august 19 - first day

Today was Cowgirl's first full day as a kindergarten student! After 3 years of her attending a Montessori school 3 minutes from my work (and a half hour away from home) now she will be 3 minutes from home. I hadn't been expecting the loneliness of my commute without her in the car. Driving home, I was repeatedly saddened to glance in the rear view mirror and notice the empty car seat. But aside from worrying about me missing her ("mommy, you must think about me a lot and then you will be happy!") she gracefully breezed into this new phase of her life. She didn't even want me to come in with her, so I dropped her off at the curb (I think I was the only parent to do so this morning!) and was grateful to see a neighbor boy excitedly waiting for her. (Actually, I could not find a place to park the car it was that crazy and she probably sensed my mounting panic as I circled the parking lot.)

And life goes on. Meanwhile I like this idea of Cowgirl's ...

Rocket ships to take us back to Cape Cod:





and the Fairy who can make it happen:





What transitions are you negotiating these days? If only I could have parked the car, there was a Boo Hoo breakfast I could have attended. Maybe I should stage my own? I've got the maple syrup ...

august 18 - honesty

When I told my mother I wanted to learn to sew, her sage advice was: Just follow the directions.

I've come to realize the problem is, I hate following instructions.

Ah, honesty - it would save me a lot of time and heart ache. (Lesson learned: if you find cheap cloth napkins, buy them because cutting out perfect sized squares and then sewing in rick rack is no small feat!)

your eyes are not deceiving you - that is 19 cent rick rack from my mother's sewing stash which goes to show some things are genetic ...

And yes, I am in yet another online course which does have some fabulous projects coming if I can get past these napkins. (Never mind that one meal with Cowgirl entails numerous napkins, so which is more environmentally friendly? Running the washing machine or tossing out numerous squares of paper?) And no, I did not call my sponsor before signing into Paypal (hello, my name is Lisa and I am an online ecourse addict.)





Want to join me? The course is still open and thank goodness the projects tutorials will be available for one year. I'm sure I'll still be here trying to cut out these blasted napkins! But next project is a tote bag and a girl can never have enough bags.

august 17

Rainy day ... time to paint:





"Whenever you allow yourself spontaneous and uncensored expression - whether through song, dance, music or any other creative outlet - you make contact with the inner spark that revitalized every part of you." (Painting from the Source by Aviva Gold)








Some art treats I have received in the mail this summer:






I have to agree with all of the t-shirts and mugs, "Life is Good."

august 16 - gifts

On my morning walks, I have been receiving many wonderful gifts from Mother Nature. Always in the middle of the sidewalk, so I am certain not to overlook them. Here is today's offering:






Pay attention! You are only as powerful as your capacity to perceive, receive, and use your abilities.

What is called for here is an intuitive ability to discern the message carried within the cry of Hawk. The shrillness of Hawk's call pierces the state of unawareness, and asks you to seek the truth. (Jamie Sams & David Carson, Medicine Cards)

(another wonderful texture by Kim Klassen)

august 13/Weekly Reflection (week 31): borrowing words

Last day of our vacation ... packing more than our suitcases as we have one last lovely summer day to soak up the pleasures of Cape Cod.

Each vacation I find myself wondering how I can carry home with me the gifts gained from a week's break from my life: the simplicity of days spent enjoying time together, time outside, time exploring all that is around us. This will be my reflection as we make our way home and back into the busyness of daily life. I hope I can retain this sense of slowing down, prioritizing and mindfully choosing those things that enhance the sense of wonder and joy rather than that which depletes me. No room for worries on vacation and I am hoping I can keep that door shut once we get home.





Since I am on the Cape, it seems fitting to borrow the words of one of my favorite poet who best translates the whispered wisdom of this area to attentive ears and eyes.

The Journey

One day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice--
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
"Mend my life!"
each voice cried.
But you didn't stop.
You knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
It was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
But little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world,
determined to do
the only thing you could do--
determined to save
the only life you could save.

- Mary Oliver

august 12 - water/sky

sunset at Skaket Beach, Orleans MA

even the ocean

rising and falling all day...

sighing green like trees

- Buson

We are the night ocean filled

With glints of light. We are the space

Between the fish and the moon,

While we sit here together.

I do not cease swimming in the seas of love,

rising with the wave, then descending;

now the wave sustains me, and then I sink beneath it;

love bears me away where there is no longer any shore.

- Hallaj

august 11 - bliss

"It is familiarity with life that makes time speed quickly. When every day is a step in the unknown, as for children, the days are long with gathering of experience . . ."

Still having fun ...