a homemade birthday...

So, birthday's are an interesting twist to the role as Mother.

They have to be carefully thought out and planned just so.

They must be thoughtful enough so that the birthday person is left with a smile and a feeling of importance.  However, it also must be kept simple so that the same little person is not left feeling lost in a ridiculous spin of events.

So I had an idea...

Flowers! 

What better way to celebrate a child that is always blooming?
Gabrielle is literally my very own sprouting bud. 

The inspiration for this floral extravaganza?  One of the best shops in Shelburne of course...

six girls, a Ms. Kris, and an afternoon with the most delicious flowers around!

I just love seven year old girls.  It is the age of dolls  and butterflies, imagination and more.  They were all smiles upon arrival to the event.

I think every one of them was happy to spend the afternoon in this flower shop. I could not have been  more pleased and hoped Gabrielle felt the same as I.

Kris was a delightful hostess and we all enjoyed her knowledge of the flowers and teaching us a thing or two about the arranging of them...

There was lots of careful concentration placed on the task before these darlings.   

It was such a pleasure to see each personality shine through in their bouquets

Well done little ladies.  You did a fine job with your arrangements. 

They are as beautiful as you are!

And a big thank you to our floral hostess and all of her expertise.  If you find yourself traveling a Vermont road, just passing thru, you should do yourself a favor and visit her HERE !

Now that was just loads of fun but the party simply cannot end there...

I made CUPCAKES!

Featured here
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And here --->

I had the very best time planning the table.  I think the girls enjoyed it too...


The straws are paper, the cupcakes are floral, and the milk is local...


A big thanks to the Taylor's for hosting in their village yard too!

 Make a wish love... 

                                                                                                                   I hope it comes true!!

 Thank you friends for joining in on Gabi's big day.  It was simply a pleasure...

The Beginning of a New England Summer...

Well yesterday was just lovely.  

My arms actually saw the light of day.   

The sun beams actually reached the surface of my skin.

I actually felt...warmth.  

It was yummy.  

I smiled all the way home.

To celebrate this glorious day; Mexican food!  My Favorite.

 This is a favorite dish dating back to 1985.  When mom said we were having dip my brother and I literally jumped for joy.  Organic re fried beans, taco seasoned sour cream (Vermont brand of course), and fresh ingredients to pile high!

 I also discovered local tortilla chips and they are delicious!  The house on the package is clearly in Arizona.  I know this because  Saguaro's are indigenous to Arizona and I am pretty sure I have passed that house once or twice on my way to California; somewhere right outside Gila Bend.  Good Grief that drive is terrible.  Thank goodness for Dairy Queen blizzards to take the edge off!  I never did have one of those weird Date Shakes.

 We had some pretty delicious pineapple smoothie shakes last night with our dip though!  Just fresh pineapple,  some ice, and a squeeze of Agave Nectar.   This is the most, all time, refreshing drink on hot summer days.

So there you have it.  Thursday night dinner, outside, in the warmth of a New England summer,  

enjoyed by all...

After dinner we engaged in some warm weather activities...

 Noah got in some much needed time with a ball.

Gabrielle got artistic with some chalk. 

It is refreshing to see a color besides white dress that tired old walk way...

Mr. Witt and I enjoyed the pure beauty that surrounds.  What a dream we are living these days.  So much change, so much excitement.  So wonderful to see the Earth come bursting out of its hibernating state.  I can feel the pulsation of life all around me.  The plants are growing, the wind is blowing, the bugs are crawling, the sun is shining...  Not to mention the birds are chirping, the clouds are moving, and the rivers are running.  I do not feel alone here.  I definitely feel my place within it.  And I know that the Mr. does too...

a weekend of goodness...

This tree is currently in bloom right in our very own backyard.  I have had my eye on it; I have had the pleasure of  witnessing its spring brilliance.

This tree represents how I feel, in this present moment.  I am at the fullest I have ever been.  I have bloomed.  I am where I am meant to be, doing what I am meant to be doing, with whom I am meant to be doing it with.  I feel content and at peace. 

 

 This magnificent tree will lose its radiance in the following weeks.  Nature teaches us the great lesson of impermanence. The weather reminds me that change is constant and inevitable. I am thankful for this reminder. When my tree looks tired and feels sort of sad I know that change will come.  And I am overjoyed, then, when it shows up and happiness permeates once again...

My Mother's Day was special...

as special as my kidos.  This day is not about me as much as it is about togetherness.  We all need a day together, once and again, where nothing else is on the agenda.  This is a day where we get to decide just what to do...

Bike riding was on the menu because nothing beats it...

We headed to Stowe, Vermont.  I had never been.  It made for a beautiful country drive and provided a landscape for the ultimate bike ride.  The bike path is perfectly twisty and smooth; following a river at the mountains edge.  Noah was able to test out his new shocks and gears while ascending small climbs leading up to the most amazing wooden bridges. 





Picnic lunch, boat making, and picture taking...

 Watermelon is back!!  Not quite at its peak of course, but oh how I missed that lovely lovely fruit.  Gabrielle lives on this stuff during the summertime, don't know how she would survive without it.  Come on tomatoes and corn, keep that goodness coming!

Thank you Ben and Jerry for a pleasant surprise!  What mother could pass up a delicious ice cream treat on this very special day?  Yes please, one clustrerfluff for this mom!

 As a Mother, on this Earth, what do I wish for?   
Peace.
I must take a moment, as a Mother, to remember the origins of this day, in this country, and pay homage to a Mother who's wish was the same...

 

Arise, then, women of this day!  

 Arise all women who have hearts,
Whether your baptism be that of water or of tears
Say firmly:

"We will not have great questions decided by irrelevant agencies,
Our husbands shall not come to us reeking of carnage,
For caresses and applause.
Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn
All that we have been able to teach them of
charity, mercy and patience.

"We women of one country
Will be too tender of those of another country
To allow our sons to be trained to injure theirs."
  
From the bosom of the devastated earth a voice goes up with
Our own. It says, "Disarm, Disarm!"
The sword of murder is not the balance of justice!
Blood does not wipe out dishonor
Nor violence indicate possession.
As men have often forsaken the plow and the anvil at the summons of war.

Let women now leave all that may be left of home
For a great and earnest day of counsel.

Let them meet first, as women, to bewail and commemorate the dead.

Let them then solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means
Whereby the great human family can live in peace,
Each bearing after his own time the sacred impress, not of Caesar,
But of God.

In the name of womanhood and humanity, I earnestly ask
That a general congress of women without limit of nationality
May be appointed and held at some place deemed most convenient
And at the earliest period consistent with its objects
To promote the alliance of the different nationalities,
The amicable settlement of international questions.
The great and general interests of peace.

Julie Ward Howe - 1870

Simple Joys...

This little bundle of sweetness is a mere two dollars and fifty cents at our local village market here in Shelburne.  It is my favorite item to purchase with my weekly pocket money!  Hand picked and different each week, it is the highlight of my shopping trip.  I only use this particular market for three specific things.... delicious, yet inexpensive wine.  the perfect sesame cracker.  and these floral goodies.  They last a week and dress up my living room rather nicely.  I find the colors refreshing against the cold white wintry view out my window.

It looks to me that it is time to turn this guy around.  I love how the leaves reach for the sun from the window to its right and I often skooch him the opposite way for some leafy exercise.  I am not a green thumb.  However, this particular plant has stuck it out with me for quite some time.  We have seen others come and go, poor dears, but this guy could live through an apocalypse, I am sure of it!  A bit of hydration once a month and a view out the window seems to be all he requires.  He has a nice glass bottle and a few yoga books to keep him company...

   

This is one of my favorite spots in our home.  Quite cozy and sweet.  This simple tray holds my weekly floral arrangement, my favorite smelling candle, our oh so useful remote, and an occasional card from a friend. My family often turns it, skooches it , places foreign objects on it... but I like it in its original organic state; slightly askew, at the far right corner of the ottoman, with these few simple items placed ever so carefully.