Settling In...

Days, and now a several weeks, have passed. I still haven't pulled out my camera. My phone does half versions of what I am imagining in my mind, but it is quick to grab and does a good bit of the trick...

 We arrived with fall blasting all its colors… 

 I wish I had taken more time to stop and catch a few pictures...

Our house is becoming a home as we fill in this corner and that with bits and piece from our selves. 

It takes a lot to make a house a home and I'm still shifting things around, unpacking boxes and trying to see what's needed. I love this, but my heart will always be bound to our house in California. I am trying to build my relationship to this new sister of a home. That's not to say I don't love it. It is a wonderful house, cozy and warm with character and depth. It's just that we put so much time, so much elbow grease as they say, to make our old place even livable. It was like raising a child. That home will always be my baby. 

The dogs are adjusting…

On our first night here this big guy got stuck on the stairs. He was too terrified to come down...

 The kids are adjusting too. They a so quick to find their corners, their favorite spots, 

the places they make their own...

It's all very exciting. I'll get my camera out soon so I can get some good pictures of what it's like here...

                                                            Best wishes to all ~ Marica

New…new...new...

Well hello there Everyone, big changes have been afoot… 

I haven't blogged in such a while because my world was spinning so fast I didn't have time to catch the the pieces and put them into tidy post form. This morning as I sit at the table looking out my dinning room window to the grey grey sky I am thinking, how do I start it all off... Is there a good explanation... My family and friends have heard it over and over from our conversations, but in some ways it still seem so abstract. So, to get to the point, we moved to Portland. Portland Oregon. Exciting and fresh, a whole new ball of wax to mold into our world. There was no one reason. There wasn't a job waiting or elderly relative that needed care. There wasn't a University that had to be attended. It was solely the desire to live in a place that is just a bit more like us. 

The drive up was long and we landed here late on a Saturday night. The whirlwind to get up here did actually have a reason. Once we had put our sites officially on this town I researched and found a Waldorf charter school. This was a dream come true, I've always wished the kids could attend a Waldorf school, but sadly there were no options close enough to our home town. Usually the charter  schools in Portland are very sought after and it takes a long time to get a place. What was so incredible is that when I called I found they had space in each of the children's grades. A spot for each kid??? This was just too perfect to take lightly. Unfortunately, due to the fact it is government funded they couldn't hold the places for us, so we did as fast a turnaround as we could to hurry up here and get settled. It took a bit over a month to slam dang dunk it all into place and now here we are. 

As we packed I didn't allow myself time to think. I didn't know if I could do it or at least nearly as rapidly if I let my mind wonder over the things that I would miss. My family, so so big and important to me that I almost couldn't make the change. My friends, many of whom feel like family, also so important. But the bottom line was the fire had been lit, and we knew there was only one direction to go in. 

It feels good. I like it here. I like the city's smallness and accessibility yet the expanse of opportunity that a small town just can't maintain. I feel inspired by the food, the openness to different ways of being. I appreciate the rain, the abundance of water that is always so lacking in the area where I grew up. 

It's exciting to have a whole lot of firsts. First dinner here, first dinner sitting around our new nineteen dollar dinning table which soon will be so second nature we won't think twice. 

I hope to be back at the blog soon, keeping in touch with you all.

                                                     Until then, Best of days to you all!!!

                                         ~ Marica

A Santa Barbara Day...

I think I've written about my mom and my occasional trips to Santa Barbara…

And I think I've also mentioned all the bright colors that are so deeply spirit lifting...

I always feel like I bottle up the bright vibrance to take home for another day...

 I love when I remember to bring my camera...

 But this time my phone had to make do… 

                                                    Best Wishes ~ Marica

Realizing...

I need to get more bird seed. I just adore the birds that visit us now that we leave food out for them...

 That the weather has finally cooled down enough that we could have our first evening fire in a long time. ...

 How touched I am by watching this dear ten-year-old practicing gymnastics and ballet all over the house. Her determination astounds me...

 How much more precious time at home with the kids is now that they are constantly at school...

And how greatly I like and want to recommend rich stout drunk from an espresso cup. 

It's divine and the perfect quantity...

                                                       My best to you all!!!!

                                                                   ~Marica

Catch Up...

It seems like life always takes precedent over my blog…

 Imagine that!

Well these last few weeks have been quite an adjustment…

There have been quiet breakfasts made just for me…

And early morning walks with one of my dear dear friends…

 It makes waking up early well worth it!

 And the weekends have been packed with everything that's not school...

There seems to be a pace that I might eventually catch onto…

Hope everyone is well!!

      

                                                      Cheers ~ Marica

Saturday...

Weekends have taken on a different feel since the kids have started school.
A more weekend-y feel if you get my meaning…

I put more energy into us being together and having less to do…

It's nice… I like this carved out mellow time…

I appreciate the chance to have a new prospective…


          Hope you all are having a good weekend!!
               
                                                               ~ Marica

Settling Back In...

                 I've been trying to settle back in since our trip, but  I feel like a whole lot of me is still in Portland. We had such a connection with the area that we already knew we loved, but forgot was so inspiring. It doesn't help that the temperatures here have been in the constant nineties and will only be getting hotter for the next little while. There has been a humidity with the heat that has made it hard to sit with. Our yard is hanging on for dear life…

                 In spite of that, big things have been happening here and our days are moving forward. The most prominent being the kids starting school. This is new for us. The last two years we had home schooled and before that it was off an on homeschooling and attending a small Krishnamurti school where I used to work. At the end of last year my oldest son said he wanted to go to "real school" and the other two picked up the interest and now here we are.

                  It is very different. This is the first time in thirteen years that I have had time at home without the kids for more than an hour here or there. It's also the first time we have all had to wake up at six-thirty am every day… after day... after day… 

                 The kids seem happy though and their teachers have, for the most part, impressed me. Especially my little ones second grade teacher. Goodness gracious the patients and positivity she musters after having taught for over thirty years. Truly amazing!

                     

                               Hope everyone's September has started well!

                                                                    ~ Marica