Almost

 As of yesterday at 5:56 p.m. central time, we have an 8 year old living in our house.

He's an almost 3rd grader who reads all the time. Loves fantasy and adventure of all types and really loves science, but always says he loves art "just as much"...which makes this artistic mother feel good.

These photos were taken in March and he's had his hair cut very short since then.

After a long absence from writing...I think I am back for a bit.

There will be more words to accompany more photographs very soon...we're almost there.

Pocket Photos: December Travels: Puerto Rico

Back when I was in college I used to carry around and photograph with a Holga camera. It used 120mm film with 2 1/4" square frames...a hip, novelty, plastic camera with light leaking from random places. It was an art movement and I loved it. Digital photography (which I initially resisted) is returning to me that which I had lost in the shuffle of parenting. Using an application on my phone, I am having a Holga experience once again . 

I call them pocket photos.

Business at Its Best

Photography has been a passion of mine for almost 20 years. Unbelievable. I feel so amazingly lucky to be able to take photographs that people love and that I love! It brings me such joy to create a really stunning photograph. 

In early December I had the greatest honor of photographing the wedding of an old and dear friend in Santa Cruz, California. I photographed the wedding as a gift and she provided my transport and housing...business at its best.
It was a wonderful, sincere, beautiful and moving experience.

Hopes for the New Year

I have never been one to make new year's resolutions simply because they seem so definite. If the goal is not achieved, there is failure. Failure is scary to me!

This year I have found myself thinking about some hopes for the upcoming year, as I reflect on last year. A hope seems so much more positive than a resolution. Less definite with more room for evolution.

My hopes for 2012

:: I hope that we can be a bit more organized with our farm plans. The progress is there. It is the process that needs work ::

                    

:: I hope to find more balance between being involved with the children and involving the children. Our boys learn so much when we involve them in what we do and we enjoy the time with them ::

:: I hope to make more time to make art ::

:: I hope to enjoy gardening more this year than last year ::

:: I hope to continue to strengthen and nourish my body, mind and spirit. This year was a great year for healing ::

Happy New Year!

Ancestors Altar

This year has brought many changes for our family (as every year does). With the ebb and flow of friends in and out of our community, the  practice of Druidry has slowly come trickling into our lives in a time when finding a name for years of feelings, beliefs and emotions is widely welcomed.

Both Matt and I have been practicing much of this nature based religion without realizing it. Our lives are very much connected to the seasons and the nature surrounding us and we have really noticed it since we bought our little farm in 2008.

I have always been a bit leery of religion, but felt a need for some spirituality.

Since my mother's death in 2007 I have had the desire to make an alter for her. Something small with a few items that she loved, a candle or two and some flowers. Occasionally when trying to fall asleep at night I would think about this altar in my head. What it would look like and where I would put it. I've never made one and don't know why.

October 31 and November 1st marks the Druid holiday of Samhain (Sow-in). It is a time to recognize and honor ancestors in your family. Some make altars, some attend rituals, some just acknowledge this within. I chose to do all three.

Last weekend I attended a Samhain ritual put on by our local ADF Druid group, Cedarsong Grove. Though not my first ritual with this wonderful group of people, it was by far, the most powerful for me. 

Yesterday, the boys and I made an ancestors altar. 

Last night we lit candles inviting our ancestors spirits to come home, as this time of year when the dark takes over the light and the human world is the closest to the spirit world.

I know this sounds like a bunch of hokey crap and there are probably a number of you rolling your eyes at the thought of a spirit world and such. 

However, I invite you to make an altar for your ancestors in a visible place in your home. Put photographs of them surrounded by items that they loved or owned and offer them the foods and drink they loved. Walk by this altar every day, look at them and think about them. Light candles for them at night.

Do this for even a couple of days and then be honest with yourself and disregard what others think and ask yourself if you feel closer to your dead loved ones than you did a few days before. I see no harm in this ritual.

I needed this. I needed to feel close to my dead, loved ones and I needed my children to feel that too. And we are.

Sharing our family stories and memories, whether they are from when Matt and I were young children or from last week, has been really good for our minds, bodies and souls. Arlo seems to be most interested in all the process and discussion. 

I am excited for my sister to see it and I am happy to be able to share with my family all over the country through image. I'd like to keep the altar for most of the month of November and remove it just as Thanksgiving arrives.

In the mean time, if you are in the neighborhood, please come and have a look, add something or not.