I make the turn to start going the last 10 miles to the lake and all of a sudden, I stopped the car. I couldn’t do it. I joyfully said goodbye to that house two years ago and what good would it do me to go back now? What would I say if my old neighbors saw me, which they were bound to, because the road is so small and desolate. How would I feel when I saw someone else in my house? How would I react when I saw the lake again? I remember how I deliberated about moving. One sunny summer day, I slipped down to the lake and sat at the water’s edge. I felt the water cool between my toes and I looked out over the vast expanse of lake that had become my backyard, my solace, my home. I wanted to cry. How could I live apart from such beauty? How could I sell my little piece of paradise? How could I ever leave this lake? “Lake, you don’t want me to leave you, right? We have a special connection, you and I.” Very clearly, I heard this reply, “I don’t care what you do.” I was taken aback. Well, that took the wind right out of my sentimental sails. She was right. I was nothing to the lake and she supported so much life within her vastness, how could I think that I was more important than all of that life that truly needed her. After that little reality check, I was ready to sell. When we finally closed and had to move out, I was worried that I might get cold feet and have major regrets. As we drove down the road, I smiled about the new direction our family was heading in and I never looked back.

Remember what the Wizard told the Cowardly Lion: “You, my friend, are a victim of disorganized thinking. You are under the unfortunate impression that just because you run away you have no courage; you’re confusing courage with wisdom.” I guess it’s good that I can’t look back or try to lay claim to something that is no longer mine. I still feel like a coward though.

We didn’t find anything at the first shop in the way of furniture, but did score some other bargains. At the second store, Arianna found more books to read and as I was browsing the shoes, a man asked me if I could help him figure out how this mop worked. At first, we thought the two mop heads at the bottom were supposed to separate, but upon closer examination, we realized that they didn’t. I picked up the mop and demonstrated how I thought it should be used.

Well, that began a very long and interesting conversation about thrift stores, collecting antiques, how he was a roofer and injured his back, how I homeschooled my daughter and my husband worked at Strong, and his girlfriend had surgery for cancer and was doing well, and how he bought a home right before his injury and was having trouble with the payments.

Then he asked me if I was homeschooling because of a religious persuasion. I said I was a Quaker but it wasn’t typical that all Quakers homeschooled. He was intrigued and asked if they were like the Amish and I told him no. He asked if there was a priest and I said no. He said, who delivered the sermon and I said we all take responsibility for sharing messages from the Spirit/God when we feel led to do so with the whole group. He asked me where the meetinghouse was and what time worship was and if it would be okay for him to come and watch and see how it happens without someone confronting him about what he believed. I said of course he would be welcome.

At that point he introduced himself to me and I to him. There were several times in the conversation where I felt like, “Why am I standing here talking to this guy? I’ve got things to do, places to go, dressers to buy!” And then I stopped and remembered what Spirit had challenged me to do — to take time to be present with people, to open myself to others without fear, and to be a good listener. I relaxed and started to enjoy the conversation. And the funny thing is, once Tommy and I started talking, I actually got some great information on some used furniture stores I didn’t know about. After we left the second store, I went to one of the stores that he recommended and lo and behold, I found dozens of dressers and one I even liked!

A few weeks ago, I never would have spent so much time talking to a stranger. I would have felt extremely uncomfortable, cut the conversation short and left as quickly as possible. But since this latest mandate from Spirit, I am trying to change my stripes. The results, as usual, are finding joy and serendipity in the most unexpected places.

Spirit works in strange and wonderful ways.

Very fun and satisfying, overall though!
Enjoy,
Rebeca

I have to admit, I admire a good leader, especially a woman in a man’s world. Rickie made no bones about the fact that this was her show and her music and she wanted it to be performed in a very specific way. She wasn’t obnoxious about it, but she also made her commands to the other musicians quite clear, “I can’t hear you, Rob. Why are you holding back, Wyatt? Don’t stop yet!”

I like to run a tight ship, too. I’m happy with the business I have created and with our family’s traditions. But yesterday, I felt a tinge of sadness that I wasn’t a strong enough musician to be like Rickie. I guess we all have our strengths and weaknesses. Does every woman long to be the “Queen of her Castle” like I do?

I wonder if there would be any differences in our country if Hillary were elected instead of Obama? It saddens me that female leadership is still something that isn’t more commonplace. I was remarking to Andrew the other day about how segregated my life has become. I am constantly with other moms. There is a handful of men that I regularly talk to: Andrew, my house cleaner, and one or two men from Quaker meeting. When I taught at Brockport, I also worked only with women. I wonder if my experience of segregation is normal for women my age or not?

Rebecca

“Dear Dr. Who,

My mom wants you to come visit her.

Love, Arianna
P.S. Can you take her for a ride in your time machine?”

FYI, Arianna writes to her favorite characters on the chalk board and over night, they magically write back to her. So far, she’s written to: Morgan le Fay (from the Magic Tree House books), Yoda, Obi Wan, Zunar J5 and Cerberus, the 3-headed dog that guarded entrance to Hades in Greek mythology …

Anyways, her message was supposed to be my Mother’s Day gift (that and the roses, candy, and pancake breakfast). We’ll see if Tom Baker shows up on my doorstep anytime soon.

Hope you enjoyed your Hallmark card-created holiday!
Rebecca

Even toddlers can make Mother’s Day crafts with a little help. Here’s a sampling of things kids can make for Mom.

Framed Photos

Every mother loves to look at pictures of her kids. So why not pick out a favorite picture or yourself with Mom and create a beautiful frame for it? There are many ways you can go about making photo frames.

One of the cheapest and simplest ways to make a picture frame is to cut one out of paper. Construction paper, card stock and thick scrapbooking paper are good choices. Or, if you want to make the frame even sturdier, use corrugated cardboard. Just make sure the opening in the middle is large enough to show the part of the photo you want to display, and make the frame any shape you like. Decorate with paint, glitter and stickers. I’ve even used scraps of fabric before to make a frame quilt! Add a magnet to the back for easy display on the refrigerator.

You can also make frames out of craft sticks. Just glue the ends of four sticks together to make a square, and decorate with markers or paint. Or if you prefer, buy a plain photo frame and decorate it as you please. I’ve seen basic photo frames at Jo-Ann’s for $1 in the shape of flowers, trains and castles. Michael’s also has dollar frames that you can embellish with craft paper or fabric.

Candle Holders

It’s easy to make a lovely candleholder out of a small jar. Larger baby food jars work well for tealights and votives. Pint jars can hold votives or small pillar candles.

To decorate, use tissue paper. You can find so many patterns now, you can make your candle holder look like stained glass! Mix equal parts white glue and water, and stick the paper onto the outside of the jar, stopping below the rim. Use pieces of different colors to create a stained glass look. Cut some shapes out of the paper if you like, arrange them in a pretty pattern, and glue on top of the larger pieces. Coat with the glue mixture to seal, and let dry.

Bath Salts

Want to help Mom pamper herself on her special day? Make her some homemade bath salts. They will help her relax and leave her skin feeling great.

Just mix 3 cups of Epsom salts, 2 cups of baking soda, and 1 cup of table salt. Add about twenty drops of a fragrant essential oil. Lavender, sandalwood and chamomile are good choices. Mix thoroughly. Present the bath salts to Mom in a pretty jar tied with a ribbon. If you add a loofah, some bath gel and moisturizer, you can turn this gift into a spa basket!

Breakfast in Bed

Okay, not exactly a craft idea, but one of my favorite gifts to receive! You can see the post below for an easy breakfast or brunch treat!

Mom is sure to appreciate these simple yet thoughtful gifts. They will give her fond Mother’s Day memories for years to come!

Enjoy,
Rebecca Wolf

BASIC QUICHE

Ingredients:

* 1 1/2 cups shredded cheese (it’s usually Havarti or Swiss in most recipes, but I have used cheddar and monterey jack with success)
* 4 large eggs
* 1 1/2 cups milk (low-fat works well but half and half makes it richer)
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
* dash nutmeg

Creative Additions (base your choices on mom’s favorite foods, of course):
* asparagus or broccoli or even dandelion greens
* mushrooms or tofu or chunks of ham/turkey
* tomatoes and onions
* I’ve even made a Polynesian quiche with rice, water chestnuts, pineapple and chicken in it!

Preparation:
Steam, saute or cook your veggies and other additions, as desired.

You can make a pastry crust, buy one, or go crustless.

Arrange vegetables and shredded cheese in pie dish.

Whisk together the eggs, milk, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Pour mixture over the vegetables. Place the filled pie shell/dish on a large cookie sheet to catch any drips.

Place in the oven and cook for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

Serves 6 to 8.

Enjoy,
Rebecca Wolf

1. What is something mom always says to you?
I love you

2. What makes mom happy?
Being good.

3. What makes mom sad?
When I get a strike.

4. How does your mom make you laugh?
Funny  jokes.

5. What was your mom like as a child?
I have no clue.

6. How old is your mom?
40.

7. How tall is your mom?
5 inches, no I mean 5 feet.

8. What is her favorite thing to do?
Playing with her girl and working for class to get money.

9. What does your mom do when you’re not around?
Work, of course.

10. If your mom becomes famous, what will it be for?
School, of course.

11. What is your mom really good at?
School and work.

12. What is your mom not very good at?
Let me think. I don’t know. She’s not very good at fixing cars.

13. What does your mom do for a job?
Work.

14.What is your mom’s favorite food?
I’m pretty sure it’s yogurt with granola.

15. What makes you proud of your mom?
When she gets me a video from the library.

16. If your mom were a cartoon character, who would she be?
Puss ‘n boots because he is a cat as well as a hero.

17. What do you and your mom do together?
Play, play and more play.

18. How are you and your mom the same?
I don’t know, I’ll have freckles when I grow up.

19. How are you and your mom different?
Our hair.

20. How do you know your mom loves you?
Because she hugs me.

21. Where is your mom’s favorite place to go?
As far as I’m concerned, it’s the ice cream shop because everyone loves ice cream around here.

22. What is your mom’s favorite thing about your dad?
Because he’s nice.

It’s interesting how she is learning to separate herself and her likes from mine. With younger kids, it’s painfully obvious that it’s just all about them!

Okay, your turn!

Rebecca

Here is one of my favorite recipes:

Lemon Ginger Tea, good for warding off colds and/or helping ease congestion

Grate 1 tablespoon ginger and add to 1 quart boiling water.

Let steep for 30 minutes.

Add the juice from 1 lemon and honey to taste.

Optional:

If you need additional heat, you can add a pinch of cayenne.

You can also add astragalus root, to boost the immune system.

Fresh crushed garlic is also a good preventative plant to add.

You can make a large batch and keep it in the fridge.

Enjoy,

Rebecca

I was enjoying the silent worship and thinking how different it was to be silent with others as opposed to tossing and turning in bed. I thought about how I used to expect to receive a message from Spirit every Sunday, but have been having difficulty settling into worship because of the kids. Then I heard Ostara cry. I tapped Andrew and he ran downstairs to assess the situation. I got an annoying tickle in my throat and went to get a drink whereupon I met Andrew and Ostara. He handed me Ostara and mumbled something about her not wanting to stay downstairs anymore. I still had a tickle in my throat, so I took Ostara into the library and we read some books.

When meeting was over, I took Ostara in so I could listen to the announcements. She wasn’t being too loud, just sharing her usual comments, when she got shushed. Yeah right, I wish it were that easy to keep her quiet. I tried to tell her to not to talk, but to no avail. So then the person started to complain that she couldn’t hear. So much for me getting to hear the announcements. I took Ostara down to the children’s room again and tried to figure out how I could be a Quaker when I never have more than 20 minutes of silence at a time and am losing my connection with the community because my daughter gets shushed during announcements. I’m thinking a microphone might be a good investment for the meetinghouse. Either that, or I need to find a less silent religion.

Rebecca