I’m glad we no longer eat our young.Even when we know they’d be tasty!
He’s deserved it. More than once.
And still we’re glad he’s here ♥
Happy Friday, Carrie ♥ to you too!
Monthly Archives: August 2009
I love you, diana!
I’m glad we no longer eat our young.Even when we know they’d be tasty!
He’s deserved it. More than once.
And still we’re glad he’s here ♥
Happy Friday, Carrie ♥ to you too!
Why you can trust my blueberries.
I met Alex when he was 9. He and I have always had a very special understanding: Alex can be himSelf with me. A truly sacred gift for this boy who has few places to BE. For two whole weeks this year, he got to wear his pajamas most of the time (cooling off through many water fights), eat his favorite foods and play video games to his heart’s content.
He was free to tell me that he feels I should really be his mother, there must have been a glitch in the system before he was born. I was free to hug him and tell him how honored I am to be one of his mothers in this life.
He joined into a very cold water fight. Giggling and accepting. Ducking in and out of the safety of “Time Out” or “Stop,” knowing he could trust us to honor his request.
He approached one of my friends, with a cup of very cold water, telling her I’m feeling very mischievous right now. The resulting splash to her front, while shocking, was a true “I like you and want you to be part of the fun and this is my way of letting you know ” from Alex. A sign she took well. Reinforcing his safety in our community of friends. ♥
Alex has a unique relationship with food. In a typical unschooling manner, I’ve offered many different foods to Alex, with great consideration for what he would like and simultaneously without attachment to his reception. We’ve talked about what he likes and how that might translate into other, similar, foods he might one day taste. For years. With respect. 
While the rest of the house was asleep, I offered him pan au chocolat. Oh yeah, French Pastries. The boy loves bread, butter and good chocolate. He trusted me enough to take a leap, try what he’d never tasted in his 14 years of life. One bite, viola! He.is.in.heaven! ♥ 
When in my backyard, his sister ate several ripe strawberries from my plants. I mentioned to Alex, who eats store-bought apples and grapes, should he feel the desire to branch out in the fruit department, he should be sure his fruit comes straight from the plant, warmed by the sun, grown with love ♥ if only as a personal favor to me & to the fruit, which deserves to be tasted in it’s best form.
As they packed their last things into their car, I ran to the blueberry bushes (Lucius & Narcissa, Legacy blueberries) to get the ripe handful they offered.
I held out my hand and everyone, including Alex, took a berry. We shared them like communion. All of us acutely aware of, and working to not call to much attention to, Alex’s reaction. He hummed his tasting process. When it wasn’t immediately rejected, it was given careful consideration, the whole experience. He smiled, I beamed, we connected. He gave it a shot and it wasn’t bad. I am worthy of his trust. That’s a great place to stand.
He was free to tell me that he feels I should really be his mother, there must have been a glitch in the system before he was born. I was free to hug him and tell him how honored I am to be one of his mothers in this life.
He joined into a very cold water fight. Giggling and accepting. Ducking in and out of the safety of “Time Out” or “Stop,” knowing he could trust us to honor his request.
He approached one of my friends, with a cup of very cold water, telling her I’m feeling very mischievous right now. The resulting splash to her front, while shocking, was a true “I like you and want you to be part of the fun and this is my way of letting you know ” from Alex. A sign she took well. Reinforcing his safety in our community of friends. ♥
Alex has a unique relationship with food. In a typical unschooling manner, I’ve offered many different foods to Alex, with great consideration for what he would like and simultaneously without attachment to his reception. We’ve talked about what he likes and how that might translate into other, similar, foods he might one day taste. For years. With respect. 
While the rest of the house was asleep, I offered him pan au chocolat. Oh yeah, French Pastries. The boy loves bread, butter and good chocolate. He trusted me enough to take a leap, try what he’d never tasted in his 14 years of life. One bite, viola! He.is.in.heaven! ♥ 
When in my backyard, his sister ate several ripe strawberries from my plants. I mentioned to Alex, who eats store-bought apples and grapes, should he feel the desire to branch out in the fruit department, he should be sure his fruit comes straight from the plant, warmed by the sun, grown with love ♥ if only as a personal favor to me & to the fruit, which deserves to be tasted in it’s best form.As they packed their last things into their car, I ran to the blueberry bushes (Lucius & Narcissa, Legacy blueberries) to get the ripe handful they offered.
I held out my hand and everyone, including Alex, took a berry. We shared them like communion. All of us acutely aware of, and working to not call to much attention to, Alex’s reaction. He hummed his tasting process. When it wasn’t immediately rejected, it was given careful consideration, the whole experience. He smiled, I beamed, we connected. He gave it a shot and it wasn’t bad. I am worthy of his trust. That’s a great place to stand. Jubilent Joyful July
Too long has passed to give each event of the month it’s due… so bear with me, while I take you on a whirlwind (said ala Stewie) photo tour of our Incredibly Intense July… the photos are big and beautiful, I encourage you to click on them and see them BIG!
~♥~ ~♥~ ~♥~ ~♥~ ~♥~ ~♥~ ~♥~
Tree House practice… by golly, we’re gonna have a tree house if we have to wait for Rowan grow big enough to build it, her own self ♥
Because this tree is just begging to be lived in! 
We had lots of giggles ’round the firepit. Lots. of. Giggles.
Guess which hoop is mine 😀
My parents came from Souf’akota. Ed spent a lot of time in the backyard. Kinda like my own personal garden gnome.
With the logs they could keep away from the dog, and an old closet door, they assembled me one fine bench for the back o’da house ♥ thanks guys!
On July 14, the crew -sans Ed & Charlie- went to an all-day Harry Potter marathon. For 15$, we could bring in our blankies, pillows, coffee and food, to enjoy each of the movies in succession. There were well-spaced short and longer breaks, and an opportunity to keep our seats for movie 6. We were well exhausted after the first 5, so we returned the next day to finish the series.
Chance is hitting his groove with baking for Sunnyside Up.
We took the ‘rents to the beach… Ed’s very first ocean view ♥
The perfect beach for Ed, too; he got to dress as he always does and there was none of that embarrassing nudity
(knowing the sounds bare + ass are in that word, embarrasses ed!)
Chance’s first visit to the Oregon Coast inspired him to create his own little fort. And Fly his Freak Flag, as Scotty’s happy to encourage ♥
Then we had DaVinci Days! I contributed this art for the Community Art Show theme “Fish”
Dee & Ed left just in time to be replaced with another Souf’akota family – Susan, Elizabeth & Alex. The kids had more fun with the hammock my parents left, than I’d ever imagined possible! So easily entertained ♥
Lots of s’mores ’round the backyard fire
Pears are growing plentifully
We got our first watermelon, ever.
Oh, the blueberries will have their own post, for their story is great.
Here’s a peek at my Legacy, Lucius,’ Love Offerings. MmMmMmM
Charlie’s got a new pup-friend, Tarquin. Hijinks ensue.
Susan found this little guy on Elizabeth’s pants. Lizabit found a brown one, twice this size, the day before. I’m happy to have healthy happy frogs in the backyard!
We went back to the beach. This time for Alex’s first time at the ocean.
We found treasures!
Chance’s fort had been improved upon, by those who have come in the two weeks between our visits. He joyfully began shoveling out the tide-leavings and the others soon joined him; joyfully.
This little project got the attention of everyone; even those once thought too sensitive for these circumstances ♥
Hayden got an adorable haircut. Adorable even when his entire self is covered in sand from being buried, several times, at the beach.
It seemed our backyard was rarely empty. We used that bathtub to cool down on the super hot days; good company, good hooping and good attitudes got us through those days together.
Alex discovered our tree comes with it’s own water feature.
We shall dub this Waterfall Alex.
We went to dinner together at Block 15. Where the one thought too sensitive for the environment trusted me and had a wonderful and entertaining dinner. Just how he likes it is just how we like it.
It seems too quiet now, as we slide right through August…
Coming Soon: Cameron Lovejoy’s visit (~20th), Scotty’s trip to Portland to see Wayne (20th), Hayden’s Birthday (22nd), my mother’s day (23rd), and probably more to do that I’m forgetting…
okay, I shall now appreciate this lull a bit more 😉
~♥~ ~♥~ ~♥~ ~♥~ ~♥~ ~♥~ ~♥~
Tree House practice… by golly, we’re gonna have a tree house if we have to wait for Rowan grow big enough to build it, her own self ♥
Because this tree is just begging to be lived in! 
We had lots of giggles ’round the firepit. Lots. of. Giggles.
Guess which hoop is mine 😀
My parents came from Souf’akota. Ed spent a lot of time in the backyard. Kinda like my own personal garden gnome.
With the logs they could keep away from the dog, and an old closet door, they assembled me one fine bench for the back o’da house ♥ thanks guys!
On July 14, the crew -sans Ed & Charlie- went to an all-day Harry Potter marathon. For 15$, we could bring in our blankies, pillows, coffee and food, to enjoy each of the movies in succession. There were well-spaced short and longer breaks, and an opportunity to keep our seats for movie 6. We were well exhausted after the first 5, so we returned the next day to finish the series.
Chance is hitting his groove with baking for Sunnyside Up.
We took the ‘rents to the beach… Ed’s very first ocean view ♥
The perfect beach for Ed, too; he got to dress as he always does and there was none of that embarrassing nudity(knowing the sounds bare + ass are in that word, embarrasses ed!)
Chance’s first visit to the Oregon Coast inspired him to create his own little fort. And Fly his Freak Flag, as Scotty’s happy to encourage ♥
Then we had DaVinci Days! I contributed this art for the Community Art Show theme “Fish”
Dee & Ed left just in time to be replaced with another Souf’akota family – Susan, Elizabeth & Alex. The kids had more fun with the hammock my parents left, than I’d ever imagined possible! So easily entertained ♥
Lots of s’mores ’round the backyard fire
Pears are growing plentifullyWe got our first watermelon, ever.
Oh, the blueberries will have their own post, for their story is great.Here’s a peek at my Legacy, Lucius,’ Love Offerings. MmMmMmM
Charlie’s got a new pup-friend, Tarquin. Hijinks ensue.
Susan found this little guy on Elizabeth’s pants. Lizabit found a brown one, twice this size, the day before. I’m happy to have healthy happy frogs in the backyard!
We went back to the beach. This time for Alex’s first time at the ocean.We found treasures!
Chance’s fort had been improved upon, by those who have come in the two weeks between our visits. He joyfully began shoveling out the tide-leavings and the others soon joined him; joyfully.
This little project got the attention of everyone; even those once thought too sensitive for these circumstances ♥
Hayden got an adorable haircut. Adorable even when his entire self is covered in sand from being buried, several times, at the beach.
It seemed our backyard was rarely empty. We used that bathtub to cool down on the super hot days; good company, good hooping and good attitudes got us through those days together.
Alex discovered our tree comes with it’s own water feature.We shall dub this Waterfall Alex.
We went to dinner together at Block 15. Where the one thought too sensitive for the environment trusted me and had a wonderful and entertaining dinner. Just how he likes it is just how we like it.
It seems too quiet now, as we slide right through August…Coming Soon: Cameron Lovejoy’s visit (~20th), Scotty’s trip to Portland to see Wayne (20th), Hayden’s Birthday (22nd), my mother’s day (23rd), and probably more to do that I’m forgetting…
okay, I shall now appreciate this lull a bit more 😉
Bodhicitta 