Though my husband’s convinced that we don’t have enough time for our creativity, we manage to pull a few things off every now and then, and he still has enough hope to send me a few links now and again to keep the creativity well filled.  There’s a tutorial on making the pictured lotus pop-up card on Zakka Life — one of the new links and where the photo comes from.

The kiln is firing today, just finished actually, and we’ll see if anything blew up after all is cooled.  1800 degrees Farenheit is hot!

In my burst of organization, I’ve rearranged the former “school” room into even more of a “craft” room.  Some day maybe I’ll get up the nerve to call it a studio.  Who needs a dining room these days when nooks are more comfortable anyway?

We still have way too many books.  My hope is to get my fabric out and onto the shelves so I can see what I’ve got.  The larger tub under the table is full of sewing projects, and the tub on the table is my daughter’s quilt fabric . . . just waiting to be made . . . for two years now.

And, yes, some film editing is going on on the Community Access Television’s MacBookPro.  Our own mac is now over five years old.  We’ll upgrade the family one of these days and use what’s available in the meantime .  Many thanks to my hubby for sacrificing his laptop to replace the one I was using.  We tried to recycle!

Whatever you’re working on, may the autumn sunshine keep you motivated and energized until it’s time to sit down and get to work indoors.  Our soul work is neverending.

It’s been almost a week since I’ve last breastfed our youngest, who will on Saturday be two years old.  For some that seems like an eternity to breastfeed, yet some might ask why I quit now.

For my first child, breastfeeding was a lonely gig.  I really didn’t know what I was doing and didn’t know where to go for support.  It lasted for all of six months, most of which were spent pumping.  On our second round with breastfeeding, I knew I would do well, and it went like a charm.  It wasn’t until our third child that I actually went to La Leche League meetings, but from then on I was hooked — not to mention that Bradley instructors are ingrained with League philosophy!

In our local LLL group, I’ve made many friends and look forward to meeting more.  I’m not going away so quickly, even if my youngest is weaned.

Can it be true, though?  Back to League philosophy, you’re supposed to wean gradually and with love.  At first introduction of food other than breastmilk, the weaning process is started.  That started long ago, I suppose.  I went away on weekend trips, sans bebe, after she was over a year old, but every time I returned, she quickly assumed position.  (You know what I mean!)

Even now I think she would nurse if I let her, but my nipples are tired.  I feel psychologically ready to move on.  As our youngest and last child, though, I have a bittersweet farewell to the nursing relationship.  I already miss the prolactin.

One thing is certain.  Kids grow.  The time they spend as infants and toddlers is brief, no matter what it feels like when you’re in the thick of snot and slime and dirt and poo.  Fortunately what you remember most fondly are the sweet kisses and coos and laughter, the baby that molds into your arm, chest and abs, and the overwhelming feeling of unconditional love.  You sacrifice your body — breasts and all — for the nourishment and nurturing of this sweet soul.

There will be time to focus on our own body later.  Workouts make great mommy time-outs.  For now I still need to make time to hold the sweet young child as she weans herself from my lap.  Too soon will she be too big for me to hold so close.

(Photo by Raphael Goetter, from everystockphoto.com)

Fall is a great time to gather with friends.  Host your own
get-together.  Ideas abound online, or just do an old-fashioned
marshmallow and hot dog roast.  Do it potluck style so no one person is out the cost for the whole shindig.  Of course, as the host, you’ll have to do some cleaning on your own!

As the air turns cooler, you know we’re going to be
firing the oven as

often as we can.  We tried a challah recipe in the oven, it seems like the same day we did the cinnamon rolls.  We
pulled the recipe from the book The Bread Baker’s Apprentice, and it turned out wonderfully.  It won the kids’ approval, too.

We’re having another pizza party this weekend with a few family friends.  If you want to be in the rotation, you gotta tell us!  Those of you who have told us, know you’re already in que!  Pizza parties are a good time for all, and the kids even get to practice their dough tossing.

Whatever you’re doing this time of year, my it be done with joy and in the spirit of thanks.

I’m a sucker for a cause, and I’ve got lots of ‘em.  But this is fantastic.
Go to Squidoo. 
Just give a vote, and the charity will get $2.  $80,000 will be given away by the 15th of this month, if 40,000 people vote.  So what are you waiting for?  Notice that March of Dimes and La Leche League are on there, too.  You can only pick one, though! I think you can add a charity, but I haven’t researched that.

Another place to click and give is at The Hunger Site.  You can click for child health, breast cancer awareness, literacy, animal rescue, and rainforests as well as hunger.  GiveSpot also has a list of click-to-give sites.  A wonderful concept in our shrinking yet overly busy world.

We can all do good little by little.  There’s no time like the present, and what a gift it is.

Thanks to my hubby for finding this one for me!