The Turn of Another Year

New Years Eve will always be bittersweet for me.
My baby,
oh my baby,
How did you get to be Nine?
This little girl has taught me
so many things.
To love, to live, to give, to look at random butterflies,
to appreciate the small things, to be awed at the big things.
As the year closes I look back ever so wistfully
at the year and years gone by.
Happy Birthday
Miss Shannon!
Mommy Loves You
more than you could ever know.

See the world the right way!

There are no seven wonders of the world in the eyes of a child. There are seven million.
~Walt Streightiff ~

The moon, how it calls to me

There is something haunting in the light of the moon; it has all the dispassionateness of a disembodied soul, and something of its inconceivable mystery.  ~Joseph Conrad

Winters Beauty

The poetry of the earth is never dead.
~John Keats~

New Year's Day:  Now is the accepted time to make your regular annual good resolutions.  Next week you can begin paving hell with them as usual.  ~Mark Twain

We are coming to the end of the traditional year.  I have spent the time between Samhain and now reviewing the past year.  Accepting my mistakes and learning from them, congratulating myself on the things I have done well, and being quietly thankful for the joys in my life.  As this year winds to a close, I brace myself for the joys and challenges that the next year will bring.  With the love and friendship that surrounds me, I will grow and become a better person.  My wish for all of you is that you will do the same.  

Believe

Believe in the magic,
Believe in the joy,
Believe in the wonder.
Don't be afraid to feel
that little spark
that makes it
all possible.

Happy Christmas!

For a very Special Lady

A mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavor by her kind precepts and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.

~Washington Irving~

Happy Birthday!
~I Love you Mom~

Santa is Coming!

"I like smiling!  Smiling is my favorite!" ~ Buddy Elf

From 2005.  The sheer joy on her face as she meets "The Man" makes me smile.

Wee Tree

This year we planted a wee little
Christmas Tree in our yard.

We plan on decorating it every year
forever.

This year it is getting eaten up by
the decorations.

It makes me smile.

One of the many reasons I homeschool

You may not know it, but this is what part of the ocean floor looks like.  Well, it's what it would be if two 5th graders sculpted it out of play dough.  Personally, I like the funkiness of the play dough versions a lot!  Each girl used their play dough to make the continental shelf and slope, the abyssal plain, an atoll, and a guyot.  Kim and Sarah are almost done with The World's Oceans and next we move on to The Earth's Atmosphere.

I love teaching these girls.  I watch them learn and it makes my hippie heart trip along happily.  I know Becca feels the same way.  Do you remember when you watched your child take their first step?  That feeling was so amazing.  We are lucky enough to see so many of those "a-ha!" moments while we teach and learn.  Make no mistake about it ~ we learn as much (if not more) then the girls do!

Angel Chimes

When I was a child the Angel Chimes
could captivate me for hours on end.
This year I unpacked them and set them up for my kids.
The look of pure wonder and joy on Miss Shannon's face
brought back so many happy memories.
Family loved, remembered, no longer with us, still with us,
missed, and always in my heart.
The Chimes make my Hippie Heart Happy!

Tradition

Since before I was born, the youngest member of the family crowned the top of the tree with our angel.  For as long as I can remember, until Kim was born, I put this angel on top of the tree.  Now, as I watch my only child place this angel on our tree, I am feeling so blessed that tradition lives on. 

"It is a tradition.  And because of our traditions, every one of us knows who he is.....Without our traditions, our lives would be as shaky as ....a fiddler on a roof" ~Topol from Fiddler on the Roof

Clouds in the middle

Every rainbow has it's pots of gold
But sometimes you get stuck
in the Clouds in the middle.
Just remember that on either side of you
there is great beauty.
You just gotta get through
the clouds to see it!

Worries

I keep the telephone of my mind open to peace, harmony, health, love and abundance. Then, whenever doubt, anxiety or fear try to call me, they keep getting a busy signal - and soon they'll forget my number.
~Edith Armstrong~

S.C.J.

My Sean is 12 today.
I am so proud of the young man
that he is becoming.
He is smart, kind, funny,imaginative,
caring, giving, loving, devious, fun,
and most of all
he will always be my baby.
I LOVE you
Sean.

Contentment

 

No pithy, witty, or funny caption.

Just contentment.

Childhood Joy

My little
Miss Shannon
won the Mayors heart
with this picture.
She thinks it was
the Fish
with a scarf,
I just think it is
WONDERFUL!

http://www.cob.org/features/2010-12-13-holiday-cards.aspx

Make It Any Way You Can!

Sometimes, when you're surrounded by water, you just have to make your own island.

Puddles

When life gives you puddles
be brave enough
to call it
Lake Front Property!

The Boy

The boy turns a year older this week.

I know that Becca will do an amazing post for him, but I felt the need to take a moment to kind of look back at the last few months.

This is an amazing child, turning into a young man that any mother would be proud to have.  He's loyal, loving, smart, funny, silly, and all around amazing.

I love you buddy!

Relax

Don't let your mind bully your body into believing it must carry the burden of its worries.

~Astrid Alauda~

Love Transcends

 

Through all of life's trials and tribulations

Love Transcends

Taking the Time

As the Holidays quickly approach
*GULP*
People are running around
*CRAZY*
Don't forget to take the time
*Hard I Know*
To bask in the wonders of the world around you
*You Will Thank Me*

I do fairies, I do, I do!

 

The exclamations of a 3 year old in a downtown cafe

come to fruition 5 years later

when her papa dons the garb

and shows that he too believes in fairies.

My Christmas List

Do you remember me?
I sat upon your knee
I wrote to you with childhood fantasies
Well, I'm all grown-up now
Can you still help somehow?
I'm not a child, but my heart still can dream

So here's my lifelong wish
My grown-up Christmas list
Not for myself, but for a world in need

No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal all hearts
Every man would have a friend
That right would always win
And love would never end
This is my grown-up Christmas list

What is this illusion called the innocence of youth?
Maybe only in that blind belief can we ever find the truth

No more lives torn apart
That wars would never start
And time would heal our hearts
Every man would have a friend
That right would always win
And love would never end

This is my grown-up Christmas list
This is my only lifelong wish
This is my grown-up Christmas list

A small ray of sunshine........

Wrapping up the unintentional pet week here on the blog is CC.

She's soaking up some the nice sun that we had at the beginning of November.

I love the way she's claiming the van as her own; as if she merely loans it out to B.  

~We need a word for all the kitty-prints that are all over my windshield because the cats like to lie on my hood when the car is still warm. - Megan Coughlin~

Slow My Roll

There's a new day on the horizon
There's a rising in the air
Somewhere somebody's tryin' to tell me they care
So I'm a lift my head to a new day
Plant my feet on the ground
Look at life in a new way and what's goin' down
Cuz today's the day, I'm gonna take things slow
Try and change my ways, forgive and let all that go
Tell the ones I love, what they need to know
I'm gonna turn around, settle down
And slow my roll
~Kid Rock~

Today I'm gonna try and change the world

Becca and I have a fun game.  We roll down the windows in all kinds of weather (read: once when it was raining) and we stick our arms out and wave at other drivers, joggers, dog walkers, people hanging outside the Coconut Grove, or anyone we see.  Why do we do this?  We do this because it makes people smile.  Even when they look at us like we are crazy, they usually smile.  Many people wave.  Occasionally, some people even roll down their windows and start waving at other people to make them smile as well.  It's all for the smile baby!

Today I'm gonna try and change the world
Gonna take it one day at a time
I've made my resolution
I've opened up my eyes
Today I'm gonna try and change the world

I'm gonna say hello to my neighbor
Greet him with a smile
Shake the hand of a stranger
Sit and talk to him for a while
Tell someone I love them
From the bottom of my heart
Today I'm gonna try to change the world

Gonna make sure my children
Know right from wrong
Never turn my back
On those who need someone
Always gonna try to see myself
Through another's eyes
Today I'm gonna try to change the world

Today I'm gonna try and change the world
Today I'm gonna try and change the world
Not for me, but for those I'll leave behind
I've made my resolution
Change it one day at time
Today I'm gonna try and change the world

~Johnny Reid~

Dana Lyons

Dana Lyons is an AMAZING person.
Now that I got that out of the way let me tell you why.
Yesterday Alderwood Elementary School had the great privilege of having Dana Lyons be our kick off for the Green Schools program Susan and I are so excited to start.
Dana has an amazing capacity to give a damn, which my happy hippie heart just LOVES.
Then to top it all off he is a very genuine person, which is just an amazing quality to find in anyone. Thank You Dana for all that you do, all that you are, and for the shared dream in a better world. Your Happy Hippie Heart is appreciated.


"When you say you are afraid I understand
In a place where one can rarely smell the land
But the ocean breeze still blows here, that will never end
The seeds are lying dormant, it will never end "
~Willie Says~
~Dana Lyons~



http://www.cowswithguns.com

Big Buddy

Apparently it is Pet Week on Happy Hippie Heart.  Sparkle tried on Aubrey's sweater and wore it like a dress.  Sparkle is the big buddy.  He's 18 pounds of kitty cat and we love him so much.  Even Kevin, the anti-cat man, loves the big buddy.  Sparkle is a cat of many talents.  He can be the king of the forest, a lamb, or little bunny foo foo.  He enjoys it.  Trust me.  I keep trying to bring him home but Becca catches me every time......One of these days.........

Love in surprising places

Look for Love in surprising places.
Sometimes love can be seen in the oddest ways.
Like two feet at a beach.
It makes me smile......

Pictionary

 

We've been trying to have a game night once a week.

On Saturday night we decided on Pictionary.  I'm a big fan of horrible drawings and insane laughter.

Can you guess what these are?

*picture is very obviously not taken by the talented Becca but by my phone*

Life

"Old Before Your Time"

When I was a younger man lookin' for my pot of gold
Everywhere I turned the doors were closin'
It took every ounce of faith I had to keep on keepin' on
And still I felt like I was only losin'

I refused then like I do now to let anybody tie me down
And I lost a few good friends along the way
I was raised up poor and I wanted more
And maybe I'm a little too proud
In lookin' back I see a kid who was just
Afraid, hungry and old before his time

Through the years I've known my share of broken hearted fools
And those who couldn't choose a path worth taking
There's nothin' in the world so sad as talking to a man
Who never knew his life was his for making

Ain't it about time you realize? It's not worth keepin' score
You win some, you lose some and you let it go
What's the use of stacking on every failure another stone
Till you find you've spent your whole damn life
Building walls, lonely and old before your time

It took so long to see
That truth was all around me

Now the wren has gone to roost and the sky is turnin' gold
And like the sky my soul is also turnin'
Turnin' from the past, at last and all I've left behind
Could it be that I am finally learnin'?

Learnin' I'm deserving of love and the peaceful heart
I won't tear myself apart no more for tryin'
I'm tired of lyin' to myself, tryin' to buy what can't be bought
It's not livin' that you're doin' if it feels like dyin
Cryin, growin' old before your time
Cryin, growin' old before your time



~Ray LaMontagne~

October Recap

I decided that we should do a recap at the end of each month in a vid.  I was going to post the video here as well as youtube but the quality on blogger vid is not great.  Here is the link to the October Recap.  I would love some feedback.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nCa1jgdPjsI

 

Enjoy!

Silly Dog

 

What can you say about Aubrey?  

This dog is the biggest goofball that I've ever seen!

Smile

Today I would like to share a smile,
or two
with you!
Enjoy your day!

Thanks

Today is a day for me to give thanks.  I won't go into my feelings about the rest of the meaning because I just want to be thankful.  I am thankful for so much but it all boils down to 3 things.  Family, friends, and the earth I live on.  So thank you for being a part of my life!

Home is where my Happy Hippie Heart is.

As Thanksgiving is quickly approaching
I like to reflect on a year past
and the things in my life that I am
Thankful for.

My Home holds so many of the things on that
list.

My Family, my animals, my friends,
Good times, good food, good love,
Happy memories, Happy people, Happiness.

As you reflect back,
What is your Happy Hippie Heart
most Thankful for?

Find it,
Enjoy it,
LOVE

Friends....not food!

Many months ago, B's neighbor built a pig pen and chicken coop.
We were absolutely devastated.
We just knew we were going to watch these sweet little piglets grow up
and one day be made into food for omnivores.
As it happens, the neighbor just loves him some pet pigs, so
the pigs are Friends, not food!

That made my hippie heart happy!  Here is one of the sweet little piglets.  Not so little anymore, is she?

Be a Kid!

When the weather gets icky
and our lives demand that we continue on
with being a grownup
remember to take the time to let your inner kid out.
Your Happy Hippie Heart will thank you!

Peace

Peace is such a simple thing. 
It reaches into your soul,
Brings you up a level,
and makes you better.
Nature understands this.
Nature shows us how to live.
We just have to learn to listen.

SNOW!!!!

May your Happy Hippie Heart enjoy the snow enough to stick your
face
in
it!
ENJOY THE DAY!

Don't be afraid to Break the Silence

Hello darkness, my old friend
I've come to talk with you again
Because a vision softly creeping
Left its seeds while I was sleeping
And the vision that was planted in my brain
Still remains
Within the sound of silence

In restless dreams I walked alone
Narrow streets of cobblestone
'Neath the halo of a street lamp
I turned my collar to the cold and damp
When my eyes were stabbed by the flash of a neon light
That split the night
And touched the sound of silence

And in the naked light I saw
Ten thousand people, maybe more
People talking without speaking
People hearing without listening
People writing songs that voices never share
And no one dared
Disturb the sound of silence

"Fools", said I, "You do not know
Silence like a cancer grows
Hear my words that I might teach you
Take my arms that I might reach you"
But my words, like silent raindrops fell
And echoed
In the wells of silence

And the people bowed and prayed
To the neon god they made
And the sign flashed out its warning
In the words that it was forming
And the sign said, "The words of the prophets are written on the subway walls
And tenement halls"
And whispered in the sounds of silence

~ Simon & Garfunkel ~

Perspective

Autumn is a second spring when every leaf is a flower. ~Albert Camus

Looking Down

Sometimes in life we need to look down to be able to see the upside.
It's getting cold, and blustery, and just over all wintery.
Sometimes it is hard to see it go.
Take the time,
See,
Enjoy,
Live.

Some days just need a little sunshine

Some days you need a little sunshine
Some days you need to remember that flowers bloom
Some days you just need something to smile about.

Today, this made me smile.
What makes you smile?

Know Yourself

~ Reputation is what other people know about you. Honor is what you know about yourself. ~

Lois McMaster Bujold

Rainbows make me happy!

Rainbows make me happy.
They are miracles of light refraction.
The legends that surround them fascinate me.
Hey, did you know that they also can infuse tasty cake with their awesomeness?

Becca made this cake a few years ago.  It might be time for a repeat performance......