Monday, February 28, 2011

TTLY or TTTYA


Recently, it was decided here on this Down Home blog that This Time Last Year should be a weekly installment.  But, I never keep up with weekly or daily or monthly so instead it just kind of happens.  Lucky you, it's happening today...and it's This Time Three Years Ago!  Three years ago on Smitty's birthday, a newborn baby was resting by my side as we ate chocolate cake in bed.  Yep, that's how we roll.  Nothing says hippie like a bunch of friends in your bed eating cake the day after you give birth right next to it.  Just fabulous.  Happy belated Birthday, Smitty! 

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Rollercoaster

How did I get so friggy busy?  It has just happened.  All kinds of great and wonderful things are coming my way but intense hard stuff is happening in our great North State, as well.  I am treading water trying to stay sane through it all.  Sending out lots of love and support and keeping a bit in for myself in the midst of these trying times. 

Saturday, February 26, 2011

May Day

This is E when she was a wee babe with dear May.  May is such an incredible human, as I recall.  It's been a while since we got to spend time together but I remain very glad she is out there in the world doing her thing.  Happy belated Birthday, May!  I am so glad that you were born.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Deep Breath

Goodness did life get busy and full in the last week.  E was super brave for her tooth extraction.  In brief, she is doing well.  North Carolina midwives are getting lots of attention.  My friend, the boy started chemo today.  And, the bear turns 3 tomorrow!

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Roll Out The Dough

and throw it in the pan!



Most days we like to play with dough and bake some bread.  Not today though.  We are going to the dentist today for a tooth extraction (aka pulling e's first year molar).  If you are the praying type, would you please pray all kinds of wonderful and simple prayers for everyone and everything involved?  Thank you.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

unplugged

when a kid has a full on imagination flowing, it is just incredible to watch unfold.  who needs technology?  let's just plug it into this truck we found at the thrift store years ago.  sound good?

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

driveway

fresh gravel
the other day, i came home to this amazingly clean looking driveway.  e commented that it looks like snow.  can you see the brokedown mailbox in the background?  it belongs to my neighbor.  the snowplow crushed it when it was plowing our street. it crushed at least 5 other mailboxes on our road, i was told.  it knocked our mailbox door off it's hinge and scraped it up.  but, it's still standing at least.

Monday, February 14, 2011

V Day = D Day

Happy D Day to my lover!!!  We decided years ago on Feb. 14th that we had hit rock bottom in our marriage.  We'd gone out for Mexican food and to the theater to see a movie.  We kept driving through the country instead of turning onto that BBQ road.

It was a horrible, lonely, gross place to be.  Hubs lost his job, my step-father and his father both died within 6 months of each other to cancer, we weren't at all happy living in Virginia after just getting back from awesomeness in India.  Nothing fit. Instead of turning to each other, we turned on each other.  A bunch of other really sad stuff happened.  We moved back to NC so we could breathe.

tried to find the oldest pic on the computer: Spring 2004
We took the deepest breath we have ever taken and ploughed through.  It was beyond difficult.  But, this many years later, it is beyond worth it.  What we destroyed was built back up beyond what we ever could have thought or imagined.  There's a lot that we just laid to rest and don't even talk much about anymore since so much healing has happened.  But there is a lot that we go over again and again b/c we are incredibly thankful.  We have been given back a full measure.  We are drinking from the saucer b/c our cup has overflowed.  Happy D Day!

Sunday, February 13, 2011

This Time Last Year

It kinda feels like "This Time Last Year" should be a weekly post for me.  I love looking back at our Bali pics from this time last year (TTLY).  Because our internet was so spotty and I worked all the time, slept or was riding around on a motorbike to wherever people took me, most of our awesome pics didn't get uploaded.

sister play
So, this was a familiar backyard scene for us once we moved into our friend's house.  Some chickens would visit, we'd feed them and they would peck around.  The girls would play.  I would do NARM paperwork.  Hubs would try very hard to sleep till noon b/c he'd been working the night before until 4 am. Our friend, Ibu Duah would come place offerings on my bicycle and all over early in the morning and often let E assist her.  Ants would crawl all over my feet regardless of how often we swept the floor.  It was a wide open kitchen with no screens in the windows and no door.  Regardless, I miss making fried potatoes, chili and spaghetti in that kitchen many days.

Friday, February 11, 2011

Simplicity Parenting excerpt

"Most families have increased the speed of their lives and the number of their activities gradually- even unconsciously- over time.  They realize that there are costs to a consistently fast-paced, hectic schedule, but they've adjusted.  And looking around, there always seems to be another family that does everything you do, and more, managing to squeeze in skiing, or Space Camp, or French horn lessons on top of everything else.  How do they do it?

They do it by never asking, "Why?"  Why do our kids needs to be busy all of the time?  Why does our son, at age twelve, need to explore the possibilities of space travel?  Why do we feel we must offer everything?  Why must it all happen now?  Why does tomorrow always come a bit late?  Why would we rather squeeze more things into our schedules than to see what happens over time?  What happens when we have free time?"

from Simplicity Parenting by Kim Payne

Thursday, February 10, 2011

special gifts

firewood for next year
Hubby's co-worker and friend fell about 10 trees for solar gain last month.  The co-worker generously offered the wood to our family for our woodstove stash.  The logs will need to season for a while before we can actually use them in the woodstove.  Until then, they will rest here and be split over the summer.  The larger logs will be part of a fun outdoor creation for our girls. 

These logs represent an incredible gift from his co-worker.  What was so interesting to watch for me was how the transport of them came together.  The truck we were to borrow fell through as well as the trailer to haul them.  Our dear friend asked his father-n-law if we could use it just for the day and he agreed.  That same friend spent all day from the crack of dawn until dinner time loading, driving and unloading.  Somewhere in the middle of all of that, he and my incredible husband even found time and energy to pick out a wonderful birthday gift for me!  When each load arrived at our home, our neighbor and adopted big brother would come unload and organize with the guys.  It was so neat to watch them all work together.  I was so proud of my husband and the devoted and kind friends he has chosen. 

It's really heart-warming to see our community come together just to help us have logs to burn in the years to come.  We'd like to use our woodstove as sustainably as possible.  Thus, felled trees are a great source for that to happen.  We are so grateful!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Goa Gajah in Feb 2010

hanging out in a cave

beautiful fountains on either side

some stair walking

is this a banyan tree?

directions

carved in

mr. amazing

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

White Space

One of my dearest friends recently was telling me how she felt like there were so many great opportunities for homeschoolers in our area that it can be overwhelming.  Her daughter is really into exploring dance, theater, singing, colonial history, while maintaining close friendships with a few families they have known for a long time.  Over the years, I have always sought guidance and direction from this woman.  While it's not limited to parenting and homeschooling, she is often my go-to person in those areas.  So, when she realized how important it was to scale back and have more down time, I really paid attention.  Both she and her kids are really social.  One thing she taught me years ago though was to make time for "white space".  White space is the open, unscheduled down time to process everything that has happened.  It's empty enough to let the person absorb all that has come into their realm, to explore their feelings and basically, to soak it all up. 

I could spend a large part of my week in white space if there is even one day of going out, hosting at home or social activity.  Any car trip that involves bringing water, a snack and changes of clothes pretty much pushes me; I have to really be up for it.  I'd rather stay home to cook, read, chop wood and prep the garden.  As someone who needs a lot of private, quiet time, I have to balance that with the awesomeness of friendships and community outside our home.  It's so easy for the chicks and I to get into the zone of doing our own thing.  They get engaged in play so deeply with each other that it's like there's a force field around them.  While, I am thankful for this, I know if they don't have their cup filled with friendships or a walk to the park, they will go stir-crazy.  Outside of home life, I get to work with families in their childbearing years; thankfully, this kind of work actually energizes me.  Plus, my friend is right about how many awesome opportunities there are in our area: from neat parks, lakes, rivers and trails to interesting museums, parades and festivals.  On top of all of that, there are just simple get-togethers with like-minded families.  We haven't taken much interest in the organized events like Homeschool Science Fairs or the weekly enrichment meetings, yet.  But, can't you see how a family could homeschool without ever staying home?

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

apple yum

yummy apple pie
gluten free but started with a "joy of vegan baking" recipe