Last night as I prepared for bed, I set my mind on getting up early before the heat of the day set in to visit my favorite orchard for some berry picking. In a perfect world, my children and I would visit the orchard on a weekly basis and pick the fruits that would be enjoyed that week. There would be no need for the 'middle man' (the grocery store) and my kitchen would be a throwback to something out of the 1930s, complete with berry pies cooling on the windowsill, a perfect pantry whose shelves were lined with canned fruits and a cupboard full of sweet homemade jams.
In my current world however, picking fresh fruit every few weeks is the ideal. This summer to date, we have enjoyed picking our way through a sticky sweet stawberry field in June and today we were blessed to have the opportunity to bask in the glory of the 'final pick' of cherries for the season.
Since my middle boys are enjoying some time with there grandparents up north this week, I am 'traveling light' with my bookends, Sophia and Luca, over the next few days. Despite nearly a decade separating these two children, both were cheerful and eager to venture out in the heat of the early day to help their determined and energetic mother pick cherries.
We were given advice from the farmer tending this particular orchard on where to find the trees with with the most abundant fruit and even invited to 'sample' the different varieties of cherries! It seemed we were the only harvesters in the orchard and we reveled in the solitude and privacy of this sweet, rosy world.
In the end we left the fragrant orchard with over six pounds of luscious Bing and Ranier cherries. I secretly felt guilty for having left with the last of the cherries for the summer from this peaceful, fertile little hill, but it didn't stop me from enjoying hand fulls along the ride home.
I am home now, unpacked and settled. Slipped quietly back in to my beautiful mundane life filled with comforting rhythms of home life, mothering and life on the East Coast.
Our trip to Northern California was beyond magical... it was breathtaking at times, filled with untouched natural beauty and the stark realization that life out there is indeed so very different than it is here in my small New England town.
I don't think I have reached that level of relaxation in nearly a decade. The feeling of 'letting down' was overwhelming at times. I could feel myself gripping desperately to the normal routines and demands of my usual lifestyle in which the motto 'be ever ready for anything' (or something to that effect) was replaced with the vague, soft instinct nudging me to 'just let go'.
It was hard. But I did it and the experience was rejuvenating.
I asked myself at several points during our stay, "What is the lesson here?" and "How can I take this amazing experience, if even just a small piece of it, and make it part of my daily life back home?".
I am still trying to answer those questions and have a feeling that there will be a long pondering phase before I am ready to resurface with any realization of the reality and implementation of my answers.
My intention is to write a bit about my experience, complete with the normal details of where we spent our time and what we enjoyed most (it would be a crime not to share what I saw, drank, ate and loved) along with some more of the 'internal monologue' that was had while I experiences all of the magnificence and wonder of time spent in a new place.
But for now I will leave you with a few images form our time spent away... I can still smell the cutting, brisk, salty air of the Pacific and the deep, hot, dry sun of the Dry Creek as I write this tonight!
Want to know why I am filled with joy and excitement tonight? It has everything to do with a trip that my husband and I are taking tomorrow to San Francisco, California!
We have been dreaming about this trip for several years but the timing and family circumstances were never right for this sort of getaway.
But the time is here!
I've got a suitcase full of sun dresses, skinny jeans, cotton tanks, ballet flats and lots of leggings. It is indeed an adult vacation.
We will be venturing into Sonoma, San Francisco, the Redwood Forest and driving the Pacific Coast Highway down to Monterey.
I have a flipcam and some adorable new earrings... what else will I need?!
Our children will be home with their loving grandparents and will take comfort in the familiar rhythm of their home environment and each other. I am really feeling at peace about this trip and am so thrilled to be focusing on a time for my husband and I to spend some great time together relaxing and enjoying numerous uninterrupted conversations.
What a blessing it is to take a holiday (has anyone seen 'Ma's Holiday' from the Little House on the Prairie series? I am hoping that my heart will not be as distracted as Ma's when she left her little ones!!)!
made my weekend complete! Sophia and I headed off to our local winter farmers market this afternoon and came home with a bounty of locally grown, wholesome, beautiful food.
My head is already filled with all of the great uses and recipes that these foods with be used in during the week- chili, pesto pasta, frittata with fresh cheese, roasted rosemary potatoes.
The market was hustling and bustling and filled with every type of vendor from cheesemakers to felted wool artisans and bakers. After strolling around once to taste and see, we took another sweep through and filled our bags with our favorites.
Some of what we brought home today... raw milk from this farm, lemony pesto, dozens of pastured eggs from Araucana chickens, Brigid's Abbey cheese made with raw milk from this cheese shop, grass-fed beef, organic mesclun greens, three grain boule, fingerling potatoes and fresh rosemary.
Sophia also bought a bit of maple sugar candy- her favorite- with this last week's allowance. She is as weak as I am when it comes to sweets and homemade goodness!
Today's lunch was simple and started being dreamed into reality during the ride home from the market- fresh cheese, mesclun and pesto on sliced bread- all from the market, all locally grown.
Like I mentioned in my last post, it is books and things that keep us going during our indoor time during the winter months.
I decided for this post that I would share some of the things that keep me as in individual busy, cultured, nurtured, connected and peaceful instead of focusing on what I enjoy with the children or the family as a whole.
Charlotte Mason eludes to this needs for mothers to refresh their souls, rejuvinate their minds, reflect their creativity and refocus ther vision. This term Mother Culture has been coined and I think this perfectly describes what any good mother must create for herself in order to continue on in contentment and peace as she meets the needs of those around her.
“What we need is a habit of taking our minds out of what one is tempted to call ‘the domestic rag-bag’ of perplexities, and giving it a good airing in something which keeps it ‘growing’ ” (Parents Review, Vol. 3, No. 2).
and although it pains me not to mention books in this list (they are such a shaping force in my life) I wanted to share some of the things that help to give my mind a good airing...
my new love. yes, I have finally been bit by the knitting bug and haven't put down my needles since before Christmas. I am still learning but enjoying the early part of the journey tremendously. Since I am still in the I-only-know-how-to-knit-stitch-stage, I have been churning out scarves every few days. My goal is to have a knit scarf to warm every neck in our family. I'm working on my third out of five currently.
a pen pal. A dear person that I met at work and I became fast-friends nearly two years ago. And then she up and moved to Big Sky, Montana to live in a wonderful, little ski village and work as a massage therapist. The life. So we decided that we would be pen pals. My first letter arrived last month and it was complete with photos of elk, her current reading list and a retelling of her experience during the Big Sky Christmas Stroll. She says it was enchanted! I'm going to love exchanging letters across the miles!
completing a project. There is always something waiting to be planned or organized when one has a family. My current project is tackling a good meal plan for our family. I have been thinking about this for over two years and really feel that it's time to have a plan in place. Simple right? Simply pick eight to ten of our favorite meals and rotate. Voila! I'm closer than I think. It's just a matter of sitting down and giving it some good thought.
baking. In life there is baking and cooking, and no, they are not one in the same. Although I love to cook wholesome and tasty meals for my family, baking is my truer calling. At the end of the day when the house is quiet and the children are slumbering soundly I often get the urge to bake something. Of course then there is the daytime baking that is done while the children are awake and able to help. Both are therapeutic times for me. And the end result is something that can be shared with friends and family. A few of my favorites include chocolate chip cookies, blueberry scones, pear tart, apple crisp, chocolate cake, banana bread and pumpkin muffins.
tidying and cleaning. I happen to one of those people who can't think straight in the midst of clutter or untidiness. I also happen to be a mother of three who homeschools. This translates into 5-6 eating experiences throughout the day, corners of every room filled with remnants of play, building, make-believe and art projects and lots of little foot and hand prints at nearly every turn. I try to maintain the level of tidiness each day and also choose one form of deep cleaning to tackle each day (cleaning out refrigerator- food and wiping down shelves, polishing wood in living room, cleaning windows, vacuuming under all furniture in any given room to name a few). Our space is small and brimming with loads of living and creating each day. I want to keep it simple and beautiful. A place where we can feel peaceful and warm all at once.
an afternoon out. Choosing to spend time alone each week is something that didn't come naturally for me at the start of motherhood. I used to wait until I felt toxic emotions bubbling up inside me and then declare that I needed to get out of the house this instant. I felt guilty at first for the need I felt to have time to myself each week and wouldn't even ask for this time. It used to be a daily need I had when my children were babies and toddlers and taking care of them was so much more physical (nighttime wakings, breastfeeding, dressing, bathing and feeding them) than it is currently. And now sometimes a stretch of four or five days goes by without any real need or desire surfacing to spend time alone. But yet I know now that this time out is really a preventative measure that allows me to keep on top of the burnout and resentment that can sometimes accompany a mother who is at home with her children day in and day out. So I plan time in even when I don't feel that I need it. A trip to the bookstore, an errand or two, some time spent at local thrift and consignment stores and sometimes a quiet lunch out alone with a good book or a journal.
an evening out. After nearly ten years of marriage, Mike and I are still very diligent about planning date nights. We are blessed to have my family very nearby. This translates into grandparents who are happy to sit with the children and often tuck them into bed while we enjoy a quiet dinner out. It feels so good to step away and know that everyone back home is safe, sound and thrilled to have their Nannie or Grampie with them.
And although the list is in constant motion as the seasons of life come and go, I am certain to always have something going to keep my mind, hands and heart busy other than my children.
The theme of my afternoon yesterday was laughter. I had the chance to meet up with an old friend. I first met my friend Jessica in freshman English class nearly 17 years ago. We instantly connected on a level unknown to most friends- a level of pure comedic relief. We're talking one continuous SNL skit after another. We started inventing characters, using voice-overs, practicing impersonations and dishing out impromptu skits in high school and needless to say, we are still acting out to this day.
When trying to choose a place to meet, we knew that no proper establishment would be the right setting for us to have lunch and "reconnect". After all, it had been one year since our last get together and we knew that there was a year's worth of happenings to talk/laugh about.
We knew that the laughter would soon turn to tears and that one's tears would only edge the other to even further hysteria. After a somewhat composed lunch, we quickly headed to a grassy hill where we knew we could laugh away the afternoon.
It was all so nostalgic- sitting on the grass, soaking up the sun, laughing and drinking iced tea. This is how most, if not all, of our spring afternoons were spent in high school.
Thank you Jess for a spectacular break from the norm and a chance to laugh until it hurt.
We're home and have settled back in very nicely to the swing of things. I can even proudly proclaim that the dirty laundry has been washed, dried and is currently resting nicely in their appointed places. Granted the refrigerator and cupboards are nearly empty, but that's what scrambled eggs are for I believe!
Our trip to the White Mountains of New Hampshire can be summed up in one word: peaceful. I suppose if you wanted me to use two words to more accurately describe the luxurious 48-hours spent tucked away in a mountain retreat home, I could also use the words: no agenda.
Whichever description you choose, you can probably get the idea that our time was low-key, relaxing, slow-paced and oh-so enjoyable!
Upon being asked about our time spent away earlier today, I told a friend that I don't really remember ever not doing anything for two days straight. Of course there were splendid activities like eating, reading, napping, scenic drives, browsing antique stores and an indoor flea market. But nothing that could be considered "productive" by the world's standards.
I promised photos, but when you're doing nothing, there's really nothing to snap a photo of!
Okay, if you really want, you can mentally picture a couple of these scenes...
loads of snow large mountains two-foot long icicles dripping from rooftops
These images would nicely summarize how we spent our eight wedding anniversary...
It is here. The eve of our getaway. We will be heading up North tomorrow morning minus our three little dumplings. They will be in very good and nurturing hands make no mistake. I believe that they are all secretly wishing for a bit of spoiling from various family members and there is no doubt in my mind that they will receive it.
I am thinking now about the mental "packing list" that I have created in my head- for us and them. That's three separate packing experiences. Diapers in one. Snow gear in the other. Crib sheets in one. Boots in the other. It's quite mind boggling. Really.
Since it is going to be a relax-to-the-hilt weekend, we have packed a few necessities to achieve that goal. Several books that we've been dying to read, a box of food and wine, some cash to enjoy a fabulous anniversary dinner and several DVDs to enjoy (Mike actually chose to bringBraveheart! Ahhh, my fabulous husband) to enjoy.
Of course let's not forget the huge itinerary that we've planned. We have every hope of trying our hand (or rather, our feet) at snow shoeing, browsing shops and bookstores and being outdoors together. There will be plenty of photos to share when we return. I can hardly wait!
A friend of mine recently told me about a book that she had been reading about a mother with a large family (who, no doubt, homeschools, right?) who made it a priority to spend time alone with each child on a regular basis AND take a "mother's sabbath" for herself.
Well, I am one for always clinging to and claiming good ideas. And that's just what I did today.
Mike and I arranged for him to stay home, take of the duties of meal preparation, schooling, seeing children off to play-dates and such, while I took AN ENTIRE EIGHT HOURS to spend some time decompressing (this sadly and often translates to "shopping", or more safely put- "browsing").
I spent the day in Northampton, MA- a town that is near and dear to my heart. Not only did I spend a considerable amount of time there during my high school and college days, but Mike and I celebrated our marriage there nearly eight years ago.
Ahhh, what a day. No strollers to push, no jackets to zip. No requests for mass quantities of scones at bakeries ("just ONE please"). No little faces to wipe or requests to "hold my hand". I was free to browse shops without the fear of merchandise being, well, destroyed. Do you know how easy it is to walk in and out of a building without having to push a stroller with one hand whilst keeping the door propped for two other children to pass through? Yes, you probably do.
Now don't get me wrong. My children are a delight to me and while they are, shall we say, "energetic", I do believe that overall they are well-mannered and travel well. But to say that I did not enjoy my day flying solo would be nothing short of a lie.
A few high interesting finds...
I was (of course) thinking mostly of the children as I browsed around these lovely and unique shops. And I did see some adorable French flash cards by EbOO that would really enhance our (meager attempt at learning) French (lessons). Along with a little box of beeswax for molding and modeling.There are some amazingly funky shoes in Northampton that you just won't find where we live. I think I saw about FIVE pairs for each of us that I just loved. Who can resist felted wool?
A great debate about whether or not to purchase a hat that (I might never wear because it wasn't exactly my style, but I loved the IDEA of) I tried on about a half dozen times took place at Faces. My (not seen nearly enough) practical side won out in the end.
Essentials. Need I say more for any of you who have even been into this store. It should be illegal for one store to be home to so many of one's obsessions and passions. French tableware/glassware, oilcloth, baby blankets, eclectic children's toys, unique stationary and right as I was leaving I saw an adorable wood-beaded necklace. Ouch. That one hurt walking away from.In the end I left only with a thank you card. Yes, one card.
I have to admit that by the end of the day I felt a bit lonely and really missed being with my family. I guess the point of getting away for solitude's sake is being alone.
Coming home felt like a real event and I relished every minute of settling back into the "swing of things". I really like the way things swing in our home. And I think that more than anything, I became grateful and content for the life I live. My day away made me really appreciate the three little lives that have been given to Mike and I to raise and love and teach.
Here it is, Monday afternoon, and I'm still dreaming about our French dinner from Saturday night. Our friends, John and Heather, treated us (once again!) to our annual "gourmet dinner night out".
This year our tradition took us to an amazing restaurant right here in our town- Cavey's. We dined downstairs at the French portion of their establishment (the upstairs serves Italian food).
We knew we were in for an adventure, but I don't think we ever imagined that we would be tasting some of the most interesting and authentic cuisine we had yet to taste.
After starting with some amazing French wine (Bordeaux). We were started with a "teaser"- venison pate, seared rare tuna and a seafood mousse of sorts. Tasty, very tasty.
I was a little nervous for Mike at this point- a recovering "meat and potatoes" kind of guy- if we were being "teased" with these tidbits before our meal, what types of dishes would actually being served for the main course?
My fears were put to rest we experienced "confit" for the first time- our appetizer- duck confit. Delicious. So delicious that we have been trying to figure out how we might prepare it ourselves (short of traveling to Paris and studying French cuisine!).
I was really proud of my husband for being open to ordering foie gras (goose liver) stuffed beef. It was a defining moment in our relationship (I consider myself to be "adventurous" in the realm of trying new foods. He equates this same adjective
