soccer again...

Eli hasn't played on a team since last spring. And even then, it was hockey, so it wasn't running around on a field for an hour, it was skating- totally different.
He had his first game today, and he was tired. Way more running than he is used to! It was good for him. They lost, but it didn't bother him as much as it usually does. yeah! and it is so good for him to be part of a team. He has needed that for a while. I feel like he is in a much better place now- both mentally and physically. So glad we pulled him out of the magnet school and put him back int o the local public school. on so many levels.

And Emmett had his soccer, which he loved! He was smiley and happy and had a great time. It is his first organized sport, and the first thing we are doing for him, as opposed to having him schlepped along to something for Eli. Not that skiing wasn't, but it is just different. We were on the sidelines cheering for him! a nice change.

It was good to get out, and see the throngs of parents that are all on the soccer fields on the weekends, and to be a part of that.

heavenly

Put me near some horses and I am in heaven. I appreciate each time I have the opportunity..... which I had today. yeah!!


It was a heavenly beautiful day!!
My boys are away(Adam took them to visit his mom in DC for a few days), and I have had the luxury of no obligations, and taking my time doing things I don't usually have the chance to do.

Thursday I went with a friend to IKEA. We stayed so long I was even getting tired! about 3 hours, including a 45 minute lunch there. I got a bunch of things, and then we had to drive home and assemble some of what I got. It was so good having another person with me, doing all of these things too. So much fun.

Today- I had the opportunity to drive down to visit a new friend from my business class. She has a barn and 5 horses. The property is 26 acres and backs up to a wildlife preserve with miles of trails. I arrived there at 10am- it was a 50 minute drive- if it were closer I think I would be there every day!

We pulled 2 horses out of the paddock, groomed, then rode for 2 hours. It was warm, and sunny, and so beautiful to be out. We stopped and had sandwiches by 1:30 (with chopped red peppers in the tuna, and avocado spread onto the rye bread- killer combo!). We sat on the porch in the sun for a bit, and enjoyed the surroundings in a wonderfully lazy way.


Then went out to the paddocks, and brought in the two little black ponies. We groomed them, then tacked them up for driving together. They haven't really got the hang of being driven together, so they needed work. We took them next door, as the neighbors have the driving reins that we needed, and a round pen to work them. I finally dragged myself away from there at almost 6pm! what a fabulous way to spend the first really beautiful day of the spring.

henna

I did this pretty one on Megan the other day. She said she's been getting compliments on it alot.


This is my arm, 2 weeks after it was done. I thought this design was kind of cool. But now I am ready to be done with it. Hopefully it will fade soon. I'll scrub it alot in the shower......

knitting

I finally got to the end of knitting this sweater. I think it was cursed. I had to rip it out a few times! The last time only because it wasn't long enough. Then of course when I finished the whole sweater, and put it into the bathtub with loads of water, and dried it- it was about 6" longer!!! aaargh! but it is done, and is so fabulously soft.

no vegetables

I saw these beautiful artichokes at Trader Joe's yesterday. HAD to buy them. Love eating them and have since I was quite young. These ones were big and fresh and glorious. I cooked them for supper, assuming the boys would eat the pizza I had made.

much to my surprise, when I offered a bite to Emmett, he was intrigued, and accepted... then proceeded to eat tons of my artichoke! what!?! The child who says "I don't like fruits or vegetables" ... has now declared that he "LOVES" artichokes!

half birthday

(for some reason I can't rotate this great photo... will work on it)
emmett saw this post and said "ew, I don't EAT sideways..."

I tried to say something to Emmett the other day about how he is 5 1/2 now. Silly me. forgot to do his 1/2 birthday! He was adamant that he wasn't 5 1/2 until we did that.... so we picked out what kind of cake and frosting to make 1/2 of... and Eli did the trick candle for him, which he loved. He chose a red balloon which he wanted to pop as soon as we were done with the mini celebration. He did so incredibly gleefully! funny kid. now he is 5 1/2.....

Emmett and Chloe:
his favorite...... (he says he is going to marry her)

easter walk

we used to canter down this path on our horses

We went for a fabulous walk in the sun. The town nearby has miles and miles of trails in the reservoir. There are at least 6 big bodies of water, so much open green space, lots of paved trails for good walking and biking, and miles of trails that are through the woods. I spent hours and hours riding horses on them as a teenager and beyond. I know the trails like the back of my hand, and there is a wonderful familiarity and freedom about being there.

It was so incredibly cold and breezy, but so bright and sunny that it was good to get out and be in the sunshine of the day. Was good for the soul.

easter bunnies....

this made me laugh.....

marketing .... in class

I am loving the business class I have been taking. It is good for me on so many levels.

Yesterday's class was given by Kathy McAfee, The Marketing Motivator. She was so great, and yes, very motivating. Her presentation was fabulous and inspiring. I am looking forward to attending some of her workshops.

I really want to keep going with my community center and keep energy going with it even though it is not what I am doing for the class. I do feel that it is really what I need to be doing, and that so much of my last 10 years has been leading toward it. I need to hook up with more people, but so far so many people are interested. Just need to find the right partner. Will write more at some point about it, as it just draws me more and more. It really seems right in many ways.

For now, school is really good, and I think it will keep me on my path......
good energy.......

henna all day

A 2 hour drive up to Providence on Saturday morning started my day. It was a stunningly beautiful sunny day to drive, and I was in really good spirits.

Heather hosted the gathering at her apartment, and she is a fantastic henna artist! I was in awe of what she creates. Check out Heather's site, and also see more photos of all of us doing henna and our day there!

the henna on Heather's arm (above) is my work....

There were only 4 of us, and so it was nice and small. We had great indian food for lunch, and just talked and hennaed the day away.
We rolled cones (which I am getting better at doing now) and I found I liked them a bit better in some ways than the j-bottles I use. Much easier to squeeze the henna out, so far less tiring on the hands, and also you can get finer lines. But I am finding it still hard to get good control as your fingers are farther away from the tip. practice....... But there were some differences. The ones I had used were thinner cello wrap. One woman brought some much heavier stuff, and I liked using that in smaller cones. I will have to hunt some of that down.

I didn't leave until about 10:30pm, and got home at almost 1 am. so for a day that started at 5:30am- I was exhausted! It was all I could do to wrap my hennaed hands and climb into bed.

Emmett's face when he helped me unwrap in the morning was so great. Heather had applied glitter to accent my henna, and it stayed intact overnight since I had wrapped it. When emmett unwrapped my hand and he saw it... his jaw literally dropped, then quickly turned into a amazed and smiling expression of awe. He couldn't believe it! he loved it and asked me all about it. It did look so cool. I even showered with a bag over my hand to keep it long enough to show off to friends.