Roots and Branches

reminiscing and randomness

Not a lot to say today, but have photos to share.  Not much story behind them.  Just photos.

 

Lots of relaxing this past weekend.  That's what weekends are for, right?

My beautiful girl.  I'm lucky my kids let me photograph them.  A lot.

Goodbye day.  Goodbye leaves and Autumn.  Winter is almost here.

Reminiscing on our trip to New England.  Wishing I were there (and then reminding myself to enjoy where I am now).*

Old Montreal.  I could live there.  And I don't do enormous cities well.  But I could live there.

Maine color and me.  We get along so wonderfully.

 

 

 

* (yes, I have 5 toes on each foot - just FYI).

 

Martinmas

 

 

 

 

 Last night was Martinmas - a festival celebrated by Waldorf-inspired families and schools everywhere.  It is a European festival to honor St. Martin (otherwise known as St. Martin's Day).  Our family hasn't been able to celebrate these fun festivals much in the past, being that we were the only Waldorf-y family that we knew (or at least, that was our excuse).  But thankfully, lately we've been joined by others and were able to celebrate with wonderful friends last night.

The festival is about giving and compassion to others.  Little paper (or other materials) lanterns are made, a candle placed in, and then children and adults wander outside in a little glowing, beautiful procession (go look at this wonderful capture by another momma - beautiful).  There are wonderful songs that can be sung, verses and stories to be told.  There is so much to add to this tender festival (check out the St. Martin's Day flickr group for more wonderful examples), and I look forward to expanding on it in the future!

what makes me tick, in no particular order

 

Photography
Birth - experiencing and watching
Piano - creating a new piece and falling in love with it
Fiddling/violin
African drumming with my sweetie
Blogging
Writing
Reading
Walks
New England
Having a blissful moment with my babies
Snow. Autumn leaves. Watching seasons change.
Traveling to new destinations and exploring.
Languages
Anthropology and the study of evolution
Local food
Gourmet food
All things Waldorf
Soft, sweet-smelling, squishy babies
Wool, cotton, silk
Knitting
Creating something beautiful for my little people
Shopping on Etsy
Soft, worn, hand-carved wood
Glittery, sparkley, brightly colored
Flickr friends - being inspired
Community and the connection, however brief, with other beings
Friends and wonderful conversation
Singing folk songs. Really loud. With kids.
Coloring with bright colors.
Thinking about adopting a beautiful, dark-skinned wee one with soft black hair.
Listening to my girl start to read and see her eyes glisten with joy as she falls in love.
Being wrapped up in wonderful thoughts.

What makes you tick??

Halloween 2009

I hope everyone had a lovely holiday!  We were so busy, yet had so much fun!  The kids were so cute together.

Halloween morning was so beautiful for me.  I decided to make Sourdough French Toast (which was unbelievably delicious, if I say so myself!), and happened to look over into the dining room.  Pouring into the room was the most beautiful morning light.  It was shining right into the rainbow silk draped over the playstands.  After 3 days of gray and cold snow (which I love, mind you), it was so different that it struck me as profoundly beautiful!  That, together with a delicious breakfast, happy adorably dressed children, and a wonderful new CD (You Are My Little Bird), made for one of the most wonderful mornings ever.  I wish they could all be that beautiful!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

my view this morning...

Snow anyone?  What a surprise!  I'm not sure I'm ready for autumn to be over....but it sure is pretty.

MIA

That's me.  I've had this strange avoidance mechanism kicking in the last week or two.  Sorry, folks. 

This weekend I photographed another birth (I'll ask the mama if she will allow me share a photo or two).  It was gorgeous, fast, calm, sweet, and of course, just so beautiful.  I love being the photographer at a birth.  It's just such a wonderful combination of art and one of life's beautiful miracles.  What job could be better?

I have a couple photos to share, though.  One is an amazing sunset from a few days ago and the other - it snowed today.  Yes, snow.  Winter is here.  I'm very happy (it's probably my most favorite season), but feeling unprepared for all the fun ahead (and my responsibility to organize and conduct all that fun)!  I said I would be working on that sweet vest, but unfortunately (or fortunately) when I went to pick it up another pattern caught my eye.  So, yes, I started yet another project instead of working on the one at hand (I'll tell you more about it next week).  What was that about avoidance?   Ahem. 

Enjoy the last of Autum everyone!  If I don't get back here before Halloween, everyone be safe and wonderfully happy!

U-pick

Yesterday, the kids and I, a friend and her children all drove to an organic apple orchard to stock up!  It was a really great time.  The kids were in a picking frenzy - we left with over 100 lbs. of apples!!!  I'm totally excited about getting to can applesauce with the kids this year.  Last night, for dinner (because I was tired and out of ideas), we had apple crisp and corn.  I have a feeling apples will be included in some way in every meal for a while...!

 

 

 

 

storing up

 

 

 

 

Five guesses as to what I've been doing the last 2 days?  Yep, that's right.  Lots and lots of canning.  I went to a friend's house that lives a good distance away, and we spent hours and hours preparing, packing, boiling water, and canning peaches and pears - 103 quarts to be exact!  It was a ton of work, but oh was it fun!  I've still got more on my list of food preserving "To Do"s, but this took a huge chunk out of it.  It's so much fun to do something like this with others, also.  It really gives you a glimpse of the old traditional community food preparation ways.  What a lovely thing that must have been...

Anyone else storing up for the winter?  What things have you been doing to prepare?  Any neat tricks or recipes you especially like?

 

mountain gorgeousness

Yesterday, we went up the mountain with some friends to play and check out the foliage.  We lasted about 45 minutes before we headed back down.  Brrr!  So insanely beautiful up there, though.

Tyler and I are headed up to the big city for the next couple of days, sans enfants once again!  So excited.  Have a fabulous weekend, everyone!