Music in the Morning

Checking my facebook today, I noticed a music video that was posted of my dear friend Vatrena King. Now a mom in my community, she once sang with just about anyone you can think of and was one of the "Ikettes" on Ally Mcbeal. This song always lifts me and is one of my favorites to start off the day. Dancing around the kitchen, singing and getting some yummy popovers in the oven was how it looked in our house this morning. The rain has moved on and left beautiful, clean blue skies. The birds are sunning themselves on the bare branches and a large blue jay feeds at the feeder outside my window. What a picky eater! He pushes most of the seed onto the ground to get to his favorites and little birds and doves come to clean up after him. The birds seem grateful for the offering. Thank you Trena for yours!

Christmas Has Come to the Shire

Our tall, thin cedar is now laden with ornaments. Over the years, we've collected quite a few sentimental ones. Some the kids have made, others were given by my grandmother for their first Christmas. Some have been handed down as family have passed away and now sit on the branches of our tree, carrying with them, the memories of all the gatherings around my grandmother's tree. I can still hear the doorbell ring and loud welcomes echoing down the hallway as we tried our best to get to sleep before the big man came. We always sung Christmas carols, albeit a little off key, but the vibration of all our voices together left grooves in my heart like a record. Oliver was laying underneath the tree last night staring up through the branches, "You know what I'm doing mom? I'm really enjoying this moment, I want to always remember it." He will, too. I know I remember. Magic.

Citrus

The sun is shinning in the Shire this morning! The gardens look so happy, green and lush. The narrow lane is blanketed with yellow leaves, the remaining persimmons hang heavy on bare branches, little tangerines look like ornaments covering the bushes along the paths. Ahhh, citrus time! We have more Meyer lemons than we know what to do with. Preserved, marmalade, or limoncello? All delicious ideas, now to get started!

The Winter Spiral

Last night, was the winter spiral at the Davis Waldorf School. A room filled with the scent of pine that was carefully laid into a spiral for the children to walk. The only light, coming from a single candle in the center set on a stump and decorated with red berries. Each child is given an apple with a candle in the middle and while a man played quiet, reflective music on the piano, the child would take the walk alone. Everyone quietly watched as each child made there way to the solitary candle. Once in the center, they would light there own candle and choose a place along the spiral to light one of the candles that was placed along the path. Watching these children grow each year, you get a glimpse of their little spirits, as they hold the candle so carefully and the glow seeps through their fingers and lights up their faces. It's so symbolic for this time of year. We're going into the darkest days of winter and we either spiral too far inward and get depressed, or we spiral too far out with all the crazy holiday plans. Then, also there is all the darkness. Alone we bring a little light but as a community we are quite a force. What was once a dark path, now glows strong. A beautiful spiral of light.

Peaceful

Rain softly falling through the darkness


Soft glowing Menorah candles flicker, their light dances across my wooden table


More candles light the hearth


Nothing but the sound of rain


Molly hums in her bedroom


Oliver snuggles with daddy


It's been a busy day, one of growth, one of change


For the kids, one filled with advent lights, dreidel games, bike rides, music, friends


Peace for us this evening


Peace for the world

Icy and Spicy

Blades of grass encrusted with heavy ice crystals, bend over in glittering fields of white, leaves piled high are frozen to the cold streets and our breath hangs in heavy clouds around our heads, so cold is this morning. The kids are in warm layers, gloves and hats. Molly worries about the family of mice in her school garden. Will they be cold and hungry? Relieved, she remembers that the chickens share food with the mice. A nice warm and spicy latte now in hand, I plan the persimmon bread I'll be baking today.

A Busy Morning and a Warm Classroom

I have a lot that I'm trying to work on right now and it feels like I'm running through molasses. Nothing feels like it's quite up to speed which leaves me feeling very frustrated. The Internet and computers are running slowly, and we ran out of printer ink and paper. Apparently trying to work on these things and still get the kids ready for school doesn't mix well. We finally got ourselves, violin, lunches, jackets and hats in the car. Wow was it cold this morning! We all took a Rescue Remedy chewy and Oliver's promptly popped out of his mouth. When he got up to look for where it had fallen, I found it stuck to his backside. I peeled it off and stuck it back in his face, we all had a good laugh. Oliver's paper star was glowing amongst his classmates in the window of his room and upon entering Molly's a calm prevails. Along the window the teacher has set a beautiful space for the children to observe every morning. A single candle glows warm and bright surrounded by red berries and pine boughs. Behind the candle, stands a menorah to celebrate Hanukkah. I take a moment, enjoy the peace it brings me. When things feel cold, I'll try to remember the light.

San Francisco, Here I Come

It's been so long since I've spent time in the city and I'm really looking forward to it. Michael and Oliver are going to a football game with friends and my friend Maya and I are taking Molly and her youngest to San Francisco. I'll be sure to photograph any delicious moments to post later! The tree made it to the living room with little incident, which is almost a disappointment considering how funny it's been to watch in the past. Sparkling beautifully in the window, all the ornaments from over the years hanging from it's boughs, Christmas time is here.

Muffled Laughter

Mincemeat pumpkin, paradise pumpkin and a traditional brown sugar pumpkin pie.

Molly just loves when there's a reason to celebrate and family converges on the Shire. She wants to be apart of the whole thing, from the cooking and setting the table, to listening in on the adults stories. Oliver likes to lend his "brute strength" to the event, helping to lift wood for the fire. Watching them both, I remember what that felt like as a child, how safe it all felt. "You mean, all these people love me?"Now that we're just across the street, Molly and Oliver spent most of the morning over at my Aunt Denise's house while I baked 3 different pumpkin pies for Thanksgiving(they all smelled delicious)! Being amongst all the bustle, fighting for space both physically and verbally. Try as you might to enter the loud conversations, you may never be heard. Denise compared it to the game Whack A Mole, you've just gotta be patient, then.............. HIT HIM! It's not for everyone, even I get overwhelmed and need to get away for a moment, regain my strength. At my Grandma's, I would sit in the stairwell off the kitchen listening to the muffled laughter, feeling the pulse of the family. The phone on the kitchen wall would ring and someone would answer, stretching the long curly cord around the corner to sit on the stairs to hear better. Having been discovered, I would get up and rejoin the happy chaos. There is not a stairwell to sit in anymore, so I stepped outside for a breather and there it was, the pulse. The laughter, loud conversation and games continued. Standing under the stars, alone, in the dark cold of November, I felt like a little girl again. "You mean, they all love me?"I am thankful for my family.

Magic in the Shire

Oliver carves a face in the pumpkin that will soon be a pie while Molly and her friends discover new faerie homes along the banks of the swale now full from the recent storms. She points to a little walnut boat that has settled on a stones beside the water and they all try to figure out how the faeries will move it. They move on to the swings hanging from a large walnut tree, taking turns gliding through the air, they are blissful. My counter is lined with persimmons waiting to ripen to a translucent liquid orange before being baked into cookies and breads. In celebration of the inner light we need to get through the dark days of winter, we have set out a menorah and will fold beautifully colored kite paper in the shapes of stars to put in our windows. I love vacation.

Evening

Molly is across the bike path having her singing lesson with the neighborhood girls while Oliver has his first violin lesson in our home. Michael and I step outside between the two houses to enjoy the evening and visit with our neighbors. Our neighbor next door shares some pomegranates from her bush and they are so intensely sweet. A warm glow seeps through the thinning grapevines covering our window. His teacher is playing a little tune on the violin while we stand outside listening, the light quickly disappearing, the moon lighting up the vibrant orange persimmon leaves. We give the teacher a couple of the pomegranates and schedule another lesson after Thanksgiving. Just one of those moments when you really get that you have chosen the right path for yourself.

A View from the Co-op

The winds are blowing today but the air is soft and warm. Dried leaves whirl over streets, bikes pass and people wave. The world has taken on a golden hue. Another pumpkin awaits baking for our Thanksgiving pies. It's time to welcome another holiday season with food, family and fun.

Martinmas

"Often goes the Christ in the stranger's guise." Although I lean more towards nature based beliefs, I love this celebration of bringing light to darkness. Tonight, the kindergarten does their lantern walk at the school and they've been working hard on the lanterns they will carry. Each child bringing their own little light out into a cold, dark night. Crunching over leaves, they are apart of a collective glow. What a powerful symbol, to fill what was once a dark space with such brightness and warmth. To see that together we are a powerful force of love and light. The story of St. Martin has wonderful imagery. It's said that while passing under a bridge, Martin came upon a cold beggar. Martin took his cloak from his own back and tore it in two, sharing it with the man. The man later appeared in a dream, I believe, as Christ. What an important lesson to teach our children, to give love and light. Somehow, bring your own light to the darkness today.

Colors on My Bike Ride

My favorite tree

Wow, nature is amazing!

The swing under the walnut tree stands still while children are at school.

Yellow-green leaves with chocolate brown seed pods.

Light streams through the canopy above the Shire.

Gourds decorate a neighbors fence like little swans.

Peach leaves make a beautiful color when dying silks.

Everyday, the colors intensify and everyday I say I need to capture these beautiful trees with a photograph. I finally made myself stop this morning. It's so nice to just stop what you're doing and take notice of nature's fantastic display. If you don't, you might just miss it. Soon a rain will come knocking down the leaves, leaving only bare branches to behold until spring. Take a moment to really soak in these colors while they last!

The Nutcracker

Almost every year from the time I was very little, my grandparents took me to the Nutcracker ballet in San Francisco. In a new dress and shiny shoes, we would ride the trolley cars singing Christmas carols and click up the marble stairs that led us to our seats. Thick velvet curtains and large chandeliers, it was so beautiful. The orchestra would warm up, the lights go down and a large snowflake appeared on the drawn curtains. It was magic! Now, for the first time, I will be taking my children to the War Memorial Opera House. I can't wait to share this with them. There is nothing like the feeling of San Francisco during the holidays. Such wonderful memories.

Parade of Pumpkins

After Halloween, all the families bring their pumpkins down to the main green to be lit for several evenings. Each day they gather, excitedly rearranging the glowing squash, eating caramel popcorn by a warm fire. Neighbors meet, sometimes, for the first time. One man sits in his wheelchair, his loyal dog laying beside him. He has taken over the organization of this small parade and we all benefit from this simple little tribute to the carved vegetable. Through the dark field they meander, each face different from the last. As we go home for the evening, we pass other neighbors on the way, wheelbarrows full , making their way down the dark paths of the Shire.

This Morning's Ride

What a beautiful morning! Passing the peach orchard, we notice the leaves beginning to change to that vibrant yellow. The tops of other trees have begun to transition from the tops turning a deep magenta. A haunting mist hangs over large green fields. An older man on his walk moves slowly, each exhale turning to vapor in the cold air. Then we are at the school, parents helping to plant the many donations from a local herb farm. Hands in the soil, their children watching and playing, our resident herbalist bends down to taste one of the green leaves. If there is a healthier place for a young child to flourish, I am not aware. Once again, I am grateful.

What Remains

The day after Samhain/Halloween, what's left behind? A room that was full of warm souls, now just the traces of what was a beautiful night remain. Dishes, food, candy and candle stubs; wilting pumpkins, empty glasses and burnt incense sticks. Memories of what was many years ago and what was moments ago, fill the spirit. One day, we'll be on the altar and these memories that we've created with our children will endure. Maybe they will pour a glass of wine for me!
CELTIC NEW YEAR BY VAN MORRISON
If I don't see you through the week
See you through the window
See you next time that we're talking on the telephone
And if I don't see you in that Indian summer
Then I want to see you further on up the road
I said, oh won't you come back?
I have to see you my dear
Want you to come back home in the Celtic New Year?

Weekend Festivities

Why no pesticides? Because then you can find cool creatures like this in your garden!

Oliver as a hunch back and Molly as skeleton last night at the festival

Penelope, Serafina and Molly decorate Halloween cookies. The goulash is bubbling and another pie sits upon the table. On the altar we have a gin and tonic for grandma and grandpa, some hard candies for my gran and Michael's grandfather, some sweet smelling rose petals strewn about and some mini pumpkins Oliver carved little faces into to light up the sacred space. The children have had a fun weekend thus far carving out many pumpkins and eating many sweets. I'm going as a witch and so is Molly while Oliver has chosen the skeleton for tonight's pumpkin lit walk through the Shire. It's so magical, even as an adult to walk these paths at night. All the trees, fallen leaves and crisp air. The smell of pumpkins lit by candles and knocking on the doors of friends, family and neighbors in the anticipation of yummy treats. Costumes can be so creative, especially the Little ones on their first trick-or-treat outing. Happy Samhain/Halloween to all!

Halloween Treats!

Brown sugar pumpkin pie, lady apples, and lemon sugar cookies for the kids to decorate tomorrow! They've been down at the neighbors most of the morning, carving some pumpkins while I've been busy in the kitchen. It smells warm and delicious! I'm getting excited to go over to Denises' house to spend time with the family. It rained a little this morning and the sky is thick with clouds. Hopefully we'll have a dry evening at the festival. Nobody likes a messy looking angel.