Willow & Other Random Thoughts on a Spring Friday

One of my favorite pictures of my girl from last spring. 

We went to a dinner meeting at the local museum and we were both in awe

of these butterflies. Later that week, I had a butterfly tattooed on my right wrist.

The design is for Hawaii, my mother, my daughter, butterflies, dreaming, 

freedom, flight, breathing, and all delicate, lovely, things that float on air.

Today, lots of random thoughts floating around. So glad I still have this space to come 

to and jot it all down. Thinking about hiring a designer and giving this little space

a renovation. I'm also considering buying a really nice camera for myself. I've been falling

in love with photography again. For me, it's all about the color and the narrative

of the photo. That's why I love this one. It captures her. I loved her long hair.

We just cut it again. China-doll bob. She looks more like

the baby version of herself again.. Last year, I called her my "Willow." 

My girl from a seventies post card.

Thinking about...

Summer vacation finally in my sight...Last day of classes June 10. 

Plans for all of our weekends until we go on our first of a few vacations. 

So many new things too: Reiki/Energy healing, Kids Yoga, exploring places

we haven't been to before. Lots of ART: Making, Seeing, DOING.

Thinking of: Him. Always him. His skin. His hair. The way he knows me.

Reading so many books...too many to count; all at once...as usual. Some titles: Cannery Row, Mutant 

Message Down Under, The Life History of a Star, & Patanjali & Ayurvedic Yoga.

Sculpting again with craft-store clay. Lots of animals, eggs, body parts & mandalas.

Purging clothes and all things no longer used, loved, or needed in our home. Feels amazing!

This day is lovely, comfortable. 

Enjoying a new favorite waffle sandwich. Yes, sneaking gluten again. 

Waffles, Earth Balance, Ground Flax, Strawberry-Apple Puree

washed down with a cup of an organic coffee that actually has flavor! Yum.

Later tonight, we kick off this weekend with my girl's Spring Concert.

She will be singing and playing recorder. 

I will drink in every moment.

Loving this Spring.

Birthday

It was a kick-off my shoes, feel the cool grass on my bare feet kinda day.

Today I celebrated myself. 

It was an average day...only with sprinkles on top. 

It was my kind of day, just the way I like it.

Woke up bright and early. Saw the sun come up.

Drank a glass of my favorite juice.

Crawled back in bed and dozed off for a little bit.

Woke up my girl when the familiar song of the alarm rang once again, softly.

"Happy Birthday, Mommy." 

She never forgets. It's always the first words out of her mouth: 

Merry Christmas.HappyValentine'sDay.HappyEaster.

Whatever Holiday. Whatever Special Day...

My sweet, sweet, girl knows. She always knows.

Always give love. 

Saw him bright and early. 

Listened to some music.

Walked to work and enjoyed all the 

Happy Birthday Miss's.

The singing...the smiles. 

Love those kiddos. 

Later, after a good day's work...

meditation...always meditation. 

Free-floating joy suspended on the thick, airy 

clouds of my comforter.
Get up.

Dress up.

Meet up.

Favorite Indian Spot.

Comic Books.

Donuts.

Cranberry Candles.
Wishes.Wishes.Wishes.
Morebirthdays.MoreLife.MoreHealth.MoreHer.MoreHim.
DreamingBigger.NewHouses.Vacations.Art.Creating.Yoga.
Meditating.Chanting.Breathing.Loving.Togetherness.
Living. All rolled into one
E X H A L E!

Topping it all off cuddling on the couch watching 

season finales while she sleeps in her bed,

the one she jumped into way too late.

Hope she passes those tests tomorrow.

There wasn't too much studying.

There was a whole lot of living and celebrating.

Today.

My day. 

It was perfect.

Thank you, Heavenly Father.

Praise God.

Jai.Jai.Ma.

No Recipes Required

I'm so happy today's temperature allows for a soup-making day for us. Monday nights can be busy. It's the night I post the weekly homework for all of my students. Later in the evening, there are other weekly obligations to fulfill. It is a cool, breezy day outside where long-sleeves and sweatshirts were required. I set out to start preparing dinner in the kitchen and instinctively grabbed our large workhorse of a pot and was making soup before I knew it. Throw in some oil, chop some onion, throw it in, carrot next, kale, cabbage, some frozen mixed veggies, some dried lentils and wild rice...Stir, stir, stir. Add some spices and add the veggie broth and wine...Stir, stir some more. Chop and add fresh parsley. Now it's bubbling away on our stove top and the house smells heavenly. Little girl asked for some organic nuggets till soup's ready because the smell is making her hungry! Can't say I can blame her.

I've realized in the past few weeks that I can pretty much make delicious soups, stews, and cookies without recipes. I feel like shouting, "Look Ma, no hands!" It's a pretty great feeling to know that I am only referring to cookbooks or online recipes these days when I'm in need of creative inspiration or some flavor/ingredient compatibility. Really loving vegetarian dishes now that the weather is warming up. On my list of restaurants in the city to visit: Caravan of Dreams (for the umpteenth time!), Pongal (Great veggie-Indian), & Alta. In Queens right next to my beloved Ganesha Temple...there is Sri Chimnoy's delicious and delightful Oneness Fountain Heart Cafe that I am yearning to revisit.

In more food related news, I'm looking forward to the return of our local farmer's market this week and with the new juicer for my birthday, I'm excited about smoothies and green juices in the very near future.


Any culinary delights to share?

There Is A Season...

                          

Waiting for someone to die is not easy.

It lays there dormant inside your mind and heart but comes out in strange ways.

Somewhere I hit the pause button. 

It has effected sleep and effected future planning. 

Fear slips in unexpectedly and builds a nest within while I sleep. 

The co-sleeping has quelled it a bit. 

When I wake up, I role over and see your sleepy shadow

and I drift back into the lead-like dreams.

They are neither good or bad. 

They are just what they are.

Hearing someone's strong voice weaken and breathless

is a sound that frightens me.

I have never been good or graceful in this area.

I want to be.

I've been praying for strength.

I have been reminding myself that I practice.

Sat Nam.

Om Tat Sat.

God.

All is Truth.

We are Eternal.

There is nothing to fear.

All of Life is Love.

All of Life is Beautiful.

Waiting for someone to die is not living 

in God's grace and knowing 

Truth.

Today, I will try to live

walk

& breathe

my practice.

Today, Lord

help me not to slip and forget 

your Truth.

Kinda CoSleeping

A big, comfey queen-sized bed with a twin mattress on the floor alongside works out just fine for all of us.
Love having my girl back in our room and I think she is much more secure and settled, too.
Co-sleeping, but not in the same bed. As with most things "parent," it's about what is right for your family.
There is no "one size fits all" model.

Today, a co-worker told me she is scheduled for her second child's birth, a c-section. She said something that really hit home with me. "I could have tried to go VBAC, but what for? So I can do this? (And she reached back and made the patting herself on the shoulder motion) and then said, "Yeah. Who cares?"

I love her for that. Natural birth vs. C-section. Breast vs. Bottle? Who cares? Really and truly.
Anyone who gets caught up in that or thinks they deserve a pat on the back for their individual choice
is missing the point. No one wants their baby "ripped from their womb," (long story about that one.) As my then MIL said to me, "The goal here is having a healthy baby."

My goal is always to have a healthy, strong, secure daughter...one who knows she is loved and cared for and has a positive sense of herself as a result. If co-sleeping gives her more peace of mind, then co-sleeping it is. We're happy.

Beautiful Sunny Sunday

What a wonderful weekend. 

I feel blessed for such a good, well-lived Sunday.

Sunday, it's becoming the Sabbath day it is meant to be

in our happy home.

Today:

Had a simple, nutritious breakfast.

Played a game of "Slap Jack" (card game) with my precious daughter.

Washed and dressed and talked while doing it.

Was up and out in the cool, crispy, air after bathing in the sun under the window in her room.

Praise God, we can afford healthy food for our week!

We went to Trader Joe's and picked up everything on our list...

all healthy. My girl even picked up a healthy root beer, her favorite.

After a quick cup of tea, it was off to church, our home church.

We've been visiting the churches of family and friends for the past few weeks so it

was nice and comfey to be back at our special place.

Then home for a beautiful yoga session for this Mama...one hour

of a glorious class underneath my sunny window. 

Afterward, I made a big, healthy salad for me and my girl and we 

enjoyed it together. 

There was kitchen cleaning, friends coming over for a loving visit 

with pieces of confetti cake with homemade icing. And then I may have had a quick nap
on the couch while watching Rosemary & Thyme. 

I watched the sun going down from our large living room window and listened to Gungor, my 

new favorite worship band. Oh, they take my breath away with their 

creativity and messages. 

And I felt extra-blessed to listen to a sermon online from a friend's church this early 

evening. (It's titled: "First Things First: Relationships")

I needed to hear this before starting my week.

Blessings abound.

The kids can be heard playing upstairs and listening to our new favorite station on the radio, 

99.1. My daughter is loving her worship music lately, too! So good.

Tonight: It's breakfast for dinner or bean with bacon soup...and 

Downton Abbey after Lesson Planning for the week!

It was the perfect Sunday.

Hope you enjoyed your weekend too.

Love & Blessings, 

Cyndy

More Raw Veggies

I've been reading a lot about how we can get more enzymes essential for 

good health from eating raw vegetables. 

I make a mean salad with radish, cucumber, shredded carrot with a 

lemon-shallot vinagrette! We eat it at least twice a week and I often 

pack raw veggies as a snack for work.

This spring, we are planning our first container garden. 

I'm concerned about pests and the local cat and other

neighborhood "friends" getting into our stash, but hey, 

it's worth a shot...and I think it will be fun to experiment with different

organic pesticides.

We are starting small, as suggested by friends and family who are very experienced in this 

department. Sooooo

I thought we would definitely grow some cucumbers, since 

they are a staple around here...and 

some arugula (ordered some seeds from Italy) should

be interesting.

I'll update as we go along.

This should be a wonderful learning experience for us.

Any experience with container gardens?

Pointers? Tips?