one thing my husband is so amazing at doing is thanking me for what I do. He thanks me every day with sincerity and passion in one way or another and not just for the obvious things like a nice meal, but for things that he has noticed I have done in a certain way; … Continue reading »
As I walked out this morning at dawn, the snow allowed me a little snapshot of the visitors who had already passed through our village: three dogs, the farmer and a cat. The smile on my daughter’s face as she hurtled down the ski slope in full control. The coconut rice I made for the … Continue reading »
Three perfect things about today: Spending an hour collecting fallen wood for fire kindling on the other side of the river, all four of us, a family. Picking up damp, moss-covered branches looking distinctly like deer antlers and being reminded of all the riches of autumn. Lying on the sofa with the sun slanting in … Continue reading »
I am sitting here between a window of darkness and the open fire, with my ancient mac whirring away to deliver the news to me and to send out news to others. Snow lies on the mountain top and there is a frenzy of floodlit activity across the river as dumper trucks pile mounds and … Continue reading »
Something always draws me back you know, on and off and on again, I guess that is why this blog is named how this blog is. I have been doing it since 2004, constantly fluxing through healthy stuff, spiritual stuff, homeschooling stuff, low-impact living stuff, poetry, photography, random thought-making stuff, foody stuff and sometimes (mostly) … Continue reading »
Some Inuit looked into the aurora borealis, or northern lights, to find images of their family and friends dancing in the next life. For others they were invisible giants, the souls of animals, a guide to hunting and as a spirit for the angakkuq to help with healing. They relied upon these shamans for spiritual interpretation. The nearest … Continue reading »
Thu Jan 29, 2009 From a community bulletin board. Thank you Lisa, it sent chills down my spine too: Violinist in the Metro A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During … Continue reading »
Flight OK. I am here. The pilot flew with textbook perfection during every moment in the sky, even as we banked over turquoise blue mountain ranges back to the Alps and I found myself gripping the seat arms again. The children were perfect too, not a whine or complaint about anything. The journey was not … Continue reading »
I had a shock yesterday which really made me reassess things with my children. Bubble has been in France whilst I came to the UK with Squeak. She arrived here yesterday. For three days I had been quiet, relaxed and at ease, able to spend a little undivided time with with Squeak (the first time … Continue reading »
When I want my children to do something NOW, like putting shoes on or getting hair brushed, I have to tell myself that children do not work on the same time frame that we do – they live in the moment, from second to second. For instance, if, when they are getting dressed, they suddenly … Continue reading »
Following the thoughts which have arisen in my mind over the past few days I have been thinking intensely about the role of spoken stories and fables, which act as a glue to bind the family together and have been wondering how much they are needed at that very special slow time of day, just … Continue reading »
Spirituality, now that is a word that made me prick up my ears when I started to read about Rudolph Steiner’s philosophies. I feel that spirituality is the one thing lacking in today’s world (school and elsewhere) and the one thing that will succeed in pulling us all back together again. So, perhaps I could … Continue reading »
Do not go gentle into that good night, Dylan Thomas (1914-53) This photo sparked off some serious thinking about snowflakes today – what with this, the recent snowfall here in the Alps and the icicle eating that the girls have taken to participating in. I love this beautiful shot by guality. I tried to draw … Continue reading »
I love having a bath in the house again, it’s been three years since we had one. I lie in it and wonder what I would have missed had I not been in this prone position. Spider’s webs hang up there in the corner. I find myself spending time holding my hands around the jet … Continue reading »
“What child, while summer is happening bothers to think that summer will end? What child, when snow is on the ground, stops to remember that not long ago the ground was snowless? It is by its content rather than its duration that a child knows time, by it’s quality rather than its quantity – happy … Continue reading »
A trip to the park. Squeak not too well sitting next to me, sharing comfort in my colourful scarf. Then running off to play on the swing. I found comfort then in my own ‘brownness’ and a small leaf by my feet. I like my new boots.
Dusk fell quickly this evening, we held hands and dug in the sand. Horses were whinnying from across the lake, black as night. A moth fluttered overhead. Stones took on strange appearances, like the face of the moon. The water was an inky blue, with turquoise marbling, still. The sky fell closer to the water … Continue reading »
Bubble had a frank conversation with me last night. She had been trying to get my attention for a while now, acting up in many ways and after several evenings of being patient with her and saying time and time again, “Tell me about it”, she at last confided in me. She said, “Mummy, I … Continue reading »
Three days ago I breastfed Squeak for the very last time; we snuggled on the bed, first on one side and then the other and when she had had enough, we finished. I must say I had a lump in my throat for most of the day when I thought about her little face looking … Continue reading »
We are back in France after three weeks of travelling to England. We were crossing the channel at three in the morning and slept then drove, slept then drove, finally reaching the outskirts by nightfall. I had forgotten about this place, even after only three weeks. We have been saturated in movement, people and different … Continue reading »
Happy Birthday my darling girl. Six years ago this morning, my baby was making her way into the world. I had had an exceptionally good pregnancy, had read up on gentle birthing techniques and even though I was nervous about the labour, I knew what I wanted. Fortunately we were five minutes drive from the … Continue reading »
Part of living a slow life is about having a very different attitude towards time. I have found that the best way to re-connect with the small moments is to not wear a wristwatch. Of course, this is not wholly possible when you have a job to get to, school to catch, appointments to fulfill. … Continue reading »
