Where We Meet is the third week of prompts over at 52 Photo's where Bella Cirovic hosts a wildly  talented circle of photographers and bloggers and where I find an unending path of inspiration and joy.    

Here, at CBF, we gather in the kitchen for almost everything, snacks, homework, small talk, rock breaking.... it is where I smear paint when I don't need to be alone, make attempts at sewing, all sorts of sweet treats and daily dinners... the kitchen is the heart of our home.

 

Homemade goodness is the sure way to happy faces in our house.....

Even the elusive Teenager offers a smile when lured into the brightly lit, sweet smelling, geode breaking, cheesey smile makin' spot :)

Where's yours?

Lessons & Objectives 2012 (Pt.1)

This year, this 2012... it has not started much like it ... much like "I" had intentions for it to begin. 


Lesson and Objective #1. I will learn (again and again) to release control....

Baby Girls grow into young women....


Lesson and Objective #2. I will learn (again and again.... and again) to breathe and release, for her happiness, is my.... ?success? This will be hard and will hurt and will ebb more than flow....

The world I live in has many things to teach me and while my days are long and I am always in a state of repair, I have stories to tell, things to learn, joys to celebrate and sorrows to sing....


Lesson and Objective #3. I am a mother, a creator, a teacher, a student and a risk taker. I survive, I thrive and I make mistakes. I will learn to accept me for me and I offer this self to the world, because it is time to come out of my hermit shell...

Busy Month of August Fullness

The month began with family at the falls, Niagra, NY...

A family reunited is never a party to miss!

Death Cab for Cutie brought us home

the Boy runs a tiller like a pro!

Adding Sacred space...

Taking journey's and adventures....

Southern Women's reading material at the SuperCuts...? 

Finding ... and relocating veggie foes

Pears... Pears and more Pears

Makes for pear sauce and spiced pears this winter! YUM

Summer time lovelies fading into the school year....

She is large... and commanding... and newly relocated from the 
garden to the forest where I will continue to honor her lessons.

Now, here is a small sample of August... there were marshmallows, cookies, and newly tried healthy recipes to be certain... And all went over with a triumphant call! The SouLodge is wrapping up in a week or so and I feel I will continue to gather much needed knowledge and wisdom from the ladies which I am encountering and listening to in the circle. They are brave and soul-filled, honest and courageous in their sharings.  Our fall / winter garden is taking off beautifully and I hope that I have asked for the balance, nourishment and wisdom to see a lush harvest!

Blessings for a full and bountiful September All~

Weekend Additions

The previous week, and this weekend has been very event-filled...

There has been the addition of Buffy, who loves to eat.... and has to have her lighting changed twice daily...

Then, we adopted Chunk here... (which this is unfortunately, not his name... he is still nameless 10 days later...) with his cell mate Hazel Abigail, who is camera shy... they took us on a whirlwind spin through the vet office for three days in a row. Including sub-cue fluids and five different RX's .... umm... not what we really anticipated.... nor did the eight other cats, when they were banished from the house for an indeterminable time frame while the healing began. Sinusitis was an understatement. This is why I do so dislike shelter's and center adoptions.... but understand completely, why they are needed as we get ready to enter kitty season. Please people, if you don't spay/neuter GET YOUR HEAD CHECKED! I am serious, this is a life saving procedure! There are too many cats, dogs, turtles, snakes, frogs and innumerable other pets out there that are surrendered or abandoned.... and when left to their own devices, these cats/dogs just have babies like bunnies... and that's no joke fellas.

If these below are small-ish, click'em to see them big like... The Teen, and her guy friend, made one kick ass fence and gate combo for Joe & Charley, who were very appreciative and excited to be let out of man-cave where they were rushed to when it began to rain on our day party of outdoor projects... a common occurrence of late (the rain, not goats, in the man-cave)...

Girl, and the Boy were my brute muscles and dug up a boat load of agapantha's gone wild... we replaced these with a variety of perennials.... we did the same thing under the carport area, which was also inundated with aggies... there was MUCH love for those buggers here... YEARS of lovin.... we have relocated approximately 250 plants.

The non-pictured beauties include 3 salvia, 2 lavender, a rosemary, I am still in search of some specific sage varieties, and Girl is convinced we can find some wild wisteria rather than hit up the nursery... it is growing EVERYWHERE I look ... and it is gorgeous!!!!



And now.... it's time to sort and sow the herb garden....

Control... and my little dots . . .

My mother is a controller, my grandmother before her and if I am to understand correctly, the women before them were equally as strong willed and ... enjoyed a bit of control in their lives too. I am wildly attracted to the strong, confident nature of these women and fall in love with their passion... Knowing this and being... umm... me... I do try daily to give up control in some of the things I do... Admittedly, I have my moments of failure. Complete and total failure.... and some times, this is like swallowing a bitter cough remedy... others... like whistling with crackers in my mouth.

My truths . . .
I believe in rules... guidelines... disciplines... rights and wrongs... karmic justices

I believe charity starts at home... in your heart... with a smile... and it is contagious

I believe in honesty... truths... all sides of the story... and forgiveness

I believe in honor... for yourself... for your family... and for how you behave

I believe in having faith... no matter how many times someone tries to poke holes in your beliefs

I believe in no hurtful words... because sticks and stones may not break bones but words have always hurt me... and healed me

I cannot control how you will behave, what rules you will follow, what goodness you will do, what truths you will tell, who you will honor or have faith in... I can though, tell you again, that you are loved, you are one of a kind, you are amazing, you can do anything, and that I have faith in you...

... I live everyday with my heart on my sleeve and with all the tears that may fall, each new day I start fresh with the belief that you and I will succeed to be the very best we can be...