Prep Week

This is the last week before we head off to the Pacific Northwest for some vacation, some work, some exploring, some reuniting with family and lots of memory making. The last week before travel always means lots to do but I also realize that minimalism has a spot in the world of packing and prepping. Laundry needs doing for instance but organizing all our clothes this week as I pack does not need to happen. Packing need to happen but we'll only be bringing a week of clothes. Washers exist. We should make sure that all out hotel reservations are made and written into the schedule but we don't need to freak out about making sure each day is planned to the lapels.  I need to get a couple of basic snacks planned and purchased and prepped for the flight but I don't need to worry about ordering groceries for when we return home yet...that can wait and happen some slow morning in Seattle. 

Trimming the list minimizes the overwhelm of liftoff but it also means there is a little more margin, a little bit of space, a tiny breathing corner. That space is open. It might be when we meet with friends for impromptu play sessions at the park, it might be when I write and paint extra and the boys soak in library books or it might just be time we spend at home not having anywhere to do and not having anything to do. Lolling in the garden, taking naps when we are overtired and fixing things here at home which need our attention all should be allowed to make the list if they clamor.

Been thinking lately about my own philosophy of pushing the edge, living deep and striving that holds hands with my anathema for stress and defeatist talk about being over-busy and living in a time drought. I think its crucial to stay alive, fed, directed, energized and inspired. I also think its important to reject the doctrine of negativity about living a full life. (the belief that we are behind before we even get up in the morning and that there are not enough hours in the day and that we don't have time for the things we wish we could do) I also think its really important to trim the fat in our lives and have boundaries. No, is a good word, we should be masters and mistresses of our own agendas and not live subject to manipulation or guilt in our To Do Lists, we also should learn to strict with ourselves about cutting out things we know we shouldn't be doing. Life is too rich and full to waste on things that are bland and soul killing. As Dr. Suess, The Wise said in one of his books,

"You'll look up and down streets. Look 'em over with care.

About some you will say, "I don't choose to go there."

With your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet,

you're too smart to go down any not-so-good street."

So, I'm planning a trip and I'm whipping up the last few things to get done here before we go, and I may feel pushed but I refuse to live in that space, and if you feel like calling, ring me up.

Oregon hasn't seen nothin' yet!  

Zen Quilting

Life is calming down around here. We're back to trying to follow a housekeeping routine, catching up on the dishes and the laundry are a daunting task but I am starting to believe it might happen soon. I can at least find clothes in the drawers again.

 We've been doing lots of slowing down though...cancelling things, playing outdoors, reading together and naps, naps, naps. I've been working on a compilation of data about how to increase the strength of the immune system, since we've all been clearly a bit low and susceptible.

 I got the urge to mend our big master bed quilt the other day, there were flaps open on several of the patches after a lot of use and love over the last decade. Once I sat down in the sunshine with a needle in my hand, I couldn't stop.

 I did the utilitarian mending and then after all the holes were closed I just kept going. Its a block quilt with no real top stitching anywhere and so I just did some random top stitching, following my inner creative urges. It was so cozy there in the sun, with my needle, and the little stitch tracks going in and out and in and out....

 One of the most incidentally meditational things that has happened to me in a long time. I could be  hand quilter for hire. Any brilliant quilters out there who love the piecing and need a slightly obsessive, tiny bit harried housewife to sit glaze-eyed for hours pleasantly stitching designs over the patchwork? I am your woman! Please get in touch directly.

Birth Music

Spending more small moments today. Drizzling, chilly, rainy afternoon with a bit of a break in the action. I spent some time mouthing middle name possibilities in combination with our short list of boy names, roasted some chicken wings, folded laundry, washed the counter tops and put dishes away....and then this evening while I waited for A to call to say he was on the train home I started my birth soundtrack.

For both the boys births I have compiled a cd of songs to listen during labor...my first cd (for Ru's birth) was a source of great comfort during a really tumultuous hospital birth and many of the cheery tunes I picked are burned forever into my memory in association with his arrival. For Dee's birth I had a more mellow, snuggly soundtrack, not quite as peppy...I guess, I was feeling more calm about the whole arrangement and just wanted music to wrap me in that mood.

This time around, honestly, I'm not sure what I want. I keep waffling and scratching my head. But, yeah frankly, at this point...I don't have enough time left to keep putting it off and deliberating so, I'm going to kill two birds with one stone and just make two cds. I have "Zen Birth" and "Peppy Birth" in the works. We'll see what suits when the moment comes I guess. I've only gotten partway through both compilations but, so far here's a taste of what I've got:

Set one is "Zen" and set two is "Peppy."

Spa Night and A Favorite Site

Well, Friday is here and with it, a cozy weekend. We have small plans, things like "make a loaf of bread" and "walk through the flowers" and nothing terribly ambitious. Its a good time of year to not be very ambitious. So yummy and lazy out.

We're starting off the weekend in fine style with a wonderful night of couple spa time. Foot soaks, massages and languid sitting around together. I am ready.

While we soak our tooties...why don't you take in one of my very favorite sites that makes me extremely happy. Young Me, Now Me. Such genius. Some of the photos are amazing. I plan to do one of my own (not for the site persay but, maybe just for you folks here)...someday.

I hope your weekend is wonderful, your children hug you, and that whether you have rain or sun, you take a moment to breath deeply and really smell it coming down around you.