GardenMama

.: Embracing Life :.

.: Noticing my oldest son playing marbles while a very interested kitten looks on :.

As mothers we do not receive a standard handbook that tells us exactly what to do or not do. Rather we live alongside our little ones while our homes and our family organically becomes a reflection of who we are together.  

.: A moment later the kitten strikes and marbles roll over the wooden floor :.

There may be moments in our younger years that stand out to us. They may even serve as markers in our own lives with our own children today.

.: Noticing beauty in the ordinary, extraordinary part of the day :.

I can remember specific feelings of the warmth of home as a younger girl while babysitting-- a home filled with little treasures from nature and the harvest of the gardens sitting on the counters still flecked with soil. It had that beautiful mix of a lived in home - evidence of children and of life that reflected so much love.

.: Understanding math with smooth white stones collected at the ocean nearby :.

As a younger girl playing house for the day while acting as a mothers helper I remember dreaming of having children of my own as I grew older and what that would be like.

.: Appreciating my son's ear for music as he freely plays what comes to mind :.

I feel so grateful for the family that I now have and that we are able to live and learn at home alongside one another creating our very own life, following and creating our very own dreams, we get to choose just what our philosophy for our own life may entail.

.:Noticing a beautiful vignette while the music still lingers in my heart:.

This journey together as a family is rich and good, it is lived in and full with life.  There is beauty in the everyday - the small and big moments, the creative and organic vignettes that fill our days in both the good and the more difficult.

.: These sweet friends eat our veggies, create their own compost, create fiber for us to spin and most of all share their love :.

Clotheslines, composting, and backyard chickens.  Learning alongside one another at home and growing some of our own foods.  Trading in television for making art together, caring for one another, dreaming of having sheep and farm living, knitting and spinning and reading "Little House On The Prairie" at bedtime while creating our own little houses on the prairie or  apartments in the city or little houses on islands in fields or in the woods... wherever it is that your life inspires you to call home fill it up with love, mindfullness, and notice the life that surrounds you. 

 .: Noticing a sweet vignette left behind after opening presents on Valentines Day :.

We only live these days, moments and life once, just once never to be repeated in exactly the same way.

I am thankful to share moments of our family life with you. I also enjoy seeing moments of your own journeys. However vastly different or very closely knit our ideas may be lets all follow our dreams together. Say yes to life--to the life we always dreamed of for our families even when things may be placed in the way.. go for it anyway.

 

.:Appreciating bits of nature that creates this personal space we call home:.
 

Embrace this thing called life that sometimes gets in the way but continues to happen to us every day.  From the small and mundane to the great and profound lets say yes and embrace life for all that it gifts to us!

.: A Story-Book Adventure! :.

Many years ago (while my husband and I were just dating) we enjoyed visiting a very inspiring topiary garden that is home to eighty unique topiaries.

This whimsical garden was so inspiring to us that we decided to travel back here with our children to share with them these gardens that were established in 1872.

It is incredible while walking the garden to know that some of these same plants have been growing for over one hundred years.  You can feel the history in this place and the adventure while walking through the winding garden paths and happening upon giant topiary animals reminding us of the story of "The Garden of Abdul Gasazi"  by Chris Van Allsburg.

The trees on this seven acre estate are very old and very strong. Branches wind up high and then dip back down low.  The roots are planted firmly in the soil below creating an incredible invitation to play among their branches. 

We stopped along the way to view the garden from a birds-eye perspective.  While the trees cradled us we wished that they could speak to tell us a story from so many years ago!

The three children lead the way through winding paths drenched in color and filled with intoxicating scents of heirloom plants that still stand tall today.  We wonder just what will greet us along these paths next?


We happen upon a horse and rider that points the way to an old grape arbor. We take joy in walking this path alongside these new friends. Closing our eyes the sun warms our faces and the powerful scent of sweet red grapes fills the air.
 

The children take notice of an elephant, wide eyed with wonder and awe. We back up just a bit under the grape arbor giving him just enough room to enjoy a meal of fresh flowers that grow all around him.

 

After such a close encounter with this wild elephant we continue walking through the flowery path. among the flowers we find a pond filled with darting Koi. Soon we find ourselves weaving through a maze of bamboo. The children run and play hide-and-go-seek, enjoying this day of magic!

We ramble alongside a patch of antique damask roses that scent the air with a rich perfume that find us lingering just a bit longer...

Excitedly my eldest son finds the most beautiful and colorful Dahlias while large animals watch over us in the distance!

"Hello there friends" they call out to us! "We wish you a happy day in our garden!"

"Thank you for visiting with us, now come follow us right along this path and we will play!"

 We followed these playful animals and played alongside them too until our feet brought us into another garden room where colorful butterflies led us from flower to flower.

"Well hello!" We hear as we stumble upon the vegetable patch! "Let us show you around!" So we walked amidst giant rainbow swiss chard and  sweet yellow pear tomaotoes...

There she was, the same wild hare we had spotted earlier in our day.  She followed us here to tell us a very exciting message! With a twitch of her nose and a wiggle of her white cotton tail she said "Come, follow me past the rust-colored sunflowers and the windmill"...

"Come along, follow me through the lettuces, pumpkins and peas"...
 

"You will see a green archway in the distance. Walk under these arches and they will lead you to a wonderful place!"

"Here we are, you have found it! Now walk upon the grand veranda of this lovely home. Through the heavy doors you will find well-loved toys hidden in some of the rooms!"

A dainty set of miniature saucers and cups even tiny sets of silverware  are set out before us. We stop for a moment to wonder if  a mouse family that lives among this old home was told of our arrival!

Oh, if I could only find myself behind this glass  for some time of play I would be ever so happy says the little girl!

We linger for just a wee bit more over this perfectly lovely kitchen, imagining ourselves slipping behind the glass and shrinking ourselves for just a short time to cook up a mouse-sized cake to go with our tea!

In the halls of this antiquarian home we find ourselves in a childs room.Beyond the sheers there is such a lovely view of animals marching about in the flowering gardens below!

With a curious eye we see that yet another tea party is taking place tucked away in this room!

 

We continue to walk along into the rest of this home. My mind wanders with each new hallway and set of stairs imagining who used to live here in these rooms!

 
 

With books set out and saucers and plates upon a small table in the beautiful living room, it was an amazing place to visit. Yet, back outdoors is where I felt the 'heart' of this home still alive and growing strong!

The hands, hearts, and minds who dreamed of these gardens and poured forth their work to trim each shrub and plant and care for each tree were most certainly appreciated as we ended our day up in the arms of a very old tree.

Thank you to the gardeners and dreamers who lived in this place so many years ago who have also shared their creative spirits with my family and many other families on this day! 

.: May you experience magical adventures in your every day! :.

.: Clover and Buttercup :.

.: Little brother bunnies joining us at our home seemingly posing on my favorite braided rug :.

Our day was met by a phone call from my sweet husband.  He called, asking me to gather our family together. He was almost home and he had a great surprise!

"Just what is this surprise?" asked the mama.

"Oh, you will see!" said the Papa!

Now, if you knew my husband you would already know that he does surprises big.  He is always showering our family and others with such love.

The children and I sat together waiting upon his arrival home!  With eyes closed and mama peeking just a little bit... we were presented with brother bunny number one!  The look upon our faces was pure joy and in our hearts we held instant love!

You can imagine this joy and love doubled when we were presented with baby bunny two!

When little brother bunnies wiggle as we pick them up like all babies sometimes do, my children wonder "Mama how do I settle them?" So with very gentle yet firm hands we hold our babies close and snuggle them in.

I share with my children that we  hold peace in our hearts when we settle these little babies in. They sense our peace and it calms them down. This closeness makes us mindful of holding peace and calm within.

With love in our hearts we adore our babies--human babies and animal babies too!

Our new little ones are seldom put down. (We often wonder if they make such a thing as a bunny sling?) With a nest made of hay and a new little home, we nurture our furry little friends!

Little did we know just how much our new friends would be the ones sharing their love and nurturing us!

With wiggling noses, and the cutest little hopping!

With the sweetest way of snuggling each other and sitting up curiously on their  two back legs we fall instantly in love!

Thank you dear Daddy for sharing this love and for knowing the very best gifts!

Thank you dear husband for sharing this love and knowing just the right timing for these little loves to enter my heart. Observing the children care for their new babies nurtures my spirit in the very best way!

May peace be held in our hearts daily for our children to sense!