Ensoul Arts

Full Moon Drift

“We are all wanderers on this earth.

Our hearts are full of wonder, and our souls are deep with dreams.” 

― Roma Saying

February Beach

ensouled new home

Our life hurdled over the mountains toward the ocean in three parts. It's been about five months since we arrived just ahead of our life-in-transport. Churling through the air, we were leaving behind everything familiar. It was an enormous transition, and though we were nervous, we were ready for it. I knew in my heart and soul we all needed to land right here to start new chapters. Doubts and worries did creep in, but a steady faith washed over those, and what I really wanted to do was just sink myself into the other side of the leap. I closed my eyes and visualized warm nesting and resting on a winters evening in our new place of home. 

We deplaned at SeaTac on a cloudy September day, exhausted, with a few suitcases and one freaked out cat. Within just a few days, both boys were experiencing brand new schools, which was quite a switch from quiet homeschooling in our ultra comfort zone of South Minneapolis near lakes, parks, friends, family, favorite food co-ops, happy cafe haunts, and so. much. more...  Sweet Seattle friends ferried out to meet us with air mattresses, bedding, and a few pots and pans for the indoor camping. Our car was cruising its way through Montana, packed tight with precious kitchen goods and all of our musical instruments. Lastly, and at last, came the gargantuan portable storage unit that hauled the rest of our belongings. Hello new chapter of life. 

Though all three of us have felt settled in for quite some time, today felt especially groovy. It was so good to walk through our cozy cottage door after being outdoors at a festival most of the day. I turned on the fireplace and twinkles, put away some delicious groceries, pressed some coffee, and cuddled up on the new chaise. Placements keep evolving in every room here. With the clear goal of achieving ensouled simplicity in this sweet cottage, I'm gradually tweaking each room to find just the right fit, function, and flow. Here is a peek at the evolution of a cozy living/dining/kitchen area. There are a few placements I know I will change up again soon to accommodate more visitors, but right now we're enjoying the near perfection of everything just as it is.

Here we are. It is indeed a restful warm evening in a newly nested nook of our world, and we've unfurled a lovely chapter so far. It's good to be home.

Merry Everything!

little city :: bigger city ::  holidaying all around

 

eggs (and a ham)

Happy Easter :: Ostara!

It was a very special day for us today, as it may be our last Easter with my mother. The boys and I took in a church service filled with music, theater, and warmth early this morning. We then headed to our home for some Easter basket goodness before driving a short road trip to spend time with my mom. We were relieved and very happy to see her illness take a back seat to living and celebrating! She was up and visiting the entire time we were there. I've been blowing out and dyeing her these botanical eggs as a gift, and we got to talking about eggs. This eventually led me to a sacred little treasure box in the darkest corner of her living room hutch...

My mother was a nurse at a care home for elders while I was growing up. When I was very little, one sweet woman in her care wanted to make the eggs you see below for my mother to give us kids still living at home. At the time there were four of us, and she made one for each of us. I'm interested now in looking up the significance of the patterns in egg writing because I noticed some interesting parallels between the egg designs and the nature of their owners. I wonder about the conversations between my mother and the woman she wheeled to the Activity Room so many times. These amazing eggs have survived for over 30 years in our family home, and I don't even know the name of the woman who created them. I remember many faces of once upon a time, and I try to reach for which special smile might have been hers. My mother cared for so many elderly over the years she can't quite remember her name either. Wherever she is, I send my gratitude. I'm quite smitten with these eggs.

The adorable decorative fairy and woodsman eggs above were made by another woman my mother cared for. I remember them clearly. I mean, really... a delicate sparkly egg with a little door to a magical world inside? Pure wonderment.

After all these years...

So good to share the memories with my boys. We hope your day was special, too!

another one

What a special day. I have oh so much gratitude in my heart for my friends and family. My birthday. The boys and I brought spring into our home with great success, wouldn't you say? No doubt it's coming! After seeing all the poms pop up in the blogosphere recently, I thought I'd have a hand at these festive decorations before the party. After one puff, I had visions of a daffodil, then a poppy, then another, then green grass, green fluff, and more! I think I'm just getting started... 

 

 

winter survival

After getting the boys started on a shelter building project at our nature center, I parked my winter survival right here in front of this sunny window. I could see them in the distance from my cozy spot while working on some knitting and listening to another great podcast from the Being show with Krista Tippett. The naturalist guided the group through the details for a couple hours and taught them to build a little fire too. The weather cooperated oh so nicely. It was chilly enough to immerse in the winter survival mindset and warm enough to enjoy being out there. To celebrate, marshmallows were roasted. Good for the soul...I suppose. My treat was getting to quietly observe my young naturalists having a good deal of productive fun together, while learning meaningful skills from another capable adult, at a distance so comfortable it melted all my troubles away. We went out to dinner on the way home, because nothing sounded better than warm pad thai noodles and green tea. Mmm. I'm feeling grateful that there's more warmth and nourishment than a need to survive this February.

autumn lake love

Our times here at this special lake now play in my memory like a little flipbook. It begins with round rosy cheeks and big brown eyes peeking out from strollers. The pages flash on to growing limbs stretching on tricycles, scooters, bikes, and now...rollerblades! This cherished lake and its surrounding grounds have been like an extended back yard for us. Play dates, beach days, lantern walks, bike-a-thons, birthday celebrations, waterfall wishing, tree hugging, sledding, and so many good times have unfolded here before the petals and branches of "our" urban oasis. It continues to be a slow-it-down spot for us, wheels or no wheels. We feel lucky to have lived so near this small but significant connection to nature. A place to know. A place to be. 

 

 

Dreamy Harvest

Mm. An unusually warm and bright October continues to send us invitations to crunch and stroll. I hereby declare that there are times to leave the laundry in piles and this is one of them. Aren't we always tempted to hope these colors stay and play awhile? Alas, we cannot be fooled, especially us native Minnesotans. We know what's coming. With that in mind, the boys and I decided to take a little trip to a 1000 plus -acre horticultural garden and arboretum the other day. Though the main areas were a bit too groomed and crowded for our liking, we appreciated the variety of colors and experiences there and took it all in. I did find myself visualizing a secret door I might step through. You know, out past the sign posts and into a couple of my earth lovin' dreams. Oh, bravery... Yes! A girl can dream. I dream...of being deeply out in a remote area collaborating with nature. Indeed. Learning from him. I'd assist with just about any project required to learn from this extraordinary artist if he'd let me tag along (gasp!), but a project working with gradations of color would be like dark chocolate kundalini cake for me. Oh yes! One dreamy secret at a time though. I am sure another will spill out eventually. For now, I am here, smiling into a kitchen full of late garden harvest, grateful for the opportunity to share it all with the two great people I get to call my family.

 

Spicy cider cheers to enjoying everything beautiful while it lasts!

...and to dreaming!

 

Merrily Summer '10

There they go, deeper into the world, with new feelings of independence. Summer 2010 will be remembered as a time to come of age, to re-acquaint, and to re-examine. Together we learned how to flow, to embrace change, and to celebrate beginning anew. Here I am suddenly in the trenches of parenting a nine year old and a maturing adolescent. I do know where the time went, and I finally see that there may be life beyond my "thirty-something" phase. The kids are alright. Some dreams came true. Some dreams are gone or are dying to allow new dreams to be born. New times and ways of life are folding in and rising as old perspectives sift to the floor. I'm curious and I'm grateful. 

...Life is but a dream.

"Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. 

Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it."

~Johann Wolfgang von Goethe