Cat Herding

"It ain't an easy job."

Smidgen

I had several lovely massages today by two of my favorite people. One of them actually got all the knots out of my upper back, a feat that's been accomplished only a handful of times in my life. The kicker? The masseuse is four years old. I say she's found her calling.



Today I had some fantastic quality time with a giant spirit trapped in a small boy's body. Snuggling, wrestling, laughing, talking, gazing, massaging, and intense sharing of love and energy. Quite an incredible soul. I'm honored to know him and call him son.





Sound quality is poor, but he's singing "Dr. Martin Luther King had a dream", and little girl is singing her ABCs. And yes, short-sleeved S is nuts.



My eight-year-old is amazing. She received a $50 check from her grandparents for her birthday and immediately decided to donate it to La Puente, the valley's homeless shelter and homeless prevention outreach. Instead of donating it immediately, she is working on collecting and saving more funds until she has at least $100 to donate. She's going to write letters to some of the businesses in town, she sold some of her clay creations and she's considering putting some listings on eBay as well. When I was 8, I thought about baby dolls and fighting with my sister. My girl thinks about the world.

Play

Feel the rhythm.

Thanks, Blue.

Believe it or not

No, I'm not walking on air.



But there is something in the air--the San Luis Valley's first and only TV station! TV at home is new to me, so I've been out of the loop, but this came as a pleasant surprise. Check out a sample:

Curly Temple

Guess who got curlers for her birthday? (She's smiling at her reflection.)

Welcome to Earth, little ones

I'm enjoying the direction life is heading these days. A new and interesting job, reconnecting with old friends, revelations and actions that have improved my psyche, increased productivity in all areas of life, unusual and interesting foster cat cases, pleasant surprises from loved ones, increased connection with my beloved valley, blossoming friendships, meaty and thoughtful media, and a calmly forceful momentum within the Tao.

Glad to be here, I am. Yes, I am.

Shower the People You Love With Love

You can play the game and you can act out the part

Though you know it wasnt written for you

But tell me, how can you stand there with your broken heart

Ashamed of playing the fool

One thing can lead to another; it doesnt take any sacrifice

Oh, father and mother, sister and brother

If it feels nice, dont think twice



Just shower the people you love with love

Show them the way that you feel

Things are gonna work out fine if you only will

Shower the people you love with love

Show them the way you feel

Things are gonna be much better if you only will



You can run but you cannot hide

This is widely known

And what you plan to do with your foolish pride

When youre all by yourself alone

Once you tell somebody the way that you feel

You can feel it beginning to ease

I think its true what they say about the squeaky wheel

Always getting the grease.



Better to shower the people you love with love

Show them the way that you feel

Things are gonna be just fine if you only will

Shower the people you love with love

Show them the way that you feel

Things are gonna be much better if you only will



Shower the people you love with love

Show them the way that you feel



Youll feel better right away

Dont take much to do

Sell you pride

They say in every life

They say the rain must fall

Just like pouring rain

Make it rain

Make it rain

Love, love, love is sunshine.

Oh yes

Make it rain

Love, love, love is sunshine

Yeah, all right

Everybody, everybody

Shower the people you love with love

The Birthday Girl

I've been a momma for 8 years. Marian repeatedly declared her day the best birthday EVER. 6 hours with her best friend, a galleon hunt, playing hotter-colder to find her three presents, and a special dinner at Chili's (complete with being sung to by the staff). I love my girl.

A Song From my Very Favorite CD

Picking favorite music is hard for me, but it's clear to me that my Sharon Burch CD is my favorite. It's my comfort music, my feel good music, my soothing music, my everything music.

Marian's Sarcophagus

Okay, it's really the mummified bear's sarcophagus, but ain't it purty?

Funny Old lady

The Boat Float experiment

The kids and I spontaneously made boats today. L's and S's are sailboats made from non-tupperware, tea lights holding skewer masts, and paper sails.






M got really into hers and made an aluminum 3-bench canoe with two double oars. She's fashioning the second double oar in this pic.



All the boats floated, and the kids were thrilled!

Skats and Hates. Er, Hats and Skates.

Moby (my mom) made the kids new hats. M has been walking around in hers today. Isn't she cute? Those braids are going on 5 days now. Labor of love, I tell ya.


The ice skater.
|


L's hat is now one of his most prized possessions and I just love him in it! This was also his first time ice skating and he did just fabulous!


With some help from big sis.


Big sis trying not to get pulled over by little bro.

S had her first skating, too, and did very well, but I don't have pictures of her on the ice. She loves her Moby hat!





My camera takes only brief videos and I thought it would cut off before it did. But here is Marian skating. Let's see if this works.

Ten foot high ceilings

Heidi






Trudy



Around the corner.

Woman Sings While In Labor

Soulful Sunday

Today I researched my ayurvedic dosha, psychic children, aloe vera properties, sunflower seed butter, gluten-free foods, and care of puncture wounds. The kids and I played nearly an hour of Sight Word Bingo and did a hilarious Mad Libs. It's been an interesting day, and much better than I anticipated when I woke up much too late feeling like complete and utter crap.

Gus hums. Yes, Gus the dog. You know, the one with the doggie diaper and backyard anti-digging collar. He hums.

I seem to attract odd animals into my life with almost supernatural regularity. Too bad I can't put that on my resume.

When I grow up...

From my results at www.mypersonality.com:

INFP Career Matches

INFPs are often happy with the following jobs which tend to match well with the Dreamer/Visionary personality.

Activist
Actor
Architect
Artist
Church Worker
Counselor
Editor
Educational Consultant
Employee Development Specialist
Fashion Designer
Filmmaker
Graphic/Web Designer
Holistic Health Practitioner
Human Resources
Journalist
Legal Mediator
LibrarianMassage Therapist
Minister
Missionary
Musician
Photographer
Physical Therapist
Psychologist/Counselor
ResearcherSocial Scientist
Social Worker
Speech Pathologist
Teacher/ProfessorTranslator/Interpreter
Video Editor
Writer


I don't know what I want to be when I grow up. I don't think I need to know now. My path is long and winding with lots of scenic bypasses (and the odd road bump or armadillo to add interest), and that's how I like it. At this time, I see no need to commit myself to one profession for the rest of my life. I want to do a bit of everything.

I had to write a 2-3 page essay on "My Plans After Graduation" for my pre-professional seminar course (for my Sociology degree). It was freakin' hard. I'll go to grad school then float around at whatever (mostly work-at-home) jobs fit into our homeschooling life, utilizing my degree as much as possible. It just doesn't take 3 pages to say that. I stretched it into almost two, though.

The new year

I had a nice break from school, but now my studies are back in full force. Too bad I don't get paid for juggling.

For those who haven't seen this elsewhere, here is how I rang in the new year.