A Mindful Life

If you like music, and if you enjoy commercial-free listening, then I urge you to visit the following website. Radio Paradise is FREE to listen to (they run entirely on listener support, which we gratefully supply). The owners curate the song mixes beautifully; I’ve been introduced to a bunch of new artists and styles since [...]

Today Claire asked to make Simba, from the Lion King. She hasn’t seen the movies but is obsessed with the songs, especially The Lion Sleeps Tonight, Hakuna Matata, and He Lives In You. She wanted to also make his father and an elephant friend. Thank goodness for paper plates, construction paper, glue and paint! Claire [...]

“Sometimes, if you stand on the bottom rail of a bridge and lean over to watch the river slipping slowly away beneath you, you will suddenly know everything there is to be known.” –A.A. Milne What do you do on a restless Monday afternoon? You drive to Chesbro Reservoir to throw sticks and leaves in [...]

We live in a world where volcanoes have feet and personalities, mold grows in families and the members have names, and the Crab Nebula — where Claire wants to go — is also named Lily and is very friendly. Did you know that there are blue volcanoes that produce blue lava, and that blue lava [...]

On Saturday, Claire and I went to Lakeshore Learning to do a free craft. I’d forgotten they offer these every Saturday, which is okay, because every time I visit I am lured by all the tempting teacher goodies, craft supplies, and games. But we went, and Claire made herself a T. Rex, and after that [...]

I overheard Claire singing a made-up tune while she was looking at the Olivia book while on the potty. I took notes. Sometimes it even rhymes! The stanza breaks are mine based on when I heard her pause. My Sunshine Girl is not only a scientist, but also a lyricist and composer! I can hardly [...]

In the past couple of months, Claire has fallen in love with teeny tiny toys. Miniature dolls — Lalaloopsy, Strawberry Shortcake, Squinkies (OMG Squinkies!!!), and miniature accessories are the rage. For example, I came across this flower fairy tea party set up on the sofa in Daddy’s spot this afternoon. Here is Claire playing: This [...]

We’ve been busy climbing and splashing and creating! Claire had a total of three weeks of swimming lessons. She is still shy about getting her face in the water and going under water, but she had a blast with her teachers. She very specifically insisted on lady teachers “because they are more gentle.” (She had [...]

The lull of summer has me reading a lot but writing little. This blog has become a pictorial daybook with a few quotes tossed in for spice. Well, I blame the summer, but evidence shows that this is the trend my life has taken for the past year. Somewhere along the way I feel I’ve [...]

For whatever we lose (like a you or a me), It’s always our self we find in the sea. – e.e. cummings Headed out to the beach: Getting cozy in the sand (she also made sand angels): Barely able to stay still for a photo-op with Mommy: Racing the waves: The sky was gray but [...]