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

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

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.