Blood Mountain

Jordan, Makenna and me at the top of Blood Mountain, on the Appalachian Trail,

Georgia 10-25-06

Blood Mountain....Blood Mountain stands as a high point in my life. For me, it was a personal physical challenge met, a connection to the person I aspire to be, a great bonding time with my girls and friends, and just a wonderfully beautiful place to be. It was the Appalachian Trail for God's sake!!!! I finally got there! Yeah man. Big stuff for me.

We started our hike at 11:30 on a sunny and cold Wednesday morning. We had 13 of us; David (our fearless leader, planner, and overall brave guide), Cindy, Me, Jordan, Makenna, Cynthia and her kiddos Sadie, and Eliot, Kristine and her kiddos Elizabeth and Tucker, along with Rick and Kathy's boys Cheynne and Nick (though not Rick and Kathy). We drove the cars to Neels Gap, left 2, and took 2 to Vogel State Park for the start of our hke. We hiked a mile up to start the A.T. portion of our hike from Jarrards Gap up and over Blood Mountain with a final destination of Neels Gap.

Along the way were beautiful views, challenging breathtaking climbing, and all the nature you could take. Lots of granite rocks, colorful Fall leaves, cool faerie houses (imagination imagination) mosses, fungi, ferns, and all manner and sorts of inspiration everywhere. I wish I could store the memory of all this somewhere, a sort of vault to go to later when I don't have it right in from of me and am trying to recall what expands my heart and inspires my creativity, a wellspring to draw from.

Once we hit the top of Blood Mountain there is a great stone shelter to explore and a large granite boulder to climb. On top of the boulder on top of the mountain and scenic views, breathtaking, lovely, awe-inspiring were there for the taking. We dropped our packs, climbed the boulder, and made lunch. David brought along his pocket rocket for quick hot meal making, I believe they had Cashew Chicken Curry, dehydrated, and the girls and I shared Mashed Potatoes. I'll remember to bring the salt for next time! They sure felt good in my stomach, but getting them past my taste buds was challenging. All trash had to be packed out, so Jordan carried the remaining uneaten taters in her pocket!

The kids had so much fun on the mountain top, even having the energy to climb all over the boulders and to play tag. Do you think a couple of hours hiking up a mountain would tire out a bunch of kids? Well, if you do, you'd be wrong! A bunch of mountain goats, they all were.

When we started our descent it was a lot harder going than I anticipated. Lots and lots of rocks and a steep descent made for a challenging trip down. At one point we, Jordan Cindy David and I, got off the trail (unbeknownest to us) and we were practically climbing down right off the mountain. Jordan got to an edge at one point and refused to go further. Luckily for us David had done this hike before and really started asserting that he didn't remember this from before. He was willing to backtrack, straight up practically, and found the white blaze again. We moaned about retracing our steps, but were all very happy to be back on the trail! We took our time for the descent, poking and picking our way thru rock and trail, leaf and roots. We arrived at Neels Gap at 6pm, coming off that mountain to the cheers of our friends and kids, seeing the campstore, rocky and full of Fall pumpkins. We had made it!

A few things made the trip a bit easier, the first being hiking/walking sticks. These are retractable poles that make for an easier time overall on your knees. While going up hill, you can plant them right next to your foot for pushing action, and going down hill they go first for a great tool for leaning on. What a difference to your knees! The second thing that really helped was David being really clear that this hike was about the journey. This really helped set the tone of the hike for me. Even during the most difficult parts of this hike I was distinctly aware of where I was and that made such a difference to me. No matter how long it took, no matter how difficult. what mattered was being there. Thanks David for that. Jordan and me...Appalachian Trail-Blood Mtn.

Well, that's my version of our hike up Blood Mountain. I'm so incredibly thankful for the opportunity to do it, and so glad I didn't wimp out and not go because of any fears. Jordan said it best when she was talking to me thru the curtain while I was in the shower at our campground later that night...."Mom, I'm on such an incredible natural high, I just can't believe what we did today." I agree, Jordan, I agree, me either.

Musings on Journaling and Life in General...Good grief

Me, hiking on Blood Mountain, AT 10-25-06

I'm finding keeping an online journal as challenging as keeping a hardcopy journal. I have frustration with the actual keeping up of a journal, so why would I find online journaling any different? No idea...

I suppose my journaling is reflective of my life, in more ways than the obvious recording of thoughts, ideas, happenings, etc. When my life is out of balance, or busy busy busy, I find it difficult to even think in creative terms. This has always been something of a challenge to me, balance, in the way that I like to have a full and rich life, but too much and there's no room for down time, creative time, reading to the kiddos, puttering, painting my wall, reading, and all the other things that bring joy. Journaling and reflective thinking are included in that list. As I continue to attempt journaling, as I still want a record, a place to put all of these thoughts, I find that I must find acceptance with things just as they are, whether I feel that I'm behind or even right on track.

I aspire to less, less unhappiness, less work, less frustration, less negative thoughts. I aspire to more, more time alone, more time for creative pursuits, more time in nature, more time home, more time just being, more time thinking thoughts that are nurturing and nourishing.

Life is a paradox.

Getting Lost....

It's been a long time since I've added anything to this blog. Life's been full and busy, but, well that goes without saying if I haven't blogged, right? I've been working on selling ad space and getting donations for the annual Art of the Deal at the MDCA. Being on the AOD committee requires this, but guess what...I hate asking people for money/donations/anything. Part of my purpose for joining the board at the Center was to help with something I care about. Another part was to grow as a person. I guess this falls into both categories. Doing something that feels challenging definitely makes you grow! ACK! Growth!

This blog is something of a stream of consciousness update, so if I go all over, bear with me. As I am writing about the AOD, I'm actually thinking about Jordan. She's been writing a lot lately, creative writing. A friend of our family that is a special friend to Jordan, Heather, has started a writing class for herself (yeah Heather!!) and she's been sharing with us what her class is like, what her assignments are, etc. I'm watching Jordan get very inspired by the assignments even attempting one of her own. It has also inspired Jordan to share more of her creative writing, and she's been open to critique and feedback. What a growth spurt for her. I remember Jordan saying how she hated writing, how she was no good at it. It always struck me as a funny thing for her to say. This is a kid who loves reading, can rip apart a book or character in a heartbeat, knows what she likes, what makes books good but didn't feel that connection with the writing within herself. It's been beautiful watching her move past her own insecurities, and into the bravery it takes to create. Heather's been great about offering real and constructive critisism, not to mention honest praise. You know....it's always been our vision, as homeschooling parents, that our children would learn not only from us but from our community of loving adults as well. And also that this would unfold as their interests unfolded. It's as lovely as we've imagined it. Oh, check out her blog sight for a sample...Jordan's Junk.

Ah, here's another thing. We hit a cool spell yesterday morning. The girls and I walked out the door on the way to our weekly hs gathering and it took our breath away. We all stopped and sighed, breathed deeply.....it's just lovely having the humidity down, the temp down, lovely lovely!! Last night when we got home we opened all the windows up! It's the first time since summer began, probably back in May or something. I heard birds, I heard LIFE! Wonderful wonderful. All day today I've had the windows open and the fans going and the whole house is comfortable. Is the end of the heat in sight? I hope so!

Sunday

To practice art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow. So do it.
~~Kurt Vonnegut

Today Jordan and I went to breakfast at the Highland Street Cafe....seems like it was the usual for both of us. Two eggs, hamsteak, home fries, and dry english muffin for me....French toast and hash browns for Jordan. Me, coffee, Jordan, sweet tea. We had a nice chat. It's always good to get that one-on-one girl time. Makenna was with Ela and Rich is in New Jersey helping out his folks, so we took advantage of the time together.

The Highland St. is the usual dive-y, local joint, not much on aesthetics, but great on that local flavor. We went home for a bit, then off to the Gallery Opening of the Central Florida Plein Air Painters. They came for a paint out event where they painted for two days in Mount Dora, Friday and Saturday, then turned in their work, framed and finished, to be judged, all by Saturday at 4pm. All this wraps up with a gallery opening at the Mount Dora Center for Arts. The show goes until October.

Jordan gracefully agreed to attend with me, thank you Jordan, and it was fun introducing her to the people I've been working with on the board. It was also a very cool experience to have all of the paintings in the gallery be of somewhere in the town. Some were very obvious, the lighthouse, the restaurants, etc. but some were of a house, or a couple strolling down the sidewalk with their dogs. It was cool seing a town I see every day through the eyes of someone else, represented in their artwork. Very nice.

Lots of the paintings were great and I had the pleasure of chatting up one particular artist, Steven Geer. Jordan and I both loved his take on a house on 10th Street in Mount Dora. I'd love to have him come and do a workshop at the Center. His painting just glowed from across the room. He was very inspiring and gracefully shared the plein air experience with me. All of this makes me want to paint. Thanks Steven!

Sugar Cookies in the Tub

I wish I bought this hat!!



This is Makenna. This is Makenna at Goodwill. This is Makenna at Goodwill in Newark, DE. This is Makenna at Goodwill in Newark dressed in an outfit her sister and Sadie made her wear. Look at Makenna smile. Not all the pictures look like this. Some look like this......


This is the duo who dressed her up.

So all of this leads up to my sugar cookie tub experience. I can't really post pictures of that but it's just like the pictures above. I want to remember them. I want to remember this, too. Makenna's been sick this last week so it's been lots of tubs for her. Last night when it was time for her "pre-bed" tub, instead of pouring the Epsom Salts in before she got in the tub, I poured them on her legs while she was in there. She got to laughing, so tonite, when it was time again...time for a good tub to get her all ready for bed, I poured the Epsom Salts all over her. I was dropping them on her by the handfuls. It was piling up all over her. She was laughing and saying how it was almost just too uncomfortable, but no too bad. I told her she looked like a giant sugar cookie. She had the little spoon that was in the tub from when she was stirring up corn starch and was using it to dig Salt out of her belly button! Oh, too funny. It's been a long week with her being sick, and the week before with Jordan being sick, so the Epsom Salt Sugar Cookies experience was a great laugh. Thanks Makenna!!

Grill Thrill

Can you say Pizza Night? I've discovered one of my favorite things to cook on our new gas grill, purchased Memorial Day Weekend (thanks Dad!!), is PIZZA! Who would have thought that you can whip up a bit of dough, roll it nice and thin, stack up a bunch of little discs with lots of flour in between so they don't stick, and hit the grill. I make sure the grill is nice and clean , set on med-low, and lay them right on there....no oil, no nothing. Oh, those little babies puff up like pita bread in the making. Cook for a couple of minutes on one side until you get those nice toasty brown grill marks I love(see photo below), flip over, repeat. When the dough looks nice and dry bring them in and it's Make Your Own Pizza Night. I make sure there are lots of toppings on the table and we all load up our own pizzas. Then it's back out to the grill for what is essentially melting and heating. I don't put anything on these pizza that I want overly cooked, the cooking time just is not there or the crust will be compromised (read burned). They usually do get a bit dark on the bottom, not too bad if I can help it, but nice and crunchy. Ah.....Wonderful. Serve with a tossed salad and a nice Italian Red. Done!!

We made these the other night and Heather and Amalie joined us for an impromptu casual dinner....did the salad, did the pizza, did the wine....most definitely did the organic dark chocolate. Let's do it again!!

PIZZA DOUGH RECIPE

1 TBSP yeast
1 cup warm water
1 tsp sugar
1 tsp salt
2 TBSP olive oil
2 1/2 cups of flour

Disolve the yeast in the warm water with a bit of sweet sugar to feed it. Wake up Yeast, lets eat sugar!! Let it get a bit bubbley, about 15 min if you like, or shorter if you're that sort of cook. Patience patience. Add remaining ingredients and stir it all up until soft and doughy. Knead it a bit if you like to incorporate the ingredients. Set it aside to rest for a while, depends on your timing. 10-15 at shortest, about an hour average. When you are ready, lay out some flour and knead dough for a bit, get it soft and flexible, no longer sticky. Add flour as necessary for doing this. I've divided this amount of dough into about 8-10 pizza flats, it's up to you, how big you like it, how many people you are feeding. So, divide dough with a sharp knife, then lay out more flour for rolling and roll the crusts with a rolling pin, flip and roll, until flat and circular. I lay them on a plate, dust with extra flour so they don't stick together, and stack em up! Hit the grill, watch em puff up, have fun, make pizza.

****Notes****
+I usually use unbleached white flour for this, or white spelt, or some other light flour. Use any combination of flours and play with it.
+This recipe is the framework, if you just "slap and dash" as I call it, and wing the salt, the oil, the flour, you can usually make it all work out....go with your gut and it's all good. Dough is fun!
+I never oil the crusts when I grill....you'll want to, but resist the urge, you can do it.

FAVORITE PIZZAS

Ok, my fav at the moment is the BBQ Chicken pizza and when I make grilled chicken I make sure I have a bit left over specifically for this pizza. Obsessed I know. Ok, it's crust layered with bbq sauce, a bit of marinara sauce, mozz cheese, red onion, and chicken.. YEAH!

Next up fav is the olive oil, garlic, basil and fresh tomatoes.

Then it's on to veggie....any and every.

No worries though, it's all good...so good!

Denim Bag Project

Ok, so here's my latest project that I've been working on. I started it a couple of years ago (typical) and have had a sudden renewed interest in it. I took a pair of Makenna's jeans and cut them off, sewed up the bottom, tucked in a little corner for detail and shaping, and voila`, ready to embroider! I did the little flowers on the right and the pocket edging right after I did the sewing. I've added the funky trees, swirls and back pocket details this summer. The trees were inspired by an embroidery kit that I saw for sale, so I boggarted the design and hand drew them on the bag with a Sharpie.

The back pocket work was inspired by this bumper sticker I bought in Newark, Delaware on my summer trip up north. We always check out the downtown scene (ha!) when we visit, a sort of revisiting the old stomping grounds kind of thing, and now my girls love it there for the record stores, the little shops and the piece de resistance ~ a killer Goodwill pumped up with good stuff from the college scene and all that that entails.

Ok, so...the bumper sticker came from Crystal Concepts, a little metaphysical shop, all lavender and sparkly, complete with a lavender painted bathtub out front enjoying a second life as a flower planter. Lovely. The pic isn't too great, but it says Grow Slow and is decorated with a planty/garden style lettering.

I'm planning on using the vintage ribbon (yes, real honest to goodness vintage bought at an antique show from a booth loaded with vintage ric rac, and buttons, and linens, oh JOY!) shown with the bag as part of the handle. I'll probably make a handle out of the leftover denim, and then do the ribbon as an inlay or something. I'll keep you posted!!

I still have a bit more work to do on the bag, a little crescent moon over the trees by the change pocket to embroider, and I'm thinking what I'd like to do on the other back pocket. I have a feeling this bag will turn out to be like an old pair of jeans that never seems "done" with patches, and possibilities. Sounds good to me!

Thanks for checking it out and I'll update when there are any changes.

Oliver

Ok, here's the way my mind works....I've just decided that at some time in my life I want to have a dog #1 and #2 to name said dog Oliver. I LOVE the name Oliver, and I can just completely imagine having a cute, wonderful, loyal dog named Oliver. Doesn't the name just invoke images of a great companion, a hang out everywhere with you, maybe even a good hiker dog? Of course we're also talking a good Sunday morning coffee, muffin, newspaper in bed kind of dog. I'd like to think Oliver would be great for taking around town, even doing the coffee shop hang out thing. Ahhh, I have been such a "cat" person for so long but I am finding the idea of a dog, the right dog, not just any dog, but the idea of Oliver is actually appealing lately. Ok, off I go...."here Ollie, here boy!" See you next time.

A Lovely Day When Your Gal Turns 15

Today....today was a lovely day.

Birthdays have changed for me as I've gotten older. Not in the usual way, or maybe in the way most people think. But in the way of becoming this sacred celebration of the bringing forth of the life changing human being that is your child.

Today was the celebration of Jordan's birthday. It was a day of gifts for me all around, for gifts for all of us all around. Thinking about the day of her birth, being with her, helping her unfold her day as she chose, as she would want, hanging out with friends...all of this is a gentle, non fireworks kind of being together and yet it's just the sort of "life celebration" that makes me look back on the day, or sigh into the exact moment in the day, and it's so sweet, so utterly a perfect blessing that my heart just cannot help but expand.

A few details, the "on the surface" type of details that don't address the above comments. Those kinds of details lie between the lines, you'll just have to trust me on that one.

Ok, wake up, bring the bike La bought for her out of the garage and put it in front of the sliding glass window, decorate with streamers. Make lunch and frost brownies to take to LIFE day at Kristine's. J wakes up to happy happy bike time! Leave house and stop in Mt. Dora at the coffee shop for Jordan and walk to the bakery for Makenna. Chat it up a bit at the coffee shop then we're off to Kristine's. Take the long way to Kristines (duh, miss turn) and spend the day hanging out, doing barter day, eating pot luck lunch, and getting our Sampler items *YEAH* Have a nice chat with Kristine in Elizabeth's room. I love filling the kids spaces with new memories, new energy. Just having Elizabeth come in and see me sitting on her floor pillows and her mom sitting on the floor, I think might just expand her heart, imprint it in some way, show her just how loved she is, how good her space is. It's subtle, but it's there.

Anyway, so chatting it up a bit with Kristine, which is always a bonus, never can I get enough of that. Jordan declares it's time to go, Makenna changes back into dry clothes (Jordan will need to sit in a towel all the way home, chittering, cold from eating water ice) from them running thru the rain. Off we go to Jeremiah's for water-ice with Sadie with us to stay the night. Jordan likes how we can go to her and say "tell mom to get water-ice" for example, and she can say "get water-ice" and it happens. The birthday girl with the power! Anyway, home we went after stopping for water-ice(how many times can I say water-ice!!). Then we went to the first Mt. Dora street party, picked up Kenny, and Sean, and met Bron there. Afterwards dropped of Kenny and Sean and went to Perkins for some White Trash Birthday Bash! Fun there and home for present distribution.

Some really sweet moments.

Makenna gave Jordan a CD of crooners, and Pass the Pigs, and a crystal, all her own ideas, and in her birthday card that she made she included a treasure map for Jordan to find a coupon for 10 free dances with her anytime Jordan asks her. It was so sweet. Jordan decided to cash in on one of the dances while listening to the crooners. Jordan had originally seen the CD Makenna bought her when we were in Target and she made Makenna dance with her right then and there in the aisle! So, the dance coupon is to support that, more of the "I'll dance with you wherever you ask me to, even if it's embarassing". What a gift. I told Jordan she should save the very last dance on the coupon for one of their weddings, and make Makenna dance with her on that day in front of everyone. Makes me well up thinking about it.

We ended the night with a little Nerf Dart Gun shooting and a big bowl of popcorn.

What a day, what a day, what a day. Thanks be to the Universe for it. My heart is full, my cup is full, I am full.

Whose birthday was it?

See....I told you birthdays weren't the same anymore.

First Post with a new Blog

I've been wanting to have a blog site (all my own) for a while now so there's some excitement to finally getting one! As I sit and write this it's apparant to me there're obstacles to having one. One noticable obstacle is the whole Peeping Tom aspect of it. Journaling is interesting and freeing and important because of it's cathartic aspect. Seems to me that's one of the easier things to achieve while you are writing something you are pretty sure no one else will see. What then when your journal suddenly goes public? What's the switch that happens in the mind to make the person up on stage, with the lights on, and all eyes watching, suddenly go from mentally freaked out, to....hey, it's okay, let me share who I am? As for me, I'm not sure of the answer yet, but I'm willing to try it, make myself more accessable, fear embarassment less, share who and what I am without apology, and maybe, just maybe learn a bit about myself in the process.