Your Heart is Always Whole, Just as the Moon is Always Full.

"Your heart is always whole, just as the moon is always full. Your life is always complete. You just don't see it that way.

"Just let everything and anything be so, as it is, without using any kind of standard by which we make ourselves satisfied, dissatisfied, happy, or unhappy. Then you'll see the plain and the clear fact," Roshi told me on the recording.

All that time I'd spent listening for the hidden message in his words, I hadn't heard even a world."


-Karen Maezen Miller from her latest book "Paradise in Plain Sight."

Cute Wordless Birthday Book. "Carl's Birthday."

Okay, so the first page and the last page both have a few sentences - making this book, technically, not wordless. But, all the other pages are just illustrations. Very sweet, charming illustrations.

The story is about a Toddler (Madeline) and her dog, Carl, who are sent to their neighbor's house for a nap, while their Mama gets ready for a Birthday Party.

Madeline and Carl sneak back home and discover lots of yummy and exciting surprises at their house.

It's been a hit at our house for the last 6 weeks. We keep renewing this library book.

Now, that Nye-Nye is turning THREE on Friday, it's been handled even more. I've been observing her sitting on the couch or her chair, telling the story in her own words.

This is BIG because she is NOT a kid, who wants to sit still and read books all day. 

I think we'll going to have to get our own copy.

This book is great, especially, if your family includes a special canine member. 

 

Month of Love. The Old Woman Who Loved to Read.

This is going to me. One day. 

Hopefully.

Love is the Form.

"Life is all about love.

I can't imagine what more there could be to it.

We've all come here for love: to get it and to give it, there being no separation between the two sides of the transaction.

Love is the reason we do everything, and love is the reward.

Love is the spirit and love is the form."


         - Karen Maezen Miller, author of "Hand Wash Cold: Care Instructions for an Ordinary Life"

Turning Your Front Yard Into A Garden.

I got Dreams.

Glorious Garden Dreams in the middle of the Winter.

Sigh.

I have been pouring over photos from the lovely book I received for Christmas. "Edible Landscaping With a Permaculture Twist: How To Have Your Yard and Eat It Too."

Michael Judd is a local boy (from Frederick County) who spent many years in Mexico and Nicaragua learning  about and experimenting with Permaculture. He is a genius at turning Yards into low-maintenance Gardens and Orchards. No weeding, no watering (except for in the beginning). Seriously, why Garden any other way?

He's transformed the Gardens at Volt.

You may have heard of that place.

I listened to him speak at the Holistic Family Health Conference in Frederick, last Spring. He's a dynamic speaker. When he mentioned an upcoming book, I was thrilled.

The book didn't disappoint.

Gorgeous photos. Clear directions. And, brilliant ideas.

I am all about digging up that grass and planting useful and beautiful plants.

Even though, I was familiar with a lot of what was in the book, it was great to see more examples of "Herbal Spirals," learn about growing Mushrooms and be given so much information of Uncommon Fruits that grow well in this region.

Judd's section on Rainwater Harvesting, Swales and Rain Gardens may completely change your relationship with your Yard.

I had never heard of a "Hugelkultur" (which is a shame because it's a terrific concept and would have been helpful to know about when my Sister had all these fallen down trees in her Yard).

If you are in Maryland or Northern Virginia, you are in luck. He does 1 1/2 hr-2hr consultations starting at $175 (depending on where you are located). His schedule fills up fast, but now is the perfect time to have him come out and brainstorm with you on how to transform your Yard into a beautiful, edible Landscape.

Early Mother's Day present? Or maybe forget that fancy bouquet and expensive dinner this Valentine's Day? Hmmmm....

We will be moving from one rental house to another this Summer, so planting much is out of the question. But, there are always Mushrooms...

What We are Reading During The Snow

Snow, snow, snow. We have been experiencing a bit of it here in Northern Virginia.

I thought I share one of the books I've been reading to Nye, over the last few weeks. It's a charming book, about a child and all the clothes required to go play outside in the Snow.

It's nice for a Pre-reader because there are some illustrations that are substituted for words. It's terrific for reading along with your child. I particularly like the sequence in the Mudroom. It reminds me of the house I grew up in.

And, here are some photos from the Snow before this one. Kids playing in the Snow....nothing like it!

Living More Fearlessly.

How can we live more Fearlessly? These 10 suggestions from one of my favorite writers is now posted beside my computer.

I love them.

And, I love Karen Maezen Miller.

Her book, Momma Zen: Walking the Crooked Path of Motherhood is one of my all-time favorites.

I'm really working hard on those first two. Man, are they difficult for me!

The Most Popular Christmas Book at Our House

Cats and Christmas? Add an interactive Pop-Up Book and you have an unbeatable combination. At least, in the eyes of my 2 1/2 year old. 

Nye-Nye got this book as a Gift from her Auntie Julie and Cousin Nia last Christmas. She was too young to gently pull all the tabs last year. 

Now it's PERFECT.

It's getting LOTS of Love every single day. She's only torn one small section and that was easily repaired with some glue.

Neither of us have gotten tired at finding all the different ways this group of cats get into mischief. Knocking over stuff, hiding in boxes, pulling off ornaments...they remind me of my 7 month old.

The design is terrific, the illustrations charming. As someone who has hand-made several books, I am impressed with the quality of this book.

My favorite page is when the exterior of an entire house that Pops up...complete with a Santa diving into the chimney. Very cute.

There is only a sentence per 2 pages, so it doesn't take long to "read" the book, even when you spend a minute or two playing with the various tabs. (A must on some nights when Mommy and Daddy are tired and we don't want to spend 15 minutes reading ONE BOOK).

This book has now officially become part of our Family Christmas Tradition.

Thanks Julie and Nia!

Here is my Affiliate Link to The Curious Cats' Christmas A Pop-up Adventure!  

The Countdown Has Begun!

Thirty days to write a Novel? Impossible, you say?

Hundreds of thousands have participated in National Novel Writing Month (including myself). Thousands have completed the challenge of writing 175 pages of a Novel (more like a Novella) during the month of November. Five pages a day, every day.

Today is the start of National Novel Writing Month. How exciting!

This year, I have way too much on my plate. One of these days. One of these days. As I have mentioned before, successfully completing NaNoWriMo is on my Current Bucket List.

My first attempt was 7 years ago. I think it's wonderful how much NaNoWriMo has grown in the past 7 years. 

Now, they even have a fantastic program called the Young Writers Program. Perfect for a very organized Teacher or Homeschooling Family.

You can find out more about NaNoWriMo right here.

Best of Luck to all those "NaNoWriMo Writers" out there!

Movement. Stillness.

 

The author of one of my all-time favorite books (Momma Zen) was in D.C. this past Weekend. She gave two different workshops at the fantastic Yoga Studio, Lil Omm (a space I had been meaning to check out for quite awhile).

Karen Maezen Miller is a Zen Priest, Mama and Wife. She writes in a warm, engaging style and is just as lovely in person. Her books are always on my bedside table and I have quoted them several times here on my Blog. They have brought me much peace as I stumble along each day.

I went to her workshop on Saturday, where she led everyone through a wonderfully, restorative Yoga class. The class was about the Stillness in Movement. Sunday's class was about Movement in Stillness (at least that is what Lil Omm's write-up said, unfortunately, I wasn't able to make it to Sunday's Meditation and Dharma Talk).

I had not know that she had spent many years teaching Yoga (she had never mentioned it in any of her books). I went because I just wanted to have the chance to hear her talk. I didn't expect to be inspired to restart my Yoga practice.

I hate driving in D.C. and got lost (as usual). I ended up being stressed out about making it to the class on time, but my stress soon dissipated within minutes of walking through the door. It was lovely to devote a few hours to myself. Thanks to my Mother, I knew my girls were in good hands and I was able to truly be present during the class.

Karen's reminder, of the importance of breath and especially the exhale, has stayed with my the last few days. I have tried to really remember to take all those helpful deep belly breaths throughout the day.

Even though I had missed my usual hour of napping with the girls, it was amazing how refreshed I felt after the class!

Feeling much Gratitude.

To Know Nearly Nothing.

 

 

 

 

"Minutes later the revolving front door turned again. A dark-haired man in a white shirt entered. I watched the waiter lead him in my direction, into my room, into my corner, into the old woman's still-warm seat, eyeing me all the while, making clear to me, at least, the main course he was serving.

 

I was afraid I knew who this man was. I was afraid I knew who had come to have dinner beside me. I was afraid I knew, but for once I wasn't afraid.

 

He was my future husband, of that I was scarily certain, although I knew nothing more about him than that. To know nearly nothing of him, and to expect nothing, for the long life of our marriage.

 

When we think we know someone, you see, we are already halfway to disappointment, and no one needs a head start on that.

 

This is not how we have learned to choose our partners, is it? This is not how we greet people, is it? With an open mind? With an eager hand? Like an unopened gift? Not when we make a life's work out of finding and keeping the perfect mate, the ideal match for our economic aspirations, political views, religious preferences, height, weight, taste in coffee, and wardrobe sensibility - all the ways we foolishly see in another mere validation for ourselves. When we believe we know what's good for us, what's right, and what we're looking for - and believe me, we all do - we condemn all our current relationships and doom the ones to come."

 

-one of my favorite excerpts from Karen Maezen Miller's Hand Wash Cold: Care Instructions for an Ordinary Life

 

 

 

*** Photo of the sweet bouquet my Husband brought home to me for our Wedding Anniversary yesterday

Pain Finds Us Without Fail

"Life is suffering. No one can make less of it. Pain finds us without fail. Hearts break; dreams die; hatred flourishes; sickness prevails; people and promises leave without a trace. I dare not trivialize. I only dare to turn toward the glimmer and let it lift me into a moment's radiant grace. This is the turn we have to take over and over, to make our way home, to reach the untrammeled peace, the pure marvel, of an ordinary life. We must finally see that the light we seek streams from our very own eyes and always has."

By Karen Maezen Miller from Hand Wash Cold: Care Instructions for an Ordinary Life

Mud and Honeysuckle, Pitted Olives and Doting Granddads

 

 

 

 

 

"Happiness is not a science, an art, or an outcome. It can't be quantified, procured, or consumed. It's not invented, but comes naturally made from mud and honeysuckle, pitted olives, and doting granddads who hoist you into their laps for a bumpy ride on a secondhand tractor. It's what we are when we are utterly ourselves in unaffected ease." - Karen Maezen Miller


I absolutely love this book and have been re-reading it constantly since I got it from the library. This quote is one of the author's little gems that I keep going back to daily. Small children are true master teachers. They are utterly themselves every single moment. I have so much to learn from my daughters.

My Love for "Love Dharma"

Love Dharma...  I can't tell you how many times I have bought this book and sent it to friends. It is the perfect antidote to a bad break-up. It has lifted me out of the Darkness after several heart-breaks and helped ground me during my tumultuous '20s. It may possibly be my favorite book. Or at least, one of the most influential.

This is not to say that this book would win any serious literary awards. Geri Larkin's writing is not something that will stand the test of time. If my daughters read it, (when they are in their '20s) they will probably say it feels dated. But, I don't care.

This book speaks to me. Larkin is a Buddhist monk who has been married 3 or 4 times, raised 2 children (including a son whom she almost lost to a drug addiction), had a high-flying corporate job and started a Sangha in the middle of Detroit. She's seen a lot.

It's refreshing to hear some Love Advice from someone who has been in a lot of relationships. You don't have to be a Buddhist or have any Spiritual back-ground to find Wisdom in this book. It's just plain good Advice. Her writing is open and accessible and makes you feel like you are sitting down for a cup of tea and a chat with a long-lost friend.

Larkin introduces the reader to numerous Buddhist women throughout history. Most of them are not well-known. She talks about the Crazy Wisdom these women found in Buddhism. I glean something new from this book every time I pick it up.

Can you tell how much I love this book?

"Can You See A Little Bear?" Inspiration for the New Bedroom

Here are some not-so-great photos of the book, "Can You See A Little Bear?" (which was the very first book to intrigue my daughter). We used this book as inspiration for her Big Girl Room.

 

 

 

Her favorite part of the two collages in her New Room are the two elephants, created lovingly by my very talented friend, Ed.

 

 

 

 



Here you can see the music instrument (trumpet, maybe?) that my Mama put in the smaller of the two collages.

 

 

 

Peacocks! Need I say more? I am totally in love with the Peacock Feather Wreath I found at Michael's.

 



 

 

Some banner inspiration, as well as the bird-cage. We hung up Nye-Nye's name-sake's bird-cage in the room. Why, yes...I do come from a family of hoarders. Sometimes, it comes in helpful!

 

 

 

 



The inspiration for the hot-air balloon in the larger of the 2 collages. My Mama did an excellent job creating her version of it.

 

 

Mama Bear's very cool flash-light. Somehow my Mama had a similar one in her basement (except that it doesn't glow and is red).

 

 

 

 



 

The inspiration behind my favorite part of the room...the Reading Nook Tent. It's not completely finished but soon...

 

 

Can't wait until the room is finished! It's already become our favorite place in the house.