LOL

I have to share this... at tai chi class Tuesday morning, I'm teaching - the separations, where you're doing kicks, and I have a thought, one that I sense is worth sharing... and suddenly, fleeting, it's gone. So we continue. A moment later, it almost comes back. So on with the class. Then *wham*, it comes back. It seems profound, so I stop the class and share. The words of wisdom? "Don't attempt to transfer your weight onto the leg that's in the air. Keep your weight in the leg that's on the ground." They laugh. I laugh. I have a long way to go before I'm wise.

here we go....

deeeeep breath in, because today we're heading to the city... the Olympics, actually (just one event). apparently if i leave immediately i can get a 2 a.m. sailing off paradise island and get to the city by 4 a.m., theoretically before morning rush-hour, but we all know that's not true. Vancouver traffic is insane, even at 4 a.m. (compared to island 'traffic', anyway, LOL), especially during the Olympics. Besides, I'm nowhere near ready to leave. I have a lengthy list of chores I'd like to complete before I leave a reasonable hour this morning. and here I am blogging... :P (can't take the compost out, run the vacuum, or the Vitamix at this hour, LOL) yes, it's probably a good idea to catch some zzzz's while the hour is late.

g'night.

Monday

Good day! We've been enjoying the most beautiful spring sunshine lately and I've been trying to make the most of it. I've been outside clearing away brush for a little while each day and also going to the beach with the kids. It's been great.

I haven't mentioned my food consumption lately; haven't been keeping a food diary for a couple months and well, that's not helping much. lol Generally I'm having 2 - 3L of green smoothie each day, yesterday I also had an orange and I also had a little raw chocolate treat from the raw cafe while we were downtown. I had half a pb&j sandwich (no, not raw) when I made one of the kids one, too. Lots of water lately - I've taken to drinking hot water with lime or lemon squeezed in it when I'm cold rather than herbal teas, generally, as well as regular glasses of water.

I've also picked up the exercise lately, although I'm still every-other-day and not nearly-every-day like I'd like to be. Still, some is better than none.

that's all for now. :)

innnnnnspiration!

WOW!!! What a fantastic day! I lounged this morning, finished playing Canada-opoly with the kids (we started last night). But the sunshine was tooooooo good to pass up, so outside we headed. I cleared brush - and my GOODNESS, an acre is a whole lot of brush to clear (it's brambles and salmon berries and blackberries - some are okay, sure, but not this much)! I did maybe a 5' square patch in an hour and a half. but still, still, feeling good about the progress, despite its apparent minuteness upon standing back and examining the whole scene. Ohhh, the sun felt good and it felt sooo good to be out doing yardwork (but she confesses it would've been a lot more fun with hubby).

Then the kids and the neighbour and her kids (and I) all went down to the beach. You know, it's funny. We live sooooooo close to the ocean, to two beautiful beaches, and admittedly, I hardly ever go down to them. We are absolutely so blessed to have this beauty around us, too. (You can hear the waves rolling in from inside our home, even though we don't enjoy an ocean view, which is nice) So we went to the beach and chatted in the late afternoon sun while the kids played in the sand. Couldn't have asked for a more perfect day.

One thing my friend and I talked about was avenues of possible income to investigate. Yes, I'm whole-heartedly and very gratefully inviting Reiki into my life, going to build a sustainable Reiki practice. I'm also going to be selling flax crackers, kale chips, apple rings and banana chips at the upcoming local spring craft fair. Add to that raw food coaching and classes and I think I'm on a roll. We've agreed that she (also a homeschooling mama) will take my kids one or two days a week so I can focus on business-stuff and I will reciprocate so she can get a house-cleaning business going, too. Win-win-win (our kids get along fabulously).

But I'll just say that I hate the business side of things. I hate promoting myself and all that. I'd much rather enjoy the doing and let someone else handle the appointment-making and money-tracking and paperwork. Alas, it'll be up to me to make it all happen in the short-term.

I'm quite inspired this evening! Anyone know how to do up a business plan?!

how spud makes the world a better place

I do some of our household's grocery shopping online with spud. (Small Potatoes Urban Delivery) If you haven't heard of spud, well, you're missing out. Spud's my nifty organic online grocer - that delivers right to my door. I love spud. The average spud customer spends just 9 minutes on their online order, freeing up 81 minutes a week in time spent going to the grocery store. (And did I mention it's some of the loveliest, freshest, organic, local, sustainable food ever to delight one's palate?) AND it's delivered to my door by a really sweet delivery person?

So what do I do with my 81 minutes a week (that I don't spend at the grocery store)? In my own small way, I use those 81 precious minutes to make the world a better place. Sure, it might sound pathetically trite, but it's true. I'm not in a position to go off working for an NGO in a third-world country. I'm a stay-at-home wife and mother, living rurally, committed to homeschooling my amazing children. And so I wrestle with it - how am I supposed to make the world a better place? By shopping with spud. Not only do I rest easy knowing I'm doing good things for the environment and also supporting the local agricultural economy and food chain and local businesses, but I know that at the same time I'm giving my family the best nutrition out there. So I use my 81 minutes each week to improve myself in some way (after all, "be the change you want to see in the world" said Ghandi) - by practicing meditation, tai chi, and Reiki, through spending time connecting with and immersing myself in Nature... by educating myself through reading nonfiction books like Three Cups of Tea (Greg Mortenson) or Anastasia (Vladimir Megre), or researching new interests on this-here-internet-web-thingee (lol)... it's all about a commitment to life-long learning. I spend the 81 minutes enjoying my children's company - listening to their dreams, their hopes, their concerns... listening to their Truth - engaging in deep philosophical and spiritual conversations (yes, with 9 & 6 year olds, absolutely). With those 81 minutes, I hang laundry out to dry, make nutritious meals and play with the dog... It may not seem significantly life-changing or inspiring to everyone, but those things add value to the lives of those around me, and that is time well-spent. With 81 minutes, I let my creative self loose. I dance, I sing, I play with cob, and I write. With those 81 minutes, I build community - I walk to the mailbox, converse with my neighbours, volunteer my time in various capacities. Those 81 minutes are spent delightfully exercising my body: building and stretching my muscles, keeping my heart and lungs and well, all of me, healthy, jumping for JOY, learning to honour and respect my body. I spend the 81 minutes each week laughing, loving... experiencing emotions and well, really, totally and completely experiencing life. It's about living a life of values I cherish, values I've really contemplated and hold dear. And those values are all seated in a belief that the best life is one spent in service towards making the world a better place for us all.

And I wouldn't have it any other way. Thanks, spud.

Why I love my clothesline

Today was a beeeeeeeeeeeeeautiful sunny day... not a summer kind of sunny day, more like a very early spring sunny day - it was still quite chilly, with the ocean's breeze, but the sun's rays did feel radiant on one's bare skin.

One thing I really enjoy about sunny days is hanging the laundry out to dry. It is one of my all-time favourite 'chores' to do in the sun. So today I hung laundry... and felt very content while doing it. Happy. Why does laundry on a clothesline make me happy? For one thing, when you pass a house with laundry hanging to dry, it lets you know someone lives there. The house has been occupied in the past 24 hours. I think of it like a kind of really low-key security measure, lol. Laundry's out; the residents are either home, or have been here as recently as just a while ago, and may return at any moment. That's what laundry hanging signifies to me. (maybe that's just odd?) The other thing I like about passing a house with laundry out is that it also says that the residents appreciate the benefits of sun-dried clothes - both environmentally and spiritually. Spiritually, you ask? Sure, I say, although now that I say that I am having a hard time articulating exactly why. You just feel better in the sunshine, and those indescribable benefits of sunshine (I think) are also absorbed by your clothes left out to dry.

Yes, I'm possibly a little too fond of my clothesline. I use it as often as possible. I mean, it's February and I'm already hanging laundry out to dry (I try to use the clothesline exclusively from April to October, weather permitting of course - though an extra rinse cycle in the rain leaves clothes smelling deliciously clean once dry) I have to admit, though, that I have considered seeking 'professional help' for my clothesline infatuation. One time, knowing I had to leave super-early the next morning and wouldn't get a chance to hang out the wet laundry then, so approaching midnight I was out there in the dark hanging laundry... until the neighbour's lights came on. LMAO okay, okay, I realize it wasn't the best thing to do at midnight... on a weekday (better than someone I know who, when he couldn't sleep, chose to SPLIT FIREWOOD at 4:30 A.M.!!!!! can you imagine?!? whack - whack - whack goes the maul, LOL).

Yes, it's been a really wonderful day, between visitors, laundry, tai chi, and all the sunshine and *love* goin' 'round. I am truly very blessed.
Namaste.

Life Changes

(Welcome to my mind. You've officially been forewarned, LOL)

So tonight I'm just sittin' here, thinkin' about things. (What things, you ask?) About the neighbour who (I don't know in what order) met someone online, dissolved a marriage, moved herself & her teenager to the farthest possible place on the continent (got a new job) and is now happily living a new (or at least completely remodeled) life. Actually, make that two neighbours. About families who adopt, whose children are in foster care, about surrogacy. About buying property internationally. Vilcabamba, Ecuador, since you were wondering. Just thinkin' about what motivates people to make-over their lives, to make *HUGE* life changes... to change careers or jobs, to leave marriages, to move cities, to make drastic physical changes (whether it's weight gain/loss or a hair cut or colour or whatever), to build schools in rural Pakistan for girls, to live as One with Nature like Anastasia. A little bewildered wondering if Anastasia exists? You know, just... stuff. That's what's floating around in my head tonight. ;) I'm not personally entertaining any of the above ideas... I'm just spending some time ruminating on all of it... kinda trying to find the collective thread that I know exists there.

that is all.

I'm baaaaaaaack....

Phew, that week went by fast! I guess I have a lot going on, or maybe as dh says, I'm just not good at prioritizing and making the most of my time. LOL (a bit of both, she says hopefully?, though admits there's been a couple days lounging in jammies all day)

This week, an amaaaaaaaaazing book fell into my hands: Anastasia, by Vladimir Megre. Ohhhhhh myyyyyyyy GOODNESS, if you only ever read one more book in your entire life, please please PLEASE let it be this one. I shan't spoil it by saying any more, but please do let me know if/when you've read it and what you thought of it. wow Wow WOW!!!!! so TOTALLY inspiring and mind-opening. Even my eldest loved (parts of) it - (he doesn't know but I edited some parts out as I was reading aloud.) We have requested the next two books in the Ringing Cedars series through interlibrary loans; hopefully they arrive in the next couple weeks.

Another book I'm really enjoying is Marianne Williamson's A Woman's Worth. Not as spell-binding as Anastasia, but still, a very VERY good book and its message is really inspiring...

Along with Greg Mortenson's Three Cups of Tea, these books have all been so incredibly amazing, and I recognize that they've each been placed in my hands at this point in my life because I needed to heed their messages, and I'm so very grateful for the powerful messages each author shares.

Big, BIG news in my life (its relevance to you may or may not be 'capital B' *big*, LOL): I am nearing the end of the process towards my Reiki Master/Teacher training. I haven't shared with many people that I was working towards it, but I feel ready now (and very excited) to share this news with others, and I'm getting amazing support from dh to move forward with my Reiki practice, to actively being a Reiki practitioner. Within a month I am hoping to complete my training, and let the Path unfold!!! Around the holidays, dh shared with me that his life has become so amazingly rich and blessed the past year and a half through our relationship... and it made me really wonder what changed for him over the past eighteen months in how he viewed the relationship, and then I realized two *HUGE* life changes *I* had made: committing to raw living vegan foods (from a vegan diet for two years prior, previous to which I'd been eating SAD foods), and beginning the journey of opening myself to Reiki... beginning my training. Reiki has opened my mind up to consciously living the principles, which I think, has perhaps helped me (hopefully) become more compassionate and self-aware and kind-hearted... at least, that's what dh articulated he felt had changed in me... Long ago, I used to lament that dh wouldn't 'change his ways', choices he was making that I judged were not allowing him to express his Truth, his Shining Light, weren't in congruence with the vision I had for my partner... the journey from vegan to raw vegan and learning and living the tenets of Reiki have allowed me to see that it's not about him at all, it's my own journey, my own healing. I've learned to release judgments towards his behaviour, and see his Shining Light, regardless of the choices he's making or behaviour he's expressing in that moment... I try to always hold a sacred space open for him to just "be" with me, wherever he's at on his journey, to accept him as he is, (and to accept myself as I am), and I think that's been huge for us, for our relationship. Reiki. It's been a wonderful journey so far!! :D

And in not-so-Big news, I have realized that wearing my hair in a ponytail nearly constantly the past, oh, decade, has been really bad for my hair. I *did* notice some rather extreme thinning start a couple years ago, but at the time figured it was a deficiency in my diet (ohhhhhh how naiive)... little did I realize the elastics were so damaging to my hair. So this week, after being guided to this realization, I've made myself wear my hair down for days on end. Yes, it's been a *huge* change for me, having my hair down all day. Seems like such a simple thing, yet it's really drastic for me, having my hair 'in my face'.

I've also really enjoyed some wheatgrass the past few days. I've juiced up a couple ounces and made a smoothie with it, and mmmmmmmm, is it ever delicious! There are two smells I really adore (among many others, but these two come to mind): wheatgrass and ground coffee beans (but not the smell of the brewed coffee - blech). I would *love* to surround myself with the aroma of freshly-juiced wheatgrass more often... and I am *so* grateful that our neighbour/friend blessed me with about 7c of wheat berries - enough for about 6 trays of wheatgrass!!! I've got some soaking right now. YIPPEE!!

Blessings to you this drizzly Saturday!

~namaste~

it's birthday month...

it's been a busy few days around here. friday we were looking forward to dh coming home. the kids had friends over and were happily playing, and we were gearing up for a busy weekend. late friday night, i made an abundance of heart-shaped sugar cookies for my dd's birthday party. saturday i was in town at the tai chi club most of the day; in the morning was the monthly instructor training and in the afternoon i was co-instructing open practice. i had a gazillion errands to run and eventually found my way home. lol dh & the kids had been busy cleaning the house from top to bottom. dh gave me a massage sat night and said i had no tension (despite having a list a mile long running through my head of last minute preparations for the party sunday) - that's what 5.5 or 6 hrs of tai chi will do!!! :D boy, i was tired, though. sunday was the actual birthday party in the afternoon, so i was up early, finishing the cleaning, and preparing food. it's just me, just something i do. i like to have homemade food at my children's birthdays. or maybe it's just that i like lots of food out. i don't know. but there were small platters of sandwiches, some chips, a beautiful veggie tray, the cookies the kids decorated (and ate) and took home, a tray of devilled eggs, a bowl of punch, cake (okay, cakeS: a lemon one and a chocolate one), raw berry ice cream... yes, an ABUNDANCE of food. although she'd only invited 5 friends, with families it ended up being 12 adults and 15 children (and one ADORABLE baby) here for the afternoon, so food was needed. :) thank GODDESS it was sunny during the party; all the older kids roamed the yard for hours, only coming in for food! after the party (where they played pin the accessories on the princess), the grandparents stayed on for dinner, so there was another bountiful meal prepared. i was soooooooooo tired by 10:30 i just crashed in bed and slept so soundly. zzzzzzz zzzzzzz zzzzzzz everyone is still sleeping; i only got up to tend to the various animals.

isn't it funny that despite cleaning the house top to bottom before the party, that after the party, it needs another good cleaning already? (so soon?! *groan*) my kids were wondering why i don't ever have birthday parties for myself anymore (i *think* the last official party i had was when i was 17). maybe it's the before and after cleaning that comes with it, LOL.

i received a beautiful bound journal for my birthday recently. it's really beautiful, but it's cover is leather. LOL now, for most people, they'd be perfectly happy with the book. me, well, i've been vegan for nearly 4 yrs and a raw vegan the past nearly 2 years, so leather isn't something i invite into my space at this time. admittedly, i have a leather belt, that's 18 years old... i suppose i held onto it because it's functional, and old (and to my knowledge, the only leather item i have). but right now, i don't go out looking to buy leather. for now, i've put the journal aside. i'm hoping i'll find the right moment and person to pass it along to, and hopefully the person who gave it to me will understand (and know that i am grateful for the intention of their gift).

this morning i had the opportunity to go to a tai chi 2-hour intensive class, but it was an hour drive (over, actually), and already i have a food co-op meeting all afternoon, so i wasn't about to jam my day full like that. i think after such a busy weekend we all need a day of rest. dh will probably sleep 'til mid-afternoon, and i'm hoping the kids will sleep at least another hour. we need our rest before the next wave of birthdays (next week) approaches!

shhhhhhhh...

Three Cups of Tea

wow. totally BLOWN AWAY by this book. one of the guys I was in highschool with mentioned it on a facebook update a few months ago, and I thought, what's that all about? he's the kinda guy that is a humanitarian at heart... very compassionate and empathic and always willing to lend a hand, tries to make a real difference in the lives of those around him. he's always been like that, so when he mentioned this book, i went online to the library system and omGOSH, i was #93 on the waitlist?!? WHAT?!? so i waited, and then got the email the book was in.

i read it overnight. no kidding.

i talked with my son about it. he asked me to read him the last chapter aloud, and while i know many of the words were way above his vocabulary, he still drank it all in. listened intently.

then i go online tonight and check out the websites:
www.gregmortenson.com
www.ikat.org
www.threecupsoftea.com
www.penniesforpeace.org
www.stonesintoschools.com

Greg Mortenson has been building schools in rural Afghanistan and Pakistan for 16 years now, since he was 35. 35. hmm. I *love* his message that we have to build relationships first and foremost, and that education (especially of girls) is the peaceful and longterm solution to conflict around the world.

soooooooo inspiring. now i'm #218 on the library waitlist for Stones into Schools, the sequel to Three Cups of Tea. amazing.

the stars say...

so what do the stars say is in my year ahead?

Your birthday could bring an unexpected business opportunity through a third party this year. Birthdays usually bring friends and family together. This year, with your friends and family, also come people they bring along. One of these people you don't know, or vaguely know, could have a business opportunity that fits you perfectly. You may just speak about it in passing on your birthday, but make a follow-up call shortly after. This little business deal could begin as early as March and actually begin to prosper by May. Being the focus of your own birthday brings this person and opportunity to you.

(I have no idea. While I did dine with both my parents & in-laws yesterday, there was no one else - no other acquaintances - who were there, presenting me with surprise business opportunities, LOL)

Georgia Nichols says: "You're down-to-earth, practical, and realistic. You have strong opinions, and you stick to them! You have a fine mind, and much energy. Some of you are quite polished and sophisticated. You learn new things very quickly. This year, something you've been involved with for about nine years will end or diminish to create room for something new to enter."

(I don't think I'm practical or realistic at all. I'm an Aquarian, for crying out loud! I *do* have strong opinions, and I like to think I learn quickly. I'm soooooo not polished or sophisticated; point in fact, today I was in sweats all day, and scrubbed out the hen house. Seriously, how many 'polished & sophisticated' people are on their knees in chicken manure?! LMAO)

A different site says: Business dealings may be particularly fruitful today. You may find that many projects come to completion, especially the large ones. A co-worker or customer needs your help and you have the understanding and knowledge that they seek. Most would not find a volunteer bone in their body; too many other things on the agenda. You, however, quickly volunteer to help and lend your expertise to the needs of another. Without asking, you will pitch in and solve problems quickly. This is a time when you can expect a little boost; some recognition from those around you is freely given. There is plenty of fun to go around; enjoy. In addition, romance is heightened in your personal relationship - Happy Birthday!

And just some general Aquarian-ness-es...
Aquarians like to use their minds. If they don't, they get restless. Mental stimulation necessary.
Aquarians are visionaries, forward-thinking, 50 yrs ahead of their times, comfortable with transformation... humanitarians.
Very individualistic people, but social.... like to be in community.
Challenges arise when Aquarians feel limited or hemmed in. An ongoing quest for freedom and fairness to all.
Cautious about having close friendships; prefer to have many at arms-distance. Learning to trust, and express emotions in a healthy way, is the challenge for many Aquarians.

I like this post:
Aquarians born Feb 1st are a rare breed: rebels who have respect for values. These impulsive people seem to meld the diverse sides of their personality. Something in their nature attracts danger. They can come too close to the dark side of their personality and must confront it.

Embrace: exploration, confidence, leisure
Avoid: superstition, losing interest, disappointment

there's more on that page, but i'm not going to type it all out. besides, i've probably lost you by now. lol (yes, i can see your glazed over eyes from here)

if you have any idea why i used to be able to copy and paste from other websites into a blogpost, and now i can't, will you let me know? is it a setting i've accidentally changed? cuz man, it's so freakin' annoying now, having to retype things from other sites. yeesh.

...and can i just say, check out www.kristensraw.blogspot.com today. mmm, mmm, fine. ;D

Happy Birth-day to me.....

Yep, it's my birthday. (35 since you're wondering, LOL). have had a lovely day. kids made us a green smoothie for breakfast and then we had lunch out with my parents in the afternoon, a great afternoon downtown (we went to Instinct gifts & my dd gifted me two colour baths!), to ds's class downtown, and then out for dinner with my in-laws afterwards.

i got OODLES of birthday wishes sent online, which was sooooooo nice. could feel all the warm happy energy comin' my way.

and now i have but a moment to look up my birthday horoscope... i have to get offline (we're on dial-up) before dh gets a break on his nightshift so we can at least hear each other's voices quickly.

so i bid you adieu this fine evening, the eve of Groundhog Day 'n' such. :D
(and thanks for the birthday wishes!)