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.

art and amma

I try to get my kids working in the studio with me as much as possible.  It always works best when I paint along with them, when the join me once I have begun.  They are like moths to a flame.

We leave soon for a trip to California, to one of my most favorite places on earth.  We are all going this year, to spend some days with Amma.

I will miss corner view this week, but I hope you have fun and I will be back.

pisa

This past summer, after leaving Cinque Terre, we took a train to Pisa, checked into our hotel, had some dinner and went to sleep.  The next day we braved a heat wave and walked to the tower.  It was massive, and quite impressive.  Leaning more than I expected.  We stayed in Pisa one night on our way back to Paris.  The kids liked the fresh cake in the hotel lobby.

for the birds

My twenty tulsi plants are HUGE!  The plants are so strong they can support small birds.  But they are so overgrown and sorely neglected since I was gone for three months.  I have not had time to harvest them much, even since we have been back.  They thrive in the weather conditions where we live.   They are almost as tall as me and need to be shaped. 

I refuse to prune them and just throw out the precious branches.  Each leaf is medicine.  In the last couple of years I have harvested them and plucked the leaves off by hand.  Then I dry the leaves and ship them to California where they are packaged for tulsi tea.  The tea is sold, it helps so many people.  And the money earned is given to charitable causes.  So it is a multi-level seva.

I love the quiet, meditative work of harvesting, but I am so busy these days that I have little time for it.  Still I persevere, bit by bit.

In the meantime, the birds are loving the seeds, and the bees love the flowers.  Just today I heard an unusual sound at my window and when I opened the shade, I kid you not, a bird was tapping his beak on the window, as if to say thank you.

corner view~where has the time gone?

Wow.  It used to be that I was the mommy of babies.  I think some of you can relate!

I just watched videos of the births of my second two children.  (The first birth was so fast we didn't get video).

It was really touching to see these.  They brought me right back.  To how it was, to the sweetness of a new baby, to the wonderful support I felt from my husband, family and friends.  To how special it was for the older children to welcome their siblings.

What an amazing blessing and honor it is to be a mother.