The ritual elements that pervade my son’s school are delightful. To some cantankerous Waldorf haters, they are cause for great concern or scorn, or even lawsuits, but I love them. The children regularly invoke the spirits and the elements; pledge within sacred space to do their best work, to be their very best selves; cast circles in which to work and risk themselves for the sake of learning. They thank the sun, earth, air, fire, and water—and even god—for the lessons they learn both formally and informally all day.

At this time of year, closing is in order. Thank yous are being said and gifts are being given. It is also the time of year for congratulations and marking passages. Today, all the children in the school, first through eighth grade, moved boxes and belongings to their next classroom. Lucas and his classmates hefted their stuff and moved into the second-grade classroom next door. Each grade moved in this way. The eighth graders moved back to their beginning; they will spend the final day of the school year in the first-grade classroom. There is a Saturnalian, topsy-turvy element here that is not lost on Lucas and his friends. He laughed as he explained that one of his classmates is now "older" than her graduating big brother.

Something about this great moving circle, this procession, pleases me immeasurably. I love the physicality of it. The symbolism cannot be missed because the body, mind, and spirit all experience the passage through space as well as time. I am continually awed by how much these people GET IT. All of my ritual experience and training answers yes in moments like these, and frankly, they happen all the time.

My Kitchen Window
Originally uploaded by SarabellaE

Before my birthday party last month, we had some serious house cleaning to do. Asher was underfoot and interrupting, wanting to be cuddled and held when I wanted to be doing things. So I decided to take care of two problems at once!

This kitchen sink bath was the perfect solution (—get it? Solution!). I was able to clean the kitchen while Asher had fun nearby. I couldn’t resist taking pics, though.

Today is our 14th wedding anniversary.

Fourteen years ago I knit my life together with Ian’s and I have never had a moment’s regret. We are sailing through this life together with intention, with labor, and with persistent delight in each other. We allow each other to dream, to rage, to unfold. We are both patient and impatient to explore all life has to offer us. There is enough time, stretching both forward and back, for us to fill up with our laughter and our struggles. We are complements. We are married, but we define the word every day, for it works for us; we are not slaves to it. The term will not box up our love and tie it with a bow, pretty enough for everyone to see and approve of. Rather, we flow, sometimes flooding over the riverbanks. Love is not tidy. We stride forward together, side by side, except where it makes better sense for one of us to lead for a while. This nest that we created and tirelessly maintain is feathered with devotion, solicitude, and care. I am so happy in my marriage. I love you, Ian. Happy Anniversary! 

Four more days of school. All the teachers I know are ecstatic about this because it means a rest. The mommies with older kids I know are pretty stoked, too. For them, it means lazy mornings of reading and puttering, not rushing about the house to get everyone fed and out the door. I hope this will someday be me. Although I am far, far from a natural morning person, I like my mornings once everybody skedaddles.

I now have a map for the summer. It’s not full of Big Fun, but it is pretty packed with Little Fun items, especially for Lucas. I’m hoping that I can cultivate a good attitude; enjoy a rest once in a while; continue to earn a living; and keep myself from going bonkers. I’m hoping that I’ll find a slower but not dead pace to enjoy. I’m hoping for more time at the pool, the gym, in the backyard. I’m hoping to sew a little, make jam–that kind of creative, homey stuff. They call it the out-breathing, the exhaling portion of the year.

I am hoping I can avoid resorting to the TV. That is a big part of why I have signed Lucas up for so many camps: Fine Art camp, Nature camps, Soccer camp, Robotics camp, Water Sports camp, Bookmaking camp, Fair Oaks Day camp, etc.

My son is almost a second-grader. In four days, he will be one. He is taller, bolder, more argumentative, more sassy, more preoccupied with making his own rules, and with doing things his own way. He is taking it upon himself to make decisions without asking.
I am expecting him to pass the bar exam and become an attorney any day now.

Asher is presently blowing on Lucas’s new harmonica and strummin’ his ukulele! It’s very cute.

http://www.laspilitas.com/easy/easyeasy.htm

This site is HUGE with lots of articles, photos, scientific names, wildlife, etc. You can order plants to be shipped to you.

Tool for picking the RIGHT native plants for your temp, soil, light and water conditions. Pretty freakin’ neato.

http://www.mynativeplants.com/site

Sometimes I just gotta count up some current blessings. It reminds me everything’s OK.

I don’t have to look at any more icky skin disease pictures.

Asher fell asleep beautifully today with just one picture-book story. I love the symmetry of that and it’s rare.

Lucas’s Eurhythmy class today was really fun to watch. The kids have all grown so much; they are all just as boisterous as he is.

Lucas seems to be holding up well at school today, despite the cough. He even seemed pleased to see me; he is a beauty.

I have yummy leftover chicken for lunch that my husband prepared.

Some work things are turning out to be easier than I expected.

Asher’s preschool teacher

tara_bella

  very kindly informed me he is pushing and scratching another boy. I’m grateful for her gentleness and understanding.

I love deeply.

I am loved.

There is a vacant home on the corner of my street, where Dove meets Eagle. Not too long ago there was a family living there, with a couple of kids. They were older than Lucas and went to the neighborhood school, so we didn’t really get to know them. He isn’t really old enough to wander off unattended to play with neighbor kids. I watched from afar as the neighbors took down a little fence and opened up their side yard to view from the street. The home doesn’t have a typical front yard because of the corner. I watched as they planted six young redwood trees in the requisite triples. I watched them create a river-rock planter in the front of the house near the gravel driveway. They planted it with freesias, a hydrangea, some Spanish lavender. They hung a decorative sun wall sculpture above the front door and set out a patio table and chairs, with a bright red umbrella to keep off the sun. I was surprise the morning I drove past and saw all those signs of family life—table, art, toys, badminton net, cars—gone. Nobody ever came back and now the lawn is dying. The lovely flowers will die soon, too, probably. It makes me sad to see the home empty. It’s cute and I’ve peeked in the windows. I would like to fill it up with one or more of my friends. There is no sign out front: It is neither for sale nor for rent. This makes me wonder. This morning I drove past and was surprised again. The across-the-street neighbor (with the perfect dog who never leaves his yard) was out mowing the yellowing lawn, keeping the place up a bit. Perhaps he is motivated out of love of the neighborhood. Perhaps he just doesn’t want to look at the place as it dries and weeds take over. This makes me wonder, too.

It was a great weekend, starting with my birthday on Friday. I loved seeing my friends on Saturday evening. Some darlings whom I don’t see but rarely came to my party and it was a thrill. Chuck Norris ice teas (with peach schnapps) are fun; much thanks to Jason for introducing us to this concoction. White peach sangria is also fun.

Saturday and Sunday were mostly kick-it-at-home days, which was terrific because I needed some R&R. We worked in the yard a bunch, planting my birthday beauties. Ian shows he loves me with labor. And since he works with his shirt off, it’s a great show. I dream about my garden every night, you see, so having some new stuff to bloom and fill in the gaps is wonderful. Now I need another huge truckload of shredded redwood. Honey?

I worked just a little, wrapping up chapters 1 and 2 of my med term book developmental edit. Now the first half of it has been sent to production. This means some other schmuck like me has to copyedit it and then it moves on to layout. I have a lot of work to do on the second half over the next two weeks (8 chapters), but it’s doable. These are also the last two weeks of the school year, so with some diligent work and some good luck, it will get done on time.

So, summertime. I used to feel summer was the best season. Not so much anymore. What’s hard about this is that I’m all revved up from working like a madwoman for the last three months and I’m looking at a probable slowdown because I’ll have the kiddos with me more often. I should go and sign Lucas up for a couple more summer camps or I’ll be tripping over him too much. I’m in need of an attitude adjustment, clearly. Maybe I should move cocktail hour up from 5 p.m.?

At least this summer it looks like I won’t be completely broke like last summer. Knock. Knock. Knock. (Fingers crossed.) Ian’s whining about needing AC in his car. It’s broken. Whatever. It’s not like this is Death Valley or anything. And he wants to paint our house! Dude. Can you say "pri-OR-i-ties"?

Mom and Dad took me to Capital Nursery today for my birthday. We also cruised by Raley’s because they have plants, too, and there we found a lovely 5 gal pink flax for $20 less than the nursery price. I also spent my CN gift certificate from my mother and father in law.

1 pink flax (sculptural, unusual, unique in my yard)
2 spanish lavender (lovely purple flags)
4 evening primrose (baby pink blossoms all summer; hardy and drought resistant)
1 oregano (mmm)
1 lemon thyme (mmm)
2 rosemary (mmm)
1 barberry (purple foliage, new growth is pink; thorns)
2 roses (one called Watercolor that is yellow, pink, and orange; one called Black Cherry–a very dark red)
2 delphinium (the bluest flower you’ve ever seen!)
1 purple hybiscus (showpiece that I hope will look spectacular near our front door)

For my birthday, I also got a lavender from James and a gerbera daisy from Kat and Jordan. (Thank you!)

I have these sitting around waiting to be planted tomorrow:
2 purple osteoperum
2 pink pelargonium
1 rose
1 indian hawthorn
1 mandevilla
1 periwinkle? (I don’t know for sure; my neighbor gave it to me!)

I’m just thrilled to be filling in the gaps in my garden. I’ve needed both Ian’s muscles and his drip-system fu for a while now. He’s solving all my watering problems beautifully. Tomorrow I think we can get the rest of the plants in the ground so they can grow, grow, grow!