Times 2

I had to steal away from the party that never would have happened if I had left on time with my family in order to print out my boarding passes and reflect on my second extra day. I learned today that time has a different meaning for kids then adults. My kids woke me up yesterday at 5am dressed, packed and ready to go home. Vacation was over, they had planned on a day of travel that included 6 hours of playing their DSI's, then back to friends and school. The suggestion of going to the beach was not met with my same level of enthusiasm as I had hoped for. Today, day 2, they wanted to stay in and "hang out" I had to explain to them that we got extra days. Who knows when this will happen again. Still I got crickets. I then pointed out that today they would normally be in school so we had to go learn something they came up with a plan.
Off to the USS Midway. Very cool. Lots of planes and sun and sounds. Lunch was a burger at "In and Out". we got to take a trip to the book store, I bought something I shouldn't have, but I love it. Then friends came over. Folks we would have missed. Storied we wouldn't have shared, a sun set we should have missed...don't get me wrong, It is time to go home. we miss our dogs, we miss our friends, the kids miss their dad and we are going to miss being part of the Scout awards ceremony, but I would trade it for time. It will be months before we are all together again. I wish I could have all the people I love close to me at all times but this has been a lesson in making the most of what you've got.

Time

Due to a tornado in St. Louis I am stuck in San Diego. Stuck is a very inappropriate word for my situation. Really, I have been given two more days. Free days, two days I hadn't planned on that are a positive thing. I will be missing the Cub Scout Pack meeting and my kids will be missing two days of school, my dogs will have to stay two days longer at the kennel, and just maybe my mailbox will finally fall off the last remaining screw holding it to it's post, but really, I am not missing much, but gaining two days with my parents and kids.
Today we went to the beach at low tide and explored the tide pools, I had a carne asada burrito, one of the main reasons I visit is the Mexican food, it drizzled during quiet time, then the sun came back out so we walked in the village, ate Gillato and watched the sea lions play in the waves. I got to check out some art, count how many stairs there are from Prospect Street to the Cove with my boys and end the day by seeing the sun set while sitting in a hot tub with my daughter.

Take advantage of the gifts given...What would you do with two extra days?

Breath

If you would ask me to dive to the bottom of a 12 foot pool I could fight my way to the bottom and then resurface, gasping for air. Ask me to sit and hold my breath and I can last a mear 30 seconds. Yet when I loose myself in painting I suddenly have to remind myself to breath. On the lat pull down machine the 5th instruction is to "Keep Breathing." Breath is essential to life, yet we can control it unlike blinking and the beating of our hearts. Did you know the medical term for taking a breath in is "inspire". How contradictory that when I am lost in thought I hold my breath. Maybe I do not want to let the inspiration that has blessed me get away.
Where do you find inspiration? Some wait for it to come. To many it is discipline. So this weekend when I had 2 hours to finish a piece no matter what, when my heart started pounding though my chest, and I was actually nervous, I realized all I could do was breath. A big breath in and then...hold it until I it was ready to reveal itself.

Trees set.

The corner stone of the garden has been planted. I had picked out locations but after hanging out in the space I have abandoned my original plan. The layout was fighting the all ready existing elements. As a family we selected locations for the trees. They are going to set up the far corner and be the back drop for the sculpture currently under construction in my barn. My boys helped me dig the holes, I had forgotten how many rocks there are in New England soil, and safely transfer the worms in order to moved the pine trees. Now it is raining so I do not have to water, perfect. I got some new overalls too. I thought I would try to be a bit incognito, is it working?

Jamie Oliver's TED award speech.

If you are unfamiliar with TED talkes I highly recommend you look them up. Topics cover education, inspiring children, technology, medicine, food, poetry and more. If I need a bit of a boost or inspiration, these talks are guaranteed to provide it.
Jamie Oliver's "Food Revolution" in LA started last night. Loved it. If you are at all interested in what you eat and how we feed are kids it is a must.

Sculpture Garden day 1.

Here is the sight and perhaps overly ambitious plan for the sculpture garden. The snow is gone and the ground is getting softer. Two years ago for Earth Day my Girl Scout troop planted trees. We had a few extras so they where put in the garden. Now they need to be moved to their permanent locations in the planned sculpture garden. I went to an outside sculpture garden with kids and watching them interact with the art was inspiring. They want to climb and touch everything, but so do I, so I need to keep this in mind when construction starts. I hope you will watch my progress and visit me along the way and when it is complete.