork) and face (grabby baby, sleepless nights). According to Louise Hay cuts represent over-emphasis on self-imposed rules without ample reward; the fingers are all about the details and near the nose confirms irritation from others’ actions or obsessing over the calendar. Touché.

Peekaboo

Headed through the mountains for a ski weekend and WOOSH hit the eye of a storm. Standstill for hours in a heated car, encircled by blizzard, with four sleeping children plus one large pooch in the back. Are finally able to pull off, U turn and creep treacherously home. No longer on a jubilant trip, BUT, no one knows we are in town. Multitudes of RSVPs have been previously kindly declined. SO play sweet HOOKIE for the entire weekend !!!!!! Two days of sleep, snow play, veg-ing out and cooking-in during the fanciest most frenetic time of the year !!!!!! Ah sweet indulgent naughty bliss. 

Dream Life Love Menu

 

Dégustation de vie des rèves . Enjoy in any order everyday.

Leap of faith

- Café con leche. Café con whipped cream, café con hot chocolate…‘light’ azúcar, but always dulce.

- Gingerbread. This year it’s all about the gingerbread decorating party. 

- Sparkle suits and sets. Twinkle, twinkle, shimmer, flicker and shine.

It’s just incredible all of the elements that must come together - and do - to make air travel possible. Nothing short of a miracle. So when someone sits bedside you, sniffling and shoving, embrace the suck* and remain in awe that you are traversing this snow globe.

*Navy SEALs say pray for ‘suck’, it makes you better.

 

Helpful Elfin

Helpful Elfin -

Stands with feet planted firmly on the earth
Dons clogs
Knits wool 

Knows green is the color of love
Eats snow

Encourages others to eat snow 

Meets children at eye level

Bakes 

Slurps soup and stew 

Sleeps a little extra

Collects fun socks

Smells of mint 

Drinks coffee in her hot cocoa

Makes light work engaging head, heart and hands 

More French than Festive

What would a French woman do ??

 

A course correction can be mapped. Such is life when lived in the now. We plan and plan and plan, but just plan to stay on your toes. 

A much awaited trip has landed on a dastardly inconvenient moon phase, rolling out the holidays with red glitter and candy cane carpets may no longer feel right, and nestling in to disentangle one’s home, rather than run amok in a merry frenzy, could be an imperative. 

Lay it down

THEME Themis - goddess of law and justice “that which is laid down or established”

Numerous trips, imminent holidayS and a berserk number of school proceedings, ceremonies, volunteer opportunities… 

Waldorf education has a classic and constant natural, beautiful inherent theme and feel. I adore coloring within those traditional lines. The more confining the constraints, the more the creativity pours. 

Outside of establishments, though, the choices are maddeningly infinite.

So fix yourself upon a THEME

EG these weeks for me : 
“Sweater Weather - Eastcoaster style” for Cleveland with family
“Romantic, Intimate - Lingerie” for 40th Birthday
“Helpful Elfin” for everyday style & overall mood
“What would a French woman do?” for a couples jaunt to isle St Maarten
“Hershey’s Kiss” in the advent calendar 
“Vintage Niwot” for Christmas
“Fuck it” for family photo, it might just not happen this year ;)

The tighter the theme the better. Don’t you just love a party where the hostess takes you on a very specific journey? And expects you you to show-up primed for said experience! 

Shortie from Scottie

 

It’s that wonderful time of the year !! Shortbread from Scotland. 

Kids love to use it as their cut-out and embellish cookie dough; so easy to mix up we do it nearly every weekend of the season. 

It’s really not very boring

 Forty - fancy party !

“It’s really not very boring,” my Parisian Aunt says she dreams to travel Stateside as to witness our daily (family life) happenings for herself.

A decidedly undaily occurrence - a meaningful affair with Very Important People !!!

 

Regent

Snowboard break from Monarch duties 

To do today :

- Run household 

- Run land

- Symbolize identity, unity and pride 

- Maintain stability and continuity 

- Officially recognize success and excellence 

- Support the ideal of voluntary service

- Engage in politics and ceremony 

- Act as intercessor (wherever needed)

- Use diplomacy and tactical finesse 

- Patroness art and education 

- Innovate culture

- Supervise staff

- Model piety and chastity

- Produce male heir 

- Secure husband’s hold

- Hit the slopes

Know no bounds

Shapeless, limitless light. 

At a recent introduction to Compassionate Communication (also known as NVC, Nonviolent Communication), questions kept arising regarding boundaries. Each time the speaker politely tried to steer us clear of drawing lines explaining that compassion arises when border delineations dissolve. The questioners would have none of it “surely I MUST have LIMITS as to how much I’m willing to take…” The speaker listened compassionately.

Chatter around boundaries entered my field in the following days and I so enjoyed being equipped with this fresh take on the topic. NO BOUNDARIES ! It also reminded me of my dear Yoga School - Kripalu Yoga - where our fantastic teacher said the best way to describe Kripalu Yoga, and therefore the essence of teaching we would impart thereafter, was COMPASSIONATE.  

100’s of elves

How many elves to bring into the workshop ?? Of course there is no right answer !!

“Two is twenty”; you hear the sayings - expect each additional family member to increase the whole lot exponentially. 

Here is a real-life EG from our family:

0 children - mom cleans small apartment solo.

1 child - cleaner comes 1x every 2 weeks in streamlined new home.

2 children - mom begs cleaner to come 1x per week. Cleaner cannot. OK.

3 children - new cleaner hired, comes 1x per week.

4 children - cleaner comes 2x per week at much higher rate. Extra help is hired. She comes the other 3 days for laundry, kitchen and everything else on ‘the list’. That’s 5 days of housekeepers. 

🫣

It’s everything

I will write that down.

Agenda - ‘matters of practice’ ‘things to be done’

Credenda - ‘matters of faith’ ‘things to be believed’

THE MOM BOOK. My agenda is my everything. There were a few consecutive mornings I was in a whirlwind and neglected THE BOOK. What happened? I confused pizza day, ‘handwork’ was left behind, husband was likely blamed, frazzle mania, a few extra trips to school… 

Goldie’s friend was at our home looking for a special pen she brought, we didn’t find it before her departure so I said “not to worry it will turn up, I’ll write it in my book”, to which Goldie proclaimed “if it’s in her book it always gets done!” When we found the pen I put it in Goldie’s backpack AND wrote down in the book that I had done so to remind Goldie in the AM to return it. I kid you not! It seems insane, right? But writing things down lifts them off of your brain so you can focus on the present moment, the task at hand. The past/future minutiae is otherwise debilitating. Write it down - consider it done. It is extremely satisfying to dot one’s i’s and cross ones t’s. 

- Ongoing grocery lists are on a separate portable notepad.

- Completed items are always fully crossed out!

- I love highlighters

- Pen vs Pencil depends on the season, but stick to one or the other.

- This book is SACRED and OFF LIMITS to anyone but you. They can 👀, but they can’t touch !

- Mostly business, not so much a diary. But certainly keep a separate journal as well. 
 

Dancing in the dark

 

Lean into your lesser used senses.

Caregiver superpower : seeing in the dark.

Close your eyes to navigate an unlit room. Literally ! Try it ! It’s magic !! It’s also an endlessly applicable metaphor - CLOSE YOUR EYES TO SEE IN THE DARK. 

YOU are the LIGHT in light’s absence.

Tada

Escape - ‘get out of one’s cape’.

There are times to flee, but more often, chances to REMEDY. 

Remedy - re-med - heal again.

Good to see You

 

Apparently, it can’t all be rainbows and butterflies ?!?! 

Realization : if a situation continuously reoccurs, it’s likely due to expert avoidance and adroit dodging. FACE the facts, gradually unearth the ROOT, expose the TRUTH and conclude the past.

 

My lantern walks with me

 

Glimmer Lantern, Glimmer

SOOO many SHINING reasons to WALDORF. ‘MARTINMAS’ is just one BRIGHT one. 

Much to come

The horizon is looking chaotic and I’m finding it tricky to cope! Activities, appointments, meetings, pick-ups, drop-offs, friends-over, evenings out, parties, trips … lists, phone calls, conversations, follow-ups, check-ins … schedule tweaks, unforeseen events, overlaps … When the sailing is smooth, this ship is a beautiful sight to behold, but when the weather takes an inevitable turn for the worst we are keeling, reeling, and taking on water. 

No reminder to BE HERE NOW is necessary as laser focused presence is a matter of survival in precarious conditions. The body, heart, mind and spirit come together to navigate the squall. 

Freeze style

Not barren, just a bit numb.

“The ground is too frozen to pull up carrots today.”

The farmers pronounced the morning of the would-be field trip. Fair warning in nature is no warning. The ground will warm up, soften, and give in its own time. The frost doth thaw! Eventually. 

Abide

Adho Mukha Sukhasana

Abide - remain behind.

I notice only encouragement (in this society) to get ahead! stay ahead! be multiple steps ahead of!! … is it working?

Why not try ABIDING. Wait, dwell , remain, endure, stay firm under. 

Sukhasana

Sukha - easy. It’s anything but!

Sukha - comfort, joy. The end result, reward of abiding. 

Queen Vibes

Hello November.

Gentle is the way. Gentle is the way. Gentle is the way.

Be careful what you wish for !! 

Sacrament : an outward and visible sign of an inward and spiritual grace.

 

SLOW is fast

 

SNOW walk

And a woman who held a babe against her bosom said

"Speak to us of children"

Your children are not your children
They are the sons and daughters of life's longing for itself
They come through you but not from you
And though they are with you yet they belong not to you

You may give them your love but not your thoughts
For they have their own thoughts
You may house their bodies but not their souls
For their souls dwell in the house of tomorrow

Which you cannot visit, not even in your dreams
You may strive to be like them
But seek not to make them like you
For life goes not backward, nor tarries with yesterday

You are the bows from which your children
As living arrows are sent forth
The archer sees the mark upon the path of the infinite
And he bends you with his might

That his arrows may go swift and far
Let your bending in the archer's hand be for gladness
For even as he loves the arrow that flies
So he loves also the bow that is stable

- Kahlil Gibran

CLARITY dawns on a 2-hour snow walk with Berniedoodle in the shimmering frigidity of Jack Frost’s first hello.  PRIORITIZING then follows when we return to our hectic family homes with a peek of that new found peace and a slightly slower pace. 

The infuriation remains - “I hate latkes ! I want steak ! I hate my homework ! Why does Patrick get so many pillows ? I hate toothpaste. I want more toothpaste !” - but is received with humor. The next morning is equal parts torture - “I wish this jacket was THAT color with THIS pattern ! How should I know which gloves fit me ? There was breakfast ? Biscuits and bacon ? Why didn’t you tell me !!?? What do you mean it’s time to go ???” And so we must SNOW WALK again the following day. 

BIG house love

 

UTKATA KONASANA - GODESS POSE

Utkata - fierce, powerful

A house that swallows up all of your stuff !! Guest rooms that are just guest rooms - with empty closets !! An EXTRA laundry room with bare cabinets and clear counters !! Car storage for your in-laws’ SUV. En-suite bathrooms, drink fridges, everything in its place and … more empty storage!!!… Spoiled ? YES ! Big houses may be out of fashion, but at this stage in life, the McMansion is so my style !!! 😉

Work work work work work

Work work work work work - Some weeks are just like that.

A minute is long

If you need more of the most precious commodity, ASK the universe to    slow    time    down    .

 

Atonement

Atone : at one.

Utthita Parsvakonasana

 

Utthita Parsvakonasana  ; click to let the experts do the talking.

As the leaves change seemingly in the span of a few hours, so too are we more vibrant than ever only to SHED the very next moment. Not too comfortable is it??

Utthita Parsvakonasana - to stretch this open can feel inconvenient, painful, and the broad spectrum in between. This extended side angle gal dons an apron for she is disagreeable as of late from her endless responsibilities, including those in the cuisine. And from bygone pain returning to haunt her and… and… 

The point just past the glory of Autumn color.

Crisp, stunning, fortified on the outside; unsure, weary, mal à l’aise on the inside. Breathe into the shape of this asana. We are not expected to hold Utthita Parsvakonasana forever - this too shall pass. 

Seasons change

Michaelmas time, Michaelmas time!
Time is turning under the plough,
Under the stars, under the signs,
The ploughman toils with deep furrowed brow.
He turns his thoughts against the cold,
Buries his fears 'neath the Earth's deep mould.
Frost, like fire, burns white on the blade,
Of his iron share that red fire made.

Michaelmas time, Michaelmas time!
Time is bending over the scales,
Over the bread, over the wine,
The ploughman bows his head at the rail.
He turns his thoughts towrads the flame,
Raises his eyes to the thanksgiven grain.
Stars, like spears, gleam over the tower,
Of the house of God in Michael's hour.

Michaelmas time, Michaelmas time!
Time is changing the guard of the world.
Deep in his heart, dauntless in mind,
The ploughman guards against time growing old.
He stands and studies the star-patterned sky,
Fixes each spark in his wishing-well eyes.
Stars, like seeds, strewn over the land
And under the plough by Michael's hand.

Grandma so sweetly saved a dress I gave away - luckily to her - at least 20 years ago. My daughter wears it here to her Harvest Faire where she danced and sang the above song as a willful, courageous and wise queen: the attributes we must gather like nuts as we enter into Autumn and Winter.  

Purging is an all seasons favorite. Perhaps even my most favorite. But, beware! What they say in nearly every ‘letting it go’ style scripture - that ‘you’ll never miss a single item’ - is so not true!! I’ve had many many many missteps (as in, over donating again and again). That is the fee for tidiness and circulation of energy. These little “oopsies, I really wish I still had that,” are the price of admission for fresh beginnings, SPACE and sometimes, new things. 

Autumn Equinox 2020, 2021& 2022

Yes - you’ll want the cashmere !

 

Silly little travel notes.

Similar to my affinity for purging and organizing, packing is a passion. I scribble little notes on how I did: what worked, what didn’t; refine, refine, refine. Sometimes I even refer to these notes ;) EG: “Yes - you DO need wool socks and warm hats for Telluride in September! & Cashmere leggings for outdoor morning yoga.”  

Shower Cap Smoothie Party!! must have : SHARPIE 💘!!

Here are the Notes from 4-days, 3-nights in San Diego, California :

Originally written in a small Ooly notebook with ink -

- SHARPIE - to differentiate kids’ identical acquisitions such as airport gum and stuffies, hotel notepads, pens, shower caps etc. Label family members’ plastic water cups/bottles to reuse, and, of course, hotel room keys!! Label anything and everything to cut down on the screaming. And Mommy doesn’t want to share because yes, her objects are the ones in their proper place. All this without wasting (Mabel’s)Labels. Use those beforehand for all that you pack.

- TOTES - compressible, cute, matching. For day tips, shopping outings, kids’ overnights. Also, makes you look like more of  a local (to be shopping bag free). Hide smaller fancier purse inside for when that’s smart.

- SHAWL - a big cozy wool shawl is a sweater and a BLANKIE for snuggling the world over without nary a raised brow. Warmth for the whole family, but especially for mommy. Bring a more compact wool/silk scarf in addendum. Seems redundant? Not so - very versatile, takes little space, one-size-fits-all.

I also stalk the WEATHER for weeks before my voyage. I try to learn the climate by adding the location to my phone’s weather list. Analyzing the timed arc of lows to highs and patterns of precipitation. EG: It will be nippy and socked-in at café on the Pacific cliffs, room temp and sunny for the cove visit with the seals, then brisk once again at the shores après surf snack. 

Into the home elevator and going down …😉

I am just as thorough with trips for my husband and/or children that I’m not embarking upon because I’m still the one packing. You teach your children how to pack properly by SHOWING them, not by having them do it themselves and hoping for the best. IT’S A SUPERPOWER TO BE WELL PREPARED! And it is a life-long learning process that requires actual real-life experience. It is a loving gesture to help your family in this way. 

Rest in the arms of God

“…detach from the opinions and prizes of the world, and rest in the arms of God.”

- Marianne Williamson

To rest in the arms of God; in downright opposition of how I have been intellectually doing life for the previous two decades. The Truth hidden - from little me, at least - in plain sight. Luckily our Spirit always resides here and look how beautiful this existence is regardless of our silly superficial surface selves!

It’s irrefutable and indisputable (to this parent) that (our) children are God. It took the experience of creating, birthing, holding babies - at least 4 times! - for me to finally ask “if this is true, and they are God, then what am I?” 

Boys. Brothers. Babies. Buddhas.