going, going, gone.

::in 2009::

i sure didn't spend alot of time here. which i intended- more life, less typing.
what we did do was take life down to its bare bones, and let possibility fill the space left.

we whittled our belonings down to only the practical and most precious, moved away from everything we knew, and jumped with faith into uncertainty. we gathered in as a family and learned to appreciate things about each other that we hadn't taken time to notice before. we made new friends and kept the old. i am amazed by what we are capable of- going well beyond our own expectations- managing to be graceful in tough times, giving our work all we've got and being grateful to leave and settle into our little nest as we return home. we've adapted, grown, and been blessed enough to find good people and opportunities ideal to our situation.

::looking ahead::
i will play it as it lays and learn from whatever life gives me. it may be a promotion with better pay, or it may be something unexpected i haven't even imagined yet something that takes me places i've only dreamed of. either way, thanks to 2009, i feel ready for anything. it's going to be good. nous voyons, mon amies!

ps. guess who's the top girl in her district out of 11 stores? i got my mom this bag with my winnings.

winter palette

color palette for a new collection. i've been thinking of this one for a long time, and it's just time to start. i love the icy-ness of the pebble grey, the light pink, and the turquoise. together, all the colors seem perfect for any season, but i like the thought of wearing them, and seeing children wearing the cheerful and subdued colors. i picture each piece in that light grey, accented by a small amount of tangerine or red-and-white polkadot. like a candy store on a dreary street, all warm and glowing with every color of the rainbow.

autumn

've pulled the last of the year's young onions. The garden is bare now. The ground is cold, brown and old. What is left of the day flames in the maples at the corner of my eye. I turn, a cardinal vanishes. By the cellar door, I wash the onions, then drink from the icy metal spigot. Once, years back, I walked beside my father among the windfall pears. I can't recall our words. We may have strolled in silence. But I still see him bend that way-left hand braced on knee, creaky-to lift and hold to my eye a rotten pear. In it, a hornet spun crazily, glazed in slow, glistening juice. It was my father I saw this morning waving to me from the trees. I almost called to him, until I came close enough to see the shovel, leaning where I had left it, in the flickering, deep green shade. White rice steaming, almost done. Sweet green peas fried in onions. Shrimp braised in sesame oil and garlic. And my own loneliness. What more could I, a young man, want.
-Li-Young Lee

New ideas are coming to me:: ways to grow as I need to while sharing the journey with others:: making a living by helping others and doing what makes me happiest:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

Imagine That- inspiring public schools

Williamsburg-James City County schools are those that lie in the historic triangle- Yorktown, Jamestown, Williamsburg- and are some of the best in the state. Here's why: The district motto is "Responsible Citizens, Independent Thinkers, and Lifelong Learners", to begin with. Their logic seems to run along the same lines as mine, and so of course i think they're great:) Supporting local agriculture is a big deal- Williamsburg has a farmer's market that runs 9 months out of the year, and local produce is brought in to the school and used for homemade vegetable soup, or mashed potatoes, and served in the cafeteria! No candy, soda, potato chips, etc allowed!? hmmmn. The school my children attend is set up like a college campus, each grade has its own round building, with classrooms around the perimeter, no more than 20 children in one class. Each class has a teacher and assistant, and often a student teacher from William and Mary. In the center of each building is the core where students who are advanced or need extra help come to work at the same time- no stigma. Then, there are the roofed open walkways which lead to the main building and to art, music, and gym classes. The path is accented by wildflower gardens, picnic tables and trees. The children are outside in the fresh air, moving here or there all day as a matter of course, and on top of that, children in 2nd grade and up do a "walk and talk" each day, which means they walk outside for 20 minutes and can hisper with friends, in addition to a recess. Teachers often take small groups out to do their work in the sunshine, or have a snack at a picnic table. The school serves a healthy breakfast, offers free instruments and lessons- cello, guitar, violin, you name it, in the 4th grade- and has a relaxed, healthy approach to learning and life, an Almost montessori/waldorf appreciation for developing social relationships and communication skills.

places to go, things to see

beautiful simple resort in Oaxaca.
http://www.apartmenttherapy.com/chicago/travel/bahia-de-la-luna-oaxaca-mexico-058343
it's going on the list!

the best things in life are free

http://www.adbusters.org/magazine/77/economics_of_happiness.html

tech love heaven

heaven's come down
to hang out
pink, on the road
in front of the carpet store
a sleeping heart
exhales as i drive into it
making room for me
my foggy valentine
-ec

i added more to my list of things to do last night.
this and this was one of them!
happy day to you.