Ensoul Arts

happy spring!

body wisdom

 

I'm noticing how my body has already started to crave purification. As I groove with the natural encouragement of the seasonal shift, I am choosing to explore my body's unique needs right now. I am not, for example, choosing to follow advice presently (however great it may be). I will not be joining a 30 day challenge, fasting, or consulting a nutrition guru any time soon. Those adventures have been part of my learning curve in the past, and I'm especially grateful for what I have learned about nourishing gluten free, raw, vegetarian and vegan choices. Right now, I'm simply waking up each day and re-affirming my intention to listen to and trust the intelligence of my own body. 

While I find it noble to eat strictly according my ethics, I've learned it isn't always what my body needs me to do. In other words, sometimes my body needs some animal products. When I feel this way, I make my choices with care. Currently, I am not eating any animal products, because that feels right for now.

I like it this way. It's a great reminder that I can really only have control over my own choices. Having flexibility and opennes with my choices is allowing me a more harmonious and responsive relationship with my body. Not only does that feel right, but it feels good. 

As for my boys, I do all I can to offer them a solid nutrititional foundation at home. Then, I let go of how they eat outside of our home. Especially during the teen years, they just want to blend in with friends. I find it's better to continue leading by example rather than launching into foodie lectures. Thankfully, they have huge appetites and enjoy eating veggies. I'll call it a job done well enough! 

The handmade recipe book here was created recently by my son Indigo in a class at Minnesota Center for Book Arts. I love it. He has a couple of his very own recipes in it, complete with hand drawn illustrations. Last summer he invited me to fill it with family recipes, to keep a record of the meals we all enjoy. I'm finally getting around to that. Five (more or less) Bean Soup with gluten free cornbread hit the spot this week, and I managed to scribble it in. 

If you're on a similar path with body wisdom, I'd love to hear about it!

 

book card valentine

Just a few more days to get those love letters ready to go. Here's a little photo tutorial for making an eight page book card. If you begin with standard 8.5 by 11 cardstock, it will fit into an invitation size envelope for giving. You can write a letter, create a story, build a collage, or whatever strikes your fancy. Happy Valentine making!

 

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

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

 

warm :: soft :: snug

Living on an island certainly makes it easier to resist any temptation that may creep in to join the shopping mobs. When I do head down to our little mainstreet, it's simple and enjoyable, even when the ferry "crowds" are in. In this small town you can see the main bakery from wherever you are on the main drag. Most everyone running errands lands there for treats, and there is plenty of chatting going on in the long line (and gossip, yes). There's time for it. 

Plenty of time is such a very good and rare thing. There's been plenty of time for us to be home near the twinkles and the fire this season. There will be a bit of travel in our plans, but we'll land right back here for the best parts. My work and business will creep in early next year, but for now...it's all about the warmth, the softness, and the snug.

Happy twinkles.

Gratitude

It's been a sweet long weekend filled with celebrations and special visits. The boys and I enjoyed a lively and delicious Thanksgiving feast in Seattle with friends old and new, lingering slowly in the city until Friday night. Mainstreet in our new town was a very inviting place to shop local on Saturday. Warm cider was served in nearly every store, and friendly smiles were abundant.  Elving ensued once we settled into home, where we began to deck the hall with a few special treasures.

 

 

Our island Waldorf community is smallish, and the advent spiral tradition is a little different here than what we're used to. Students walk the spiral with family. Finn was able to experience his ninth journey into the center and out again, and he was clearly glad to be an active part of this communal blessing. As he comes of age, he remembers his formative Waldorf years with fondness. Indigo has experienced nothing but ease and joy in the new school so far, and the evening comforted all of us. I felt mama proud as we walked reverently along the green path, placing our lights with care. I am deeply grateful for who we are as a family, and I'm looking forward to all the sweetness and connection in this season.

Sunday city

Our fall rhythm has unrolled like a magic carpet. Experiencing the best of two worlds has suited us all perfectly. Our weekdays have been spent on "the rock", soaking in a much slower pace of day to day, even when the schedules are full. Weekends are for for stepping into our urban skin again, as much and as long as we feel like it, until we're ready to shed the edge and return to the quiet of home.

 

Summer Days :: Ordinary Storm Beauty