beginnings

We have officially begun...  Better late than never, right?  We're off to a good start.  Quietly, gently getting back into the swing of our schedule.  Always flexible.  You never know what opportunities will present themselves.  For instance, at our Keepers meeting today one of the mom's showed up with her 7 day old Maggie Rose.  Before we left we were making plans for Erin to come over and do an infant photo shoot tomorrow.  Did I say we were getting used to our schedule?  Schedule?  Maybe we are unschoolers who occasionally do math.  I think I'm more comfortable with that definition than I am with the word schedule.  Oh dear...

Blessings, Debbie

acorn-y post

Since I was on the other side of the mountain range for my coast trip that ended Thursday, and I had a memorial service to attend that side of the mountains on Saturday, I had all of Friday to spend with my daughter before the rest of the fam met up with me.  Hillary and I spent a couple of hours yard sale-ing, then she took me over to the park where we could take a walk among the ducks.  There was a parkway that was lined on both sides with oak trees so we set out on a treasure hunt.  We both filled our pockets with the little darlings and headed home.  I had purchased some wool roving and dye so we decided to play.

First we sorted the acorns from the acorn caps.  We had collected both with crafting in mind.  Next we 'baked' them in a low temp oven for 20 minutes to kill any unwanted visitors that may have decided to venture out later.  When we removed them from the oven, some of the nuts had detached from the caps.  We threw them out the back door to Hillary's little friend, who was quite happy to get them...

Next we dyed the roving.  I had a nice chestnut that was quite the sensible color choice.  But we decided to throw sensible to the wind and dye some of them blue.

If you've never made felt balls before... fun, fun!  Once they were mostly dry we matched caps to balls and used the glue gun to secure.

We had plenty for both of us so now I guess it's official.  Fall decorating has begun!

Blessings, Debbie

my parting thought, a coastal equation

The meditative Oregon coast.  It lulled me into secret places within myself.  I am introspect by design so this wasn't a difficult job for tide and wave.  It's where I'd been longing to hang out but just hadn't had the time...

Now that I'm home, I struggle to keep the rhythm.  The rhythm imparted by surf and sky that was my gift for 3 restorative days.  It's a part of me.  I'm a part of it.  By design.  I discovered a math truth while in this state of reflection.

rhythm + order = peace

I've been thinking a lot about rhythm and order.  I want more of it.  




Blessings, Debbie

the day the fog rolled in

Today I want to talk about friends.  In fact I want to talk specifically about these 2 friends.  You may recognize the master mind and the valley friend from this post.  Or you may remember the 3 amigos from this post.  I am blessed.  I am blessed.  I. Am. Blessed.

The mastermind, I will refer to on this trip as my convertible friend.  We buzzed up and down the coastline in a SAAB convertible thanks to her.  We surprised the third friend by showing up in scarves and sunglasses 'Thelma and Louise' style because of her.  We entered the grocery store giggling like out of control schoolgirls because of her.  We made a creative purchase that will be sent to a fourth friend in Montana so she knows she should have been with us, because of her.  To coin a phrase used by my daughter (to describe someone else) that sums her up perfectly... my convertible friend is "a party in a person."

My valley friend, I will refer to on this trip as my silver box friend ~ thanks to the memory of a silver box brought by her to birthday celebrations that will now forever represent encouragement.  Because of her we fasted and prayed for the heart burdens we brought with us.  Because of her I stayed up way too late sharing, listening and finally falling asleep pondering the tender words she had penned and intended to soon gift.  

Now don't think that I am stereotyping here.  My convertible friend can turn around and be my giver of sage advice, and the first to spill tears of empathy.  And I would not be in the least surprised if my silver box friend turned to me with soda straws hanging from her nostrils!  This is so true!!

blessed, convertible, silver box

Why they drag me along?  I'm not going to waste time trying to figure it out...  I'm just hopping in that convertible with my silver box and singing out loud because I can.  One friend will laugh until I do, the other will tell me I sound great... because... that's what my friends do.  

Blessings, Debbie

      

the beach..

I'm home.  It's too late for me to be particular about my photo selection so this is chronological... day 1. Tomorrow I'll 'talk' more. Today I leave you with the 'feel' of my 3 days of bliss, my precious friends, the beautiful Oregon coast, a room with a view and ... time.

Blessings, Debbie