Being There

I've been so missing sea glass. With a big storm that has come in, I have been checking the beach - and seeing nothing but smooth sand. Today I decided that perhaps I have been looking in the wrong place (great connection to real life -huh!?). I loaded up child #2 in the stroller and set out to get some exercise and to check out another part of the beach.

We wandered along finding only a few small pieces. Child #2 is a very good little sea glasser and as we came to a few spots with bigger sand pebbles and more sea glass, she was excited as I was. We escaped a few of the incoming waves but then one came in faster than we realized, we were up high on the beach so it was only inches of water, but when you're 3, it is enough to knock you over. She fell down and that moment as instinct had me turned to try to outrun the wave, I turned back to her and made sure she could see me. We locked eyes as I took the two steps over to scoop her out of the water. It was the eye contact that struck me... I couldn't save her from getting wet but she could see me and knew that I was one arm reach away.

As I thought about that little incident and moment when I knew in my gut that I couldn't get her out but that the next best thing was to communicate that I was right there, I considered, how often we can't rescue or save someone we love from incoming troubles or difficulties. We know they will be alright but while they are in the swirling mess, our nearness, eye contact and concern can reassure and be the support they need. Genuine friendship and support is so important to me and I know that others feel the same way. I need to be more aware of those "moments" when rather than dashing out of the waves (or to get things done) that I turn back and lock eyes with them and share a few extra moments of friendship. And this is the perfect season to do this!

Soaked from chest to toe, Child #2 cried and continued to look for the last pieces of sea glass(such dedication!) until I finally convinced her to take off her shirt and ride on my back. Then when we got back to the stroller, I took off my tank top (the only piece of clothing I could shed and still be modest) and and had her snuggle under its thin protection. Luckily it was a fairly nice day and the sun was warm. We made it home with smiles on our faces and what I would like to say is the "first glass of the season!"

Kirstin

Sign of the Times

Months ago, I received this in the mail. It made my day! Except that day (like most days in my 1st trimester of pregnancy) was spent in bed. I admired my package (thanks JJ) and then put it in my sewing bin with hopes for the future!

Well, the future is here and I am feeling like my old self! Two weeks ago, I got out my quilting book (Thanks Ally!) and made a quilt for my sister's new baby girl coming this week (if she doesn't appear early!)

I thought about what to put on the back because they live in Hawaii and my go to fabric is usually minki and that would be too warm. I settled on flannel (white) and it turned out perfect, just right the right weight. Although the color will show every little stain - sorry Gen! I just love white - so crisp!

Now I can gear up for Thanksgiving! Although with a honey baked ham, potatoes au gratin (from a box), salad from a bag it should be a fairly easy meal...I am going to make rolls, jello, apple cake and fancy brownies, so there will be some cooking involved! Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Pumpkin Puree

Did you know you can put an entire pumpkin into the oven? I put two of them in at 400 degrees and baked them for over an hour until they were easy to stab with a fork. When the cooled a bit, I cut them in half, removed the guts, cut off the shell and then pureed the fleshy insides in my blender (with a bit of water). Easier than trying to cut a huge pumpkin apart. Still messy but I liked how easy it was to cut through them and to get to the good stuff. I love real pumpkin puree for my pumpkin recipes. I now have a freezer full of pumpkin puree. It will last me through the winter!
Kirstin

Anna Karenina

 

About 2 weeks ago, I spotted this book on a shelf here at home. It is my husband's book(I teased him the other day that I collect sea glass and he collects books!) Seeing the book,  I realized that even though I have been to Leo Tolstoy's home and lived in Moscow, I haven't read any of his works. A sort of  "shame on me" feeling came over me and I thought I would give it a try. Unsure of what I would find, I began reading and immediately liked it.

 

I liked the characters I met, it was fairly light and easy to follow and then Anna meets Vronsky. As far as I can tell he isn't that special but from the first time they meet, they have a connection and rather than walk away (Anna is married and has a 4 year old son) they become "involved". I appreciated how Tolstoy explained their connection without being graphic or even suggestive. You really don't know(but assume) how intimate they have become until Anna tells Vronsky she is pregnant. 

It was easy to contrast this "relationship" with the relationship that develops between two other main characters, Kitty and Levin. Their relationship begins with disappointment, a time of waiting and working on themselves, and then they meet again and the time is right and they marry (despite some differences!)

I don't know if I would have/could have appreciated this book for all it offers when I was younger. I have seen both of these relationships (I won't call it love because what Kitty and Vronsky have I don't consider love, although Hollywood does but that is a different tangent!) and marvel at the way Tolstoy explores the effect these different choices have on the main characters. (spoiler alert!) Anna gives up her son, doesn't really care, emotionally, for her new daughter, and in the end seems to lose her mind with jealousy.

Tolstoy does include various philosophical, religious, and political thoughts of the times, which are interesting but I didn't always follow. I thought the ending when Levin finds a spiritual peace to his searching a great way to end such a "serious" book. Tolstoy truly was a genius and after reading Anna Karenina, I am interested in reading more about his life and others of his writings. 

Kirstin

PS When I did a search to find a picture I could clip, I found a trailer for the 2012 movie Anna Karenina with Keira Knightly and Jude Law. The trailer was, in my mind, everything that the book isn't, sensationalism and sex. But then again, that seems to be what much of Hollywood is all about!

Picture Day

Today I helped at Child #1 school. It was picture day and I volunteered to help do all those little things that need to be done to help move kids along and keep them looking their best. I had black combs and a spray bottle of water, and as I occasionally used the water bottle I thought "oh, if your mom could see you now, standing still while a stranger combed your hair"!! I know kids and spray bottles don't usually go together.

I enjoyed my time and find (once again) that I really enjoy schools and kids. I still have the teacher look (and a few kids got it today and it was all they needed to correct their behavior). I was able to reassure a few little ones who were so nervous and I was able to direct and sort the chaos that come with lots of kids. It was nice to have a  first hand look into this school that Child #1will attend for the next 5 years?!

***

Perk of the day - my child got a fancy, expensive photo package because I helped ! Unexpected but nice - I am not sure what I am going to do with LOTS of photos (and his smile was so-so) but if you're family and reading this - expect a school picture in the near future!

Funny thing of the day - a little girl's (4th grade) envelope has a very clear handwritten note "Please encourage my child to have a natural smile not a forced smile". I had to chuckle at that and then I had her show me her natural smile.

Best part of the day - taking Child #1 out of school early (he had a substitute and another teacher suggested it or I would have never would have thought of it!) I picked up Child #2 from our friend and then we got some lunch. After that, we went and saw the rabbits and chicks at the local feed store! Fun day!

Explanation:
I have been meaning to explain why I have been absent for so long...
I  always assume when a blog isn't updated for a long time that 1. They are pregnant 2. They need a break from blogging or 3. They are traveling... (Most of the blogs I read are moms...) I fall under reason #1. I have been feeling quite yucky for a while and while I still spend 50% of my day in bed, I am much better. I am at week 14 and if all goes well the baby is due in March. After 4 ultrasounds, all looking great, I am hopeful... but I do have in the back of my mind my "advanced maternal age" and that fact that our last pregnancy miscarried at 16 weeks. I suppose that is where faith comes in and I am faithful that God wanted us to have more children and if things don't work, that my faith will sustain me, just as it always has.

Hopefully, I'll be posting more regularly but more than that, I hope I'll more regularly be out on the sand finding some sea glass. I can't remember the last time I found some..... Kirstin

Take-A-Trip Tuesday was a bust!

So the plan was to go into the city (SF) and go to Golden Gate Park. So much to see (bison, flowers, ponds) and to do (enjoy the open spaces, play in the parks).

Well, you can't win them all. We found the bison first thing and with about 5 different wrong turns finally found out way to the back of the field where they were laying down.

And it went down hill from there.Then after about 40+ minutes of driving around, trying to read the map I had printed off and use the GPS on an iphone, and find what street we were on, we gave up! We did find one park but by that time one child was asleep and there was no parking. Shortly thereafter the other child fell asleep.

We rounded out the trip by stopping at McDonalds and then went to a local park to get some play time. That seemed to help the kids forget the pointless trip.

On a happier note, I'll include a few photos from last week's adventures.

Masterpiece made by Child #1. He thought it up himself!

Enjoying the rides at Happy Hollow on AnyThing Thursday:)

Another Happy Hollow perk - the slingshot swing!

Waiting for the 4th of July Parade - don't you love the coat and sweater?!

My Country, 'Tis of Thee

Sometimes as I walk along the beach, the quiet of the day brings phrases and melodies into my mind. This was the stanza that began to form in my brain and I walked home singing it to myself. I feel every word!

My native country, thee

Land of the noble free,

Thy name I love;

I love thy rocks and rills,

Thy woods and templed hills.

My heart with rapture thrills

Like that above. 

-Samuel F. Smith, 1808-1895

 - Kirstin

PS Found some sea glass this morning... it was a beautifully low tide, not much glass, just lots of smooth sand!