wash wednesday

 

Inspired by Garden Mama's Wash Wednesdays, here is my lovely clothesline in the city. I will only be able to use it for two more weeks, and then I will find myself in Canada again..I will genuinely miss my little clothesline, which Jason strung up for me in a few moments' time with a simple piece of rope. It may not be extravegant but I love it, I frequently leave Jude's diapers to 'sun' themselves for days at a time just because I like to see them there..It brings me a certain joy to glimpse them gently swaying in the breeze through the window, bright white from the sun (:

Dalai Lama quotes (: Perfect for a Monday morning..

"It is my fundamental conviction that compassion - the natural capacity of the human heart to feel concern for and connection with another human being - constitutes a basic aspect of our nature shared by all human beings, as well as being the foundation of our happiness. All ethical teachings, whether religious or nonreligious, aim to nurture this innate and precious quality, to develop it and to perfect it."

"Being altruistic does not mean totally rejecting our own interest or neglecting ourselves, this is a misunderstanding. In fact, the kind of altruism that focuses on the well-being of others arises from a very courageous mind, an expansive attitude and a strong sense of self confidence - so much so that the person is capable of challenging the self-cherishing and self-centeredness that tends to rule our lives."

"The purpose of our life needs to be positive. We weren’t born with the purpose of causing trouble, harming others. For our life to be of value, I think we must develop basic good human qualities – warmth, kindness, compassion. Then our life becomes meaningful and more peaceful – happier."

"Anger cannot be overcome by anger. If a person shows anger to you, and you show anger in return, the result is a disaster. In contrast, if you control your anger and show its opposite - love, compassion, tolerance, and patience - then not only will you remain in peace, but the anger of others also will gradually diminish."

"The aim of spiritual and therefore ethical practice is to transform and perfect the individual’s motivation and mental disposition: this is how we become better human beings. And the more we succeed in training our hearts and minds through cultivating spiritual qualities, the better able we will be to cope with adversity and the greater the likelihood that our actions will be ethically wholesome."

"I believe an important distinction can be made between religion and spirituality. Religion I take to be concerned with faith in the claims to salvation of one faith tradition or another. Spirituality I take to be concerned with qualities of the human spirit, love and compassion, patience, tolerance, forgiveness, contentment, a sense of responsibility, a sense of harmony, that bring happiness both to self and others."

"We can teach ourselves to be more aware of our own mutual dependence. As every living being wants happiness instead of pain, we share a common basic feeling. We can develop right action to help the earth and each other based on a better motivation. When we are motivated by wisdom and compassion, the results of our actions benefit everyone, not just our individual selves or some immediate convenience."

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Sunol - Ohlone Regional Wilderness Park (:

In favour of doing yet more packing last Saturday, we instead took off into the wilds (: (Sunol-Ohlone Regional Wilderness Park). We spent much of the afternoon wading in the river, which was the perfect thing to do on such a hot, balmy day. Jude was most content in the water playing with rocks and being calm (a rarity, I assure you) Isabella caught tadpoles in her hands and then put them back in the water. Jason hunted for arrowheads (sadly, none were found) and me ~ well..my favourite thing was enjoying the cool water as I strolled up and down the river (:

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spring cleaning!

I am going to start changing things around here ~ in my blog I mean (: So if it looks a bit odd in the next while, well, that's why! Time for change..newness! ^__^

quote

"If we wait for the moment when everything, absolutely everything is ready, we shall never begin."

~Ivan Turgenev

New baby pants..

...made from an ole' t-shirt of mine (-:

^__^

California Mission trip ~ part fourteen ♥ ~ Mission San Francisco de Solano

Mission San Francisco de Solano

So this is the last stop on our California mission tour...)-: The ones down south, going into LA and such are just too far to drive, especially right now with all the work we have to do in preparation for our move to Canada. I am so glad we ventured to all these places and made the most of the last bit of our time here..outside of our usual travel routine, which usually includes 'naturey' type places (:

So, a word on this mission ~ It's really small. There isn't much left! A simple courtyard behind the soldiers'  buildings and a couple rooms in the mission itself, plus the chapel. I have to say though, that the location of this mission is lovely; just on the edge of 'Sonoma', with it's pretty streets full of restaurants and shops, an impressive city square and large, beautiful park in the center of town (: We took a happy stroll there, we did!

^__^

California Mission trip ~ part thirteen ♥ ~ Mission San Jose

Mission San Jose

more baby naps

Jude has developed a fondness for sleeping on his tummy now that he is bigger.

So cute. I think I have probably photographed his sweet, slumbering self about

a gazillion times during his 11 months of life. There are few things more beautiful

than a sleeping little one (:

Jason the art teacher

These are some of the awesome art projects Jason has been doing with the kids at one of the schools he teaches at. Yesterday he brought me to see the arrangement he created on the walls of the cafeteria in preparation of the school open house that evening. It looked amazing (-: The artwork itself was vibrant and happy; A lovely mix of colour, style and technique. The butterfly pictures seemed to be flying upwards towards the stage... The pictures really don't do the work justice but I just have to say that I am so proud of Jason and the profound things he does with these kids as their art teacher. Instead of doing the hard parts for them, he encourages them to do it on their own. Instead of assuming that, just because they are children they are incapable of greatness, he introduces them to artistic processes and techniques they have never been exposed to before and helps them to achieve creative success. The kids love him. At the schools he teaches at he is pretty much a celebrity (-: It's not hard to see why ~ His presence in their lives opens a door to artistic expression, to beauty and colour and fun. Art really shouldn't be considered a priveledge; It should be included as a fundamental part of every child's education..But while the school system still struggles to get it right, I commend my wonderful husband and the excellent work he has inspired in these kids. Jason, you are the best and so appreciated (-: I love you so much!

By the way, Jason also has an etsy shop (-:

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the hallway clothesline (-:

This is a mish-mash of special photos and pictures that hang in our front hallway. I hung them up because each time I cast my gaze upon them, I ponder greatly the life that is mine, The beautiful people who surround me and the wondrous events that I have been blessed to experience..

In just one month, we will be leaving this home for a new one in Canada! It is a very fast-paced time; A mix of a million things to do in preparation for our move mixed with the desire to visit some of our favourite northern California places for the last time.  The emotions circulating are both excited and anxious, happy and sad. Bittersweet is the perfect term for all that is happening in this moment and soon to come.. When I first moved to Oakland four years ago, I was heartbroken to leave Ontario. With its magical white winters, rusty orange and chimney-smoke autumns, and lovely friends and towns-people I had come to love, it was hard for me to adjust to this odd place with its palm trees and cacti, rain during Christmas, and a subtle merging of seasons that are difficult to pinpoint. I can honestly say that now, four years later, I love California. I'm not a normal person apparently; Normal people WANT to come here when it's cold and blustery...It took me this long to truly appreciate the consistency of climate that allows me to know what to wear every day of the year pretty much, without ever having to go outside to check first. It also took me this long to understand that even though the seasons come and go with a subtlety I never knew in Ontario, if I pay attention to the natural world around me and also to my inner 'sight', all the same magical transformational events are still there (-: I no longer feel like the only Canadian amidsts a sea of Americans; We are all just people. I recognize and love the scents of eucalyptis trees and jasmine flowers the way I used to with fresh mint and chamomile from my garden in Canada. So now, as I look around at our half-packed apartment and eagerly await the coming re-unification of my whole family (There WILL be happy tears, Oh yes there will..) I do have a sadness at leaving this place that has become my home..But such joy and anticipation of newness and a fresh start (-:

Isabella made this picture of me ~ What she imagines I do all day while she is at school (-: I love it (-: Plus, the cute Totoro she drew for Jude before he was born..

ZZ"^__^"ZZ

a quote..

"How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives."

~Annie Dillard, The Writing Life