Riding Solo

I have returned from a fun adventure to Vermont after a very exciting business meeting that I cannot really share details of just yet but promise to as soon as I can.  I chose to go up a day earlier so I packed my bag, put on some good tunes and drove up to this beautiful state that I fell in  love with years ago - Solo.  I wanted my husband to join me but he was focused on work so I went alone.

 I don't travel alone often but I have come to a place where I can enjoy and make the best of it.  I often feel I must function alone as a mother and it has become ok. After checking in to the most beautiful antique hotel you have ever seen, I went next door to enjoy a nice dinner and a few glasses of wine.  And yes, I got a table by myself... I read a few wonderful magazines, people watched, caught up on some emails and planned out discussion points for the following day.  It was bliss.

On my walk back to the hotel, it began to snow.  A absolutely perfect night to start a new crochet project, watch some guilty TV and enjoy the quiet that settled in between the four walls, a luxury that I do not often have and only need a small bit of before I begin to miss my daughters too much and crave the chaos of my big family home.  

 This project is hopefully going to evolve into this delicate Cardiff Cowl that I came across on Raverly crocheted with this delicious Dewberry Berroco Vintage Yarn that I've had in my stash way too long.  It's soft and the color just grabs at me. I know this will be one of my favorite homemade wears once it is done.   

 After the meeting, I found this amazing little shop filled with beautiful treasures from India.  I could have spent the entire weekend in there just looking and buying up all of the beautiful fabric bedding, clothing, wall hangings and treasures.  

 But I was good and only left with three small recycled sari journals for my daughters.  Although I would have loved to fill my bag up with these beautiful colored bracelets.  

 Driving home was a bit longer because of the holiday weekend and snow that began to fall on me half-way home.  Vermont has my heart. I love the mountains and the people.  I feel at home and in my element when I am there and although I couldn't wait to get home to see my babies... its always a little hard leaving when I visit.  

Helping After Hurricane Sandy

After power was restored and we were able to see the horrific news of so much devastation so close to our own homes, we wanted so badly to do something to help.  I scoured the Internet looking for places we could volunteer our time and services but it was very difficult to find a good source and place to go.  I decided one thing that I could do was to offer 25% of all of my sales from Little Acorn Learning to the American Red Cross for the month of November.  I feel good about this decision.  It will take some income away from our family but others need it much much more right now.  We have heat, food, lights, warmth... a home.  If I could not give to others at a time of need so great as this, I do not deserve the abundance that I have been given in this life.  

Then one of my amazing daycare moms organized a Brown Bag Lunch drive for residents of Breezy Point who are just suffering so badly right now and it will be months before many of them will see heat or power at all.  We were so excited to be able to do something tangible to help.

 The girls and I worked hard to fill 21 brown paper bags with peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, apples, chocolate chip cookies and V-8 juice for those in need.  

 We also wrote special cards to people who are struggling to survive in this freezing cold right now...

 And then we delivered our meals to the drop-off site...

 When we arrived we could not BELIEVE our eyes.  The amount of food and support that poured in from our amazing community was mind-blowing.  

 Mothers and fathers and grandparents spent their entire Saturday packing lunches and gathering supplies...

 One by one, they kept coming and delivering food...

Children were next to their parents, understanding that something very bad happened but now THEY could do something very good to make a difference..

It was so extremely beautiful... I think everyone who walked away had tears in their eyes... 

 It made me realize that as much bad as there may be in our world each day... as worried as we may be for our children, our future..... 

 There truly truly is so much more GOOD.  

 There is hope... people are truly good and they want to help.  They care about others and they can be depended upon when help is needed.  This gives me so much hope for our future... and fills my heart with gratitude.  

There was so much food that they had to rent a UHaul to get it down to Breezy Point.  2500 peanut butter sandwiches and hundreds of other supplies.... all passed out and used up before night's end that evening.  That's how great the need was.  

If you are looking for something to do to help, please consider donating blood to the American Red Cross as the hurricane has cancelled many blood drives and there is a huge shortage.  You can also send them a donation to help with Hurricane Sandy relief.  

Maia's 8th Birthday!

 My little Maia turned 8 years old on Tuesday.  As a tradition, whoever has a birthday gets to decide where we go to dinner that night.  Maia chose a local Mexican restaurant (likely because you get to wear a cool hat as they all sing to you).  I was happy because I love the fried ice cream.

 A few days later she had her friend party.  She has been waiting and waiting to be old enough to do what her big sisters usually do and invite a few girlfriends out for a dinner and movie.  She was super excited to get the chance this year. 

 The girls all met at our house and we went for a fun dinner at Friendly's.  The girls felt so grown up out on the town all dressed up and it was so sweet to watch them enjoying this special night together.

 After ice cream, it was time to head out to a movie...

 As you can see they were so very excited and had a great time together.

 We lucked out and got the movie theater to ourselves!  A private showing! 

After, we drove each of the girls home and laughed and talked in the car on the way.  It was a night to remember and Maia's face was full of happiness all the way to the pillow.  We don't go out to the movies often but on a special occasion like this it was the perfect treat.

Spring Fairs and Carnivals

It's that magical time of year again when all the Spring Fairs, the May Day events and the Carnivals come into town.  This past weekend we enjoyed a full day of stopping at a few of the local events in our area.  First we stopped at a school fair and enjoyed face painting and some simple games along with lunch.

 

But the big attraction of the day was the local carnival that came to town.  Brianna spotted it one day while we were out doing errands and didn't stop talking about it until we went.

Little Clowny

I know a little clowny, going to the fair

A funny little clowny with flowers in her hair
Oh shake it little clowny, shake it if you can
Shake it like a milk shake and do the best you can
Rumble to the bottom and rumble to the top
Turn around and turn around until you have to stop
STOP

 She's getting much more brave with going on rides without me and Keira and Maia were able to enjoy some of the bigger rides since Brian and I were both there to split up when necessary. 

The carousel goes round and round
The horses go up and down
Up and down . . .round and round
I want to ride it, all day long

I think their favorite ride was the big slide... they were all set to do it themselves about 10 times in a row :)

We ended it off with some delicious fried dough.  A great time was had by all but bedtime couldn't come early enough for mom and dad for sure.

Paleontology Club

Today Paleontology Club went on a field trip to the Natural Museum of History in NYC. I was happy to volunteer to chaperone as it was always one of my favorite places in the world to be when I was a little girl growing up in New York.

After an amazing show at the Planetarium and checking out meteorites, we soon traveled over to the dinosaurs. They are absolutely mind blowing. Just to imagine that these creatures once roamed the earth. Glorious.
The entire trip, while based in science of course, only strengthened my belief in Divine creation. It is all just too amazing - from the stars in the skies aligning, bursting and recreating just so... to these magical creatures that evolved, disappeared - then us, and our very beautiful planet. It just seems so very intentional, designed - engineered to me. That's just what I feel inside.
To think that we are the only living things out there, to me, seems impossible. Doesn't it? Outside of our solar system... how much more is there? Can you only imagine all that we have yet to discover... all that we will never know? Our knowledge is so limited. In so many ways - beyond the stars and the bones... And still, it is all so amazing and breathtaking each day we live.
How lucky we are to have been able to visit for awhile in this beautiful place at this particular time!

Five Enormous Dinosaurs

Five enormous dinosaurs,

Letting out a roar,

One went away,

And then there were four.

Four enormous dinosaurs,

Munching on a tree,

One went away,

And then there were three.

Three enormous dinosaurs,

Didn't know what to do,

One went away,

And then there were two.

Two enormous dinosaurs,

Having lots of fun,

One went away,

And then there was one.

One enormous dinosaur,

Afraid to be a hero,

He went away,

And then there was zero.

Thankful for these days...

New Pond Farm

There is a beautiful place under a half an hour away from us that I finally took my girls to last week. The farm is small but so sweet and the programs they have are wonderful. We met a homeschooling group for their honey bee field trip. While my girls do not currently homeschool, it is something I have considered and still do and I know a few of the moms in this particular group so I was excited to get together with them.

The group started out by visiting each part of the farm.

It was SUCH a hot day and everyone was excited any time they could fit a piece of shade to get under.

They learned about the chickens.

And met a sweet cow.

Each child was able to brush the cow.

We enjoyed the beautiful property and visited the sheep.

The instructor did a great job and kept the children engaged.

It was sweet to see the friendships that this particular group has formed... children of all ages helping each other and caring for one another.

We met a few muddy pigs trying to keep cool on this hot day.

Then we went into the classroom to learn about honey bees and their hive.

We saw real honeycombs made by the bees on the farm.

And each child got to taste the honey :)

Yum!

We saw what the beekeepers wear when working with the hives.

And got to roll our own beeswax candle.

We also talked about other good uses for beeswax... candles, personal care products.

Then we were able to see a real hive - the girls loved it.

The Queen Bee is dotted with a white dot this year - can you find her in the below photo?

A great story to share with the children when learning about bees is The Queen Bee by The Brothers Grimm. I also have an entire week dedicated to the Bee in my May 5 Day program as well as the other May guides.

Enjoy!