Rabbit Is Wise

this weekend...

Aside from family plans for Easter tomorrow, complete with visit from the Easter bunny, we celebrated the warm weather today with:

...a game of Sleeping Queens as a celebration of Tabletop Day (I had fully anticipated playing many more games, but our littlest was too interested in the games to allow us to play un-interrupted)...

... a walk on a local rail-trail where we saw these gloves from some branches...

... we saw our (my) first up-close, physical evidence of beavers in the area!...

Isn't this a crazy beaver-eaten tree??

And what did we end up bringing home with us from this nice outdoor trip???

 

A tick!  A TICK!!!  Yikes!  Yep, it is truly warming up and is almost Spring!

i'm a fire-failure

I've always thought of myself as somewhat of a pyromaniac.  Not a psychotic one, mind you.  Just a mild one.  I've always loved being the designated firework-lighter.  I enjoy lit candles at dinner.  I like to watch the dying embers of a campfire.  Stuff like that.

  A view of the inside of our wood-stove

My husband, on the other hand, hates fire.  I'm not sure he's even comfortable striking a matchbook match.  He refuses to light candles at dinner.

  Lit candles at our Thanksgiving dinner this year

When I discovered that our new digs would have a wood-stove, I thought, "Ah, this will be wonderful.  Warm evenings by a cozy fire.  And I'll be the family fire-master."  However, I have since been put in my place - quite severely.

I have tried, on numerous occasions, to light a fire in the wood-stove.  The sign of a successful fire?  Our stove fan needs to start spinning.  This fan only starts spinning of the stove gets hot enough.  I think I may have gotten it spinning ONCE this winter, and that was after working at the fire for an hour, checking it and helping it every five minutes (I had to set a timer to remind myself - as I can get distracted with so many kids taking my attention).

I've wanted to blame the fire wood, saying it was not dry enough.  However, my husband seems to be able to consistently get that blasted stove fan spinning!  He's even shown me all his tricks... how to stack up the kindling and place the wood on top.  The need to keep air underneath the wood.  How it has to "breathe".  I've watched him closely and tried to imitate it.  And still no luck.

That dear fan, the only true and impartial marker of a successful fire (hubby got that one spinning)

I'm not sure what to think of this.  I'm considering giving up and passing my fire-mantle to him.  Maybe I need just a bit of distance.  Maybe the summer will give me that and I can come back fresh next winter and try my hand again.

Though I'm not sure how this bodes for my hopes of learning how to start a fire Dual Survivor-style (Cody Lundin is my fire hero).

{this moment}

A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. 

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. ..... in solidarity with SouleMama

 

She's signing!!!

I just had to write a post to commemorate a milestone that my youngest has reached... she is actively and consistently signing words to us.

(here they all sitting on me and playing with my face)

Her first signing word was milk (such a favorite with babes!).  She can't quite make it perfectly, but it is very close.  I get the feeling that she is focusing on the sound her fingers make as she squeezes and opens her fist.  She flails her fingers around a bit more than is required for the sign, but that's her thing.

Her next signing word was more.  It is adorable.  Rather than touching her pinched fingers together, she uses one forefinger to tap the palm of her other hand.

And my husband started teaching her thank you this evening, which she was using.

This is such a great stage to be at.  We used sign language with both our other girls and I always felt it made communicating with them that much easier.  Now she can start to tell us what she wants and is thinking, and we'll be able to understand!

Ah, my little one is growing up so fast.

An Unusual Daily Meditation

© Rabsoft | Dreamstime Stock Photos & Stock Free Images

I want to share with you all what I think is an unusual way to find a moment to meditate.  A unique way to find a bit of peace.  And is something I always look forward to...

showering in the dark.

There.  I said it.  This is my strange favorite thing to do.  Please don't judge me.

There is just something special about this moment I have to myself, in the dark.  All you moms out there will understand this.  This is the one time of day that I have all to myself (just as an example, I go to the bathroom with the door open, so I can keep an eye on my one-year-old).  No, at this time, my husband watches the kids while I shower.  This is always in the evenings (I won't go into the whys and wherefores, only to say it works for all of us).

Currently, in the winter, by the time I shower, it is dark outside.  So the only light that comes into the bathroom is that light that creeps from under the doorway or, if there is a full moon out, the light coming through the window.

There is something relaxing and calming for me to go through the routine of showering, the whole while using all my senses but sight to get the job done.  My shower stall isn't that big.  I know where my soap is.  I know where my razor is (yes, it's daring to shave in the dark, but really not that difficult).  I feel the water rain down on me as I lather my hair.  I listen to the sound of the water - smell the scent of my soap.

I first started this habit when I was working full-time in New York City.  I had to get up at 5am so I would be out the door at 6 to catch the train to the city.  It was always dark at that time of morning (except maybe in the heart of Summer).  One morning, I decided to keep the lights off (my eyes were bleary and tired) - and I discovered, to my astonishment, that I preferred to shower with the lights off.  It is never pitch black - at least not in my bathroom.  With windows, there is always some light that comes in, and it never takes long for my eyes to adjust to the low light.

And there is this amazing meditative quality to showering in the dark.  Even in the dark, I find that I keep my eyes closed as I go through the routine of cleaning.

Am I the only one that does this?  Try it and tell me what you think!

What I Saw This Morning

If you saw my {this moment} picture from yesterday, you can see that I took it of the view from my front door just as the storm started.

I couldn't wait this morning to wake up and see what Mother Nature had delivered at my doorstep overnight.

Well, the wait is over and this is what I found:

I wasn't able to get the exact same angle as the other shot because, as you can see, to get the full effect (with the full door frame as reference), I had to step back quite a bit. I haven't measured it yet, but it looks to be quite a lot.

And I believe the only reason we have power this morning is because it isn't a heavy, wet, stick-to-the-branches snow. I'm happy about that. I have a craft project I need to get done today for my daughter's birthday tomorrow, and I kinda need the power for my computer and sewing machine!!! Let's hope the power stays on all day.