lunar eclipse tonight

The moon was stunning.

I am getting into the Christmas spirit and the artist's mind.  Last night I went to sleep with an idea for art.  I woke up and sketched it, excitedly.  I have been so busy with little time for anything creative.  But the studio came alive today for a little while, when I had some time.  I enjoyed starting a gift for my niece.  Tonight Shawn got in on the action.  He made a gift for one of his sisters.

When I put him to bed I told him, "Shawn you are a sculptor!"  He is always comparing his art abilities to his two super talented older sisters.  Little brother, can never measure up in his mind.  But tonight the girls were out testing for the brown belts, and I had Shawn all to myself.   It took a little coaxing, but he was awesome.  Peaceful, quiet, at work.

I had forgotten how much intelligence and happiness and importance and magic there is in the artmaking process.  Silly me.

corner view~youer than you

This photo was taken three years ago.  A happy memory.  I was on a trip with Gary and the kids.  We were heading to the beach with a bunch of friends, and there wasn't enough room in the cars so at the last minute a group of us decided to ride in the back of a truck.  It was freeing and fun -- I had nary a care sitting in the back of this grungy truck with Gary, the kids, our babysitter Annie, and a dog.  It was perfect.  We just laughed and laughed.

I am a country girl at heart. 

And a tree lover.

Everybody needs beauty as well as bread, places to play in and pray in, where nature may heal and give strength to body and soul.
- John Muir

summer in chicago part 2

I love my brothers!

22 days til christmas

After a week of being in bed with fever and aches I am a tad behind.  That's ok.  I have given myself permission to not have everything perfect this year.  We will make the best of what we have which is nine more days of school, including presentations and conferences and final schoolwork to hand in, followed by all three kids testing for higher belts in Taekwondo.  Then by mid month we will be on school break with two brown belts and a red belt to protect us, and will have plenty of time to put up a tree and shop for gifts.  I am also hoping to bake cookies, send some cards, decorate the house, and maybe get my kids to record a carol or two.

This year Annie is coming for Christmas!  Remember my coffee companion?  Annie, the woman who babysat for us when our kids were young, is now is eight months pregnant and we will finally get to meet her husband.  

summer in chicago

After we left Europe we flew into Chicago to see my family.  We stayed with my brother and his wife for a few days and then headed to Miller Beach for a big family reunion.

The second day in Chicago was my birthday and my brothers took us all out to an incredible restaurant where we had Indian food.  We also toured around the city and saw amazing architecture, a mixture of the old and the new, all co-existing in such harmony.

Chicago is truly a beautiful city.

corner view~joy

What is it about collecting rocks and beach glass by the sea that brings so much joy?

The thrill of the hunt, finding ones shaped like hearts, or perfectly round ones, or oval ones, little spheres, pea shaped ones...knowing exactly which rocks are worth taking, which are better left behind, certain colors are most special, all of them shining wet, how important in those moments the tiniest things on earth can seem, precious like gemstones, a gift from God and the sea.  

I have loved this meditative activity since I was a little girl.  This past summer I had the opportunity to experience this joy twice, along the shores of Miller Beach in Indiana, and where the earth meets the water at the Ligurian Sea in Italy.

summer reflection: a few more days in paris

I promised myself that I will post all photos from our summer trip before December is over!

Before we returned to the US we spent a final few days in Paris.  Because well, okay I'll admit it, I needed my meringue fix.

So we took the kids out to eat, walked around town, of course visited the Eiffel Tower, bought a few postcards, and ate at a great Indian restaurant.  One day the kids were tired and they stayed behind in our hotel watching movies and recording music, while Gary and I ventured to a Rodin art museum with indoor and outdoor exhibits.  When we left it was raining, but that didn't dampen our spirits.  In fact I got a couple of umbrellas from the front desk and off we went.  It was pure magic, but silly me, I didn't bring my camera so I can't share.      

Sky marveled at the cheese shops.  Annabel found her dream car, complete with the perfect color.  We all absorbed the sights, smells and sounds of Paris, one last time.  And then said Au revoir...

thanksgiving retreat

A cool crisp week of autumn in northern California.

We had such a wonderful trip.  There were brilliant red leaves scattered on the ground, new friends to be discovered, new colorful sweaters and scarves and gloves to wear, old friends to reconnect with, swamis to hug, flower garlands and a crown to be made and given away, orchards to gaze at, tasty homemade Indian food to consume, including chai and payasam, a pond to visit with swans to marvel at, my family to love, inspiring talks and stories to hear... all from a saint who hugged us.

Plus a sweet husband to spoil a wife and take her here for dinner on our last night, including hiring a driver to bring us there and back, just because.