corner view: simple pleasures

Posted on January 30, 2013 by Cole | 6 Comments

Our apple-filled autumn has officially ended and orange season has wintered its way into our home. Last year was the first time our daily fruit followed this pattern. The children stopped asking for apple slices and sauces and would repeatedly bring me small oranges to peel for them. And I oblige as I lean over the fruit, peeling with a meditative focus for that small minute of their quiet wait. We keep a crate of clementines during this time of year on our pantry hutch. They are small, easily peeled and separated, frequently seedless and just the right size for sister-sharing. This simple pleasure makes me smile as I think back to my own childhood. I’m charmed by this simple pleasure as it sparks an early childhood memory of my own. After dinner my Dad would go sit on the couch and ask if I wanted part of his orange as he started peeling. He would work his thumbnail over the white strings being sure to clear it down to the pure orange coat offering up slices for sharing. It’s a funny but soothing little familial habit to have passed on down.

Corner view is a weekly Wednesday gathering, hosted originally hosted by Jane, now by Francesca. A topic is given and you can see impressions; be it photographic or writerly in form from around the world: Jane, Dana, Bonny, Joyce, Ian, Francesca, Theresa, Cate, Kasia, Otli, Trinsch, Isabelle, Janis, Kari, jgy, Lise, Dorte, McGillicutty, Sunnymama, Ibb, Kelleyn, Ninja, Sky, RosaMaria, Juniper, Valerie, Sammi, Cole, Don, WanderChow, FlowTops, Tania, Tzivia, Kristin, Laura, Guusje, Susanna, Juana, Elsa, Nadine, Annabel

Sunday Still Life

Posted on January 27, 2013 by Cole | 1 Comment

Sunday Still Life is an evolving mindfulness project; a weekly invitation to pause the busy of our days, to re-center and celebrate the beauty and depth of life. If you are inspired to join in, please leave a link in Erin’s comments.

Shortly after I met Lovey we started spending our holidays together. When his family became mine our traditions merged. Each holiday in the year that passed brought with it sweet little packages. It didn’t matter what was in the package- the treat was in the unwrapping. I would study the skill and love that came through the folds of colorful paper held together by lengths of ribbon. Lovey’s mother and her sisters’ packages were held together by a series of folds and ribbon. No tape. No glue and few gift bags. I know I romanticize how it happens, but each time one of these packages turns up, be it small enough to nestle in the Christmas tree or hold its own down under, I hold a picture in my mind of the sisters sitting with their cups of tea and stacks of wrapping papers from previous years. Each piece carefully cut free of tears that came from delighted hands pulling it hurriedly open, and carefully folded and stored for the next years gifting. I love these packages in and of themselves. They are our celebration.

gratitude

Posted on January 26, 2013 by Cole | Leave a comment

1. travels going well

2. helpful fellow travelers

3. weekends work done

4. a fourth tooth, finally coming forth

5. a new coffee maker

6. a planned party complete

7.oranges

8. a mental space to write

9. catching up with cousins

10. champagne and cheese balls

11. a photo walk

12. vintage finds

13. memories connecting family

14. a successful surgery

15. strength

16. food blogs

17. recipes

18. a childhood apron

19. home

20. a shared meal

21. an inaugural day

corner view: 5 senses

Posted on January 23, 2013 by Cole | 5 Comments

Late last week I was dwelling in my daughter’s first take on this same topic, and frankly it had me a bit teary-eyed. Of course that is the heart of the 5 senses- they stir such emotion and longing while triggering memories instantaneously when we give over to bear the witness of their full impact us. Of late, these are the ones dearest to me:

the sight of a table waiting for us to gather

hearing her read

the taste of her food outside of me

the soft touch of milkweed

the smell of cinnamon rolls baking in my kitchen

five minute friday: cherished

Posted on January 18, 2013 by Cole | 5 Comments

…where a brave and beautiful bunch gather every week to find out what comes out when we all spend five minutes writing on the same topic and then sharing ‘em over here.

GO:

I know I am. How could that not be the case, when the biology of it is as pure as her gaze and as constant as her daily mommalogues. When I stop to really think about it, I know she doesn’t have to think about it to feel it. And yet, I ruminate, I wonder, I resist her growing love of things outside of and ahead of me. Her independance. As certainly as I send her out seeking them again and again.

She opened her backpack and amidst the tumble of papers was the little booklet that caused my eyebrow to raise up and my heart to give pause. Last week’s primary lesson was on the five senses. They illustrated their favorite sights and sounds, tastes and scents and things to touch. They noticed the ordinary in their day and drew out their love.

“Do you know what I love to see Momma?”

The question was as filled with innocence as her eyes were with joy.

I smiled back in anticipation.

She wakes with Momma on her lips. She chatters through her shower, her dressing, her meals; her play. In a room filled with people, she directs her sites on me instinctually. We remind her to pay attention to everyone. We scold her for the rudeness of her solitary focus. We explain how it makes others feel left out when her mommalogue runs throughout everyone’s day. And yet, it continues. And we try again.

And there, as the story of her day unfolds before me I see a new chapter illustrated on her heart. Her favorite thing to see? It wasn’t momma. It was her teacher. The content of her mommalogue, the newest center of her story was the kind smile of the sweet teacher she hopes to be, one day, to hear her tell it.

It makes me pause and listen- to take her in with my five senses while I still can. To notice, to listen, to cherish and to feel that constant attention of hers while it still wraps around us. For the time being.

Stop.

corner view: morning, noon & night

Posted on January 16, 2013 by Cole | 8 Comments

Edisto Beach is where you’ll find us!

mornin’!

night y’all

Corner view is a weekly Wednesday date hosted originally hosted by Jane, currently by Francesca. A topic is given and you can see impressions; be it in photographic or writerly in form from around the world: Jane, Dana, Bonny, Joyce, Ian, Francesca, Theresa, Cate, Kasia, Otli, Trinsch, Isabelle, Janis, Kari, jgy, Lise, Dorte, McGillicutty, Sunnymama, Ibb, Kelleyn, Ninja, Sky, RosaMaria, Juniper, Valerie, Sammi, Cole, Don, WanderChow, FlowTops, Tania, Tzivia, Kristin, Laura, Guusje, Susanna, Juana, Elsa, Nadine, Annabel

corner view: to look at, not touch…

Posted on January 9, 2013 by Cole | 4 Comments

…is not a very practical way to live with in a home with young children. Our prettys & what-nots are constantly at risk of being no more. And for a couple of sentimental old fools like Lovey & I, that can be heartbreaking. And glass breaking. Mercury glass to be specific. Now that The Quail and Zuzu are old enough to anticipate upcoming events, Christmas stirs their little energy pots to a full rolicking boil. The gathering of the tree, is a weekend-in-December event that we all look forward to. It tends to take us the weekend to gather the tree and begin the unpacking and remembering of the ornaments. The crocheted and starched snowflakes from my Grandma Carrie’s handiwork. The blown egg given to me from a friend when I hostessed in a Chinese restaurant in South Dakota during my college summers. The growing collection from a momma group ornament exchange that is so sweetly linked to our family’s individual and collective personalities. The lovingly handmade work of the children that becomes a bit more intricate and endearing with each passing year. The “our first home” and “our first married” and “baby’s first Christmas” talismen that tick off our family’s changes. The initialed collection that illustrates who our holiday was spent with. The delicate adornments to packages from Lovey’s family. The mercury glass balls that were handed down from my childhood. They are all so precious…

…and shiny and attractive to fast little hands that insist on “Me” and “my turn” and pitched voices exclaiming in a whirlwind of memories of “Where is the one from…” and “This one is my favorite, Momma!” and “I’ll put it up high by myself!”

It’s a delicate balance to find a way to enjoy our collection and share the memories of where and whom they came from and yet ensure they will be around for years to come. It’s become a tradition that slows down our merriment and brings us in together close to hang our history, tell our stories and be sure that even the littlest hands are included.