Welcoming Motherhood

Becoming a mother is the most profound, overwhelming, amazing thing that has ever happened to me.  No one could have possibly prepared me for the way my heart would open up and begin pouring love onto this wee creature.  When carrying my second child I dreaded the birth...it's true.  I was so afraid that I didn't have enough room in my heart to love another baby, I was so consumed by Molly (they are just a year apart) that I truly believed there just wasn't room.  I can still so clearly remember the moment of Corey's birth, the way my heart just expanded without hesitation, without me willing it to do so.  I was instantly in love.  In love with him, in love with my daughter, in love with my husband all over again, in love with motherhood.

 I know for some women they have always known they were meant to be a mother, while I assumed someday I would have children, I didn't think about actually being a mother, didn't understand the impact it would have on who I was/am as a person, I didn't know just how whole and complete it would make me.  There was a void that had never been present before that was suddenly filled.  Greg laughs and says that I was always "mama bear" long before our children, but this power, this strength that motherhood has given me cannot be anticipated, explained or felt before the gift of motherhood.

 Greg is in the recording studio all weekend, and the kids are with close family friends in the White mountains of New Hampshire  hiking, biking, looking for trolls, fairies and who knows what else.  I am at work...and I am blessed.  I work with the most amazing group of women, most of them mothers or soon to be.  The wisdom, strength and humor that all of these different women delights me every time I am with them.  We have been very busy all weekend and together we have helped a lot of women welcome motherhood for the first time and some for the 4th or 5th time.  I honestly can 't think of a better way to spend my Mother's Day weekend!  Getting to witness first hand that profound, overwhelming power that comes from deep within a woman when she births her baby is truly a gift. 
Today I salute all mothers for being just that;  mothers...
Enjoy your day.

This Moment

Joining Soulemama  for {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.

Rainy Days

The last few days have been rainy which has shifted our days a bit, we've been outside so much.  While being outside is simply glorious it has meant that I've neglected some things that need to be done inside, so today I welcome the rain and take advantage and try to catch up just a little.  After all the flowers are welcoming the rain.

Inside I've got piggies that need finishing:

there is always some of this:

The kids and I have been enjoying the Chronicles of Narnia together and today we start this one:

We are reading them in the order they were published, apparently there are very strong opinions as to how you should read them as the chronological order different from the publication order.  Of course first they need to finish this:

I'm hoping for some inspiration from here:

And we're about to devour this yummy breakfast treat from my sweet friend Rachel over at House full of Jays

Enjoy your day inside or out!

yarn Along

Once again joining the small things yarn along.
As far as knitting goes I've finished my little hat and leg warmers, and yesterday I decided I should work on some things for the little etsy store I've started.  My next projects for the shop are some little knitted farm animals.  I guess I'm wishing they were real:)  I went up to Romney Ridge Farm to pick up some of her hand dyed worsted weight yarn in sweetheart; just perfect for pigs and piglets!  I'm thinking about a felted barn to carry all the animals around...

In the reading realm I finished The Dirty Life this week and loved it.  I now have this strange urge to drive over to upstate New York and visit Essex Farm.  I've looked and they don't have a website, but I did find this fun article from Seven Days a little free Vermont paper I've always loved.  Last night I borrowed and started A Natural Sense of Wonder (Connecting Kids with Nature through the Seasons by Rick Van Noy.  As I said I've only just started, but so far so good, it appears as though there is a more hands-on approach in this book.  It's funny that we even need such books in our lives, but this is the culture that we have become.  I'm sure I'll have lots to say next week when I've had time to dive in.  In the mean time looking forward to seeing what other folks have been up to. 
Thanks to Ginny for hosting.

A Slow Start and a History Unknown

It was a very slow start this morning...seems like we needed it, the kids have slept in after a pretty long day of running, gymnastics, errands and farm visits yesterday.  We did find time to  enjoy another beautiful walk in the woods.  We talked about how at one time these woods must have been pastures on someones farm.  You find that a lot around here, I think New England in general; remains of old  foundations or stone walls,  a farm with a history that nobody may know.

I wonder when these stone walls were built, and who built them.  How deep down do they go?  I imagine how hard the work must have been, how long.  The boulders and rocks dug up around the farm and fields, the big ones hauled by horses of course no tractors or bull dozer just manual labor, the whole family working hard to finish before the sun goes down...such a different time in our history.

Our house is about 125 years old.  As many have heard me before I've never felt a strong connection with this house (after all it's not the "forever" house).  I'm working on changing that attitude and trying hard to make our house a home.  I've got no fabulous projects to show you today, honestly the house needs a thorough cleaning before I can even think of starting a new project.  It's finally time to comfortably put away all the winter garb and let the fresh air in.  It is supposed to be raining today but right now we are all enjoying the warm air and sunshine on the front porch, the birds are singing, the kids are humming while they do their work...it truly is lovely.  As I was walking around the yard this morning; watering newly planted seeds and transplants,

first lettuce seedlings, can't wait for salad

 inspecting flowers peeking through the earth and buds on the trees

We've created all the flower beds here, they are a willy-nilly mix of local plant sale finds, divisions from friends and relics I've found long neglected around the property.   It was these peonies that got me thinking about the history of our own home.  I'm told that these flowers are more than 50 years old, planted a long time ago by owners unknown.  I've nurtured them and moved and divided them (something the peonies objected to a great deal).  This house had been "redone" in the 70s and then very neglected when we came upon it.  But as I inspect more closely on my walk this morning I can't help but think that there is a soul in this home...somewhere.  There are signs all around that at one time many years ago someone had a lovely flower/rock garden in the back.  The area the children call the "garden house".

There are very old lilacs with a tree stump table and chairs that we added, when the leaves are in the area is pretty much hidden.  The kids have always loved this area and still play there quite a bit.  I have dug up tulips, day lilies and a few other things that I've found in the overgrowth of this area. 

As I look more closely it is all so clear, the remnants of an old stone wall, flowers so gracefully growing around the large boulders that make up much of our small patch of land.  I imagine, that the big tall pines were not there and large gardens of flowers and veggies were growing how hard someone worked to till the land.  I look at the house around us (most younger than ours) and think about the land being parceled off into smaller sections.   More houses being built and these tall pines bordering our back yard were probably planted to keep a sense of privacy (in the process losing a great gardening spot to not enough sun). 
I take a deep breath of the fresh morning air and listen to all the birds singing their song and smile, for a moment there is peace and tranquility, I close my eyes and imagine who could have worked so hard on the garden.  Perhaps a woman and her children alone most of the time while her husband worked hard in the ship building lots, or maybe at sea.  Our town was once a huge trade center.  I try to picture what she looked like and how she dressed.  How she managed to find time to care for her children, feed them, clothe them, and tend the gardens. 
My peace and tranquility at this point is quickly replaced by a barking dog chasing a cat up into the lilac tree and a son fresh out of bed at the back door yelling "mom where are you".  I laugh out loud, assure my son I'll be right in and walk to the side of the house to dig up these extra forsythia for special friends we are visiting later today. 

It's going to be a good day...

Taking advantage of the Sun

Just a quick post this morning as we have many things to do today and it's gorgeous out!  We've been busy soaking up sunshine lately as there has been lots and that I must say puts everyone in a great mood.  It's time to officially put away all the winter garb and start being outside first thing in the morning. Coffee on this porch swing is a personal favorite.
We had such sun one day  that Miss Molly did a little gardening in a tank top and shorts!

Since the kiddos were very little I've had them planting annual flowers in pots to scatter around the porch and yard.  Molly has come to expect it and takes great pride in her flower arrangements.

Corey as you can see has been far too busy with many battles keeping our world safe (from what I'm not always sure, but we are safe).

The kids and I have been busy creating a "fortress" among the trees on our little bit of property.  We've only just started, but the plans are huge and soon will require help from the professionals (aka Dad and our good neighbor).

Speaking of those neighbors of ours...My sweet little friend turned 3 yesterday and once again we got the joy of celebrating with her! It was a perfect day and as soon as we get some pictures of her in the sweet little dress I made her I'll be sure to post them (very excited).

We did have to leave the joyous sun for most of the day on Saturday as Molly had competed in the state gymnastics tournament.  We are so proud of her, she placed 6th in the state for her age group and had season-best scores in 3 events! Worth skipping the sunshine to see her smile as she accepted her awards!
Hope you are having lots of sunshine where ever you are.  We are off to the local farm for some onion sets and hopefully some goat kid and lamb love!

This Moment

Joining Soulemama for {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.