We're on the move..

Well, we are just about all packed up and ready to head off to Chichester on Tuesday. We'll be offline for around two weeks now, so look forward to catching up with everyone when we get back online.

Here are some photos from our last week...


Meeting the beautiful Nina...




















Tandem feeding!





Willow, Marcus and Mia have fun with the packing boxes!

Nourishing the whole family...

That was the topic of conversation for us yesterday evening.
We've been so stressed over the last few months, it was getting to the point where I couldn't relax at all or get to sleep easily at night, we were all tired, snappy, cross and grumpy, something had to give...

It feels as though Tarka's behaviour has become almost out of control recently, he shouts, hits, breaks and screams each day. We haven't been dealing with this well at all. So last night we decided that when we awoke it was a fresh start, we would remain calm with him, no matter how stressful the situation, no matter how long it takes to resolve we won't force the issue, get cross, raise our voices handle him roughly or any of those awful things which happen in a moment of fury and can never be undone. We both know that he is reflecting our stressful behaviour, sure he is full of physical energy, he needs to run jump, climb, haul and experiment, but he's a beautiful ,delightful little soul who is suffering along with the rest of us in the stressful environment we have created. And you know what, today we did just that and the change in his behaviour was astonishing. He reflected our calm and loving attitude, of course he got frustrated (what three year doesn't find having a one year old sister bent on knocking down every tower you build frustrating ?!) and cried but no situation got out of control and we all felt that today went along way to healing the negative energy surrounding us of late.

We've also decided that we need to spend more focused tie with them and to focus on really creating a gentle sacred space in our new home (which is hugely important to me anyway) where will spend most of our time. Instead of trying to get to lots of groups and making arrangements which see us rushing to meet deadlines with fed up children, we're going to accept that for now, it is much easier and more peaceful to centre our activities around our home and walks in nature every day. That way our days can unfold slowly and unhurriedly and our space will hold us lovingly. I have just ordered Creating a scared space in your home by Denise Linn, so I'm looking forward to it arriving.

We'd also like to create some rhythm to our days, so whereas breakfast has become a rush with me and Ash (when he's home for breakfast too this is, for now he is home until we move and he starts work which is lovely) usually standing in the kitchen to eat, while washing the juicer and wiping surfaces...This morning we prepared, muesli and fresh fruit and oatcakes with jam for everybody and then sat together to eat. It was lovely. Then we tidied up together. Then Ash took Mia and Tarka to the library while Willow and I had a nap. when they got back we had lunch (butterbean and vegetable casserole and rhubarb and apple crumble, all prepared very early this morning as three little people decided to get up at 6am) After lunch sat together in a circle and sang nursery rhymes and made music with our basket of musical instruments. Again they really loved sitting down to do something special. So we are going to continue introducing special focused times for things like family art, music, reading, craft, puppet shows.. whatever they fancy really and continue eating together and preparing meals together. No more rush, rush ,rushing in our house! I feel as though we need to shut the pressures of the outside world away for a while and focus on creating our own internal family rhythm.

Food - I also have to admit to having slipped back into eating way to much dark chocolate again and I don't feel great. So last night both myself and Ash agreed that cutting refined sugar completely out of our diets again was the only way. We're going to focus on making sure we have really nutritious, organic, wholefood meals, with plenty of raw and daily green juice.

I have had this book - The Kundalini Yoga Cookbook - on loan from our library for almost as long as we have lived here! It is fantastic, full of delicious raw and cooked recipes all free from sugar.

Food can indeed heal, just as we can heal with our love. We all hold this ability, which we find by opening our hearts and through touch. It is a result of the pressures of modern society and conditioning that we have lost that connection and forget this very natural ability. Even in the seemingly mundane task of food preparation , we can reconnect with the healer that exists within each and very one of us. Therefore an integral part of our cookbook is to prepare food with love and joy, imparting the energies of you as the cook, into the lovingly created dishes you make.
The Kundalini Yoga Cookbook

Lastly some snapshots of this week....


Tarka and Willow's new favourite (and very fast!) game
















Raisin and banana cake made with spelt flour and agave syrup.

Inspired...

I have been so inspired by this beautiful post today.
Thank you to Earthmama for posting it, you cannot know how much I needed to read this today.
I am always so grateful to blogging mama's who take the time to share innate mothering wisdom, how often reading such words has lifted my spirits, spoken to my heart and nourished me when I need it most.....

http://gentlemothering.blogspot.com/2009/07/if-mamas-frazzled-everyones-frazzled.html

A bit of this and that...

walks on the beach...
exploring the rock pools...

charity shop finds....
















and home made apple and pear crumble, enjoyed in the midst of boxes full of our worldly possessions!


Grateful today... to spend some time alone with Mia, playing reading and doing jigsaws while Ash took Willow and Tarka for a stroll.

Looking forward to ....meeting little Nina on Tuesday next week!

Welcome Earthside Nina!

Beautiful happy news!

Laura birthed a beautiful baby girl, unassisted, at home in water on Saturday evening. Nina weighed 7lbs 2oz and looks so much like her big brother Marcus!

Thank you to everybody who contributed a bead for Laura's birthing necklace, it is really pretty.

Laura is amazing, she has been so positive throughout her pregnancy and really created the beautiful, peaceful, gentle home birth she wanted.

Brightest Blessings to her lovely family

xxxxxx

Friday 14th November

Today was another day just right for a wet and eindy beach exploration...


At home we are surrounded by boxes. In two weeks time we will be moving to a village just outside Chichester and Ash will begin work as an integrated midwife at the hospital in the city. We have found a lovely three bedroom house to rent which backs onto a pretty little church and makes you feel as though you have stumbled into an episode of 'Midsomer Murders'! We will finally have a nice flat garden, so we plan to grow lots of herbs and vegetables, I can't wait!

We had thought about moving into the city itself, but decided that we wanted a gentler, slower paced environment for Mia and Tarka and Willow to explore. If we could choose where to live w would head out into the countryside, but for now we have to go where Ash can find work. We've really been thinking about our dream of living within a community again recently and think that that is something to focus on for the future. I would love our children to grow up within a 'tribe' and to experience a life rich in community spirit.


Every time we move, we are shocked by how many books we own! Whilst packing yesterday, i found these pre-loved books which I haven't read yet, so this is my 'to read' pile for the next couple of weeks.

Thursday...

...Went like this.... Mia Tarka and daddy headed off to the beach in the pouring rain to explore whilst I snuggled with Willow who is slept contentedly in the unusually quiet house. I took her to the doctor's surgery yesterday as her chest really does sound awful and she coughs a lot, he could hear an infection in her left lung and wants her to have a course of anti-biotics (of course). I really don't want to use them though, so I spoke to a homeopath over the phone and we are giving her two remedies for the next two days to see if that helps. Does anybody have any trusted tips for (easily available) plant remedies that could her body to heal the infection? She's been so quiet the last few days and has a temperature most evenings so I really want to find gentle remedies to help her recover from this.

I am so thankful that Willow's body knows how to heal itself, and I trust that right at this moment it is doing exactly that. She is still so sparkley and smiley despite oblviously feeling so ill, her acceptance and patience is inspiring as I am usually so grumpy and complain lots when I am ill!

Today....

...has looked a little like this...

snuggling (with the unwell little beauty) and knitting ...

...chatting about the likelihood of Laura actually being pregnant forever (lol!) and admiring her forty one week bump.... and wondering if this is the last time we will see it!














Laura looks amazing at the moment , it must be that daily green juice glow! Thank you to everyone who sent beads for her birthing necklace, it looks beautiful, every bead is so different but they are all really lovely.
More snuggles...Willow has a really high temp, cold and has been really sick today, so she has been in arms and asleep for much of it. She's refused the belladonna remedy, so it's snuggles and breast milk and an appreciation of how awesome the body is at healing itself when respected and given a big dose of love.....

Mia and a tree....

Today went like this:
Up early
Car play
'The Wild' on dvd
Baking rice pudding
lots of reading
Nanny Sandra arrives for a visit
A very chilly walk to the park to show nanny the 'wobbly troll bridge'
home for baked sweet potatoes and huge salad
eating the rice pudding
making and drinking green juice (apple, spinach and carrot)
bath time
pyjamas and lots, lots more books
All snuggled up and snoozing now...peaceful sort of day...

Ash used a zoom lens to capture Mia who seemed lost in thought as she sat with this tree today....

more from today...

Willow decided that this wobbly walk way made an excellent swing for 'not-very-big-people'!

Tree climbing is a favourite activity these days...





















One frustrated little one, who wishes her legs were that little bit longer!

Knitting love...

This week, I have made:

These slippers for Willow's Christmas stocking...











I have started a scarf for Mia's stocking...

And finished this cosy, dark purple hat for Mia too. I have also started and chunky yarn orange hat for Tarka's stocking, so have lots to keep my hands busy on these dark autumn evenings....
I

Today we...

Baked spelt bread and apple crumble then headed out for a walk to the park....(be warned there are three posts of photos from today but for some reason I can only upload 4 photos at a time to blogger, hence the multiple posts!)

I love how Ash captured Mia in this photo...

Willow is a bit of a daredevil in the park and climbing up the steps and zooming down the slide, are a doddle apparently!

More from today....

SamHain supper of Sweet potato and pumkin soup with home made spelt bread!

Here is a taste of the things which have inspired me and opened my heart this week....

http://www.naturalchild.org/guest/daniel_quinn.html A vibrant unschooling article.

http://flowoflove.blogspot.com/2009/10/foster-baby.html A beautiful family showing us just how big are hearts really are and how much love and compassion we are capable of.

A beautiful speech to the United nations, so rare for the world of politics and such a joy to watch... .http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9S0AObjQfas

My children, who are unwavering in their love for me, they always think I'm great. No matter how many times I raise my voice, refuse to listen, brush them aside unthinkingly...... That thought brought me up short this morning, what a responsibility, what a gift.