Whether observing a spear of summer grass, listening to the wind moving through the trees, watching children laugh and play, or simply feeling the warmth of the sun as it shines down on us, taking time to simply be, to watch and experience with no other agenda than to loafe, is fodder for the sublime. The tactile and the transcendent can be one and the same.… Continue reading
On Halloween we joined some dear family friends and went trick or treating. We first headed downtown to the Munchkin Masquerade and then walked around a block of houses in their neighborhood. At the end of the evening, after lots of fun and laughs, my boys each brought home a pumpkin pail filled with candy.
By the time we returned for our costume-decked adventures, it was late and time to get ready for bed.… Continue reading
Fresh roasted pumpkin is wonderfully delicious. Taste wise, it’s a big step up from canned pumpkin, like the difference between almost anything fresh and canned. But tackling a big whole pumpkin can feel intimidating, even if my normal method of roasting a pumpkin (or any type of winter squash — recipe HERE) is pretty simple.
This method of roasting a pumpkin is easier than my normal way.… Continue reading
“Many people believe simplicity implies doing without. On the contrary, True simplicity as a conscious life choice illuminates our lives from within. True simplicity is both buoyant and bountiful, able to liberate depressed spirits from the bondage and burden of extravagance and excess. True simplicity can elevate ordinary moments…from the mundane to the transcendent.”
–Sarah Ban Breathnach
It’s easy to get caught up in the messages of our broader society: to hear the call that says we need to update our house, to keep our wardrobe current, to drive a new car, or carry the latest electronic gadgets.… Continue reading
The morns are meeker than they were,
The nuts are getting brown;
The berry’s cheek is plumper,
The rose is out of town.
The maple wears a gayer scarf,
The field a scarlet gown.
Lest I should be old-fashioned,
I’ll put a trinket on.
–Emily Dickinson, Autumn
Autumn is here. Beautiful, crisp, a final celebration before our little part of the world fades into the renewing slumber of winter.… Continue reading
I was thinking about something special to go along with our roasted chicken for dinner the other night, when something else entirely unrelated brought rosemary to mind. I love the smell of rosemary, and was struck by the idea of making Rosemary Sea Salt Biscuits.
Unfortunately, time got away from me and I was unable to make the biscuits that night.… Continue reading
There’s nothing inherently difficult about being mindful or in making conscious decisions about how we interact with the people, things, and world around us, but it’s so easy to get caught up in the planning ahead or the worrying or the dreaming or whatever else may occupy our minds (or we get stuck in one of the scripts we follow in our heads) that we forget to simply be present now and to focus on who or what is right in front of us.… Continue reading
Fall is here, winter is approaching, and already I’m hearing lots of people sniffling and coughing. We’re all spending more time indoors, and heaters are coming on more frequently. The season of colds and flu seems to be settling in.
While I firmly believe that a healthy diet and plenty of sleep are the best ways to keep our bodies healthy, I also keep some other natural immune system supports and remedies around our house in order to help our bodies if we’re exposed to a virus or if we feel ourselves coming down with something.… Continue reading
We live in the mountains, and we routinely see wildlife outside of our house. However, the other day while I was reading to my 6-year-old, my 2-year-old announced, “Mama, Bird in house.” That got my attention.
Now, I would like to say this was the first time a bird has come into our house, but it’s not (though it is the first time at this particular house).… Continue reading
I don’t know about your house, but I know that in my house it’s really easy for piles of paper to accumulate. Whether it’s mail that needs to be sorted, piles of my boys’ art work, receipts that need to be filed for tax purposes, or articles I want to read, they all seem to pile up.
I’m working to put a stop to that.… Continue reading