I recently was given the opportunity to show some artwork in an exhibition called Snowclones. It's a really exciting show and has been a lot of fun.
Monday, August 8, 2011
Snowclones
After an Arlo inspired hiatus I am making art again! And it's a wonderful thing!
I recently was given the opportunity to show some artwork in an exhibition called Snowclones. It's a really exciting show and has been a lot of fun.
I recently was given the opportunity to show some artwork in an exhibition called Snowclones. It's a really exciting show and has been a lot of fun.
Thursday, July 28, 2011
And now
It's been awhile since I updated. So much has happened! Yoga, art, love, apartment renovations...! Months have passed, and I wasn't really sure what to post after we lost Moon. We were very sad and everything was so crazy with renovations, that nothing seemed important enough to post as a follow up. But now so much has changed that it's finally time to start anew. We still really miss Moon a lot. I often think how cruel it is that our furry friends don't stay around as long as we might like.
That said, my sweet skinned, 2 legged, beloved Arlo is growing and becoming more and more interesting every single day!! He is soaking up the world around him, and Ben and I are learning to watch our language! ;) My little yogi will go right into downward facing dog if one of us calls it out. He understands so much of what we say and what is going on around him.
Our 2 month long apartment renovations were long and arduous, despite the fact that we weren't physically doing the majority of the work. It was painfully difficult working from home, trying to take care of a toddler, and having strangers in our home making loud noises all the time!
But life starts anew (thank goodness!) and time ticks by whether we're ready for it or not.
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| Image via http://www.ics.uci.edu/~eppstein/pix/dv/CrackedMud1.html |
That said, my sweet skinned, 2 legged, beloved Arlo is growing and becoming more and more interesting every single day!! He is soaking up the world around him, and Ben and I are learning to watch our language! ;) My little yogi will go right into downward facing dog if one of us calls it out. He understands so much of what we say and what is going on around him.
Our 2 month long apartment renovations were long and arduous, despite the fact that we weren't physically doing the majority of the work. It was painfully difficult working from home, trying to take care of a toddler, and having strangers in our home making loud noises all the time!
So here we are today, reconciled with the time that's past, enjoying the moments as they go by (even more so now that the heatwave has subsided) and looking forward, but not rushing it.
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
Moon
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| Image via Science On a Sphere |
There was a full moon 14 years ago on the night when Ben found a little black kitten, who he named Moon. Our Moon girl has had a good life, a life of leisure, I might say. She hasn't had to hunt for food or look for warmth or affection. She has had to deal with a young human cub these last nineteen months, but he has loved her and learned to be gentle with her in his adoration. She, in turn, has been incredibly tolerant and sweet with him. They are fast friends. There have been plenty of scratches, but only when he deserved them.
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| Our Moon |
I am so sad that we had to say goodbye to Moon this evening, and I am still kind of in shock.
I know I shouldn't be surprised. She's an older cat, and has never been the picture of health. We took her to the vet a week ago and found out she had hyperthyroidism, so I guess I thought she was getting better and would stick around for awhile. If we lived in the country she probably would have left us a few weeks ago, and not come back. But for some reason it's still a sad surprise.
Arlo really loves Moon, probably as much as we do. He follows her around the house and says her name. I really wanted her to live long enough for him to remember her.
I think we're going to be a family of two legged creatures for awhile. I figure someday Arlo will ask for another pet, and we'll want to oblige his request. But for now, all I can say is that I'm eternally grateful for the good times and the good love we had with Moon. I will miss her a lot.
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
5th wedding anniversary
For our fifth wedding anniversary Ben and I decided to leave town at the very last minute. Within 2 hours of making the decision, we were packed and on the road. I think we both had been itching to get out of the city for awhile. Pretty much every time we've gotten in the car the last month I've said "I wish we were going somewhere--I mean other than the grocery! I want to be in the woods" (or at the ocean or in the mountains, etc.) We had numerous conversations that started with one of us asking "What if we just head north right now? I mean we could wear the same clothes for a few days... hike, climb some rocks..." So I certainly wasn't shocked when the moment came and we decided to get the heck out of town to celebrate our anniversary. What a great excuse! :)
Ben and I both grew up in rural settings. As a kid, I have a very clear memory of learning what the word "dusk" meant, because that's when I had to come home. But other than that we would pack sandwiches and spend our days in the woods. In the summer we tromped in Rocky Creek, in the winter we sledded Suicide Hill. Ahh, sweet memories.
As a teenager I couldn't wait to escape country life and get lost in the city. As an adult I've spent most of my time in cities, retreating to the country at every chance I get. Having a baby in the city has cemented so many of my values, it still surprises me. No matter whether we live here forever or end up somewhere else, it's crucial for me that my boy knows how things grow and where his food comes from. He should know the leaves and the dirt and the sound of the birds. He should know mud and wild onions and wild animals. I remember with fond pride watching him pick his first (organic) apple off a tree and start munching. He was 13 months old.
And now back to our story.
For five years now Ben and I have been married. For five years as a married couple, bound by law (!!) we've suffered each others' quirks and moods and enjoyed and annoyed. And I'd do it all again.
We had unseasonably lovely weather for our anniversary, 2 days before the official start of spring. Absolutely gorgeous weather, just like the day we were married. I'm glad we were able to get out and enjoy it. Together.
Ben and I both grew up in rural settings. As a kid, I have a very clear memory of learning what the word "dusk" meant, because that's when I had to come home. But other than that we would pack sandwiches and spend our days in the woods. In the summer we tromped in Rocky Creek, in the winter we sledded Suicide Hill. Ahh, sweet memories.
As a teenager I couldn't wait to escape country life and get lost in the city. As an adult I've spent most of my time in cities, retreating to the country at every chance I get. Having a baby in the city has cemented so many of my values, it still surprises me. No matter whether we live here forever or end up somewhere else, it's crucial for me that my boy knows how things grow and where his food comes from. He should know the leaves and the dirt and the sound of the birds. He should know mud and wild onions and wild animals. I remember with fond pride watching him pick his first (organic) apple off a tree and start munching. He was 13 months old.
And now back to our story.
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| Shawangunks, NY March 2011 |
For five years now Ben and I have been married. For five years as a married couple, bound by law (!!) we've suffered each others' quirks and moods and enjoyed and annoyed. And I'd do it all again.
We had unseasonably lovely weather for our anniversary, 2 days before the official start of spring. Absolutely gorgeous weather, just like the day we were married. I'm glad we were able to get out and enjoy it. Together.
Monday, March 14, 2011
New yoga mat
A couple of months ago I got a new yoga mat. I got a Manduka Pro-lite, and I tell you it's love. I couldn't decide which Manduka to get, so I bought an EKO mat and a Pro-lite. After practicing on both, I've decided to give the EKO to my husband. Luckily I picked gender neutral colors when devising this plan.
My old mat served me well. But it had a burn (from ear candling gone awry), cat scratches too numerous to count and sadly, two cat puke stains. Plus it just didn't offer the same support as the Mandukas I'd tried at Virayoga.
I didn't want to throw it away though! So I did some research on recycling and reusing yoga mats. Here's an article that offers 50 ways to reuse your yoga mat. We ended up using part of my old yoga mat to line the shelves where we leave our shoes upon entering the apartment and the rest as a pad under and around the cat litter. Very useful!
We still have some scraps left, so maybe I'll try and tackle these yoga mat flip flops next. Kinda awesome!
My old mat served me well. But it had a burn (from ear candling gone awry), cat scratches too numerous to count and sadly, two cat puke stains. Plus it just didn't offer the same support as the Mandukas I'd tried at Virayoga.
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| Pic via Gaiam Life |
I didn't want to throw it away though! So I did some research on recycling and reusing yoga mats. Here's an article that offers 50 ways to reuse your yoga mat. We ended up using part of my old yoga mat to line the shelves where we leave our shoes upon entering the apartment and the rest as a pad under and around the cat litter. Very useful!
We still have some scraps left, so maybe I'll try and tackle these yoga mat flip flops next. Kinda awesome!
Monday, February 28, 2011
Stretch it out!
When I was around 16 weeks pregnant we went in for an ultrasound. First Arlo was lazy, then he was swimming around like crazy. At one point I swear he was doing downward facing dog. I looked at my husband and asked "Did you see that? He's already a yogi!!"
Well he's still going strong. Hands up to the sky, hands to the floor. When I pull out my yoga mat he bends over and shows me how stretchy his little body still is. It's beautiful. He can even do the splits!
Well he's still going strong. Hands up to the sky, hands to the floor. When I pull out my yoga mat he bends over and shows me how stretchy his little body still is. It's beautiful. He can even do the splits!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Friday, February 4, 2011
Patience
Yesterday I did this wonderful, short yoga sequence by Elena Brower on Yogaglo. The description of this 10 minute sequence says "A selection of standing poses, a makeshift mudra for patience and a brief meditation that will help all moms find more strength, space and time in the most challenging moments of your day." First of all, I felt great afterward--spacious, grounded, patient and full of love. Little did I know how much I would need those feelings just a bit later in the afternoon!
My husband is an artist, and I absolutely love that he makes his ink drawings at home rather than in the studio. I did not love it yesterday though, when he left a bin with at least 4 different bottles of ink (without lids!!) within toddler's reach. Luckily I had just done that sweet little yoga sequence, so I was brimming with patience and love and managed to find humor in the situation rather than being too terribly upset during the 45+ minutes it took to clean up this pretty little mess.
Monday, January 31, 2011
January
January was a difficult beginning to 2011. I had a cold/upper respiratory infection that started over the holidays and lasted nearly the whole month. I rarely get sick, so I spent the first part of the month wondering what was going on and being grouchy about it. Winter felt like it started early this year in New York. It was cold and dreary before Thanksgiving!
Mid-January it finally sank in that being grouchy wasn't making me feel any better, and it was time to take action. I tried for a good 2 weeks to heal myself naturally and with nutrition and homeopathy. My struggle ended with antibiotics, which did the trick. This has been an interesting lesson for me. It seems that 2011 is going to be the year where I learn to find balance, where I learn to let go, where I learn to really take care of myself, and where I learn my limits.
And now that I'm finally on the mend (still resting more to combat fatigue, but otherwise better!) I'm excited about making use of some wonderful websites that a friend introduced me to. Yogaglo, Yoga Today and Yogis Anonymous have online yoga classes that you can watch at your convenience, from the comfort of your own home. They offer some free classes, or you can access their whole library of classes for a fee. The classes on Yogis Anonymous are available on a donation basis.
Discovering these websites is like a new found freedom! It's perfect for someone like me, working from home and taking care of a toddler. I don't have tons of extra time or energy in my day to go to a yoga class. The beauty of these websites is that I can find a class to fit my mood at any given time, and I don't have to commute to it! Through these websites I can access classes of different lengths, different styles and with different focuses ranging from boosting my immune system and meditation to hip openers and inversions. There's something for everyone!
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| late January snow storm |
Mid-January it finally sank in that being grouchy wasn't making me feel any better, and it was time to take action. I tried for a good 2 weeks to heal myself naturally and with nutrition and homeopathy. My struggle ended with antibiotics, which did the trick. This has been an interesting lesson for me. It seems that 2011 is going to be the year where I learn to find balance, where I learn to let go, where I learn to really take care of myself, and where I learn my limits.
And now that I'm finally on the mend (still resting more to combat fatigue, but otherwise better!) I'm excited about making use of some wonderful websites that a friend introduced me to. Yogaglo, Yoga Today and Yogis Anonymous have online yoga classes that you can watch at your convenience, from the comfort of your own home. They offer some free classes, or you can access their whole library of classes for a fee. The classes on Yogis Anonymous are available on a donation basis.
Discovering these websites is like a new found freedom! It's perfect for someone like me, working from home and taking care of a toddler. I don't have tons of extra time or energy in my day to go to a yoga class. The beauty of these websites is that I can find a class to fit my mood at any given time, and I don't have to commute to it! Through these websites I can access classes of different lengths, different styles and with different focuses ranging from boosting my immune system and meditation to hip openers and inversions. There's something for everyone!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Out with the old, in with the new
We had a lovely holiday season this year. We celebrated Hanukah at home, then went to visit family (in 2 different states) this last week for Christmas and New Year's Eve. It was busy but fun.
I have spent a lot of time lately considering our lives, past, present, future... I decided that I want our baby to know us for the people we are during his life time, not for the people we were before. Ben and I made a fire on New Year's Eve, drank a couple of glasses of red wine and celebrated the future, our future, our little boy's future.
I have spent a lot of time lately considering our lives, past, present, future... I decided that I want our baby to know us for the people we are during his life time, not for the people we were before. Ben and I made a fire on New Year's Eve, drank a couple of glasses of red wine and celebrated the future, our future, our little boy's future.
I burned a few old journals in this fire. It was melancholy and sweet, and kind of a brash decision, but it served me well. The fire burned hot. It was hot with the passion of my youth--my heart, my happiness, my mistakes. I was sad and also relieved to see it go.
Here's to 2011! This is going to be a good year.
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