we spent a rainy day today working on *last week's* workbook/schoolwork/etc. this whole scheduling thing - scheduling in the curriculum areas - while I see it's merit in the sense of giving the children something to check off, a visual confirmation of what's been 'done' during the day and week... well, it just rubs my free-spirited mind the WRONG way.
i prefer my lifelong learning to be more of an organic journey, less scripted by external doctrine and more from the heart... if i want to spend an entire day curled up in front of the woodstove, working on a cross-stitch, why not?! Likewise, if the children want to spend a day playing Lego, or colouring and cutting out paper doll clothes, why not?! who cares what's been accomplished so long as you are inspired and passionate and full of wonder and enthusiasm about how you spend your time? i think that coming from a place of inspiration and passion, no matter what 'subject' it's towards, i think you have a much better chance of remembering and truly learning than being forced to think of things in terms of distinct subjects... alas...
ds really doesn't like bookwork... he stalls and fusses and asks how to spell words and just generally drags his feet, and in personality, we're so alike that his way of being just pushes my buttons sometimes - it's like having a mirror at all the things i'm not comfortable about myself (like being sensitive, intense, and emotional), having them reflected back to deal with... NOW. and continuous self-reflection isn't easy, ya know. :P anyways, i'm not about to just cross off the schedule; i think there's something to be learned from catching up, even if it means spending a rainy day inside at the kitchen table. don't think that i'm a task master; he was off playing every few minutes... and although he awoke fresh this morning determined to catch up entirely - he's not there yet because of the foot dragging. although he made a fair attempt to catch up, it might be a couple more days yet before he's behind the eight ball again.
on the flip side, dd and i played many duets today on the piano, and that's enjoyable. she doesn't like to sit alone at the piano, but offer to play duets for the pieces she's learning and she delights in having a partner. ds, otoh, enjoys playing alone and will happily forego his workbook for a few minutes tickling the ivories.
apart from that, their glorious snowman lost his head today. steady rain weakened his neck. the ground is returning to its normal green and it's considerably warmer today than the past week or so.
i was disappointed today to hear the property we're contemplating looking at on the mainland already has a conditional offer on it, and unless we can come up with an unconditional offer (and carry two mortgages on one income?!?) it's not looking promising. life will unfold as it's meant to, this i am sure of, so i'm trying not to worry, to just let things be.
27 February 2011
25 February 2011
I hab a code...
Ugh. Seriously. What is WITH these sinus infections?!? Granted, today is *much* better than yesterday, but still, enough already! Yesterday I drank 2 tsp of ACV in a glass of warm water, I took about 70 drops of oil of oregano in water throughout the day and also rinsed my sinuses with warm sea salt water. All of it helped and today I definitely do think I'm managing alright, but really, any time now, it could just GO AWAY!!!! ...for eternity.
Well, it's finally come down to dh & I talking about moving. The 6 hr commute at either end of his workweek is weighing heavily on him and none of us enjoy that we don't see him during the workweek, and with all the OT available this year, we won't be seeing him for 5 days at a time very often. We've been here 12+ years, and have gotten very comfortable in our home... it is the only home the kids have known. It's a beautiful acreage in the forest, with a seasonal creek through the back and less then 500m to the ocean. It's truly a piece of paradise. So the thought of leaving and moving to the mainland is... less than appealing. But the reality is, dh's been commuting for 2 yrs now and we both realize he's not getting a posting over here this year, which means a minimum of 3 yrs... and it could be another 2 (or more) after that before an opening comes up on the island. And ultimately, do we want to be doing this for 2, 3... even 5 more years?!? Not so much. So there's talk. Talk about the staggering amount of work that needs to be done around here to get this place ready to put on the market... and just where is the time (& money) going to come from to do all that?!? Then there's talk about the aspect of downsizing - obviously we're not going to find a house & acre over there that's in our budget, so we have to wrap our heads around letting go of a lot of possessions (which actually I think is a blessing), but it's the animals - the dog, cats, chickens - that I wonder and worry about. I doubt we can bring 23 chickens with us (lol), let alone 3 outdoor cats, and the dog, well... *sigh* So it's not without serious apprehension that I'm pondering this possible move. I'm not jumping up and down with joy at the thought of moving, period, let alone to the city. I love it out here in the country. It's quiet, rural, but you've still got a very supportive community around you. Doesn't matter what window I look out of, all I see is green - trees, trees, everywhere. I'd miss that terribly. There's so much I'd miss, but I can see that being overly attached to this property & lifestyle at the expense of being together as a family isn't productive. Moving is never stress-free but maybe it's what needs to be done this year. idk. what do you think?
Well, it's finally come down to dh & I talking about moving. The 6 hr commute at either end of his workweek is weighing heavily on him and none of us enjoy that we don't see him during the workweek, and with all the OT available this year, we won't be seeing him for 5 days at a time very often. We've been here 12+ years, and have gotten very comfortable in our home... it is the only home the kids have known. It's a beautiful acreage in the forest, with a seasonal creek through the back and less then 500m to the ocean. It's truly a piece of paradise. So the thought of leaving and moving to the mainland is... less than appealing. But the reality is, dh's been commuting for 2 yrs now and we both realize he's not getting a posting over here this year, which means a minimum of 3 yrs... and it could be another 2 (or more) after that before an opening comes up on the island. And ultimately, do we want to be doing this for 2, 3... even 5 more years?!? Not so much. So there's talk. Talk about the staggering amount of work that needs to be done around here to get this place ready to put on the market... and just where is the time (& money) going to come from to do all that?!? Then there's talk about the aspect of downsizing - obviously we're not going to find a house & acre over there that's in our budget, so we have to wrap our heads around letting go of a lot of possessions (which actually I think is a blessing), but it's the animals - the dog, cats, chickens - that I wonder and worry about. I doubt we can bring 23 chickens with us (lol), let alone 3 outdoor cats, and the dog, well... *sigh* So it's not without serious apprehension that I'm pondering this possible move. I'm not jumping up and down with joy at the thought of moving, period, let alone to the city. I love it out here in the country. It's quiet, rural, but you've still got a very supportive community around you. Doesn't matter what window I look out of, all I see is green - trees, trees, everywhere. I'd miss that terribly. There's so much I'd miss, but I can see that being overly attached to this property & lifestyle at the expense of being together as a family isn't productive. Moving is never stress-free but maybe it's what needs to be done this year. idk. what do you think?
23 February 2011
*ANOTHER* sinus infection?!?!?
omG this is, i think, the fourth sinus infection I've had in what feels like as many months. good RIDDANCE!!!! ds and i are both sniffling away, sinuses plugged, and i'm praying and hoping it doesn't go into our eustachian tubes again. ear infections are so awful!! i don't know what's bringing these sinus infections on... i mean, my diet is so much healthier than the average person's, imo, and so is ds's. so what's up with the sinus infections?! i know i haven't been in that daily exercise habit, and that's probably got something to do with it. also, i got to thinking today that it's something psychically with my sixth chakra... why the repeated blockage, i don't know. if you can shed some light on this, *please do*.
And it snowed today! not just a little; we probably got 6 or 8 inches of snow! *highly unusual for our area* it was such a shock; yesterday it was sunny and the crocuses were in full bloom, and today they're buried beneath the snow. dh & the kids made the coolest snowman - he's wearing sunglasses and has his beach towel and flippers and is ready for the beach, but looks rather grumpy about the snow. LOL I'm not sure how long the snow will last, but at least the roads are clear - we drove about 160 kms tonight and had no problems at all, 'though we saw *several* vehicles in the ditches. I should be more confident in inclement weather; after all, I have AWD and brand new all-season tires, but honestly, I am scared silly about driving in snow. I strongly dislike the idea that if something goes wrong I'd have to be the responsible adult, I'd have to stay calm and care for my children. It's such a ridiculous notion; I mean, I'm the lone adult with my children most of the time, and most of the time, I'm alright with it... especially when things are routine and we're in the confines of our comfort zone. But when things go outside that zone - like inclement weather, for example - well, that sends my stress levels high. Especially seeing other vehicles in the ditches. Not terribly reassuring for my frazzled nerves and creative imagination! LOL Ahhh well, we made it home just fine, and I think it's important for me to go outside that comfort zone when the opportunity presents itself. We could've stayed home today, but chose not to. It's important for me to have good experiences outside the comfort zone, to build my confidence that I can, in fact, handle stressful situations... even if it is something minor like driving in snow.
well, this sniffly mama's off to bed.
*namaste*
And it snowed today! not just a little; we probably got 6 or 8 inches of snow! *highly unusual for our area* it was such a shock; yesterday it was sunny and the crocuses were in full bloom, and today they're buried beneath the snow. dh & the kids made the coolest snowman - he's wearing sunglasses and has his beach towel and flippers and is ready for the beach, but looks rather grumpy about the snow. LOL I'm not sure how long the snow will last, but at least the roads are clear - we drove about 160 kms tonight and had no problems at all, 'though we saw *several* vehicles in the ditches. I should be more confident in inclement weather; after all, I have AWD and brand new all-season tires, but honestly, I am scared silly about driving in snow. I strongly dislike the idea that if something goes wrong I'd have to be the responsible adult, I'd have to stay calm and care for my children. It's such a ridiculous notion; I mean, I'm the lone adult with my children most of the time, and most of the time, I'm alright with it... especially when things are routine and we're in the confines of our comfort zone. But when things go outside that zone - like inclement weather, for example - well, that sends my stress levels high. Especially seeing other vehicles in the ditches. Not terribly reassuring for my frazzled nerves and creative imagination! LOL Ahhh well, we made it home just fine, and I think it's important for me to go outside that comfort zone when the opportunity presents itself. We could've stayed home today, but chose not to. It's important for me to have good experiences outside the comfort zone, to build my confidence that I can, in fact, handle stressful situations... even if it is something minor like driving in snow.
well, this sniffly mama's off to bed.
*namaste*
22 February 2011
terrific tuesday!
My nephew's 4 today! happy birthday, buddy! :D miss you!!!
we all woke up fighting the *slightest* of colds. unusual, but alright, whatever. i confess i hadn't even thought of taking oil of oregano until just now. i just ignored it all day; it was so slight it wasn't worth my attention, really, but it's definitely *something*. :P
BEAUTIFUL sunny day today, albeit cold... like around 3C. brrrrrr. (oh shush up if you're on the prairies already) It *tried* to do this funny snow-freezing rain thing briefly (very briefly) but mostly just sunshine all day. Somehow, though, we spent part of the afternoon inside at the kitchen table. dd's decided to make a family tree on poster paper and is drawing and cutting out little circles for every person, their picture and name in the circle. Very cute. ds prefers playing piano to practising his penmanship but its a necessary evil these days it seems, so he was completing workbook pages.
Tai chi this morning was great. Do you know I've done it daily for over a week now? It feels great to do even just one set each day... usually either first thing in the morning or last thing at night. I am loving the movement in the spine, loosening things up in there, releasing tension. Feels soooooooo good. I managed to make it for about half of the continuing class and then taught for an hour. Instructing is so rewarding. While we practised today I listened as everyone's feet stepped in unison into the next position. *bliss* And to think that about 6 weeks ago, they were just starting, and here we are, probably 25 or 30 moves into the set! They're doing really *really* well. Most enjoyable!
I've been a little more conscious the past couple days of my food intake. I don't usually write down ahead of time what I'm going to eat for the day, rather, I fly by the seat of my pants. Which I know isn't an advised plan of attack when it comes to people who have a tendency to overeating. I just kinda realized I'd slipped into overeating (even if it was raw), and wanted to be a little more aware of what I was ingesting. I've started making smaller quantities of smoothie - 1.25L instead of 2L. It makes a big difference. However I still feel like I'm overeating. It's really hard to become aware of our emotional state in regards to food, and to curb ourselves from reaching unconsciously for food. Today I realized even chewing gum is a mind-numbing thing.
The other part of the equation is that I'm just not active daily like I have been. I've struggled to get myself back into a daily exercise routine. Tai chi is not enough for me, although its benefits are wonderful, for sure. I just think as humans we have become (generalization here) very sedentary compared to our ancestors, and it's not to our benefit. Well, I'll work to get back to that place of daily movement. I'll learn to embrace it yet.
Grateful for Life and its abundant blessings
~n~
we all woke up fighting the *slightest* of colds. unusual, but alright, whatever. i confess i hadn't even thought of taking oil of oregano until just now. i just ignored it all day; it was so slight it wasn't worth my attention, really, but it's definitely *something*. :P
BEAUTIFUL sunny day today, albeit cold... like around 3C. brrrrrr. (oh shush up if you're on the prairies already) It *tried* to do this funny snow-freezing rain thing briefly (very briefly) but mostly just sunshine all day. Somehow, though, we spent part of the afternoon inside at the kitchen table. dd's decided to make a family tree on poster paper and is drawing and cutting out little circles for every person, their picture and name in the circle. Very cute. ds prefers playing piano to practising his penmanship but its a necessary evil these days it seems, so he was completing workbook pages.
Tai chi this morning was great. Do you know I've done it daily for over a week now? It feels great to do even just one set each day... usually either first thing in the morning or last thing at night. I am loving the movement in the spine, loosening things up in there, releasing tension. Feels soooooooo good. I managed to make it for about half of the continuing class and then taught for an hour. Instructing is so rewarding. While we practised today I listened as everyone's feet stepped in unison into the next position. *bliss* And to think that about 6 weeks ago, they were just starting, and here we are, probably 25 or 30 moves into the set! They're doing really *really* well. Most enjoyable!
I've been a little more conscious the past couple days of my food intake. I don't usually write down ahead of time what I'm going to eat for the day, rather, I fly by the seat of my pants. Which I know isn't an advised plan of attack when it comes to people who have a tendency to overeating. I just kinda realized I'd slipped into overeating (even if it was raw), and wanted to be a little more aware of what I was ingesting. I've started making smaller quantities of smoothie - 1.25L instead of 2L. It makes a big difference. However I still feel like I'm overeating. It's really hard to become aware of our emotional state in regards to food, and to curb ourselves from reaching unconsciously for food. Today I realized even chewing gum is a mind-numbing thing.
The other part of the equation is that I'm just not active daily like I have been. I've struggled to get myself back into a daily exercise routine. Tai chi is not enough for me, although its benefits are wonderful, for sure. I just think as humans we have become (generalization here) very sedentary compared to our ancestors, and it's not to our benefit. Well, I'll work to get back to that place of daily movement. I'll learn to embrace it yet.
Grateful for Life and its abundant blessings
~n~
21 February 2011
natural body care
Just wanted to share what I've found to be good, natural alternatives to chemically-laden commercial body-care products. I started looking for alternatives when I came across the idea (not mine, so I won't take credit where it's not due, lol) that you shouldn't put things *on* your body that you wouldn't put *in* your body.
Shampoo: use baking soda. I use about a tbsp or maybe two. Mix it into a paste in my hand, continue as usual. (dd was helping me fill the various b soda glass jars today and while my back was turned, stuck a wet finger in to taste it. She says it tastes horrible. LOL)
Conditioner: apple cider vinegar, usually with 3-5 drops of essential oil (one of: lemon, orange, lavender, tea tree). again, i use about 1 tbsp and put it in a glass jar. when i'm ready to use it, i fill the jar up with water and pour over my hair. i find it works well on my hair (which is not coloured, btw), but on my daughter's hair, which is VERY long and quite CURLY, it doesn't do the trick. for her, i haven't found a good alternative to commercial conditioner, and furthermore, while it's in her hair, *that's* when i brush her hair. seems to work much better than brushing *after* the bath.
Soap: i have a wonderful, organic coconut soap that's available through rawfoodsooke. love it.
Deoderant: i don't usually wear any, to be honest. i have an organic, natural brand that is lemongrass scented that i do wear sometimes. and i also have a popular/commercial brand that is baby-powder scented that i wear only when i'm going out for a formal evening... to its credit, it does work. But it has things in it that i'd rather not put on my body on a regular basis. i have tried just rubbing b soda on and yes, it does work, but that's an every-day kind of thing, imo, not a going-out for a formal evening out option. thankfully, formal evenings out are rare around here. ;)
Toothpaste: At the moment, I'm using a mint toothpaste that is a natural, but popular, brand (like the natural deoderant). Sometimes I just use baking soda. Some people I know use a neem toothpaste and swear by it. Others use tooth 'shreds'; I haven't seen them available in Canada but would be curious to try things other than what I'm currently using.
Moisturizer: A few years ago I really liked Aveda's sensitive skin moisturizer. Most of the time now, though, if I use any at all, I'll use cert org extra virgin coconut oil. Or a little EVOO. And on my lips, at the moment I'm really enjoying a Burt's Bees lip balm.
That's about it. I hardly ever wear make-up; maybe a dozen times each year, if that. (so yes, i do have some, but even then, it's a pretty simple routine: foundation, powder, lipstick, and *sometimes* mascara, which I find irritates my eyes terribly). Usually I only wear make-up because my face (cheeks) have moments where they flare up from what i've been told is roseacea. I actually have little burst blood vessels in my cheeks that never go away. Someone suggested laser treatments could reduce or eliminate them, but i'm not keen on that at this moment. So when we're headed for a formal evening out, I choose make-up over having to go through the evening explaining my skin.
I'm really a pretty low-maintenance person. I buy baking soda in bulk through the food co-op, as well as apple cider vinegar, coconut oil, and olive oil, and soap. Funny when I think about it, though, because when I was 18ish I was soooooo high maintenance with my fake nails and highlighted hair and daily make-up and on and on. yeesh. good riddance!!! (i should try & find a picture somewhere... or, maybe not.)
Shampoo: use baking soda. I use about a tbsp or maybe two. Mix it into a paste in my hand, continue as usual. (dd was helping me fill the various b soda glass jars today and while my back was turned, stuck a wet finger in to taste it. She says it tastes horrible. LOL)
Conditioner: apple cider vinegar, usually with 3-5 drops of essential oil (one of: lemon, orange, lavender, tea tree). again, i use about 1 tbsp and put it in a glass jar. when i'm ready to use it, i fill the jar up with water and pour over my hair. i find it works well on my hair (which is not coloured, btw), but on my daughter's hair, which is VERY long and quite CURLY, it doesn't do the trick. for her, i haven't found a good alternative to commercial conditioner, and furthermore, while it's in her hair, *that's* when i brush her hair. seems to work much better than brushing *after* the bath.
Soap: i have a wonderful, organic coconut soap that's available through rawfoodsooke. love it.
Deoderant: i don't usually wear any, to be honest. i have an organic, natural brand that is lemongrass scented that i do wear sometimes. and i also have a popular/commercial brand that is baby-powder scented that i wear only when i'm going out for a formal evening... to its credit, it does work. But it has things in it that i'd rather not put on my body on a regular basis. i have tried just rubbing b soda on and yes, it does work, but that's an every-day kind of thing, imo, not a going-out for a formal evening out option. thankfully, formal evenings out are rare around here. ;)
Toothpaste: At the moment, I'm using a mint toothpaste that is a natural, but popular, brand (like the natural deoderant). Sometimes I just use baking soda. Some people I know use a neem toothpaste and swear by it. Others use tooth 'shreds'; I haven't seen them available in Canada but would be curious to try things other than what I'm currently using.
Moisturizer: A few years ago I really liked Aveda's sensitive skin moisturizer. Most of the time now, though, if I use any at all, I'll use cert org extra virgin coconut oil. Or a little EVOO. And on my lips, at the moment I'm really enjoying a Burt's Bees lip balm.
That's about it. I hardly ever wear make-up; maybe a dozen times each year, if that. (so yes, i do have some, but even then, it's a pretty simple routine: foundation, powder, lipstick, and *sometimes* mascara, which I find irritates my eyes terribly). Usually I only wear make-up because my face (cheeks) have moments where they flare up from what i've been told is roseacea. I actually have little burst blood vessels in my cheeks that never go away. Someone suggested laser treatments could reduce or eliminate them, but i'm not keen on that at this moment. So when we're headed for a formal evening out, I choose make-up over having to go through the evening explaining my skin.
I'm really a pretty low-maintenance person. I buy baking soda in bulk through the food co-op, as well as apple cider vinegar, coconut oil, and olive oil, and soap. Funny when I think about it, though, because when I was 18ish I was soooooo high maintenance with my fake nails and highlighted hair and daily make-up and on and on. yeesh. good riddance!!! (i should try & find a picture somewhere... or, maybe not.)
20 February 2011
The raw food order is going in tomorrow and there are a few more items available: http://rawfoodsooke.blogspot.com
A nice week. It was dd's birth day, then dh's birth day... and lots of tai chi. Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sat, and today. I think I also may have done a little on Wed, too. Hard to remember.
Today I made some curry nori sticks to put in the dehydrator, as well as some (raw) pizza crusts. I hadn't had nori sticks in quite a long time, but picked up a 3-pack while on my way to tai chi yesterday (as well as a shot of wheatgrass... which I can now swill in my mouth before swallowing! *progress* - no gagging, LOL)... anyways, the nori sticks were *so* good, so I made some walnut curry pate and then some sunflower curry pate this morning, wrapped up some, and they're happily dehydrating now.
Spent most of the day outside with dd - she played on the trampoline (well, I came and lay with her and watched the clouds float by for a while, too) while I cleaned the chicken coop, washed the car, and moved dirt. ;) We blew bubbles and she & the dog chased them and listened to the spa channel on the radio of the car. It was so cute; she said chasing bubbles with the spa music on made her think of fairies and magic. so sweet!
Work for dh is crazy right now - somehow they've got themselves into a position where they only have 70% of the staff that they need to fill all the shifts, so there is plenty of opportunity for overtime... and it looks like it will be this way 'til at LEAST early fall, likely 'til the end of the year. I imagine most of the remaining staff will experience some degree of burn out before then. :( Being an essential service you'd think whoever's in charge of staffing would see the challenges facing this office.
I can see some assistance is needed mediating the play behind me, so good night. I'll be back another day.
A nice week. It was dd's birth day, then dh's birth day... and lots of tai chi. Tues, Thurs, Fri, Sat, and today. I think I also may have done a little on Wed, too. Hard to remember.
Today I made some curry nori sticks to put in the dehydrator, as well as some (raw) pizza crusts. I hadn't had nori sticks in quite a long time, but picked up a 3-pack while on my way to tai chi yesterday (as well as a shot of wheatgrass... which I can now swill in my mouth before swallowing! *progress* - no gagging, LOL)... anyways, the nori sticks were *so* good, so I made some walnut curry pate and then some sunflower curry pate this morning, wrapped up some, and they're happily dehydrating now.
Spent most of the day outside with dd - she played on the trampoline (well, I came and lay with her and watched the clouds float by for a while, too) while I cleaned the chicken coop, washed the car, and moved dirt. ;) We blew bubbles and she & the dog chased them and listened to the spa channel on the radio of the car. It was so cute; she said chasing bubbles with the spa music on made her think of fairies and magic. so sweet!
Work for dh is crazy right now - somehow they've got themselves into a position where they only have 70% of the staff that they need to fill all the shifts, so there is plenty of opportunity for overtime... and it looks like it will be this way 'til at LEAST early fall, likely 'til the end of the year. I imagine most of the remaining staff will experience some degree of burn out before then. :( Being an essential service you'd think whoever's in charge of staffing would see the challenges facing this office.
I can see some assistance is needed mediating the play behind me, so good night. I'll be back another day.
15 February 2011
raw food bulk order - going in monday 21st @ noon
if you're interested in ordering anything, here's the link:
rawfoodsooke.blogspot.com
rawfoodsooke.blogspot.com
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