feelin' the energy

I did two sets of tai chi last night before bed (and slept soooo well, btw) and one set this morning outside in the crisp morning air. I went to class tonight and left before doing a set with the class (I had my children with me) but I have to say that I am *really* enjoying tai chi! I am amazed at how I am feeling the energy flow through me as I practice. Bringing the hands towards each other, the energy intensifies, and when the hands pass each other, I can feel the energy so vividly. I feel it in my hands, and in my feet. It's a wonderful, beautiful feeling. One of the other women at class tonight remarked that I had this "sweet expression" on my face as I practiced; like I was off in another world. It's not that I was; quite the opposite - I was actually fully present in this world, in this moment! Quite absorbed in the moment. I do know what she means, though. Feeling the energy is something new for me in my tai chi practice and I am continually surprised and elated by the sensations.

I am beginning to grasp more fully how what I bring to the set, to my practice, is what I will get out of it. If I come to my practice bedraggled and stressed, I see quite clearly how this energy affects those around me in class. I also see how, if I relax into calmness and serenity, how this, too, permeates and affects the group's energy. So it's becoming a conscious choice as to what state of mind, of emotion, I will bring to the class, not only when I'm instructing, but also as a student.

Namaste'

Moving Forward

I feel like I'm making good progress outside. I've spent a couple hours each day for the past four days out there, pulling the Scotch Broom. (you should see the bonfire pile!) I've cleared our boulevard on one side of our driveway - it's about 50 feet long and about 10 feet wide. Well, nearly cleared. I uncovered a volunteer holly tree/bush that's about 4 feet tall and in good shape. There's a couple cedars, pines, and firs along there as well. I have a plan for moving forward now that the broom's cleared: lay down a double layer of cardboard (so the broom, salal, and salmon berries don't come back with a vengeance), then lay some chicken manure on mixed with the dirt (of which I have plenty in the yard). Purchase some cedar hedging and plant those - I may need 10 trees I think. Then I'd like to plant some rosemary or lavender in front of those and then wildflower mix in the ditch. That's the plan.

It's been so sunny that I've been taking advantage of the sunshine and have put aside indoor tasks such as cleaning, any kind of computer work, preparing for dd's birthday party, etc. Apparently it's supposed to rain this weekend so I'll have time to catch up then, perhaps.

Feeling blessed,
~n~

Broom Puller

I confess: For two days now I've been yanking Scotch Broom out of the yard, and yes, I plan on burning it. Not just composting it, but actually bonfiring it all. (there's lots!) I realize I may have gone a little nuts pulling the broom out - both yesterday and today my knees ache from using the broom puller tool. Pulling broom is no easy task. Well, it is if you get them out when they're small, but seriously, some of these plants were over 6 feet (2m) tall! I realized today there's just been so many excuses over the past 13 years... having babies to care for, and then there's the whole 'it's-just-too-hard' excuse. Ahh, but it feels sooooo good to get these invasive plants out of the ground. I still have another patch to go (well, at least one), probably another good day's work (if it's sunny, that is, LOL - me, the fairweather yard worker)... and then it's onto the field where the broom are also out of control.

Umm, soooo... does anyone know how to get rid of salal?!?

Food Security

I went out to the Victoria Film Festival tonight, to the world premiere of Nick Versteeg from DV Cuisine's newest film, Food Security: Simple and Safe, It's in Your Hands. It was a sold out show, and we saw people outside the theatre who had shown up on the off-chance tickets would still be available. So people really wanted to see this film!

I have previously seen another of Nick's films, Island on the Edge. Also about food security, it detailed the precarious position that Vancouver Island (and the Gulf Islands) are in when it comes to supplying local inhabitants with local food. I've heard the sobering statistic many many times that our island, as big as it is, only has a 3-day supply of food, should anything (natural disaster) disconnect us from transporting in food. Three days.

I'd really enjoyed seeing Island on the Edge, and the Q&A following with Nick. It was shown as an Awareness Night film, a local monthly movie night of movies that are of importance to local community.

It was with excitement that I headed out to see Food Security tonight, and it did not disappoint. It was inspiring, with its stories from new, young, local, organic farmers. It was informative. It was beautiful, capturing the seasons at Versteeg's own farm, The Laughing Geese. And it generated discussion. The ride home with my friend was wonderful as we each shared dreams and plans for our properties... and broke things down into bite-size steps we can implement immediately. (I'm going to pull broom, and plant cover crops!!!)

I wish Nick and his latest film success. Food security is a topic he (and I) are obviously passionate about. Why would I want to grow my own food? Because I want to take responsibility for that; I don't want to put that responsibility entirely in someone else's hands.

Good luck, Nick!

callllllllm

So the Universe threw a curveball at me today: we were on our way to piano lessons when I suddenly had the first flat tire... ever. I realized tonight I've been driving two DECADES now and I've never EVER had a flat (at least, not that I can remember, LOL). To boot, we were waaaaaay down a single-lane, badly paved country road with no cell reception... which just happens to be about 400m from the piano teacher's house. (thank-you, Loving Universe!) So I walked the children to their lesson, used her phone to call a tow truck (um, ya, I kinda remember Dad teaching me how to change a tire... 20 years ago. But having no experience in these matters since, I figured that's what the insurance is for. So suck up the pride and call, right?!)... They were there within 20 mins and had it changed in less than 5. Now see? It would've taken me at LEAST that long to take the tire off, let alone put the spare on, not to mention it was raining, too. LOL (thank-you, wonderful tow truck drivers!) The funny thing is, I wasn't stressed about it. It was this fun (and funny) adventure. The tire was fixed before the kids were finished piano, so it didn't put me out timing-wise (Thursdays are tight with timings, too). I zipped them over to the rec ctr so one could skate while the other swims (I am a multi-tasker extraordinaire!), and I then zipped (yes, zipped) over to the tire shop to have them repair it...

So the young feller there brings the tire in and says, well, this is the hole. (It's a 4" gash on the sidewall - OOPS) And this is what caused it (piece of... well, not bark mulch, but kinda looked like it... about 6" long, 4" wide and an inch thick? it was fairly large. and was clearly not a nail). So the tire is unrepairable. And being AWD, guess what? You can't just replace ONE tire, oh noooooo... no, you have to replace all FOUR. I'm sorry... did you just say all FOUR for one flat?! So that will cost in the neighbourhood of... *gasp*

*breathes deep. waaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyy deep*

and laughs.

So I go back, pick the kids up, grab them each a veggie sub & a water and we're off to tai chi class for a couple hours (which was awesome, btw). I'm still on my spare, but in the end, well, maybe the tire store can find a used single tire tomorrow instead of having to replace all four. Maybe the tires are still under the vehicle's warranty. Maybe there's just no sense worrying about that which i have no control over. Sometimes it's just better to laugh.

dd reminded me that it was like my dream two nights ago. I was coming out of a mall, across the parking lot, and there were cars all around me up on blocks with their tires missing. I look across and my car, too (same freakin' tire, if you can believe it) is off the vehicle and it's up on a jack and the back door is up/open... I wouldn't have made the connection but that's exactly today: the driver rear tire off the vehicle, the back door was open, two men (two truck drivers) - who thankfully, unlike in my dream, did not beat me over the head with a crowbar and steal my stereo and change and run away. LMAO see why i don't share my dreams?!? LOL

All I know is whoever's behind it all... (the universe, I mean) - God or whatever you want to call "It"... has a GREAT sense of humour.

*LOVELY* week!

Maybe this'll come across kinda Pollyanna-ish, but life ROCKS right now! (The sunshine for 2 days helped tremendously, I think) I feel really grounded and centered. I feel very connected to Spirit, and I'm reflecting on how I am in various relationships in my life and am consciously letting go of that which no longer serves the relationship well. Makes for great conversations when we can connect deeper with a Loved one. I'm eating mindfully, gratefully. The hike on Tuesday was great and although I did hear that some of the others were tremendously sore the next day, I felt great Wednesday morning. Wednesday I went to the chiropractor and had a good adjustment. But I'm still reeling off the weekend tai chi workshop.

Yep, life's great. Today I'd been hoping to pull scotch broom and get outside in the sun, but alas, it's raining again... more than a heavy mist but not like our usual west coast rain. An inside day.

I'm making raw apple crumble today. The kids have been playing piano and reading books and are watching Little House on the Prairie. We decorated one kitchen window for Chinese New Year (made paper lanterns and cut out decorations), and hung Valentine decorations on the other. Looking very festive in here! Other than that, we're working on the plans for dd's upcoming birthday party. We were thinking of offering face painting; I think the kids will enjoy that. And dd's hoping to play pin the wings on the fairy, a game she was given for Christmas. :) That's about as far as the plans have gotten so far.

Blessings,
~n~

greetings from the birthday girl...

i'm not quite officially 36 yet... i was born later in the evening than this... but yep, it's my Birth Day and it's been great!

i had a green smoothie for breakfast and then headed off to tai chi class... attended an hour of the continuing class and then taught for another hour. Came home, made lunch for the children, packed up a cup of sprouted trail mix, a banana and an orange and a cup of chia pudding (deeeelicious) and headed off for a hike. we hiked with friends (5 other homeschooling families) and went for 3 HOURS, half of which was straight uphill!!! We were truly blessed with a beeeeeautiful sunny day and some GORGEOUS views of Juan de Fuca straight from up those hills. The kids and I came home and flopped out for an hour. (We kinda flaked out on going to dd's ballet class. oh well) Went out for dinner with grammy & grampa... i had salad, chamomile tea and a piece of blackberry pie.

lots of birthday wishes came in from friends and family and i appreciate having each and every one of them in my life! i have so so much to be thankful for.

Where will I focus my time in the upcoming year?

• my health (physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual)
• my relationships (with my children, husband, family and friends, with everyone)
• personal growth (going for that 'softness'... compassion and Love)
• connection to the earth (gardening, as one example)

That's quite the list. Not just a to-do list like 'finish the cob oven' or something tangible like that! So here's to the upcoming year! 36! Woo Hoo!!!