happy halloween

Mork from Ork, two characters from a new Rick Riordan book called The Lost Hero (Piper and Leo), and a little nighttime fire dancing for entertainment.  All weekend parties, games, kids running like crazy, and they still haven't gone out trick-or-treating tonight!

when chambers came...

Not only did the kids brush up on their acting, but every time he took us out to dinner he insisted the kids get desert, like these make-your-own s'mores.  Every meal was cause for celebration.  Good ol' Chambers.

corner view~pondering

This theme came from the lovely Juniper.

2003 Remember these days?

Lately I have been reflecting on the power of patience and the blessing of time.  It's good to look at where we have been, and where we are now.  It's good to note growth.

And it's exciting to imagine what's to come!

Seven years ago we welcomed our third baby.  We were getting ready to move 3000 miles, the house was a constant disaster, and I felt overwhelmed with the messiness of the house and the daunting task of such a massive change.

Now these three children help with laundry, cooking, and washing cars.  Sky is our babysitter when we go out.  No one is in diapers anymore!  And I, thank you very much, have gotten more relaxed about a messy house.  But I still love it when it is picked up best.  And luckily it doesn't get as crazy as it was in the above photo.

Next week's theme is "famous," and it comes from Don.

waterfall hike

Our super adventurous European friends, (who know our surroundings better than we do) took us on a rainforest hike to a beautiful, sparkling waterfall and pool.  But in order to get there we trudged through narrow paths, pushing past the brush on both sides, acquiring some scratches and falling in the water as we passed thirteen ankle to knee deep streams.  My favorite part was the bamboo clearing where the kids, of course, sword fought. Along the way we snacked on wild guava and raspberries, but we didn't eat the coffee beans (red round smooth ones in clumps).  The water was oh so cool and refreshing after a long hike, and Shawn and I braved the cold and got right in...   

corner view~ps

Please leave ideas for future corner views in the comments section.  We'd like to know what you want to write about.

Thanks!

corner view~holiday

I love road trips 

Those who read my blog know that we live in a vacation oasis, we travel every summer to the U.S. mainland, and this past summer was a two month holiday of myriad surprises.

What none of us knew at the time, was that we were going to spend my summer birthday with a dear old friend and his wife!

July 14, 2010:  That morning I found out that the hotel we had booked had messed up our reservations, and was full.  So were all the other hotels we called.  So we called our friend (the man who introduced me to my husband) and invited ourselves and our three kids to stay with them in the middle of their work week.  They welcomed us with open arms, and we had so much fun that we stayed a couple of extra days.  We enjoyed meals with them, celebrated my birthday with Italian take-out, sat on the screened in porch and drank New York egg cremes, played basketball and took long walks during the days while they were at work, and played music til midnight together when they came home.

Logic would never have planned such a holiday, but luck did!

For more thoughts about holidays see the list at the right top of this blog.  Thanks to our world traveler Ian, for this idea.  Next week's theme is "pondering," and it comes from the lovely Juniper.  What are you thinking about these days?  Don't tell us now, wait til next week...

acting workshop

Our children's acting coach from Los Angeles just came to town and did a workshop.  All of our kids got to participate, and I got to watch and snap a few shots with my phone.

It was such a fun day for the kids, and their coach, and I thought, what a great thing to love your work as much as he does.

Annabel held her own with the older kids, and all three of my kids surprised me a bit with their skills.  They had to make up and perform their own commercials, they had to create skits in small groups, it involved a lot of improvisation, and memorizing lines.
Coach is talking about coming back in the winter.  I hope he does.  I want to take the class!  I wonder if I could pass for a teen?
Nah.

Oh well.

corner view~green/relationship with nature

photo from Google images

I love green.  Every time I look at this picture I can't help it, I just take a deep breath. 

Green is the color of life. I love the smell of freshly cut grass. I eat daily from my herbs and lettuces in the garden, savoring each flavor.  I love watching seedlings unfold, and the taste of an herb's tender bud, right as the seed pods begin to form.  

Thank you Otli, for hosting corner view this week.  One of the reasons I love corner view is that it is a reminder of the fact that we all share this beautiful planet, and that we are all connected more than we usually realize.

Be sure to check out Annabel's post and hear her recently recorded version of Earth Song.  And if you want to hear my thoughts about the environment - composting, recycling, gardening, cutting down on consumerism, please feel free to read my blog labels "the environment," or my retired blog called "the Green Mama."

For more corner views about green and people's thoughts about nature go to the sidebar on the upper right corner.

Next week's topic will be holiday photos (vacation photos for the Americans), as suggested by the cool world traveling writer Ian.

I will continue to host corner view until Jane returns from her galavanting with bulls, olives, grapes, and all things Spanish.  Jane if you are out there we love you and we hope you are enjoying art school!  Cate and I decided my hosting CV would be simplest, especially since we are adding newcomers, and some people are emailing me a tad confused.  You will see that the CV list has been trimmed, if anyone has been cut accidentally, and wants to participate, let me know.  Please accept my apology.  I did my best.  Also if anyone has other ideas for future themes feel free to post here.

Toodles, my friends.  Happy October!

imagine

Sky's Youtube tribute to John Lennon made on what would have been his 70th birthday, had he lived.

shawn's corner view

If I had my own computer and I could pick corner view, I'd pick musicians.

This is what I would say:

My dad is a musician.  He works with Mike, he is a drummer.  He used to work with a different drummer.  My dad said that if I work hard someday I'll be his drummer.  Mike also said that too.  I want to be a drummer when I grow up.  My sister Annabel will be an actress and singer.  My older sister Skylar, when I get a little bit older, not when I grow up, I will be her drummer.  She plays piano, guitar, a little bit of drums, a tiny bit of harmonica and she sings, and she writes songs.

This is music I like:  Mike Doughty, Daddy, Skylar, Annabel singing on YouTube, the Police, a little bit of Michael Jackson's songs, Elton John, Don Henley, Bonnie Raitt, Bruce Springsteen, Taylor Swift, James Blunt, the Jonas Brothers, Selena Gomez, Sting, the Sundays, High School Musical 1, 2 and 3, the Beatles, the Salamanders, Miss Kitty, and Police Disc 2.

have a colorful day

To all my friends all over the world.

corner view~orange

Today and next week hosted by Otli.   For more corner views go here:

jane, ian, joyce, kim, kaylovesvintage, trinsch, ritva, francesca, state of bliss, cabrizette, isabelle, janis, kari, jgy, lise, cate, otli, b, sophie, mcgillicutty, sunnymama, daan, ibb,  pienduzz, kelleyn, ninja, sammi, theresa, cherry b, juliette, shokoofeh, cole, grey lemon, lucylaine, lynn, skywriting, anna, dorit, conny, l´atelier, kamana, anne marie, rosamaría, victoria, tikjewit, juniper, annabel, andrea, valerie, merel, soisses, mlle paradis, cacahuete, wander chow, barbara, emily, tally, nadine, matilda, don, flowtops, susanna, tania, dana, ingrid

welcome autumn skies

I love a night like this.  Gary and I have had some time to go out in the evenings.  Things are slowing down a bit, it's a good thing, after such a busy month.  We are in a good rhythm as a family.  I am happy to say hello to October.

annabel's makeover part two

I am including the shot that shows her braces because soon they are coming off!  You never saw a girl so excited.  My Annabel is becoming such a sweet, pretty young lady.  After all, she is eleven.

Acting workshop tomorrow for all of my kids!  Another twenty children and teens from our community will participate too.  I get to assist all day, it should be fun.  So I am going to learn how to audition for a television commercial along with the kids.  Just sayin.