Ardently Mothering

My dear friends,

Good Morning and Salutations. I am happily hot~handed writing to you on this cold crisp dewy damp day from Florida. I have been desperate for the cold, and I awoke this morning to receive a gift from the weather gods. I'm still bundled up, having tea and some scrambled eggs with cheese for breakfast. It's a delight to have fresh eggs from my chicken ladies.

I get all a bustle, and the inspiration drips from my fingertips. After I post this entry, I'm planning to sit and paint for the day. I've let the chickens out into the garden, and I've opened the windows to make the fresh breeze sweep through the cottage. Oliver is bipping along the chilly ceramic floor before hopping into his basket of timothy hay. He indeed loves the comforts of his basket. I drape his basket with a lace cloth to block out the light, and he'll pretty much rest the whole day long. Rabbits sleep during the day, so I know he's nestled in for a long winter's nap. He's at peace, and I couldn't be more tickled to share my life with my sweet companion Oliver Twisty Topsy.

As many of you are aware, my children are grown, and I have been an empty-nesting mother for bygone of three years. My youngest and only daughter is 18, and will soon be 19 in February. I miss the presence of her daring spirit most considerably. It has been a vexing actuality to be dispossessed from my daughter during her later years. The selecting of prom party dresses, high school graduation, entering college, walking the campus, inspiring her forwardly with excellent majors she has decided on, etcetera.

I have resisted speaking about my viscitudes because oft times I've wanted this blog to be sort of a refresher course, and I desire for it to feel above all else, positive. The surest way to take the momentum of someone's attention seems to be rehashing wounds from years past. I have not wanted to create that here. However, if I'm acknowledging the corn, I read my own blog, and as a dear reader, I want to know the writer and what their life consists of. That is the most desirable aspect of my investment in blogs that I appreciate from a prospective onlooker.  When a writer honestly shares, I can feel a connection to them. The experiences perhaps will be of inspiration to women, especially with regards to raising children, how those moments have played an active role in my being a mother of four and beginning anew amid a divorce after 24 years of marriage.

I also have determined that it will be delightful for my soul to share those moments with you, my dear friends. I do believe it will be healing for me. I think I have a way with vernacular and a spin on life that's appealing and uplifting. I will be able to write with enough slant to turn any dark and dreary moment into the unearthing of happiness. I do believe we all have the power to turn words and find the beauty in our life experiences. And the most dreadful experience can be written with the intent to move a soul and really empower another. Well, at least that is what I will admittedly attempt to do with this little slice of heaven, my online diary. My full intention is to cross lots.

I think all writers want to inspire others. I believe many of our intentions if we're acknowledging the corn are selfish to some degree. To create something for ourselves that will be an advocate in our healing, I believe, is a lovely thing.

Our very first Christmas Card as a married couple. I painted this 3 years ago, and I'm astonished time has so quickly passed.

On Thanksgiving, I wasn't expecting to hear from my children. At least not all four of them anyway. I am quite reluctant to have high expectations, and yet I advocate for hope almost at nausea whether I'm teaching or coaching someone. But when it comes to myself, I think I have a contradicting belief about it. Isn't that the likelihood? A plumber has terrible plumbing, and the carpenter never has a finished home. {wink, wink}

Much to my surprise, I did hear from all four of my children. I spoke for a few hours with my middle son Sawyer, and I received text messages from my other three. Zoë Kennedy was quite the dear and honoured me with the kindest of words on her Instagram feed. I just happen to see it before I deleted my account and I actually teared up a bit. It's quite the gift when your children do things of their own volition and aren't pressured nor provoked. My heart let out a little squeal of the utmost joy and exuberance. You see, Zoë Kennedy had a most challenging time with my leaving the marriage to her father. Carter, my oldest son, has been disgruntled with me as well. Carter was just returning from his LDS church mission at the time, so I must confess I was a little taken aback of his disgruntled hurt and anger towards me. He hadn't lived at home in over two years and came home to live a brief moment after he returned from his LDS mission. He quickly found a lovely apartment and to this day he and my youngest son Brooker share a place in Oklahoma.

My son Carter when he was around 2 years old. I smocked his bubble in a geometric design. The fabric is Pima cotton. 

Another image of my oldest son Carter. I smocked this design and made him a little cotton shirt. If you'd like to smock or begin smocking, geometrics are the easiest, to start with. 

My daughter still currently shares a space with my ex as she opted to stay in Oklahoma and not move to Florida with me after the divorce was finalised. She admittedly says she was exhausted from driving to and from so many schools and wanted to stay put for the time being. She's a young woman with a soul that thrives on variance, and I do believe her wings will set her free very soon. She has always adored travelling, and I think her heart will continually send her soaring. She is a traveller at her core and in that manner, we are quite the opposite indeed.

Last evening I harvested herbs from the garden, labelled, catalogued and hung them to dry. I am planning to make rich fragranced oils and bottles of vinegar for Yule gifts this year. Do you hand-make gifts, or find that buying gifts is more to your liking?

I hope this day serves you well, and please know I'm thinking of you wholeheartedly.
Most affably yours till my next swim, Raquelxxx