Spring!

This is what Spring should look like, right?

Not quite yet…
However, milder temperatures are hovering in the air.

I find a change in the seasons (even if it's just a date on the calendar), quite rejuvenating. Spring! A new season! Time for plans and dreams and embrace something new. Even the word Spring creates a feeling of bounce and spark and lightness.
I wish I could properly celebrate the Equinox. I used to - way, way back - as a university student , when I had ample time, and it was acceptable to be dancing in the woods, lighting candles and chanting blessings. Have I piqued your curiosity? :) This deserves a blog post on its own.
I now write my seasonal Family Manifestos which I post on the fridge. I admit that it does work and all our monthly Winter outings do happen. Awesome!

***

On another note, family and friends, you will be thrilled to hear that I have decided that one of my personal plans this Spring is to blog more regularly.
Here are my topics (which I will rotate):
-A Moment with Margot
-Thoughts
-Simple Pleasure(s)
-To Inspire
-Randomness
I know that I haven't been consistent during the past seasons, but I'm not ready to let this blog just flop and dwindle. I have more to say and to share with you.

Spring!

I have been quite slack in posting anything about spring since our winter seemed everlasting this year. Is spring here to stay or is it just a tease?

Verdict: It's almost my birthday which means that spring is here to stay.

Spring: such a short season. It creeps in and then suddenly pouf! it disappears and makes way to full-fledge overbearing summer. Spring is muddy lawns, splotches of dirty snow, buds on trees, warm sun, cool air. It's fresh and alive!

Spring in mid-March in NYC

Spring Khouri-Parham Family Manifesto:

-Nature walks - twice a month

-Museum/Cultural outings - twice a month

-Daily hugs

It's Starting to Feel a Lot Like Winter

As I am writing, it is snowing. Big, slow, fluffy flakes descending from the sky. Ah! Winter has arrived!
I really like winter. It's a fresh season which forces us to go inwards and reflect, drink hot beverages and stay cozy. It's also an invigorating season: the cold air, the rosey cheeks. Nothing is more deserving than coming indoors after spending time outdoors. "Wasting an afternoon" reading or watching a movie is totally acceptable after an hour on the trails.

November was gorgeous this year! As most of you know, November is my least favourite month. But this year it was sunny, mild, and friendly. No rain or the typical greyness I usually associate with that month.


Father and daughter Saturday yardwork while I drink tea and read:

Ready for a "hike" with those turbo red mitts:

How to achieve Margot's look: headband as a belt, topless, my handknitted leg warmers on legs (good spot) and shoes in the house (!)

Les feuilles virvolent*

Beautiful October day! We had fun in the Gatineau Park leaves:

Stuffing the purple bag ("sac à dos" as Margot names it) with leaves

Hiding Spot

Finding the perfect leaf (or not)

Yoga in the leaves

Picking up leaves

Flying leaves

* leaves flying/dancing/skipping in the air ;)

Apple Picking Season

Goodbye sandals!
Hello apples!

 

Here's why I love autumn:
-Wearing hats, scarves and sweaters.
-Crisp air and cool cheeks.
-Weekend walks in the woods.
-Rainy days as an excuse to knit, drink tea and read.
-Apples.

Here's why I don't love autumn:
-Dark late afternoons.
-Wearing proper shoes.

Thoughts on a Rainy Saturday

I actually like rainy weekends. It gives me a reason to stay put and not feel guilty about not spending time outside.

Autumn is around the corner and I'm ready for shorter days, rainy afternoons and cloudy skies. I'm also ready for  letter-writing days, tea-drinking afternoons and being more creative!

My mind these days is about celebration of seasons. Remember how that was one of my spiritual goals for 2011? I now have time and interest to search for a planned Fall Equinox event. If I can't find anything, then I'll create my own celebration! I want Margot to embrace the seasons with an appreciation for nature, a moment of gratefulness and a fun creative spark.

MY CREATIVE SPARK:

Fed up with those birthday bags where a present is in hidden under all those useless tissue papers, I decided to make birthday presents more personal, artistically-pleasing and fun by carefully wrapping them in pages from yoga magazines/calendars/brochures. 

Since quite a bit of thought goes into choosing a present, I believe that wrapping it should take as much care and love.

The Sound of August

Crickets.

Leap Day!

February 29th should be a worldwide holiday. Don't we all deserve a random day off in February every four years? Of course, we do!
A day to play in the snow.

Here's Margot brushing her teeth (back in January):

A Playful Season

The weekend. Sunshine. Mild weather. Snow on the ground. What to do on a Saturday morning when you wake up at the crack of dawn (not by choice)? A day full of possibilities!

The secret to do activities with kids is simple: get there early and leave after one hour.

February is Winterlude month in Ottawa. The top three sites are: Snowflake Kingdom in Jacques Cartier Park, Ice Scuptures at Confederation Park, and the Rideau Canal.

This morning, we went to admire the Ice Sculptures:

Two weekends ago, we visited The Snowflake Kingdom with Jason and Noa. It was a cold and brisk Saturday morning. Since we arrived when the gates opened (9am), we didn't wait in line to go down the ice slides.

And skating on the Rideau Canal on Valentine's Day:

The best part of winter is enjoying the sunshine and the snow.

Happy Solstice (a day late)

Yesterday, there was no snow. It didn't feel like winter. But I thought about the Solstice and did a restorative yoga practice with Simon.
What a lovely surprise this morning when I woke up to a ground covered with snow. Obviously, we had to venture to Gatineau Park for a short walk. You can't walk much (or fast) with a toddler.

We also had a surprise (12 hours notice) visit from Simon's parents. They didn't stay very long, but had a great time with Margot. And we had a wonderful time with them too!

Winter is a time to reflect. It's a time to ponder; to go inwards. To take the time to build awareness. To think about the previous year, and make plans for the one to come. It's about being grateful for the people in your life.

Winter Holiday  Blessing:
Deep peace of the running wave to you.
Deep peace of the flowing air to you.
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.
Deep peace of the shining stars to you.
Deep peace of the infinite peace to you.

Adapted from "Under a Dark Star" by Fiona Macleod, 1895

 

 Happy Winter!

An Appreciation for November

I have always despised November. It's a dead month: grey skies, rain, cold winds, and dark...oh, so dark, and it only gets worse until mid-December. I have observed, from reading my numerous past journals, that November is the month when I feel the most confused, disoriented (what should I do with my life?) and reflective. It's often  the time of year when I actively want to change something in my life; for instance, toying with becoming a vegetarian, embarking on a meditation journey, or going on a brisk wake-up walk at 6am. As if!
However, this year, November feels different. I feel energized, motivated and light (!) Perhaps it's because of the sheer amount of work I have as the semester draws to an end. More work = less time to think. Or  perhaps it's because the weather has been so glorious these past two weeks. Or maybe even because I have plans on the calendar. I think it's a combination of all three.
So far, so good.

Margot is a funny one! She's the one who wanted the broccoli stalk.

Welcome Autumn!

Here's what I'm looking forward to:
-hikes in the crisp air
-slow cooker meals and weekend soups
-exploring squash possibilities
-wearing sweaters, tuques and scarves

Here's what I'm not looking forward to:
-shorter days
-November
-wearing socks

Here are some pictures taken last autumn:

October hike. Margot doesn't fit in the carrier anymore.

Leaves in Gatineau Park

Indoors costume

Trick or Treat'ing bear costume.

Snow on November 21!

When I first started this blog, I didn't think that I would continue it in the next season. But why not? Just because it's called "naked feet in the summer" doesn't mean I can't have naked feet in the fall or even winter, right? Besides, my feet are always naked indoors.

A musing: I much prefer the word "autumn" to "fall". Perhaps it's because it's more similar to automne. It has a gentle, friendly ring to it.
 

It's Apple Picking Time!

 
A great activity to welcome a new season!
I know, I know, technically it's still summer, but the air is starting to feel like autumn.
This sunny Sunday morning,our little gang headed off, with Uncle Jason and Cousin Noa, to the closest apple picking orchard we could find.

The sky was blue and the air was slightly brisk. Perfect!

 Needless to say, we ate a lot of apples while picking. Especially this little munchkin...

I love the idea of celebrating seasons and being outdoors is really the best way to do it!
Our next picking adventure? Pumpkins and squash in October.

This is our bushel. We have about 25 lbs. of apples in there. Whoa!
Besides eating them, I plan on making apple crisp, apple pie (don't get too excited, I'm buying the crust) , and perhaps cider (anyone have a good recipe?).
.