tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23668648741546169882024-03-04T23:59:29.618-06:00ananda: everyday blissananda.tashiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13527478650000555854noreply@blogger.comBlogger122125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2366864874154616988.post-56630121101237543052014-11-30T22:14:00.001-06:002014-11-30T22:14:53.421-06:00thankful - 30 - christmasI'm thankful for all the holidays that fill people's hearts with happiness, love, excitement, warming traditions. Christmas is one of those in my family. My kids have been listening to holiday music now for a couple of weeks! That's, admittedly, a bit much for me, but the music is happy and makes them happy... which, yeah, makes me happy too.<br />
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One tradition is to walk among the fairy-tale-type lights. Normally we end up doing it when we're freeeezing because, well, December tends to be on the cool side. This round, there was a nip due to the wind, but it was coming after a really mild day. Perfectly timed, pretty much. :)<br />
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ananda.tashiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13527478650000555854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2366864874154616988.post-82183765984889043832014-11-30T21:51:00.005-06:002014-11-30T21:52:13.293-06:00thankful - 29 - twilightI love twilight, and I'm always thankful to experience it. Sometimes (often?) life is about enjoying the rush and adventure, the strong energy of brightness and dark, but other times it's more subtle: the pause between breaths, the transition, just standing there as sky colors turn to muted bliss and the sound of birds clutters the air with special melody.<br />
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Saturday night, so very perfect:<br />
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ananda.tashiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13527478650000555854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2366864874154616988.post-15775884952664945992014-11-30T21:40:00.001-06:002014-11-30T21:40:35.247-06:00thankful - 28 - mindfulnessMindfulness is quite the buzz word in recent years. I have no desire to <i>only</i> think of the present moment. I like and appreciate looking both to the past and future for a blend of growth, memories, dreams, foundation, flight, healing, the bigger picture. Still, it's important to not get stuck in either of those and sometimes to just be <i>deeply present</i> in the exact present.<br />
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Nature walks with my people are one of the times when I'm fully here, feet as roots, heart wide open, capturing everything going on and feeling wholly here and alive, feeling absolutely in love with the world around me.<br />
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I'm thankful for moments of profound mindfulness just when they're needed the most.<br />
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ananda.tashiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13527478650000555854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2366864874154616988.post-31566433256739082512014-11-28T23:00:00.002-06:002014-11-28T23:00:29.993-06:00thankful - 27 - art & love notesMy kids regularly give me tokens of love. I'm thankful for their creativity and willingness to express their emotions. A recent favorite is my portrait by J. He said it was me in a costume. :D<br /><br />
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ananda.tashiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13527478650000555854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2366864874154616988.post-28824487705331944932014-11-28T22:55:00.002-06:002014-11-28T22:55:24.097-06:00thankful - 26 - friendshipI have <i>amazing</i> friends, though distance is certainly a theme in my life. I've never needed a large number as much as depth and quality. I have friends I've known for 15 years and ones that I've gotten close with over the last couple of years, a blend of very regular contact and occasional (but with the clear understanding that I can still depend upon them). They are a blend of fierce, opinionated, kind, authentic, devoted, trustworthy, creative, bright-bright-bright lights. They are soul family that I've been gifted, that I <i>love</i>, and I'm incredibly thankful. <br />
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Interestingly, my second dominate "love type" is words of affirmation. While there's not romance :), I really do appreciate when people open up and say through words - spoken or written - what matters deep down. Some recent mail, for instance, has touched me. (I think I'm removing enough content that it's okay to share here.)<br /><br />
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xoxo.</div>
ananda.tashiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13527478650000555854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2366864874154616988.post-80866007803279227522014-11-28T01:59:00.003-06:002014-11-28T10:25:22.053-06:00thankful - 25 - my familyI've had posts that have touched on my family - one about Ryan, glimpses of the kids, family celebrations, etc. However, it's worth saying many, many times that I'm very thankful for my family, the one I was birthed into and the one I created with Ryan.<br />
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My parents, who have been together for something like 35 years, who playfully banter, show affection, understand each other on some deep inexplicable level that comes from years of just being together. My dad who gets a happy faraway look when he starts to tell stories, sometimes serious, usually funny and goofy, who knows how to make someone feel seen, who is hardworking, fierce, kind. My mom who nurtures with food and an energy of comfort by just hanging out around her, who stitches love into quilts, who doesn't want anyone to be or feel alone, who has spunk and tenderness. Both who are open with hugs and I-love-yous. <br />
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My sister, who is artistic and playful, always longing for less chaos, willing to walk to her own beat, one that has soil and chickens and paint on her fingertips. Her husband who pretends he's not that open with emotions, but will sneak and beam out love toward her. Her kids who are four bundles of energy. The oldest who has a deep zest and spunk, whose face opens up with light when she's excited. The next who is deeply connected to the earth, who lives outside when the weather is mild, who is interested in the practical workings of the world we live in. The third who creates worlds with his art and smiles so lively when he's acknowledged. The youngest who hangs to the comfort of her mama, who experiences the world with sweet intensity.<br />
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My brother, who is creative and personable, who loves the rush of speed and height, of new gadgets and things that zoom, who gives incredible hugs that are very near chiro adjustments.<br />
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Ryan, my husband, who got on the computer one day - all those years ago - at the exact time I did so that the whole Universe could work magic and our worlds would collide beautifully, even while oceans apart, who took that leap, that plunge into the unknown, who allowed himself to be caught in the currents of love with me, who uprooted and said goodbye to everything he'd always known to come to the USA and be with me. Who looks at the world in a compassionate, level-headed way, who fills our home with music his hands and heart create, who provides for our family, who has quick wit that adds laughter to every single day, who makes me feel completely accepted and loved. <br />
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Our children, who fill our life with energy, joy, excited-noise. K, who is deeply, deeply kind, who is sensitive to the world, who creates whimsical and funny animations & comics, who has a love for the old as he dreams of the new, who thinks of grand ideas late at night and lucid dreams when he sleeps, who is at peace in nature and observes the beauty all around, who plays the keyboard and can figure out songs based on sound-memory, who slays zombies and monsters, who is an incredible oldest. A, who is thoroughly nurturing, fiercely guiding, who gives gifts of creation and love to everyone she possibly can, who practices singing diligently every day, who puts on performances of voice and dance to her people and to our backyard birds too, who adores organizing, writing letters, making art, and collecting bits of nature, who snuggles and communicates with our cats, who sees spirits and angels, who beams the brightest light when she smiles. J, who is so very happy to be here on earth, who absolutely walks his own path, in his own way, in his own timing, with full authenticity, who listens to symphonies, who creates art that is detailed and entirely innovative, who is constant motion, who has a cat alter ego, who is a lover of condiments, mild days outside, superheroes, and being a part of the sibling-pack. <br />
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And, also, Ryan's birth family because they are good people who nurtured him into adulthood and remain a positive force in our lives through phone calls, mail, annual visits, and much love.<br />
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(I'm not going to detail extended family because even my fingers / mind have writing limits, but... there have been a couple in particular who helped create the foundation of who I am, and I'm thankful for them too.) <br />
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... It's late so if there are typos, forgive. Basically, the summary: I'm thankful for my family. :)<br />
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Our Thanksgiving lunch:<br />
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Mom, brother, dad, bil, sis, Ry -</div>
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My parents' dog, Blue -</div>
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ananda.tashiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13527478650000555854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2366864874154616988.post-9154650089276352142014-11-28T01:11:00.002-06:002014-11-28T01:11:27.723-06:00thankful - 24 - motivationI'm thankful for motivation. Sometimes you just have to get going on things without the illusive magic of motivation, but that doesn't mean it's not nice to have it flood the system sometimes. :D With certain projects, I like to wait for the right kind of mood / energy / day so that I can start and complete whatever madness. Earlier this week, I deep-organized my little hallway cubby area. I store my stationery, art / creating, and a few homeschool supplies there. It took <i>hours</i>. I even recycled about ONE HUNDRED magazines that were out-of-sight-out-of-mind in a plastic bin and kept a much more respectable number for collaging. ;)<br />
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... Whew! It may not be magazine-cover-shiny-glossy, but it makes me happy with the space again. <br />
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<br />ananda.tashiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13527478650000555854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2366864874154616988.post-75968199853276165912014-11-23T22:31:00.001-06:002014-11-23T22:31:13.110-06:00thankful - 23 - celebration & giggles with familySince my family lives locally, we get to celebrate with them regularly - thankful for that. Today we celebrated my niece's 9th birthday. It felt warmly cozy and there were plenty of giggles, especially with the chicken dance. :)<br />
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Cousins -<br />
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My sis -<br />
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The birthday girl, A, and the Youngest Cousin of All. :)<br />
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Chicken dance!<br /><br />
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Her MLP gift from her parents was a hit (though she graciously seemed to like everything she received) -<br /><br />
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ananda.tashiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13527478650000555854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2366864874154616988.post-14304571965886629502014-11-23T22:22:00.000-06:002014-11-23T22:22:13.826-06:00thankful - 22 - sunbeams & shifting windAs we were driving today, we were admiring the beautiful sunbeams sneaking through the clouds. This photo doesn't show them all, but... it's a glimpse. <br />
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About an hour later, mild weather curled up and swooshing wind started blowing through, fallen leaves dancing and swirling, flags straight. Wind can certainly cause problems, but aside from that, I actually really, really like it. I always feels as though it's coming in to sweep stale energy away and bring something new, something entirely fresh. It's also rather exhilarating feeling it slam and wrap around my body. <br />
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I'm thankful for Oklahoma weather, the bright moodiness and hardiness woven into its very texture.ananda.tashiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13527478650000555854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2366864874154616988.post-69110748666478785662014-11-23T22:17:00.002-06:002014-11-23T22:17:25.639-06:00thankful - 21 - lights!I know they use electricity and resources, but I've always loved Christmas lights. They brought me a sense of awe as a child, and they still do. Each year, we go for a walk through a fairy-tale-lit area and also do a drive around to oooooh and ahhhhhh (sometime between Thanksgiving and Christmas, weather & mood dependent). Though we don't do anything elaborate, we always try to add a little something to our front window (and then non-light festivity to our porch) because it's pretty and makes my kids reeeeeaaaaally excited. I won't do our tree / etc until December, but we did our window decor this weekend. The kids were v.e.r.y. thrilled to get something up. It's simple, but happy. And, er, chilly. :D<br />
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Thankful for the ever-present wonder brought on by something as simple as lights.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tasham/15862992431" title="003 by Tasha, on Flickr"><img alt="003" height="333" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7518/15862992431_977caa9174.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div>
ananda.tashiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13527478650000555854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2366864874154616988.post-7517368287486294222014-11-22T12:38:00.000-06:002014-11-22T12:38:12.372-06:00thankful - 20 - days of relaxationI like activity, adventure, exploration-GO! I like days where I'm active and productive around the house too, where I accomplish both practical and creative endeavors. Some days, though, it's nice to lounge on my cozy chair and just<i> relax. </i>This sometimes involves books or tv... and also letter writing. It's certainly a form of personal accomplishment and connection, but it's also relaxing. I'm thankful I had time to relax in such a way this week in multiple sessions.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tasham/15664987760" title="031 by Tasha, on Flickr"><img alt="031" height="304" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7555/15664987760_1de379ac7a.jpg" width="500" /></a><i> </i></div>
ananda.tashiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13527478650000555854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2366864874154616988.post-59933588257456085002014-11-22T12:32:00.002-06:002014-11-22T12:32:34.474-06:00thankful - 19 - foodI'm thankful to have access to a wide variety of food, both "junk" and deliciously healthy. We have Earth for gardening (and I have an amazing selection of heirloom seeds to explore next year), 4 health stores within 3 miles of our house (with another on the way early next year), and a farmer's market & local foods store within 8. I don't always like spending bunches of time in the kitchen, but I love good food. Nom nom. <br />
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Dinner this week included veggies to be cooked with local grass-fed beef -<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tasham/15852372725" title="008 by Tasha, on Flickr"><img alt="008" height="333" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7520/15852372725_986b1eb7e2.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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And my kids beeeeeged for smoothies. We made these from frozen mixed berries, fresh banana, and almond milk -<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tasham/15666344669" title="010 by Tasha, on Flickr"><img alt="010" height="333" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7470/15666344669_27189a8d2f.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
ananda.tashiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13527478650000555854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2366864874154616988.post-16839094517263451682014-11-18T10:53:00.000-06:002014-11-18T10:54:36.764-06:00thankful - 18 - dreamsI have really vivid dreams. Sometimes they are sweet, sometimes adventurous, sometimes deja vu, sometimes horrible. Sometimes they are beautiful connections, sometimes lessons and answers, sometimes premonitions, sometimes a launching point for astral exploration, sometimes subconscious goo. I'm thankful for the experiences and for often remembering them.<br />
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I have many journals sloppily filled with them. I go through stretches where I don't write them down, or - frustratingly - write them down on scraps of paper, but I like when I <i>really</i> write them down properly in journals. I started this one in September.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tasham/15200896253" title="010 by Tasha, on Flickr"><img alt="010" height="333" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5605/15200896253_22afd78c88.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tasham/15200367554" title="012 by Tasha, on Flickr"><img alt="012" height="333" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7572/15200367554_8b0ac6dcde.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div>
ananda.tashiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13527478650000555854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2366864874154616988.post-9036438411294042562014-11-18T10:47:00.000-06:002014-11-18T10:47:18.680-06:00innovation & diy.orgK, A, & J are working on their salvager badge. Their project was to take random bits around the house and create some kind of toy. <br />
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J started with a cool telescope. Then it morphed into an intricate weapon. I completely blame Minecraft. :D<br /><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tasham/15200370864" title="004 by Tasha, on Flickr"><img alt="004" height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7475/15200370864_9d791481c5.jpg" width="333" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tasham/15200897103" title="008 by Tasha, on Flickr"><img alt="008" height="301" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7555/15200897103_e54d05b3e6.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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A did a couple. She made a shaker, then a decorated paintbrush (that used an altoids tin & flower, but I forgot to take a photo).<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tasham/15821894912" title="002 by Tasha, on Flickr"><img alt="002" height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7573/15821894912_28012dc426.jpg" width="333" /></a></div>
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K created a log cabin.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tasham/15818446641" title="006 by Tasha, on Flickr"><img alt="006" height="333" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5610/15818446641_57bc2691d8.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
ananda.tashiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13527478650000555854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2366864874154616988.post-16003215784870061692014-11-18T10:39:00.000-06:002014-11-18T10:39:00.652-06:00thankful - 17 - e.e. cummings & wordsI love E.E. Cummings' work, how he played with words, form, and emotions, how he saw the world. Really, though, I love words, how they can mingle together to create something meaningful, lasting, bigger, and amazing to the ears (and soul). I'm thankful to have this exposure. <br />
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Yesterday, I read the kids <i>The Old Man Who Said "Why"</i> from <u>Fairy Tales</u>, a collection of stories Cummings wrote for his child. The ending makes me immensely happy: <br /><br /><i>And the little old man smiled; and looking at the fearie, he said "why?" and he fell millions and millions and millions of deep cool new beautiful miles ( and with every part of a mile he became a little younger; first he became a not very old man and next a middle-aged man and then a young man and a boy and finally a child ) until, just as he gently touched the earth, he was about to be born. </i><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tasham/15635158527" title="013 by Tasha, on Flickr"><img alt="013" height="333" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5602/15635158527_1e1e98d90f.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tasham/15200365894" title="018 by Tasha, on Flickr"><img alt="018" height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7494/15200365894_d461bb7a58.jpg" width="333" /></a></div>
ananda.tashiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13527478650000555854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2366864874154616988.post-85646833808098229642014-11-17T11:12:00.002-06:002014-11-17T11:12:27.102-06:00thankful - 16 - gleeYesterday, it snowed. The kids were thrilled, and it even coincided with a local radio station's Christmas music preview weekend. Yep, they were/are all seasonably jolly! Though the snow hadn't stopped yet and the temps were 20s with a windchill in single digits, they wanted to go out and experience the snow. I love how kids (and, equally, people who consciously choose to embody child-like wonder) <i>experience glee</i> so regularly. <br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tasham/15192641814" title="003 by Tasha, on Flickr"><img alt="003" height="470" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7468/15192641814_d610b04a39.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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ananda.tashiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13527478650000555854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2366864874154616988.post-65761296472355827582014-11-17T11:04:00.003-06:002014-11-17T11:04:40.548-06:00thankful - 15 - ryanRy's birthday was yesterday. I'm very, very, very thankful he's ALIVE and also thankful that he's in my life. December marks us as a couple for 16 years (married 14.5). He started out as an incredible person, and he's continued growing and becoming more and more so. He's pretty much awesome. :)<br /><br />Part of his birthday gift from me -<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tasham/15788926496" title="001 by Tasha, on Flickr"><img alt="001" height="333" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7551/15788926496_b39057e51f.jpg" width="500" /></a> </div>
ananda.tashiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13527478650000555854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2366864874154616988.post-22310551757765036562014-11-17T11:00:00.003-06:002014-11-17T11:00:25.566-06:00thankful - 14 - random connectionsOn Saturday, I was at the bookstore. I ended up talking to a woman who was in the same section as me. She's an <a href="http://www.personalitypage.com/ENFP.html">ENFP</a>, a professor with emphasis in the brain & psychology, and we talked about paths to healing, relationships, spirituality, sense of place, children, and all sorts of things. Though we exchanged info, I can't say for sure if it will go anywhere beyond that encounter. <br />
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I've had these sparks of connection before. I recall once having a conversation about meditation with a man at Home Depot. Our conversation ended with him saying, "Stay strong!" <br />
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I really appreciate random moments of connection, ones that ground me and make me feel more entwined with the world around me.ananda.tashiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13527478650000555854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2366864874154616988.post-37754159945114850692014-11-15T13:21:00.002-06:002014-11-15T13:21:49.940-06:00thankful - 13 - date nightsI don't have any photos to share from our most recent date night, but it's a definite very significant thankful in my life. My mom watches the kids about once per month. I love time as a family, time solo, and time around the house with Ry once the kids are in bed. Sometimes, though, it feels incredibly good to be out and about with him, refreshing and romantic. Last night, we picked up food to go and had our meal while in our car at the lake, twilight dusting everything with silhouetted color. After, we went for a little brrrrr walk, lights reflecting on the inky water. We had the place completely to ourselves. It was pretty near perfect, aside from icy fingers. :D <br />
<br />ananda.tashiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13527478650000555854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2366864874154616988.post-27903868220547954292014-11-15T13:06:00.002-06:002014-11-15T13:07:28.552-06:00thankful - 12 - for the love of writing & pensI love the physical act of writing things down. It's therapeutic for me. I write notes, thoughts, dreams, letters, and poetry. (My short stories / longer flow better on the computer though.) One thing that makes this extra-nice is good pens. Yes, <i>yes indeed</i>, this post is dedicated to pens. :D I sometimes use just basic cheap pens. If I'm going to drop cash on some, then I want them to flow delightfully though. These are my latest and they ONLY cost a tiny fortune. Thankful to have access and inspiration.<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tasham/15794028991/" title="020 by suleviae, on Flickr"><img alt="020" height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7485/15794028991_a0481d7ee9.jpg" width="333" /></a></div>
<br />ananda.tashiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13527478650000555854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2366864874154616988.post-37148977581248673132014-11-15T13:00:00.000-06:002014-11-15T13:08:47.131-06:00thankful - 11 - homeschoolingThere are many, many reasons I like homeschooling. It allows my kids to delve deeper into their personal interests, to value learning and growth rather than just tests and performance, to flow with the currents of creativity, to have their childhoods truly extended, to spend time together.<br />
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We don't do a school-at-home approach really. We have a lot of open space and time for them to learn and explore, but we also do things together. This last week, one thing we did together was a philosophy discussion about time. It included highlights from them like: <i>Time is a clockwork. Time is ticking. Time is steampunk. Time is a circle like a clock with each part as a season. Time is a long and never-ending line.</i><br />
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After we had our talk, they did art pieces with watercolor pencils. <br />
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K's:<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tasham/15610747857/" title="002 by suleviae, on Flickr"><img alt="002" height="500" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5612/15610747857_62f2e3c5eb.jpg" width="333" /></a> </div>
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He asked if I wanted a normal expression or professional. I went with pro and this is what he came up with:<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tasham/15176469943/" title="006 by suleviae, on Flickr"><img alt="006" height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7549/15176469943_47ae33ea8b.jpg" width="333" /></a></div>
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A's<i>:</i><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tasham/15772234946/" title="008 by suleviae, on Flickr"><img alt="008" height="500" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7574/15772234946_d801455cb5.jpg" width="333" /></a></div>
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J's (that also had something to do with an alien space ship? :D):<br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tasham/15610503698/" title="004 by suleviae, on Flickr"><img alt="004" height="333" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7496/15610503698_f7d36f48f0.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tasham/15797479752/" title="011 by suleviae, on Flickr"><img alt="011" height="333" src="https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7538/15797479752_535a0a1ce3.jpg" width="500" /></a><br />
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I'm deeply thankful to have the opportunity to homeschool my children. </div>
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ananda.tashiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13527478650000555854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2366864874154616988.post-32119017028802130172014-11-10T22:15:00.002-06:002014-11-10T22:15:57.606-06:00thankful - 10 - colorful yard giftsWhen I was outside tonight putting covers on our faucets, I decided to bring some of the lingering color from the yard into our home. I'm thankful for these plants that grew freely with so much resilience, love, and beauty. <br />
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ananda.tashiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13527478650000555854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2366864874154616988.post-11104125339482993162014-11-10T22:09:00.002-06:002014-11-10T22:09:57.083-06:00thankful - 9 - catsI'm thankful for the four cats who share our home and hearts. They each have their strengths, quirks, things that drive us crazy, things that make them absolutely loveable. <br />
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Calla Aura Boom has been good for me, for our family of humans and cats. Prior to rescuing her back in August, I had a dream about a calico cat. It was one full of happiness and affection. While in the "wild", Calla didn't show signs of that level of affection. She was tame for a feral kitty, but she was still a feral kitty and quite reserved. Ry encouraged me to follow my dream instinct, and so we brought her home. She was so incredibly tiny. We were able to influence a lot of the traits that she developed (such as her willingness to be held and carried around), and her own unique Self shined through as well. She's an amazingly affectionate, playful cat... and loooooves laps. In turn, laps sort of love her. :D<br />
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Last night, as I was relaxed on my chair trying to write letters, she attempted to get on my lap. That would have impeded my writing progress. She made due with my restrictions: she squeezed right next to me. (The blue/green flowers = my legs/leggings.) THEN, Doodle squeezed onto her. It didn't look that comfy, but they seemed quite happy for awhile. :D<br /><br />
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<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/tasham/15577309990/" title="007 by suleviae, on Flickr"><img alt="007" height="333" src="https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5604/15577309990_9b10cff338.jpg" width="500" /></a></div>
ananda.tashiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13527478650000555854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2366864874154616988.post-51227261989182807772014-11-10T21:58:00.001-06:002014-11-10T21:58:27.243-06:00thankful - 8 - a warm dayToday, I'm thankful for the warm day we experienced. Bright sunshine, swooshing wind, 70s. Even though it will make tomorrow's chilliness feel even more dramatic, it felt like a gift to have one more warmth-drenched day prior to the brrrrrr weather. <br />
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The kids and I went for a walk to soak it all in -<br />
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ananda.tashiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13527478650000555854noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2366864874154616988.post-35438516790773722152014-11-10T21:50:00.001-06:002014-11-10T21:50:16.483-06:00thankful - 7 - my family singingSome evenings, Ry, K, & A practice music together and it's just so beautiful and <i>sweet</i>. They all sing, though A has a strong singing preference while K also plays the keyboard. They've been working on a Russian song called Kalinka. I've been very impressed. I'm thankful to see their love of music, their love of each other, and I feel additionally thankful that it sounds so delightful to my ears. <br />
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Looking at the sheet music (Sunday night) -</div>
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ananda.tashiehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13527478650000555854noreply@blogger.com0