Invisible Time

This is not the best photo I have of this lovely Bleeding Heart plant in my early Spring garden ( still months away) but it is a breath of inspiration that yes, in the midst of a great snowy winter, spring will come again.

So, I am thinking about Invisible Time. As I was reading a section in Mitten Strings for God: Reflections for Mothers in a Hurry - Katrina Kenison it was discussing
"invisible time" all those times that we are nurturing, negotiating, mothering that really can't be accounted for if we were trying to categorize them. It is the simple act of being there. Perhaps it is the unplanned sitting to watch something- a bug, a movie, pitching, Perhaps it is the band aids, hugs, the sitting after a boo-boo that still arms wrapped around a small or not so small body make all the difference in the world. My husband and I learned early on that our sheer presence could be as effective as great pain killers after having a infant in the PICU unit. So I really loved how this very wise author put a name to all those countless moments - "Invisible time" to quote her "This is the divine work we mothers do; perhaps,for a time, it is our vocation-taking care of the invisible."

I really enjoyed reading this book, and was able to finish it this morning. I have so many areas underlined and a copy on order for a dear friend. 228 pages with varying size chapters, you can read straight through or stop & start with chapters of your choice. I know it will be one I will turn back to often.

Enjoy your day.

Rules

1/29/09




So this is our Community Reads book this year, Rules by Cynthia Lord
We just finished reading it at home as a Read Aloud and it was fantastic. It is 200 pages with both long and short chapters but it is really engaging so it is hard to just stop reading. Ask Flowergirl who picked it up and finished it in the wink of an eye. Any way it is a very realistic story about a sister Catherine who is 12 and her younger brother David who is 8 and Autistic. In her efforts to make her life more "Normal", she makes a variety of rules for David to follow such as "No toys in the fish tank, If it is to loud, cover your ears or ask the person to be quiet." So most conversations with her brother revolve around a rule or two. A big setting of the book is in the reception area of Out patient Rehabilitation services where her brother attends Occupational Therapy. Now being an Occupational Therapist myself, any book with that has a major part of the setting relating to OT gets points!! It is at Rehab. that she meets another boy ( Jason) who attends Speech therapy and is restricted to a wheel chair. Jason is non-verbal using a communication book with words in it. Catherine being artistic engages in making him colorful words figuratively and literally. " stinks a big one" I think it is pretty realistic to life as 8, 12 year olds, complete with pet Guinea Pigs, & warm family life that is not always perfect.

It really comes down to accepting differences. It is about giving us a birdseye view to what both a family and society do when faced with a child with a disability. It opens a lot of points for further conversations with kids- What would you do? What do you think will happen next? Do you agree with how she handled that? Obviously I could go on and on with the plot but that would leave you with nothing to read so I will leave this as highly recommended.

Learning to accept differences in how we look, speak, dress how we think or what we believe is very important at any age. Something important to learn but rarely taught in any formal way. So read on, hope you enjoy it as much as we have. Now to start a new read aloud- I think it will be Seedfolk. Stay tuned and we will let you know as it unfolds.

SNOW, BIG SNOW!

1/28/09




So this is Edna out for a romp in the snow, she plays ball, leaps through the snow lays in the snow and overall just really loves it. She will lay out in the snow for an hour easily. A snowy day like today is really all about slowing down. Often it seems that is what weather does for us,makes us slow down. When It snows heavily we need to drive slower, we are more careful, intentional in what we do. Often the snow cancels our busy schedules and leaves us with time to complete something un-expected. Snow, big snow is quiet. If the wind is not blowing outside it is such an acoustic insulator that all is very quiet, coupled with less people on the roads and it is just quieter, slower, soup on the stove and bread in the oven.
We had school today but afterschool/evening canceled. We got between 10-12 inches and it is just letting up now. No birds around today. Usually when it is stormy they are all over but not today- again it was quiet.




So this is a Gingerbread House from Christmas in a Snowstorm, it is snowed in for sure, the candies are starting to melt, coloring the snow. The squirrels, birds and dog are leaving it alone. Often the Crows are after it, not this year. Only have 3 more of these in the house.

Cinnamon Muffins and Sunrises

1/27/09
Todays Sunrise looked like this, it was very pretty. Hopefully it will be a sunny day. As tonight it will get stormy, 8-12 inches on its way.




















These are a new recipe from the King Arthur Baking Magazine it is also here through this link if you want to try them. Put lots of streusal topping on as it spreads out as they bake. Plus its really yummy!! King Arthur is my favorite Flour to bake with. They have a wonderful website and Blog if you want to visit. Until tomorrow or the next time I visit.
http://www.kingarthurflour.com/shop/RecipeDisplay?RID=1181136383858

1/26/09


Just a fun sunshine picture from this past summer 7/08. Sunflowers are so Happy! they really are a majestic flower. So stately as they tower over us, so colorful, The sun was out today but we have more winter weather headed our way so I think it won't be out for days again. Storm arriving tomorrow night 6-12 inches before all is said and done. It is mid terms this week for Flowergirl so no Snow days are likely.
“Keep your face to the sunshine and you will never see the shadow.” ~ Helen Keller

I think this quote has a lot to say about how we go about our days. Look for the positive, the joy and dismiss all the trivial trails of our everyday. Lots of them in this old house for sure.

Three Things

1/24/09

This is the picture of the red, white and blue Angel food cake we made for Inauguration Day it was yummy and oh so few points if you are counting them! You just take the batter and divide it up, add food coloring and put it all in your pan, bake and you have a tasty cake! You can't go wrong with an Angel cake, it is a very versatile low calorie treat.



Today I had a little play time with my Friend Nancy, we played with some new designer paper, stamps and ink. These were some of our creations. We mostly did a lot of talking.



January Driveways- full of Ice. When you back the car in it slides all over and try walking on it- your life is in peril. Late afternoons are filled with Blue long shadows. Around 3 pm if the sun is shining then there are the most beautiful long blue shadows from the trees this time of year. It is exciting as now the time of light gains quite a bit each day. The sun is setting very south west vs in the late summer it is more to the north. Tonight is is very cold, only 3 degrees right now and it is 8 pm, the sky is crystal clear. The 3 Scouts are winter camping, 2 in tents and one in a lodge. I hope they have stayed warm all weekend and I am sure we will hear all about it tomorrow.

Joyful Journey's

1/22/09

This book is a recent read for me. A just for fun read. Takes you through the interconnecting "winding" lives of the women featured in the story series. Several leave the storyline while new ones join. Makes me think about my life and the women/friends who interconnect and "wind' through it. How ever so often paths cross over and one person I know from church knows someone from scouts or such. It is always amazing how gently and distantly we are connected. It is these many women that I share my life with that give my life meaning. Some of you I see frequently and some of you just now and then. Many I long to see more often and none of you do I forget. I am always hoping that there will be more time for tea and talking for wine and sipping, for just being. I am sure there will be as these hectic child filled days dwindle onward. Then we will reminisce about the years we ran all over and share the stories that we were living but not able to share at that time. Life is oh so short and I am ever grateful for all of you who brighten and lighten the pathways that we journey. I could not go down life's road without all of you! Thank you. Journey on with Joy in your heart.