Spring Break 2014...

...has ended. And I so mourn the regular routines of school and work resuming again tomorrow.

Spring Break was lazy days...

And random movie nights.

It was my son making his first loaf of bread, all on his own...

 

...and my morning runs...

Easter Sunday and white pants and dress shoes coming out from fall and winter hiding...

Time in nature. So much wonderful time in nature...

 

A trip to the city, which led to an exciting discovery and writing assignment/collaboration that I can't wait to share...

 

 

Purging, cleaning out, and making space with Hannah Marcotti's Making Space Cleanse...

 A whole lotta Skyping, time with friends, good food, and complicated wine bottles...

And did I say time in nature, lazy days, and sunshine...

 

 

...and Azalea bouquets?

And setting bark boats to sail on the eve of our last day of Spring Break 2014...

If this is a preface to summer, then I can't wait.

Hope your spring break was as amazing as ours!!!

I Am A Runner

For many years, I wanted to be a runner.

I was attracted to the idea of running. There seemed to be a freedom to it, a freedom I wanted to experience for myself. And runners looked strong to me. You'd have to be, to push yourselves that hard, and for that distance. I wanted to be strong, too.

I was told, however, that I couldn't do it. I had asthma, and as a child the world of physical activity had been made essentially off limits to me.

I might have an attack if I ran.

A few weeks ago, I participate in my first 5K. I ran most of it, but as my son was with me, we had periods of walking. And that was okay.

This week, I added distance to my 3x weekly run. Pushing myself, because I love the way it feels. And I love the way I feel after a run.

Being told I couldn't do it as a child only served to motivate me to try harder to do it as an adult. While I embraced all forms of physical exercise in my early 20s, I still hesitated when it came to running. I joined gyms and used treadmills to walk. I took aerobics and lifted weights. I am bit of a hyper person, I have to move, so exercising comes easily to me. And while I was fit, I still believed, somewhere deep inside of me, that I couldn't be a runner.

This is the year that I finally shattered that myth.

This is now my gym. No membership fees, no machines...

And this is me...

...running.

****Note: Always speak with a doctor or medical professional before beginning any exercise program, especially if you have led sedentary lifestyle. And start slowly.

Hannah Marcotti's Making Space Cleanse...

...is such a wonderful, powerful experience. I highly recommend it.

While I am only on Day 3 of the Making Space Cleanse, I'll share with you a little sneak peek, a brief photo walk through my past few days...


of noticing light...

 

...not just stacks of books.

Of noticing richness and blessings with my morning meal...

...instead of just last night's dishes.

Making a choice to eliminate the television from my bedroom space...

...to allow space for richer, more meaningful routines.

Being bold, even if it is just with color, like a red flower pot from Germany that seemed to have no place, now at home against a solid white wall. The red reassures me now, makes me feel alive. I want more of this color in my color story...

And allowing what is different to be at home here, in my space, rather than seeking to conform my environment - or myself - to some unified theme...

 

And recognizing the need for spaces in our togetherness...as well as space for spontaneity,  such as a Tuesday movie night...

 

Each day comes with new ideas, lessons, inspirations, which I carry with me throughout the hours. In a new way, I take in my surroundings. Yesterday, three small bags were donated to the resale shop. Today we head to the city to sell books we no longer read or want to read to the used book store, which is also a great excuse to visit city on spring holiday! :-) Monday I sold some jewelry items I no longer wear at a very fair price to local jeweler, and a small valuable painting I was no longer displaying as well. I had courage to let these things go, to share them in some way with rest of world, and to open my space. To let in new and wonderful things. To look around and see what I want to see in my environment, not just in my imagination. 

The Making Space Cleanse is very affordable, a beautiful sensual journey, and I do recommend it if you are at a place where you need to step back, look at your space, and also yourself, with new eyes.  I'll write more as my 10 day journey continues...

For more information on Hannah Marcotti, visit http://hannahmarcotti.com/

Exploring Your Own Backyard - A Day With My Son Exploring My Hometown

It is Easter Sunday, and I am on day three of a 10 day break from work.

I have a relatively stressful job. Though I enjoy it, this break is a blessing. And what am I planning to do? Where we will spend our time? What will we explore?

Well, in addition to the online course I am taking online with Hannah Marcotti, I'm going to be spending alot of time around here.

Exploring our own backyard.

Last Saturday, I did this with my son, when we attended The Abbeville French Heritage Festival. I grew up in Abbeville, and though I visit there often, it is generally only to see my parents. Though it is not far at all from where we are now, I'd never once taken my son just to explore the town where I grew up. Beyond his grandparent's house, he didn't know Abbeville much at all.

We changed that last Saturday. From car shows to home tours to just strolling around, we made the most of the afternoon, and the boy got to know just a little bit more about my hometown. This is important to me. Connections are our history, and they create our story. I wanted my son to see my hometown as I had, growing up. To stroll the streets, visit the sites, eat at the cafes, visit the old homes, smell the magnolias on Main Street, and look up at the sky through a Dogwood tree's blossoms.

I'll let the photos tell the rest of the story. :-)

A meal and a message! And one of the best meals I've had lately at New Milano's Cafe

Thow in a car show on the town square...

And a walk up the street, to check out those old servant's quarters at the McGowan-Barksdale-Bundy House on Main Street. So often I explored those as a child, but now they are only open during tours.

The little red caboose is now location on the grounds of the MBB House, though I'm not sure why. Nevertheless, all boys love trains! So it was a nice surprise for him to be able to check this out as well!

And what is more Southern than bare legs and boots?

A girl has to shop, and Abbeville has some of the cutest boutiques and eclectic antique shops in the South!

I fell in love with this at Just Off Main, a wonderful new antique shop located at 101 Church Street.

A candle holder made by a local farmer from an old whiskey barrel siding. So simple, and so zen...of course, it had to come home with us. :-)

Last on our sight seeing agenda was the jewel of Abbeville, the famous Burt Stark Mansion, located just a few block down the street from where I grew up.

We've passed this house hundreds of time enroute to see my parents. On this day, however, we toured it, and my son learned many things about not only the house itself, but the history of his mother's town of birth. And he loves history and old things just as I do. I'd toured the house only once before myself, when I wasn't much older than him.

There is nothing like closing a wonderful day by gazing up through Dogwood blossoms at a clear blue sky. We ended our trip to Abbeville with a visit to my parent's home, to tell them all about our adventures and share a meal.

And our souvenier of a day spent exploring my hometown looks lovely in our den.

When you are craving a bit of adventure, remember your own backyard, or backyards nearby. You just might be surprised what kind of adventure, interesting history, wonderful food and intriguing people you might find there. Our guide at the Burt-Stark house was lively, informed, and patient with my son's many questions. And our meal at New Milano's Cafe, well, I just can't say enough about the tasty food and friendly service. I'll close this post with an image of our view from cafe, both inside and out.

While I adore travel, I've also come to learn the importance of everyday exploring...becoming familiar in a new way with familiar places, and introducing our children to our own history. It's so important to introduce them to all sorts of places, from grand and far away to small, lovely places right in our own backyards!

Happy Travels!