Things I Do While Waiting for Papier Mâché to Dry...

I totally pinched this idea from, well I can't remember now, but I do remember seeing glittered
clothes pins somewhere, and since no one's pictures satisfied my curiosity I decided I had to try it for myself.  I did learn, however, that putting a coat of corresponding paint on the top side of the pin pre-glitter makes a huge difference in the overall appearance.  I wasn't really in the mood to go through the process just to have mangy looking pins in the end.  I'd really like to find a clear coat to spray over the top that keeps the glitter from dusting off, but also keeps the integrity of the sparkle intact (yes, I just said integrity of the sparkle).

A Little Birdie Told Me

How charming is this little guy?  I love his little feet, and how he looks very plain from far away, but if you get close enough you can see his glittery, golden feathers. 

I remember getting to touch a hummingbird once as a child, on vacation with my parents.  A little guy had taken a wrong turn and found himself stuck on a window sill, high above a gift shop with a very flustered gift shop owner trying to catch him.  My dad simply climbed the ladder, put his hat over the tiny bird, and collected him into his hands.  You know, because catching a hummingbird is so easy. 

Once outside, he opened up a little peephole in his hands and let me spy on the little bird.  I remember it sizing me up with one tiny eyeball, as I extended a finger to stroke the silky feathers of its head.  And then, after a few moments he was gone. 

When I think of my childhood, I can't help but think of hummingbirds.  Every summer my mother put a feeder out, and I could watch, and listen to them from the open bay window.  When it was too cold the birds would move on, and the feeder would come down.  The delicate glass birds twinkling from the mirror of my mother's little sports car made the chilly months seem shorter, if even just the slightest bit.

It is said for many people, the hummingbird is the creature that opens the heart.  What a lovely thought.  Sams, and Carson go on to say:

When we assume hummingbird consciousness, our life becomes a wonderland of sensuous delights. We live for beauty, delighting in flowers, aromas, fine mist, and delicate tastes.

When it becomes our totem, the hummingbird teaches us to laugh and enjoy the creation, to appreciate the magic of being alive, and the truth of beauty.

Hummingbirds awaken us to the beauty of the present moment. As they dance the four quarters of embodied existence, they bring us medicine to solve the riddle of duality. They also awaken us to the medicinal properties of plants.

I guess Mother Nature never ceases to bring us lessons, even from the smallest of teachers.

Hey Daddy-O

It's been awhile since I've posted ... I admit I've been very distracted lately.  Though I will say, I've always had a difficult time staying on task during the summer months.  Summer was always a time to be free.  No schedules, no clocks, no constraints.  Funny how the older we get those things change the fastest, but I still feel part of me holding onto what I held so sacred about this time of year.  I hope I never let that part of myself go. 

So here I am, and there are my boys up at the top ... our daddies.  It turned out to be quite an ambush, as we unloaded and took over the kitchen so our hostess could see daylight, and play with us as well!  I think it turned out even if it was winter-cold in the middle of June.  We made the best of it, and I learned a new game that apparently goes by the names of ladder golf, bolo toss, and the decided favorite of the day, hillbilly horseshoes ... which by the way, my dad totally slayed at since he spent most of his adult life throwing cables to the decks of ships from the docks below.  He can put a ball attached to a string / yarn / rope / cable anywhere he wants, so he kind of had an advantage!

Overall, it was a really good weekend.  It's always nice to get to change your pace a little, relax, and enjoy the people you're with.  I think Dad had a nice time as well, but then again he's always been a sucker for good munchies, and a present now and then, and I don't think the brand new flannel disappointed.  There are a few subtle signs of approval to watch for ... the weight test which is administered by a gentle shake of the garment, followed by a little squeeze of the hand, and then the silence, and after a few moments a very quiet "that's a pretty shirt".  Not very many people describe plaid, flannel, button front shirts as pretty, but he does, and that's what makes it so much fun taking the time to pick out just the right one.

Lowest Tide of the Year!

It was an amazingly sunny (much needed) day, with a stunning -3.5 tide Sunday, and thankfully my brother reminded me. Ok, that's not exactly the right word, I knew it was this month, but somewhere along the way I managed to get the dates all switched around, and was thoughtfully corrected.  I'm so glad I was, 'cause these guys come out ...

... And I just love them, aren't they wonderful?  The picture really doesn't do them justice.  In person not only are they enormous, but their juicy, berry preserves colors are almost unreal!  I could probably, very easily, sit and stare at them all day if it were possible, all the while talking to them in an overly animated, high pitch referencing them as "babies!" and looking VERY insane.  I can hardly care if my cool blows out the bottom of the image-thermometer in the presence of such delightfully charming critters ... I dare you to not feel the slightest baby-talk urge when you see them.  I promise it will be there, and you will have to choke back irritating tones you never knew your voice was capable of!

I didn't come across too many other types of sea life ... life being the key word.  There aren't any spectacularly deep tide pools on this stretch of Puget Sound along Redondo Beach, WA.  It's just a pretty low-key place, with a subtle strip of sand and rocks, unless of course you're into SCUBA, that's a whole other story apparently.  Anyway, when the tide goes out, most of the action is under the piers, clinging to the pilings.  Unless your idea of "action" is countless dead crabs that got left behind as the tide rolled out, pieces of jellyfish, and tiny cockles cooking in the shallow water.

It was still nice to see all the people enjoying themselves in the sunshine amidst all of the, uhm,
abundant death.  That's nature, I suppose, taking the good with the bad, depending on your definition of bad, of course.  Even though it's a natural part of life, there was something still slightly macabre about it all.  With that in mind I had to swing back by the gang involved in what appeared to be a rather nail-biting game of Twister, on my way toward home.

I find it slightly humorous that on the lowest tide of the year I still managed to drench my pants to the knees in salt water.  Though I think those who know me won't be surprised in the least.  When it comes to the beach, I believe I will always be like a 5 year old with water to my knees, and somehow always managing to get sand in my hair!

xoxo

Rise Above

(*Edit* It's no longer a few days past the birth of my niece.  It's no longer May for that matter, but sometimes you have to wait for the right time ... a baby chick doesn't just hatch any ol' time, and I guess this just needed a little more time in the nest.)

I'm baking this morning in the pre-sunrise hours because I can't sleep, and that's what I do when I'm unsettled inside, which believe me is a better option than some of the other ideas I've considered! The women in my family are strange creatures, we each have a respective "thing" we do when we're sad, angry, frustrated, and unsure of what to do next, perhaps it clears our heads and gives us a moment to sort what's important. For one it's yard work, another is cleaning (aka scrubbin'), for another it may be bills or paperwork of some sort. The funny thing is that they are each productive, and a type of sorting in a very obvious and physical sense clearly reflecting the work that needs to be done on the inside or on a more spiritual / emotional level. Believe me, I've had a couple record breaking arguments with my sister ... her house has never been so spotless! It's fairly safe to ask when you see counter tops full of goodies to munch on, or a spotless house, or a lawn you can eat off of or a desk as neat as a pin, "So who have you been upset with?"

Day 873432

Into my procrastination, well it feels that long anyway. So what did I do to be productive?

Took a walk on the beach.

And took a rock, which you're not exactly supposed to do along this stretch of beach, but I did anyway (shhhh!). I don't think the beach minds though.

Today was Beautiful!

It really was ... or maybe I've just become accustomed to the many shades of grey Western Washington has to offer in the late Winter / early Spring, and that's what made today "extra" beautiful. The sun was shining, thirsty hummingbirds were dipping, and diving around my eaves, a faint smell of briquettes ready to grill up something wonderful, I'm certain, weather that was oddly warmer than it appeared, with just the tiniest breeze ... with all of that information swirling around my dusty, cob-webbed, winter brain ... well there was only one thing to do. Would it be too cold? Too windy ... somehow miserable? I had to chance it, I just couldn't wait ANY longer!

Today was the first day of the season my toes got to splash around in Puget Sound (and yes, it was just as glorious as I knew it would be ... even better actually!). You don't understand, even though I LOVE Fall and Winter, and practically beg the gods for snow beginning the day after my birthday, and ending sometime (ok, yesterday), I wait, no, yearn for this day to come after endless days of soggy all-run-into-the-same-day last of the Winter days. The day that's finally warm enough for me to splash around in some salty water - rolled up pants, and seashell hunting hunch required! Puppies were digging, birds were, well, doing whatever it is birds do (they always remind me of the ladies who lunch set - watch them!), babies were discovering splashes that stones create in the waves when daddies throw them, and mommies take pictures, clams were sending up their little geysers letting me know I was stepping too close, gentle waves lapping at my ankles, and looking out to forever there were endless sparkles on the water, like a perfect sea of blue/grey/green (glasz) glitter stretching to islands covered in fluffy green trees, and the snow capped mountains of the peninsula beyond that.

Hibernation completed.

Today was a good day.

Immortal Beloved

Though still in bed, my thoughts go out to you, my Immortal Beloved, now and then joyfully, then sadly, waiting to learn whether or not fate will hear us - I can live only wholly with you or not at all - Yes, I am resolved to wander so long away from you until I can fly to your arms and say that I am really at home with you, and can send my soul enwrapped in you into the land of spirits - Yes, unhappily it must be so - You will be the more contained since you know my fidelity to you. No one else can ever possess my heart - never - never - Oh God, why must one be parted from one whom one so loves. And yet my life in V is now a wretched life - Your love makes me at once the happiest and the unhappiest of men - At my age I need a steady, quiet life - can that be so in our connection? My angel, I have just been told that the mailcoach goes every day - therefore I must close at once so that you may receive the letter at once - Be calm, only by a calm consideration of our existence can we achieve our purpose to live together - Be calm - love me - today - yesterday - what tearful longings for you - you - you - my life - my all - farewell. Oh continue to love me - never misjudge the most faithful heart of your beloved. 

ever thine 

ever mine
 
ever ours

(Ludwig van Beethoven July 1812)

If you've never been loved like this, I suggest you stop what you're doing, and go find it ... NOW! Go ... shoo! It's the perfect day, you never know what may happen!

Happy Valentine's Day

XOXO