The Maypole

Whew!  Last week was a busy week and there was no extra time for writing.  We were in our preparations for our big party of the year.  Our Maypole party where we invite many many friends over to celebrate Spring by eating, drinking, playing music, joy, time around the fire, and dancing around the maypole. 

We started this tradition in 2004. I couldn't find the 2004 photos, but here is one from 2005.

Someone ask me on Saturday why we do the maypole.  And my response is that we celebrate with the Maypole to honor the seasons inside and out.  

Spring is my favorite season because we HAVE to pay attention to Earth waking up.  Winter months are hard.  We dive in emotionally - even if we aren't aware we are doing it.  We stay close to home in winter and the days are short and nights are long and time outside is minimal because it is cold and dark.  We spend a lot of time in our heads in the winter and we discover if only through accident what we need to focus on in the coming year in our lives.  

When Spring arrives in all her beauty we have to pay attention.  As Earth begins to warm and the green of fresh growth starts the days become longer and warmer and we begin to come out of our caves ready to shed that hard work of winter and celebrate new life and new wisdom gained.  

The maypole is my celebration of that.  

It's the celebration of the end of winter and the welcoming of all that is new and being born in the physical world as well as the mental and emotional worlds.  It is a time of new beginnings.  

The Maypole was celebrated for this reason for many years and then as traditions die away the maypole has lost its value in our society and we don't pay as close attention to what is happening outside and in.  We do the Maypole to help us stay focused and see clearly and to celebrate our friends, family, and our lives and to stay connected to the traditions those before us have honored.  

This year's maypole was full of excitement and fun.  We had nearly 80 bodies here between adults and children.  There was a lot of great food, yummy wine, beer, and joy.  The kids played hard in both the field out front and the woods in back.  You could hear their laughter coming from every direction.  

I was reminded how fortunate I am to live in such a lovely place and how perfect our little spot of woods are for us.  Our place is beautiful this time of year - all times of the year, but sometimes I need the extra reminder of what a great home we have and how inviting it is for our friends and family.  

We also did an egg hunt for the "littles." (That's what I call everyone under the age of 8.)  Our children are now officially big kids who wanted to hide eggs for everyone who wanted to hunt.  We did that up in the big field and it was great! 

We ate and were merry then we gathered around the maypole and tied the ribbons on and did the maypole dance.

There was music played on the front porch and a fire built in the back to gather around and sing and take a moment in our busy world to simply sit with friends in song and talk.

We could ask for no more than the perfect day we were given.  We are thankful for all of our friends, those who were here with us to celebrate as well as those we weren't able to come.  All year long we honor the Maypole and the joy it reminds us to have in our hearts for the blessing of an amazing and always growing community.  

As more pictures pour in this week, I will share more with you.  I know there are some great ones coming my way.

Happy Spring Everyone!

Weekend Recap

It seems to be the time of year where the schedule fills up.  Here in Georgia, we all try to cram everything into the first weeks of Spring.  Once summer time hits, you can forget being outside too much because it is just too hot and humid and if whatever you are doing doesn't include shade and water - well you just don't go.

I did manage to squeeze in a little quilting yesterday, but it doesn't look much different since the last time I showed you.  Therefore, you are going to have to wait a little longer to get another glimpse.

Friday night, Jason and I went to see one of my favorite dance groups, Beats Antique.  It was fun, but I think I may be getting too old for those late nights out.  We went home after they played about 5 songs because we were just too tired.  I was really looking forward to the show because I missed them when they came through last October due to my surgery.  I wish music in Athens started a little earlier - ewwwww - talk about sounding like a grown up.  I was glad to get home to snuggle up and go to sleep and have a full night of sleep.

Saturday, the kids had their year end performance for the Master's Academy of Fine Arts.  They did a renaissance fair.  The kids were awesome - all of them and they looked great in their Renaissance clothes.

That evening, Jason went to skate with some friends and Kalib and I spent a wonderful evening with my dear friend, Holly and her son Aaron.  It was just the medicine the doctor was calling for.  Thoughtful conversation about a little of everything.

Sunday, we rolled on out to our friend Jenny and Jamie's to celebrate Jamie and their son Cedar's birthdays.  Every time we go out there, I am so jealous of where they live.  It is truly god's country and their home is so inviting.  It was a great day spent in the sunshine with good friends and fun times for ALL the kids.

So, here we are on Monday morning.  We have another busy week ahead of us so there won't be much quilt talk.  At least this week we have a game plan.  Our annual Maypole celebration is coming up this Saturday and there is much work to be done around the house to be ready for all the people that will showing up to celebrate Spring with us.  We have a game plan, but unfortunately there is little time planned for quilting.  Thankfully, I'm to the hand work and can squeeze in a little at bed time - maybe...

Kalib turned 10

Sometimes I just can't believe how quickly the time passes watching our kids grow. Kalib is now 10. Turned 10 on Sunday. Both kids are now in the double digits and I'm on the upside of my 30's. It is so funny to me to think back to being their age and what I thought my life would be like when I was the age I am now. I used to think about so many different things and what I would be when I grew up and blah blah blah. Nothing I thought would happen in my life has, but the things that have only make me happier and happier. I love my life and wouldn't trade it for the world. I am so grateful that Kalib is a big part of my joy. 10 years ago I was so ready for him to come into this world. He was a heavy baby in womb who wiggled A LOT - that hasn't changed much. Kalib is always amazing me. He is such a happy kid always ready with a hug and a smile. He is compassionate and passionate. He loves those legos. He is always thinking about the present moment, something most people struggle with, a quality I have to really watch myself to not squelch in him because he doesn't always think ahead to putting his shoes on or brushing his teeth, but he always gets it done and we always survive being a few minutes late - even though it drives my parents crazy. Kalib is most definitely one of my greatest teachers. Watching him mature and learn new things about our world and his own world is pure joy and I am grateful for each moment with him.

For his birthday, we were supposed to kayak down the Broad River, but we were going to rent 2 seater kayaks so that the kids wouldn't have to steer a boat for 4 hours and so that the parents would be close, but The Outpost isn't letting the two seaters go down the white water part of the river this year, so we had to find something else to do. I really didn't want to host a birthday party this year at our house. It is SO HOT outside which would mean everyone would have to be inside and I just wasn't up for that. We decided to go to Active Climbing instead. When I mentioned we might could do this to Kalib his face lit up!!! He was stoked! (they went when I was in Costa Rica in Oct of last year). We couldn't get it together for some of his friends to come along, but the 4 of us had a great time and my arms hurt 2 days later in ways I didn't know they could - dance practice should be interesting tonight. The truth is, once my arms are over this soreness I would love to go back with them! It is so fun and scary at the same time.

Unfortunately, by the time I remembered we brought our camera along, we were all beginning to get tired, physically, who knew climbing was so hard?! And, I didn't manage to get very many good pictures of Kalib climbing - go figure!!!

(these are all from the kids room - Jason and I did some climbing on the other side of the warehouse and those walls are a little harder, but these walls were plenty difficult)

Broad River

Saturday was so much fun! We celebrated our friends Shannon and Jennifer's birthdays in STYLE! MAMA STYLE that is with a mix of Shannon Foley flare! She planted the seed of let's Kayak down the Broad and we all jumped on board, so we coordinated on the ever popular FB and made calls for baby sitters and who's riding with who and how can we best carpool to save on gas and made it happen. 10 of us were able to go to the broad without the kids! The menfolk stayed home since we were celebrating Shannon and Jennifer's birthday! It was a blast! Alexa did the math and with all of us there were 27 children! We showed up at the Broad River Outpost a little after 10 and were in the water by 11 and floating down the river! It takes about 4 hours to make it the full 6.5 miles. I love that my friends are so adventurous and fun! I can't wait to see what these ladies get us into next year! (Last year we had sushi and went to the country rock dancing!)I really found myself appreciating the wonderful women in my life as we floated and meandered down the river, both those who were there and those that were not. My life is filled with remarkable role models and inspiration in the ladies in my life. Thank you all!

AND a big big thanks to my sweet Hubby for watching Aaron so that Holly could go too! I know Kalib had fun with him, but I want to give him an extra special thank you from me.

Kalib wants to go for his birthday, so we are going to take him on his big 10th birthday in August. I can't wait to go again!

april catch up in may

The last month has been a total whirlwind of excitement and next to no time to write on the blog. I think this is the longest time span since I started it that I haven't written. So, April, what all went on in April? Lots and lots of trips to the library. Master's Academy Ended with a giant play that the kids did a fantastic job in. I was really impressed with how well they pulled it off. I was a little worried, I must admit, about the play concepts, but it came off without a hitch and the kids spoke loudly, knew their parts, and were fully present and had a great time doing it. We also got to pick up all their art projects and that in and of itself was pretty impressive to me. I'm looking forward to seeing what they do next year.

I celebrated my 35th birthday in style. A whole lot of my friends went with me to see Bonobo, some trance/dance music and we had an amazing meal at the speak easy downtown. It was SUPER fun! I had a new outfit to wear (thanks Holly) and was surrounded by many of my closest friends. There's nothing like throwing a party for yourself! The girls even all got ready together false eyelashes and all. I love being really girly from time to time - not to mention Bonobo was absolutely incredible. I love music that causes the mind to get a little lost from the world outside.

Kalib is loving Kung Fu which meets regularly on Wednesdays. It helps him to stay focused and connected to his body. He also started his own blog for his lego creations which is A LEGOS LIFE He comes up with some really cool looking legos and puts pictures of them up. He's a guy of few words, so it is mostly pictures, but he's all about the legos so check on that from time to time.

Lastly, I had a big opening for the quilts on the 30th with Baraka's Book Signing which was a total blast. I spent most of the month behind my sewing machine trying to finish up a new piece for the show. Thanks to my amazing Hubby and kids and many many supportive friends, I was able to get it all done and have a blast. There were moments when I didn't think I would finish, but I did. There will be pictures of it in June after the show comes down. The show and book signing was amazing. I had prints and note cards to sell and did pretty well with those and Baraka sold out of her books (which is really awesome). The night was so fun and I met some great people and reconnected with some great people and got good feedback on the work I do. I even got a little choked up as I was talking about how grateful I am to my family for inspiring me to keep creating and supporting me in my endeavors. My dear friend, Sambara, came in as a surprise to her and as a treat to me from her sweet loving man, Watson. That was the icing on the cake to have my dear dear friends around me in those moments of nervousness with my heart of the walls of the Healing Arts Centre.

The next day, we had our annual Maypole Party. I was so tired and scattered I didn't manage to get the pictures I usually do so when Jennifer Bray posts some of hers I will be sure to send a link so you all can see the festivities. It was a blast as usual. Another very late night surrounded by great friends and laughter. What more could I ask for?

This past month has been an amazing month, reminding me of how very lucky we are to be a part of such a tight nit community/family. We are surrounded by beautiful people everywhere we turn who inspire and enlighten us, some challenge us in ways we would never expect and we only grow closer through living our lives together. There is the old adage it takes a village to raise a child, and I am so glad my children are a part of THIS village. Wow... you all are so special and what amazing role models for our babies! THANK YOU for all that you do in our lives and all that you are in our lives. I can't imagine my life without any of you in it.

BE WELL-
Sarah

alice in wonderland

We went to see it on opening night all dressed up! I forgot my camera - that seems to be happening to me a lot lately, but thankfully, Jennifer is almost always prepared! She wrote a great blog post about our adventures to Wonderland and there are great pictures there to see all the kids dressed up in their costumes to go to the movies, so rather than trying to steal her pictures to post here, I'm just going to send you over there to read all about what the kids did and all the fun they had! And... I want to say there have been a lot of bad reviews of the movie because it deters from the book too much, but if you aren't expecting to see the book on screen it is a really great movie and story! It has parts that are like the books, but more it is just a good movie with great characters and costumes in classic Tim Burton style. If you are lover of the book and want the movie to follow it, then don't go see it, but if you are a fan of Tim Burton's movies and want to see a visually awesome story told in a new way, then you will enjoy it. We certainly did!

Here's the link to get to Jennifer's blog about our night - more India's night, but fun fun fun was had by all!
Jennifer's Blog!

an now in them

Jason's mask fell apart when he went to put it on :(, but I did manage to get a few pictures of the kids in theirs! India decided to wear the one I made.

can you see me?

The kids are going to a masquerade party tonight, so of course we waited until the last minute to make our masks for it, but we got them done and they all look really cool.
We ran to Hobby Lobby after I picked them up from Masters and got everything we needed. I have been wanting to make masks with the kids and this was a good stepping stone towards future masks. I am hoping to have us wearing masks as we dance around the maypole this year, so getting some practice and ideas as to how to go about them quickly is good. We made ours in less that 2 hours, but we had the store bought plastic ones and I think when we make them again, we will cut them out of foam or figure something else out. We all had issues with the shapes and getting our feathers or sequins to stick. If we had have started earlier, we might make a second round out of foam, but alas, there is no more time and they are all drying hoping to be able to wear them this afternoon.

So, here are our creations:

This one is Jason's. He's going to have to trim the feathers up once it dries because they cover one of the eyes and they reach down right into his mouth, but naturally, his came out very cool!

This is India's mask. I LOVE it! I like the glitter glue dots at the bottom!

This is mine. I won't be wearing mine today because I have to work during a big portion of the time the party will be going on (last working day of Feb), but I made one anyways. I won't be held back from creating something cool because I have to work! It really sparkles. I had such a hard time with the nose area, so I decided to just use the glitter glue and it turned out pretty cool. I WILL be making one that works better. You never know when you are going to need a good mask!

And lastly, Kalib's mask. He insisted on having a full face mask, which I think are kind of creepy and he decided to keep his simple, which is also really cool. Maybe it is that his mask reminds me of the mask in Friday the 13th movies. Or maybe if the lips smiled rather than looking so serious.

None the less, it was great fun sitting around the table together creating these! I can't wait to hear about them wearing them!

let the partying commence

For India's birthday we had some of the most beautiful weather we have seen in quite some time. It has been so rainy and so cold, that a few days of sunshine to remind us what living in the south is all about has been great - although it is raining outside as I write this morning. Our dear friend Rachel made the suggestion that we take a field trip to the Botanical Gardens since the weather was as nice as it was...
We went for a lovely walk in the woods...


then the photo shoot began (I unfortunately don't take as good of photos as some of my friends, but I still like taking them!)
The kids were posing under this interesting gateway onto the trails...


Then they made a pyramid. Gwenny was supposed to be on top, but she doesn't like heights...


Then they posed on a retaining wall, but I got the picture as they jumped off...


We had a yummy inexpensive lunch in the cafeteria there at the Bot Gardens and then headed home for the rest of the afternoon. That evening we went to Jason's grandparents for Cake and Ice-cream and presents...
India made her own cake of course...


She got a lot of money and a photo album for her autographed photos of movie stars...


She got a big present that she had no idea what it was.


And being typical of my folks it was wrapped twice just to throw her off.


But once she figured out what it was she was so happy!


It was the american girl she had been asking for and saving her money to buy! She was thrilled!


She also got an ipod Nano that she named Oscar


All in all India has had a stellar birthday. Usually by the time India's birthday rolls around everyone is over celebrating because of Christmas, but this year I think India really got everything she was wanting. Now, I'm going to take her to blow some of her birthday money on games for her DS and on Saturday is her birthday party with friends. SLEEPOVER!

it's a new year

So, obviously, blogging has not been my thing lately. We got the desk top back up and running, but I still haven't managed to get on here and put anything at all up. We have been busy, busy hanging out, watching movies, playing games, knitting, building fires, eating yummy food, that I simply haven't taken the time to blog... oh yeah... we also had some company thrown in there along with Christmas. Life is good. We are back into our routines after the holidays, feeling good, the house has been overhauled (although we still haven't managed to haul everything we decided we didn't need anymore off).

Christmas was awesome this year - I'm usually such a scrooge about it, but this year it was nice and quiet. We decided to follow in the footsteps of our dear friends Jennifer and Jason Bray and give gifts to the kids the way they do, so each kid got an item to wear, a toy, and a book (although I'm no good at buying just one book, so they actually got two books). India got a purple hooded jacket with fur around the hood and it is lined with the soft fleecy fabric to keep her stylin' and profilin' and warm, she got the 3rd book in the Gilda Joyce series and Memoirs of Teenage Amnesiac. (I love buying books). Kalib got some new elbow pads for skate boarding because we are always having to pay to rent them when he goes to Zion Skate Park, we got him a new Calvin and Hobbes book as well as The Lightening Thief. The big surprise this year that totally rocked their worlds, is we are building them a tree house. I don't have pictures of it yet, but all it lacks right now is the roof! It's far enough away from the house that the kids will have autonomy when they are out there, but close enough that they can hear me from the house. Unfortunately, it's not actually in a tree, it is more like a free standing porch in the woods, but with pines being all we really have out there, it is a good tree house. Jason has done a really great job on it and hopefully the weather will warm back up enough for Jason to get the roof done and they can paint it and start some new adventures.


Jason and I got a weekend getaway and we are hoping to go to Asheville, NC, hopefully sometime in February... maybe we'll see some snow not in GA.

So, here are some pictures to bring you up to date...
our tree



Our stockings:


The Christmas Parade (it was cold then too):


We got to see Jane and Pat in it:


Christmas eve at Gramas:




Christmas morning before heading over to Gaga and Gobby's (Can you believe I actually forgot to take my camera over there?)


Jack Skelington dressed for New Year's Eve:


Shane, Elise, and Sofia came to visit! What a treat!


New Year's Eve: