{this moment}

friday ritual: a single, special moment to savor and share.

inspired by soulemama.com

Hairy Bag of Bones

Look what we found – an owl pellet!

It was a fascinating little project in the woods.

This owl pellet was choc-full o' bones.

The Forest of Nisene Marks holds so many little treasures, such a variety of trails and creeks and different ways to approach each walk. I write little bits about it now and then, and when you see pictures of the redwoods, that's probably where the shot was taken. It is our favorite classroom, gymnasium, temple. There are days we walk into that forest feeling restless and bored, run-down, irritated, confused or sad, but we always walk out of it feeling healed, refreshed, inspired, even if just a little. 

That dead computer of mine was not the worst thing that could have happened to me. I will figure out a more permanent solution to my computer problem than this here computer of Coleman's. Meanwhile, we are going about our business using the public library and doing more off-line things. I highly recommend it to those of you who have your ass velcro'd to your chair or sofa - for everyone! It feels good to move your body, it's what it's meant for. Go climb a tree.

{this moment}

A single moment from this week.

Inspired by soulemama.com

One Decade.

Coleman turned TEN September 18. Only six more years before he can legally climb behind the wheel of a car, eight more years before he can cast his first vote, eight or nine years before he ships off to college. There's no doubt he's growing up. He's at once a California boy and a Bostonian, and one hundred percent Himself. Coleman is a strong, contemplative guy. He's a loyal friend, a thinker, a creative, a musician, a monkey. I love our conversations and watching him forge his way into the world. I believe someday this precious, sensitive boy will be a strong, compassionate man seeking to better himself and the world around him...I'm still figuring that out - and so is he.

 

Two Dead Computers! (and Happy Birthday, Coleman! 9/18)

You aren't going to believe this. This week Coleman's computer up and died on him. And twenty four hours later mine up and died on me. I wonder if this is a cosmic sign of some sort? A sign to take a break from the world of pixels and focus on this physical world of mine. There are plenty of things in both worlds which pull at me, things I love to emerse myself in. Alas, I will have only the "real" world for a while as I ponder how to deal with this occurance, so you may not see me in this space for a number of days, or even weeks. Rest assured (all eight people who may or may not read this blog) that some day soon I will update these pages. We've got a tenth birthday to discuss, the county fair, moulting chickens, the progress on a certain studio, amazing weather, hikes and many {this moments}...so much to blab about. When I have a computer to work on. (Mom, this is not a request for a new computer!)

See you all soon...And remember to back up your files!

In Our Classroom Today

Half of this day was spent in woods, by a stream. A fine place to spend any portion of your day, in my estimation. We hiked the Vienna Woods Trail, which leads from a neighborhood up on a hill down into the Forest of Nisene Marks. We spend a lot of time on this trail and in these woods. This past weekend we were in the same woods on a different trail on bikes. It's big and filled with wonderful sites. And lovely sounds, sites and smells.

We found some fossils. Talked about how they formed and different types of rock. (We found this neat DK Smithsonian book at the thrift store for a dollar that informed much of what we talked about).  We found sediment that seemed like it was trying really hard to be a rock (pun intended). I even stepped on a clump of sediment, mistaking it for a rock and fell into the water. We kept walking, because, what's a little water? We climbed trees and rocks and tip-toed across the river over little stones placed just right to form a crossing. We both brought sketch pads and used them. There was a lot in that two and a half hours - we had a lot of fun. It was quiet and peaceful and down right delightful spending time with my son - wishing I had both of them with me, actually.

Later on this afternoon we went to Kaleidoscope with many other folks from Ocean Alternative School to spend our whopping $50.00 stipend for the semester. We've got $12.00 left. We spent it on math books, a poster for Coleman's wall and a Captain Underpants book (which Coleman read in about 30 minutes flat). I was so happy there were teachers there to help make choices - there are a lot of books on math for fourth graders.

Into the Woods

It was a good day to go into the woods.

It was a good day to climb down to the creek and explore the rocks, the trees.

It was a good day to kick off shoes and feel the cold, damp moss on the rocks.

It was a good day to follow your brother up the damp mossy rocks.

It was a good day to be quiet and look outside of ourselves.

We had a quiet weekend. Just the four of us and our various animals. It's been a decade, so much healing has happened in our world. And though that isn't all that's gone on in these past ten years, that's what I'd like to contemplate; the healing, the new beginnings. Two new lives, inside our family fold, who seem like they have always been a part of our lives.

Peace.

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

inspired by soulemama.com

And...The School Year Begins

I've been absent from this space. I missed you. You wouldn't know that I haven't been blogging to look around my house. It's a mess. I'm a bit of a mess, actually. I was overwhelmed before the school year began this week. I think I was overwhelmed with the summer, more than anything. It was long, busy and delightful, but we needed a change. That change came and I was ill prepared yet eager: Think tornado, better yet, think hurricane. That was my mind. I don't mean to complain. Change is always a challenge for me and mine, even when it is anticipated and welcomed.

Coleman met his new classmates on August 31st at a park in town and Max returned to school at Tara this Tuesday, September 6th. Max is thoroughly enjoying school. I think he missed it there, and missed his friends and teachers. For Coleman, classes will begin meeting regularly at school on Tuesdays next week. I have also found a really cool one day/week class about 45 minutes from here that I am hoping Coleman will go to on Wednesdays. Here's what part of the content of the class will have in it: "In this 8 week course, your child will learn archery, bee keeping, copper smithing, forging, stone arts, clay arts, wood arts and jewelry making." Hello! Sign me up!


Here's a picture of Max's school in the redwoods, Tara Redwood:

Love on a Plate

Nana's baking is famous within the family and our circle of friends. There are certain items that make the top of the list; apple pie, lemon meringue pie, blueberry muffins, my favorite cookies we call them date-balls (but they should have a more glamorous name), ginger snap cookies. That's just the first few things on a long list of confectionary delights. Some of the recipes are old family recipes which some day I would like to put into a book. I don't know where the apple pie comes from, maybe a favorite cook book. The true magic of the apple pie Nana makes us all (often) is the love she bakes into it, and just the right amount of working the dough. I'm a novice when it comes to baking apple pies, but with Nana's guidance I have made a couple yummy ones. I think those pies have actually brought me closer to some of my friends and certainly brought more love into our lives. I think of this apple pie as Love on a Plate. Because it just is. And tis the season for apple pie - it's a long season, thankfully.

Crust
5 Tablespoons butter (I use salted and reduce the salt in the recipe)
5 Tablespoons shortening
2 Cups all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt (or 1 teaspoon if you've got unsalted butter)
1/4 to 1/2 cup very cold water (in Massachusetts, in the muggy climate Nana uses 1/4 cup, here in California where it's dry I use 1/2 cup)

Nana uses a pastry blender. I use my kitchenaid mixer.
Mix the dry ingredients together, then blend in the butter with the mixer or the pastry blender until it forms pea sized balls, add ice water and blend a little more - it should still look like a course meal. Using your hands, form a couple disks of equal size, wrap in wax paper or plastic wrap. Refrigerate for an hour.

Filling
6 to 8 big Granny Smith Apples, peeled and sliced
1 cup sugar
3 Tablespoons all purpose flour
juice of a lemon
1 tsp cinnamon

Combine the sugar, flour and cinnamon in a bowl.
Peel, core and slice the apples. I use a one of these - not that exact one, but a similar one and it makes life easier!
Squeeze the lemon over the apples
Pour the sugar mixture over the apples and mix together.

When assembling the pie crusts I like to use a silicone baking mat. Because, unlike my mother I'm no expert when it comes to handling the dough.
Roll the dough, rolling in just one direction at a time (don't roll back and forth, back and forth)
If you start with a disk it should follow that the crust will then be round. Make it so.
When transferring your crust to the pie plate, drape it over your rolling pin and then (with the plate very near your freshly rolled crust) place it onto the pie plate.
The crust will hang over the sides, let it, but just by about 1/2 inch, if there is excess, cut it off with a sharp knife.

Fill the crust up with the apple mixture.

Roll out the top crust and repeat the [painfully difficult] task of transferring the crust onto the apples. The top crust should hang over beyond that of the bottom crust by another 1/2 inch. Roll the top crust over the bottom crust and pinch it so it seals the crusts together. Make pie edge using your fingers or a fork to make a pattern and reinforce the seal.

Brush the top crust with milk or egg white. Bake at 350 until nicely browned.

Eat! I know what I'm making for dessert tonight, never mind that it's already 4:30!

I'm in Awe

This is video is amazing...found it here while I was surfing researching important things. Check it out! The music is fantastic also, Ben Howard is the artist and the title of the song is The Wolves. Just "Wow".