learning compassion through metrics

The girls are always playing, "I'm her." If we are reading a book, each girl picks out who they are. If they are watching a show, Sienna secures her girl, usually the IT girl, within the first few seconds. This means that Olivia is stuck with a lesser character, which Sienna tries to build up to be a good one before sweet O cries and tells me that Sienna is taking Doc McStuffins again.

Maybe my continuous pleads with Sienna for a bit of compassion during this game has paid off. The other day I overheard this gem:

S: "Olivia, do you know that song, the one with the calculator and the ruler? (Stars by Au Revoir Simone)

Liv: "No."

S: "Well, I am the the ruler and the calculator."

Liv: "Who can I be?"

S: "You can be the ladder. Even though they don't talk about you in the song, you're still important because we'll need one to climb up to the sky and measure all the stars."

on the seventh day

Cy Twombly's studio via 2or3things I know

my winter driveway

via magic surrounds

cool weather hunting.
for ideas. 

1/52

"a portrait of my children's artwork, once a week, every week, in 2013."

One of my continuous sources of inspiration online is the lovely blog Che and Fidel.  Aside from her kids sweet names, which I love, her aesthetic, photographs and thoughtful content are so beautiful and always brighten my day. I have followed Jodi along last year watching her 52 project and was so happy to see that she was inviting others to join in.

I have been fledgeling to start a blog for the last few months and to try and figure out what my voice will be here. Since art and creativity are kind of my thing, I thought it would be fun to follow my kids along artistically throughout the year. This project is just what I needed to get organized and jump start the year!

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artwork this week

s. at home. 

o. puddles. 

along for the ride

Life is ours to be spent. 
D.H. Lawrence

the last bits of living, 2012

We're still down in mexico living the last few days out of the year. We had friends come to spend new years and my birthday with us, which has been so much fun. And we went zip lining! 

We've spent so much time down here exploring what we thought was every nook of the place. Apparently we had missed this magical zip lining adventure tucked away in a little valley south of ensenada. With six zip lines, five wobbly bridges and two brave six year olds, we had such an amazing time! 

The rest of the week we watched movies, played games, took an impromptu group dive in the cold ocean and just hung out. Nothing better than family, friends and a getting out of our comfort zone, to wrap up the year. Wishing you all a good end and a new, fresh beginning. xx

by the sea

it seems odd living by the ocean most of my life that there will be periods where i don't see it that often. in the last few years, that's really changed. we spent most of last year renovating our home in mexico. salvaging might actually be more like it. that process, and the comfortable gathering place that it is now, has brought us back to the ocean. being on the water, i realize it's where i am most calm.  

i can think

i can breathe.

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teach them to long for the endless immensity of the sea.
antoine de saint-exupery

christmas

christmas week

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cold saltillo mornings
deserted beach walks
candlelight dinners
strings of lights
cozy fires
presents
family
joy.

the free market

Do you ever feel like nature is a perfect market for home decorating? I must admit that I do. Nature's bounty has provided me with so many great home decor items over the years and I am not sure that I have every properly thanked her. Certainly while on her shores, I pick up litter and while atop her peaks, I praise her greatness, but I would like to declare my written gratitude for all the beautiful things that she has so generously provided me.  

Driftwood from Big Sur beaches.
Bowls of sand dollars from secluded coves in Mexico.
A jar of sea-weathered glass and worn foreign debris from Koh Phangan.
Mossy branches from many forested hikes.
A dead pine tree for a Eco-Christmas party, one year in the 90's. 
And the list goes on. 

A few weeks ago while camping, I found this old stump that is sitting in the middle of my studio dutifully holding my paints and inspiring happiness just by being there, and this sculptural burl that is sitting atop a stack of magazines in the living room. Two found objects that are beautiful and appreciated. Nature, I owe you one. 

if by Liberal

"If by a "Liberal" they mean someone who looks ahead and not behind, someone who welcomes new ideas without rigid reactions, someone who cares about the welfare of the people-their health, their housing, their schools, their jobs, their civil rights and their civil liberties-someone who believes we can break through the stalemate and suspicions that grip us in our policies, if that is what they mean by a "Liberal", then I'm proud to say I'm a "Liberal.”

John F. Kennedy, Acceptance of the New York Liberal Party nomination, 1960.

lost + found

lost.
some stability.
hours of sleep.

found.
a sense of calm.
the good feeling of frugality.
endless possibilities.