corner view~thankfulness

I'm so very thankful for life's unexpected blessings.

And I am thankful for true loyal friends, which I have seen, are pretty rare.

two great days

 this is the boy who very quickly will be creaming me in basketball games

 Shawn and Sky, last year

We had a bunch of friends over last night for a pot luck.  It has been a long time since we hosted something here, other than my kids' birthday parties.  We had many kids in the house, which I loved, including five kids under age four, a couple of teen girls for our girls, and a playmate for Shawn.  The evening ended with interesting intelligent conversation among all of the adults while the girls read to the little ones.  I was happy.  I made a huge pot of lentil soup, and a salad using some greens from our tiny garden.  I started the cooking a little late in the day due to spending the earlier part of the day helping at Annabel's Annie rehearsal (Annabel plays Lily).  I looked at a lentil soup recipe from Moosewood, to get the basic idea, but didn't follow it.  I added mustard seeds.  It was a hit, and we had plenty for leftovers.  One of the teen girls slept over with my girls.  They crammed two mattresses into Annabel's room, and stayed up later than us, talking.

Today Sky made French toast and then we lazed around and did a million dishes and a few loads of laundry.  It was cool and cloudy and windy, the way I love it.  Shawn watched a movie, Gary watched football at a friend's house, Annabel went to babysit, and Sky and I talked.  Then Shawn asked me to play with him.  I told him we could shoot some baskets.  The next thing I knew I was playing a game of one-on-one with him -- 1/2 court, but still.  We played to ten, went into triple overtime, and tied before I said, after catching my breath, I have to go in and take a shower and make dinner (which brings me back to the lentil soup, which I reheated).  And it was a hit again.

While I was cooking Shawn convinced me to play Scrabble with him, and we started a game that we finished after dinner, getting Gary involved in helping both of us.  Gary is a million times better at Scrabble than me (or Shawn) and so the game got pretty competitive.  Shawn beat me even though I spelled zinc and earned 45 points for it, triple word score.

I love my boys.  I love my girls.  I am grateful for days like these.     

happy thanksgiving

I am grateful for our home and food to feed our family.
I am grateful for the opportunity to come together with friends and feed the homeless in our community.
I am grateful to the people who started this seva opportunity.
I am grateful for the blessings that this experience is giving to all of us.
We are now doing this once a month, as a family.  Friends with kids are joining.  More and more people want to participate.

A week after the first time we worked to feed the homeless in our community, which always includes many children, I asked my son a question.

"Shawn what do you feel best about in your life?"

I expected him to say his school grades, sports accomplishments, learning drums...

But without hesitation he answered, "Feeding the homeless."  I remembered a week prior, as Shawn stood in line offering scoops of rice to all of the people who came through the line, with more politeness than we usually see at home.  (He called the women ma'am!)  I remembered all the children who came through the line with their parents, I think we fed 72 people that night.  I remembered two boys, probably brothers, who looked about Shawn's age, all of them the same height, and how they all met eyes.  And I realized, never underestimate the power of these types of experiences for our children, all of them -- those with homes and those without.

So yes, happy Thanksgiving.

corner view~energy

Where do you get your energy from? 

our autumn

While my blog posts here for the last few months have been a series of catch up of our summer travels (next summer, far fewer stops, phew!), life has been clipping along here at, what suddenly feels like a rapid pace.  Perhaps this is how parents of teenagers feel.

Beyond school and rest, we have spent time playing in the ocean and the kids have been learning new sports.  Tennis lessons were the first thing the kids did when we got back.  Now Annabel and Shawn are back to Taekwondo and Skylar remains, the lone tennis player in the family. 

Music continues to be a part of our life.  There are currently three albums being recorded in the family, by Gary and both girls.  And Shawn is learning piano.  It's a great thing, to live in a family of musicians.  When I was in high school I knew this boy, he was two years my senior and very handsome.  And he could play the keyboards.  I was in a theater show with him and all of the kids would gather around the keyboards while played, and we would sing.  Then and there I decided I wanted to marry a man who could play the piano.

I guess I got my wish, and then some!     

Also fashion is becoming important among some members over here.  I am realizing that I am not in it, fashion that is.  I am okay with this.  I do enjoy looking at jewelry with the girls.  And to add to the excitement, Sky has her driver's permit!

Luckily in the midst of all of this we have many quiet family meals, a few visits with friends, and moments to read Gary Larsen comics.     

our final days of summer

Jim made us orange pancakes at the B&B we stayed in.  We did a little walking, we did a little visiting, we picked some berries, and explored a town we once lived in.

And then we said goodbye to our friends, and to California, and we headed home.

what to do with the little unexpected things

Annabel at age 6

This morning I was required to spend time on something unexpected.  This took away from my normal routine, which includes, on Fridays, two half days with different pickup times.   With our kids in public school only two full days a week, I have less quiet time at home to get things done than anytime since they were babies, or home schooled.  I adore my kids.  I love my kids.  But I also crave solitude and quiet in the house, especially now that it is so rare.  And when I have it, I get things done a lot more effortlessly, and I can focus better.

Needless to say, this morning I never got to my meditation.

Annabel came home from school, the first one, after noon dismissal.   I ate a quick lunch and then announced that I was going to do my meditation.  Since I do this daily, the kids have become accustomed to this and respect that it is important to me.   

Annabel said she wanted to meditate with me.  That she was just thinking yesterday that she wanted to do it.  When we used to home school we meditated together most days.  For several months, we spent 1/2 hr doing a guided meditation for kids that she (and I) had learned.  It was really good for her.

So naturally when she asked to join me today after a long hiatus, I said sure.

We sat down for a 1/2 hour meditation.  Within a few minutes I could hear a loud buzzing of some sort of electrical machine right out my window, coming from the neighbors yard.  Just breathe, I told myself.  The noise would come and go unexpectedly.  Try as I could to not be attached to the blaring sound and find the peace within me, just like the monks do, despite all circumstances, I kept feeling annoyed.  Breathe, I told myself.  Breathe.  I was wondering how Annabel would react.  Surprisingly, she was peaceful.  

Three quarters way through our meditation, the noise finally stopped.  I was able to feel so much more peace and calm without the jarring to my nervous system.  I tried not to judge myself.  Breathe, I told myself.

Later Annabel and I talked about the noise.  "I was just imagining that each noise was the machine saying Om," she told me.  Amazing.   

Because when you think about it, this meditation experience is like life.  We practice meditation so that when we are stressed we can remember to be calm, to breathe through it, and find our center.  And what better way to grow spiritually than to roll with the unexpected!     

old guys rule

We love towns with woods and nature and a seniors biking club.  We love towns with a sense of humor (the vehicle's license plate was Van Go).  We love towns with live music played by people like Tom Finch.  We love towns with organic nurseries that sell organic compost (don't let anyone else give you crap), and we especially love towns with frozen yogurt and the best tulsi naan you have ever eaten.

hello northern california

It was nice to be there and connect with more old friends.  Annabel was singing to greet you.  Hello Mount Tam!