January at the Beach

Hello Everyone,
I put together this video using the camera my mother lovingly passed down to me as a Christmas gift after she purchased a new one (thanks, Ma, loving it!). I hope you like it, it was fun to put together for a first try and helps me remember a really fun family day.
On one of the other blogs that I follow, the author posted a picture a day for the whole month of December. I really enjoyed seeing what her world brought her way each day. She's a photographer as well and so it was very fun for me. I'm thinking I might do that for the month of February and see where it might take me. Another passion needing some attention, and now a great new camera to use for the purpose...no excuses.
And as a side note, if you could smell my house right now, you'd be as happy as I am...homemade maple-coconut-cranberry-raisin-date-cinnamon-vanilla-nut-5 grain granola currently baking in the oven...oh, heavenly scents. Too bad this isn't smell-avision!
Wishing you the peace of your own January waves, ~Peacemom

Ahh, I remember the sweet tastes of summer....

The picture was the score from local food purchases in one day last summer. How yummy and amazing it was! I remember those fresh tastes of summer, the sweetness of the berries, the smooth creaminess of new baby potatoes harvested that day, the snap of fresh carrots and lettuce and crisp cucumbers in the salad. Oh, I remember it well and so very fondly. We are now in the deep freeze of January in New England. Round about this time of year, I get to longing for summer days, sunlight and my hands in soil. I have a hard time fighting off the blues this time of year. Just getting to go outside is such a chore with a lot of layers of clothes, frosty air (to someone with asthma, this is not an easy proposition some days) and the call of the warm, toasty fireplace oh so strong. Yep, I get the blues this time of year. I am a little better when I take my fish oil capsules and indulge in some sunshine when I can, but even then, it's just not warm. Always cold, and at night, by 8:00, I'm ready to fire up the electric blanket and snuggle in with my Sudoku puzzles and a cup of tea. Comforting for sure, but I still dream of the days of spring when I'm turning soil and planting seeds, it's a really great way to shake of the layers and get a little dirt under your nails. Really great way. I'm gonna dig out my seed catalogs and dream of some produce picked with my own hands, planted with my own little paws, weeded and tended to and loved into fruition. I miss my garden. A lot.

The whole local eating hit a new level for us last summer when I made the conscious choice to get most of our food local for as long as we could. Not only did we get outstanding food (and I really do mean outstanding, so much better then I've eaten in years), but I made some great new friends in the process and found some folks who are also passionate about eating local, organic and the health of the planet. I love it when unexpected wonderful things come as a byproduct of action. When I decided that we were really going to explore what was out there for local and organics, it was like a light went on for me. Of course, when you're in the throws of a new passion, you want to share it with everyone, read all you can about it, and just figure out how to incorporate that into your life. For good. The motivation is still high in me over a year later, so I know it's around to stay.

I sent my dear friend and email yesterday and she told me I should repost it on my blog...so I'm gonna...

I have a weird observation...I bought some tea on clearance the other day, I'm drinking it right now, and it is Christmas tea. It says "the traditional spice flavours of Christmas". I look quickly, sounds good, I buy. It's not til I get it home that I notice the box says "artificially flavoured". Ummmmm....why exactly would you need to artificially flavor spices? I'm fairly sure they speak for themselves in their natural state. Just one of those funny things my mind digresses on and thought I'd share that thought with you....artificially flavored spices...what the h@#$??

I'll leave you with that thought...hope you have some genuine spice flavors in your day.

Peace to you on this winter day, ~Peacemom

It's Life in the fast lane...again..

Hello Everyone,

I'm sitting here listening to my guys argue with each other over the Patriots losing their shot at the Super Bowl. Personally, I don't understand a whole lot about this sport...I don't get all the intricate rules and regulations....downs, interceptions, fumbles, blocks, this yard line, that yard line, whatever...listening to it tends to be painful for me because Maestro wants sooooo badly to know what he's talking about that he will CONSTANTLY interject what he thinks is the correct terminology or understanding of the plays, and Music Man will (not very patiently, I might add) correct or explain something to him...then lose all patience when Maestro proceeds to make the same mistake one minute later. It's a play in frustration for all involved, and I'm not sure why Maestro loves the game so much. And, it's also a little, though very little, disconcerting to me that my 7 year old understand WAY more about this game then his mama ever will. I've tried, Music Man has attempted to teach me, and I don't get it. I'm considered an intelligent woman by most, but this just completely eludes me. I think if I really cared to learn it, I would, but I just allow this to be one of those things that is a "father/son" activity. Best not getting me involved because the emotion attached to the game is bewildering to me, I feel, it's just a game after all.

Okay, on to other things. I've thought recently about how this is going to be the year I get back into life. Since getting married and so soon after becoming pregnant with our first child, moving multiple times, buying and selling homes, new jobs, getting kids in school, blah blah blah, my life has completely become wife/mother/employee. Unfortunately, the whole "me" of me has taken such a backseat in life, it's almost unrecognizable. So, though I don't make resolutions so to speak, I did think that this is going to be the year I gradually rediscover my passions. My kayak sits unused after 8 years off water. It has not seen water since Maestro was in utero when I was concerned for our safety in the event of capsizing, to after his birth having absolutely no time to get it on the water. This year, I will be putting paddle to bay in Freeport and making it happen. I am going to be making the time to exercise more, getting more in line with the outdoor activities that I love and so dearly miss. This is the year, and I will make it happen.

I have also been thinking about the things in life that show complete faith. See if you can see it, too...

1. planting a garden...showing the faith that you will be here to harvest the fruits of your labor.

2. buying Christmas items in an after Christmas clearance sales....I will be here to see the next Christmas.

3. Saving money for that vacation to Ireland we're planning for hopefully in 2011 for our 10 year anniversary. Some of you may remember that we were booked to do this for our honeymoon, but since that was just a month after 9/11, I would not get on the plane...2011 is the year I will set foot on that plane, I pray...though perhaps medicated just slightly as I'm so terrified to fly now.

What do you have that helps you with your faith, what passions have you let fall by the wayside that you wish to re-ignite? Put a little thought and make this the year you decide to live if you've been putting you and your passions on the back burner. I have discovered that to be a truly happy person, and the best mother I can possibly be, I need to have my passions (read JOY) in my life. Join me in the quest for passions forgotten or missed, won't you?

Wishing you time to make joy, ~Peacemom