The Art of Spring Cleaning

Well! We certainly wasted no time upon reentry of our 10 day holiday to dive right in and create mayhem in our home. These past few days have been warm and quite Springlike so we threw open the windows and inch by inch tore up the stacks and stuffiness of the back of the house (which inevitably means the rest of the house, too).  It all started with these shelves.......

 

These are my craft supply shelves. Over the past few months I haven't been the best at keeping things organized and when I am afforded the time to create I usually just leave everything laid out on our dining room table. Of course, we have to eat so everything gets quickly shoved into where ever it might fit. Ironically, these shelves still haven't been straightened! LOL

 

This is where we chose to begin. The closet. This 8'x10' room was a closet for 5 people! Me, Lee, Charlotte, Kiki and Seraphina. Utilizing dressers, shelves, and a homemade armoire we somehow (kinda) made it work. There is no door to this room so we  hung a curtain in the doorway to keep visitors eyes from drifting too deeply inside. We very rarely could keep it neat; clothes would easily pile up after being laundered, baskets captured most of the dirty clothes, and a myriad of other non-clothes items would find their way into this space simply because we lack the storage and space in this 1000 sq. ft., one floor, home.  Needless to say, I'm glad we made my craft shelves wait.

 

This was an in between shot. Partially finished but with plenty more yet to do.

 

This is what happened to the bathroom.....yes, that's a ton of stuff just piled into the bathtub!

 

This is Bella's room. The poor Dear had just cleaned her room and we took full advantage of the space while she was at her riding lesson. She just about cried when she saw this picture. I assured her it would be back in order before she went to bed, at it was......more or less!!!

 

This is the laundry space. Just stacks and stacks and stacks. Oy! I dreaded getting in here because a.) I couldn't just close a door and hide it, this space is right in our hallway. There was no way to avoid it and b.) all of the storage that exists was currently being used for other stuff. Where and how the heck was I going to somehow make room!!!

 

 

In the end, it was all well worth the suffering.

 

This is our finished bedroom. Just to give you an idea of why this is a monumental moment, my husband and I had shared a room with the 3 littles. A 10'x10' room that held a queen size bed, bunk beds, a dresser, a shelving unit, a co sleeper, a micro book shelf, and the cozy corner. Cozy in every sense of the word. For the first time in 7 years, Lee and I have our own room, we do share it still with Seraphina but we still feel like grown ups! Big people! It's just so nice.

 

 

This is my side of the room. Heaven!

 

 

This is now the "somewhat organized, at least manageable, I can reach what I need" laundry space. That huge black case to the left is my massage table. I'm finding that even though I'm not in school anymore (you can read more about that here) I'm still finding use for it, however obtrusive, it'll have to stay there for now.

 

 

The bathroom is back in order except for some shelves that need some minor organizing. For now, it's manageable. In case you were wondering, NO, there is nothing hiding behind the shower curtain!!!

 

 

 

This is Charlotte and Kiki's room. Where the long dresser on the right sits is where our bed used to be. Their room is largely acceptable. We still have clothes piles to contend with but they can be assimilated slowly and at a more leisurely pace.

 

 

This is a view to their bunks. Just out of bed but so much more room to jump into from bed. They have a huge bit of space to play in now, thank goodness. Next in here will be a new floor and some minor details like silk curtains and taking those stickers of the bed!! Those stickers used to go on our car window (we were those people!!!) I'll have to figure out another way for them to keep their prized "visit to the bank" stickers.

 

 

Now, I just have to clean off the dining room table and.......

 

 

.....reinvent this corner. This used to be Rosco's window. His bed was right under the window and gave him the perfect spot to watch us from his resting spot. The window will get spruced up, the radio in the corner will be moved, along with the stash of boxes from various trips to the basement that never got returned. My hope is that my craft shelves can fit here, those drawers can stay and be used for homeschool supplies and the like and a few really beautiful plants can sit atop the dresser  and soak up the sunshine from the south. For me, it feels really important to make that space a beautiful one to look at. I miss my boy everyday and to leave his spot empty just reminds us that his little body is gone. Gotta bring some life back into his space, make it a shared space.

 

 

This mess is our home.....and even though it feels so good when it's not quite as messy, it's doesn't feel any less like home even when it's the messiest.

 

Are you spring cleaning? How's it going for you?

 

Meet Flora and Blossom

 

Good Monday, friends! I'd like to take a moment and introduce you to my darlings, Flora and Blossom. These ladies will be sent away to my buddies in a peg doll swap that I'm participating in started by Margaret over at We Bloom Here. This is my first swap and I'm so excited!!

 

Bread feeds the body, indeed, but flowers feed also the soul. ~ The Koran



Hi! I'm Blossom :)

Hi! I'm Flora :)

 

Candlemas

 

 "At the beginning of February, when the infant light of spring is greeted thankfully by the hoary winter earth, it seems fitting we should celebrate a candle Festival to remember that moment when the Light of the World was received into the Temple, when the old yielded to the new.”

~ from All Year Round

 

I was a bit overwhelmed on Friday when I realized that the first of February was upon us and I hadn't prepared at all for St. Brigid's Day and Candlemas. This past week was filled with wonderful  distractions but the re-entry into reality was a bit of a rough landing! As always, what's meant to be will be and and things don't always need to go as planned. Being alright with that and letting go of expectations is the trick! I'm learning :)

 

It seems as we've studied more about St. Brigid we've come to really adore her. As I stood at my counter this morning and began to piece together the cross above (with Iris leaves that my hunny picked just for this occasion), we sat there, watching it come together and were struck by the reverence and especially beautiful rhythm making this cross possesses. It's simple but divine. Hanging this on our entryway seemed only fitting and as we learned, that is part of the tradition! I believe, we as a family, have found our patron saint!

The littles and I also made our super, special Celtic Tea Cake this morning in honor of St. Brigid

 

We even braved the blustery, winter day and ventured out to finish our ice lantern and earth candles.

 

Tonight, as we sit down to a pancake supper by candlelight, we will gather our thoughts toward the Light; thinking of what it means to begin anew, accept what works and what doesn't and somehow make sense of it all. I'll lovingly look at my children and my husband and thank God that I've been given this chance to shine my light with them. They help me to remember who it is I'm meant to be, who I was, why I'm here, what this whole thing called Life is about. Candlemas is such a reverent time, honoring the Light that lives within us all, reminding each other that we're each good enough just as we are.

 

 

"This little light of mine, I'm gonna let it shine."

Wild One

 

We had a lovely mid-week visit from out of town family members and decided that a good way to spend a rainy, blustery winter day would be to take in the sights at the State Museum. Charlotte and her Papa had been there for a father/daughter date a few weeks ago so she already had some insight on exhibits she really wanted to show everyone. Kiki, however, hadn't been as a young lass so she was quite eager to explore this new and oh so interesting place all on her own. Divide and conquer :)

Charlotte gave the tour to the others while Kiki and I had an a bit of discovery all on our own.

 

Seeing the museum through your toddler's eyes is like seeing it for the first time yourself. I was awe inspired by her gasps and shrieks of delight when she spied a new animal, the birds (oh she just loved the hall of birds), the mammoths. She was a bit apprehensive when we walked through the Long house exhibit and listened to a story by a Native American Grandmother (the lighting is quite dim so I'm sure her imagination was running wild!). We found a little nook just for kiddos and she aimlessly walked around focusing her attention of little bugs, turtles shells, beaver hides, and pretending to dig for dinosaur bones.

 

 

 

 

Kiki is proving to be our unadventurous one. She doesn't like rides of any kind, carnival, park, even escalators! There is an old Carousel that runs on the top floor of the museum; it is lovely. Kiki thought so too, so long as she didn't have to go on :)

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Charlotte's favorite spot is the waterfall with the deer leaping from the stream. It is a very serene setting, I have to admit.

 

The one thing Kiki keeps talking about is how she "fixed" the elephant. It was a skeleton puzzle that she worked on for quite some time. Each piece she carefully examined and needed very little assistance to find the correct spot for each piece. She lovingly place every piece of the puzzle and when she was finished, she stepped back, sighed and smiled and patted the "fixed" elephant and assured him that he was OK, he was fixed now. She picked up her little basket (her little friends accompany her everywhere these days) and was ready to be on her way.

 

 

So, to say the littles have been a bit over excitable these past few days is an understatement. Company always makes them a bit wilder than usual. Last night they had become quite unruly and had a real hard time settling in after our long day out and late evening of games and ice cream. After many attempts to bring them to bed I finally came to my senses and brought in the magic serum. I gently massaged some oil onto their chest and asked them to breathe deeply and nice and slow (I put some on me, too!!) Within moments they were out like lights!

 

The power of Moor Lavender oil is amazing!!! Have you tried it? What are some of your favorite ways to soothe the savage beast in your littles?

Celebrate Today

 

This day is very meaningful to my family. Each year we try to be of service somehow,to our community either by reaching out or by simply being present. This year we did both! We spent the morning preparing an alter asking passersby to look within themselves and commit to acting out a random kindness to a stranger or loved one. Then, we spent the afternoon bearing cards and laughter to our neighbors and friends at Camphill Ghent.

 

 

 

 

This is what our letter said::

In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. and his life’s work AND in

memory of all the lives lost if only to remind us that…

 “If we have no peace it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other”

spend today, January 21, 2013,

Committing Random Acts of Kindness.

~ Choose a slip of paper from the bowl and if possible, commit that act of love today! Consider for a moment, that if the paper you choose seems odd or uncomfortable to you, might you go ahead and explore this act of kindness that is out of your comfort zone anyway? It might just be the push you need to commit to being a constant presence of peace within your family and community! I challenge you tomove beyond the worry of “what people might think” and fully understand that…

 “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

~ Make sure to leave a little note for the receiver of your Act of Kindness (if it is an anonymous act) encouraging them to begin their own journey of spreading peace and kindness in their own lives by Committing Random Acts of Kindness.



 

 Our finished poster.

 

The other part of our day consisted of spending some time over at Camphill Ghent. We just love spending time there with the many wonderful souls who grace the buildings there. It is so peaceful, calming, joyful, relaxing......it's such an honor to be there. The littles (and Bella) made some cards to sneak into the personal mailboxes of some of the residents there saying things like "You are amazing." "I am really glad to know you." "You are beautiful."

 

 

 

Life is so full of busyness. It feels so amazing to be together as a family honoring the lives of others. We had many smiles, hugs, and joy. What better way to spend an afternoon?!

 

I hope you, dear friends, found and/or felt the spirit of love that was intended for this day. xo

First Friday

Well here we are, the first Friday of the New Year. It's been a full week so far! Surprisingly so, in fact; the beginning of a book has been written, art shows are being scheduled, new photography experiences are making themselves known, home school rhythms are shifting, and there seems to be an overall shift within our family culture that is quite satisfying. We're preparing to send off these last few days of reverance for another. Epiphany will come to closure on Sunday, we'll bake a cake to welcome the arrival of the Three Kings. Then, we'll spend the final hours with our beloved Nativity set before it gets loving packed away until next Advent. Thus begins the preparations for the multitude of lovely celebrations and festivals the will be upon us

 

On Fridays I like to visit and participate with The Magic Onions and their Friday's Nature Table but I'm taking a bit of a crafting break and enjoying these last few days of Christmastide. So instead, I'm playing along with a new fun link-up over at Life Rearranged. It's for cell phone photos and I'm sure as you may have discovered, I've become a bit of an IPhone junkie, particularly with the photo capabilities. I have always been interested in learning the art of developing photos and learning how to use a "real" camera. Well, I didn't, for various reasons, learn how so since I'm living in these modern times........when in Rome?!
 

 

These past few days have been bitter cold......Kiki especially as she refuses to keep a stitch of clothes on her wee little body! So, we've been drinking lots of hot cocoa!

 

Seraphina has begun to eat food. She has been asking for what seems like weeks but I've hesitated because she hasn't sprouted any teeth yet!!! I gave in and handed her a bit of banana! Her world was made and now she's eating bananas and sweet potatoes! I never ceases to amaze me at how fast these first few months go......*sigh*

 

 

As I mentioned above, it's been chilly, really chilly! Aside from the gallons of hot cocoa we've been consuming, we've also been piled under plenty of cozy blankets, all together. Charlotte, and this is one of those hard to believe things, has her first loose tooth! She'll be 5 on Monday.......my older two didn't start loosing teeth until they were 6/7!!! She's always been a bit on the quick to grow side but yikes!!! Slow down, baby, slow down!!!!

 

We finally got a good bit of snow, finally!!! Last winter was pretty pathetic in that department. Snow games abound!!!!

 

And lots of sledding :)

 

Winter is such a lovely time to observe the world outside our window, I think. The trees are bare, showing their vulnerability. The colors are darker, the light more crisp.

 

Look at her sweet face. I just melt with complete love and adoration with those smiling eyes!!!

 

 

Welcome 2013

 

We must always change, renew, rejuvenate ourselves, otherwise we harden.

~ Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe

As we prepare to ring in another year, I am noticing that I feel full to the brim with excitement, anticipation, and readiness. It has been a long year. No longer than any other, literally, but emotionally, physically speaking.......I'm ready for a new year to begin. I know that nothing truly changes but a few numbers on the calendar, but, somehow it's change enough to help institute a clean slate. The littles and I had the lovely experience of going over all of our photos from the year. Remembering what each one was; what we were doing, how we felt, who was around. To help close out 2012 we chose some photos to highlight. They each held a particular moment or memory.......a beautiful way to let this door close and another one open.

This year was full of Angels, past and present, seen and unseen. Even today, we can realize their power and presence in our life and in our world.

 

This year was a 'love' year. Everyone was held more, loved more, understood more.

 

 

2012 was a big year for 'firsts'; first hair cuts, learning new things (knitting, sewing), beginning new jobs (owning a new business and school).

 

We said good-bye a lot this year to those we love. We said hello a lot, too!!

  

 

This was the year of Papa!! Because of a myriad of reasons, Papa was home LOTS caring for the children while I had to be away. It was bittersweet but I can see now that everyone needed that extra bit of connection with Papa.

 

June 3, 2012 Seraphina Meadow Mairead was born. She's had a tumultuous six months.....I can only pray they get easier from her on out!

 

We met many new friends this year. We have also reconnected with many not so new friends. It's been a wonderful year of friendship!!!

 

We saw much bonding this year between our children. The littles warmly embraced their new sibling and the big kids, well.......they know how to love another xo

 

There were many beautiful sights to witness this year. Tons of rainbows, sunrises and sunsets, flowers blooming, honey bees dancing, and love blossoming between us all.

 

 

This is the last year before my eldest is a teenager. It's so hard to contemplate being the parent of teenager.......it's been that long yet it's only just begun! 

 

 

I had to learn to let a lot go this year. I had very little control over many things......I decided to focus on the important things.

 

We built upon much this year; play things, relationships, solitude, and growth.

 

 

This year we tried to be silly! Some days we succeeded.

 

 

In 2012 we sought out the light. We had to......

 

 

 

In 2012 we also had to hold on to and build up our faith.

 

 

 

In 2012, I found myself clinging even more tightly to the love of the man I married. He's my rock, my beacon of light.

 

 

 

To ring in the new year we made some hats because, well......you can't have a party without hats!

 

 

I also cut out a garland of doves as a symbol of our family's wish to be more peaceful, to act in and cultivate peace. For 2013 I hope to live a life of more peace. I want to be a peacemaker and to continue to teach my children that through love there is peace. Through giving, there is peace. Through trust, there is peace. Our nations need love, giving, trust, and peace desperately......is it not our duty as parents to bring those qualities to life in our own children?

 

 

One of our goals for 2013 is to keep our hearts aligned with all those amazing things that we get to experience all year long. You know, the ones that usually get forgotten but mean so much that just the glimpse of their existence is enough to warm our hearts. This year, we will have a goodness jar. We each will slip a dated piece of paper inside the jar (everyday or as inspired to do so) that tells of something wonderful that happened to us or someone else or that we saw that day. My hope is that by the years end, we will have a jar full of amazing memories that will carry us through the next year, inspiring us to dream bigger, be better, hold those we love closer.

 

 

2013 will bring many changes to our simple homestead. We will be homeschooling more (bringing the big kids home) and playing more. We will be seeing the beautiful land beyond our own borders, together. We will travel, breathe the ocean air, visit family. A book may be published (fingers crossed), our Etsy shop will come alive again. Life will be fuller than full! Of course, throw in all those little unexpected twists and call it a day!!

We have no way of knowing where our paths will lead us, but we can, with open hearts, wish for and want the best from our waking days. Let not one moment slip by being taken for granted. Let not one day go without telling those you love how deeply you care for them. Let only  the good prevail and let the dusty things fall to the side. Hold on to what is good, give no one evil for evil. Hold up those who need it, be kind. Above all things, let love guide you. Love's light shines brighter than the biggest star......let yours shine!

And now we welcome the New Year, full of things that have never been.

~ Rainer Maria Rilke

 

I am truly wishing you all a glorious New Year. Blessings abound ~ Marcy