Rocking Chair Thoughts

Future cherry tomatoes.

It's a good thing life is temporary. Objects, moments, people would lose their beauty instantly if they never came to an end.

This is what I'm calling a Rocking Chair Thought. My little black and white checkered rocking chair is where I chew on life's intricacies. I think about my past, present, and future. I wonder about Finn, about Peou, about work and family, about aging and death, about God. I guess where I'll be in ten years. Will I have more children? Where will I be living? WILL I be living?

I don't know what it is about this rocking chair. Maybe it's the feng shui of Finn's room, maybe it's Finn himself--my own flesh and blood nestled in my arms, all heavy and sweaty, dozing off to sleep. Maybe it's simply the only quiet time that isn't stolen by the phone, the mindless TV shows, the ever-addicting social network sites, blogging...

So. I'd like to share with you my Rocking Chair Thoughts, whenever they come to me. They may be totally inspiring and uplifting or all together depressing. I guess it depends on your own unique perspective. I'll post them in the sidebar.

Have a joyful weekend!

Today

Today I showed up for work at the wrong time and had to have a co-worker cover my group. How embarassing (since this is the second time I've done this). How annoying. WHY does my brain continuously refuse to operate normally?

Today Finn insisted on not taking a nap until 3:30, thereby denying me the precious time needed to recoup my sanity. Thankfully my neighbor graciously invited us over for playtime so I could get out of the house before I turned in my badge of motherhood.

Today I miss my life as a language arts teacher. It was challenging. exciting. time-consuming. creative. And sometimes I just want it back.

Today Finn made me laugh hysterically when he FINALLY passed out in his high-chair while eating his snack. I stepped into the kitchen to clean up something and returned to a snoozing Finn, still bearing the remnants of his chicken taquito on his face and hands.

Today I'm craving some gooey chocolate chip cookies, but I'm too darn lazy to make them.

Today the house is just not clean enough for my comfort level: pesky crumbs that stick to the bottom of your feet, streaks of who KNOWS what dried on the floor and countertops, dust resting on windowsills, dried splashes of water on mirrors and windows. It all needs to disappear with a strong cleaner smell lingering in the air for me to be right with the world.

Today I'm simply not as content or grateful as I should be. In short, I have a bad attitude--and a LOT of things to complain about. That can't be good for anyone.

Today is not over.

***

Like Mother, Like Son

Ice cream makes every moment in life just a little more perfect--especially when it's in a cone.

{circa 1983}

I also found this to be true at an early age.

{Just as a side thought: remember the days when brown bags were sans convenient handles? How DID we ever survive??}

It's the Little Things...

The Hanging Jewelry Organizer: my life just got a whole lot simpler.

The Petting Farm

The local petting farm and cheese factory: Finn LOVES this place--and for good reason. It's a little slice of nature to enjoy, and it's......free! For absolutely nothing, it's all yours to enjoy a small hidden park--shaded by gigantic weeping willows-- complete with koi pond, waddling turkeys, and hungry goats. And a llama. And a sheep. And the token rabbit.

You faithful followers may remember our last visit here, a year ago this May. Finn was adorably cute and kind to the animals, but the trip today was SO much more satisfying, to say the least. Watching a toddler's face glow with fascination is priceless. It's like experiencing life all over again through the eyes of a child. *sigh* The fountain of youth has been discovered at last!

{Finn & Evin admiring the goats}

{Goats + Ritz crackers. Who knew?}

{Only my silly son would chase bubbles with his mouth.}

{Stole a moment for the camera}

A Very Daily Post

Blah. Ech. Ptoeey. I am not one step closer to posting a wildly thought-provoking or geniusly entertaining blog. But. It is nearing the eighth day of no blogging, and a girl's gotta stay current, ya know?

Of course, I know you're all too aware that daily life is just that: daily. I haven't been jetsetting around the globe or shaking the hands of glamorous celebrities. (Oh no. I'm way beyond such trivia--not). Rather, I'm simply playing an anonymous role on this enormous stage of life.

There's the spring garden growing into a colorful life of its own after a cold, dull winter, Finn's beginning to say actual words in his so-cute-makes-you-want-to-tear-your-heart-out voice, overly long chats on the phone, visits to the local petting farm, meeting Daddy for lunch--these daily subtleties remind me exactly why living a quiet life is so absolutely fabulous. And fulfilling. And worthwhile.

But. I promise. When life shifts gears, picks up some speed (which it sometimes does), there will be a flood of dazzling things. And glitter. And lights. And sequins! (Okay, it will NEVER be that thrilling.) Until then, just an occasional peek into my daily life.

Meanwhile, Back At the Ranch...

No time for creative details, contemplative thoughts, or witty ideas. Just photos. And one word: busy.

{Up close and personal with a rescued chicky}

{Givin' a little cuddle}

{At the Japanese Tea Gardens in San Francisco}

{Girls Night at the Elephant Bar}