(this moment)

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Inspired by Soulemama

sun kissed

There is nothing better than the smell of sun kissed laundry. In the rush of every today, I embrace how the art of hanging laundry forces me to slow.  It is my meditation.  What "work" is your meditation?

An ant's point of view

DIY Deodorant

Because deodorants don't do much when trying to mask the stink.... and anti-perspirants cause a horribly itchy rash, I came across this remedy by another mama on mothering.com.  It is the only thing that I have found that actually works (and I have tried every natural brand on the market including the crystal) and it's so easy to make.  

In a small bowl combine:

1/4 Cup of Baking Soda,
1/4 Cup of Corn Starch arrowroot (update: I found that arrowroot has a better consistency).
 6 Tbsp of Coconut oil. 

Mix with a fork

Meanwhile, have your little one mix something of their own. 

Here Avi has fun with the tupperware cupboard contents and a wooden spoon. 

Poor mixture into a recycled container.
I have used jars, tupperware, and here an old pomade container.

Label. Voila, you're done!

Note: I call this "goo" because in the hotter weather it takes on a liquid form and in cooler weather a more solid form.  In the future, when making a batch in the summer, I might add only 5 Tbsp of coconut oil so that it won't be so liquidly.

(this moment)

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Inspired by Soulemama

Rainy afternoons means a muddy garden

While Ema picked greens and weeded the chard and kale, the little Bird explored.

See my rock Ema, I was just tasting it.

What's in the compost bin?

Ladybug ladybug, landed on my ankle...

A muddy day in the garden...

....means that before she washed the greens, Ema washed me

And mama spinned me dry in the salad spinner.

Did you know how much I love the salad spinner?

the little things

What's on the other side when I crawl through this tunnel?  I can see Mama and Ema through the screen windows of the tunnel.  What does it feels like to roll and be rolled in a tunnel?

Discovering. Giggling. Experiencing.

 

(this moment)

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Inspired by Soulemama

What's Buggin

My friend Lisa at little coffee beans asked "So, who's hanging out in your garden?"  So Today I took a look around.  

Mason Bee

Lady bug

Not sure what this guy is 

Our trees are being overtaken.
We have the arborist coming this week.

They are all over our Ash trees. Ugh

Another friend. 

what's bloomin

Lilies

Lilies

Roses

One view of the flower gardens - and weeds!

Roses

Not every weed should be pulled.

Apples!

cinquefoil  (thanks Chris)

Lavender

Yarrow (thanks Lisa)

Echinacea aka purple cone flower 

Daisies

More echinacea

Purple Bean Blossoms

Bind weed - the bane of my existence 

Another view of the flower gardens

Breastfeeding Joys

Avi and I sharing a special moment

In light of the recent posts I've seen on different Facebook pages about the horrors breastfeeding mamas  have experienced while pumping at work or nursing in public.. it seemed fit to blog about the other side of being a nursing mama.  A positive story to share.

As a breastfeeding mama, I have nursed my son everywhere.  In the grocery store, while hiking, on airplanes, at family gatherings, at the farmer's market, at the park, at friends' gatherings, in restaurants, at the synagogue during Shabbat service, at weddings, in the emergency room, and the list goes on.  My son is 12.5 months old now (and I'm still nursing) and I can say that in all that time, I have received many smiles and nods... even an elderly man came to sit next to me at a wedding while I was nursing and told me how happy he was to see this "baby getting his mama's milk".  How it was "good for his brain".  I'm sure there were probably people who didn't like what I was doing, but they had the where with all to keep quiet about it... and for that I'm grateful.

Further, when I'm at work and need to pump, I slip away to the "lactation station" where I am surrounded by photos of all the babies who's mamas pumped for them.  There are old copies of Mothering Magazine and a copy of The Milk Memos too.  When I'm done pumping, I store my milk in the company fridge.  I am so grateful to work in a great workspace that doesn't just tolerate nursing mamas who need to pump, but embrace and support them.  (In fact, even before I was pregnant, another nursing mama from my work heard a woman (who worked for a different company in the same building) pumping in the building's (shared) bathroom.  She offered her access to our "lactation station" so she wouldn't have to pump in the bathroom anymore.  How awesome is that!!

Lastly, I have been blessed with an abundant supply of milk and have not only been able to feed my own son, but also have helped another mama's baby (along with milk she gets from the milk bank) for more than six months.  And last week I was able to share 12 oz with another new mama's baby as the mama was having the worst time dealing with mastitis, blistered nipples and clogged ducts.

I know there are others out there with positive stories and we can't let our positive experiences go unheard.  Please don't get me wrong, I also think the 'negative' stories that get shared are valuable too.  They help us keep the perspective that all the hard work isn't done yet. But I also want first time pregnant mamas to hear that it's not always an uphill battle.  So many mamas who have gone before us have done so much to 'fight the good fight'.  I'm grateful for them.  This is one story.  One positive story.  It's my story.  

magic gloves

Cherry Pickin'

While the little bird napped yesterday, I got out into the garden to get more of our montmorency cherries off the trees. I guess being short with only a short step stool, means that I'll leave the cherries on top for the robin friend who hangs out with us most days.  He's been so quick hopping from branch to branch that I haven't been able to snap a photo yet... at least not with the few moments I have before my little bird woke. This is my second harvest... I need to get to pitting so I can make my first cherry pie!

Strawberry Pickin'

While I was picking up high... Jenn was picking strawberries below.  Just enough to put on my cereal this morning.