A Place Like This......

Two Wheels and Me

There is something you do not know about me but I'm about ready to share. I love to ride my bicycle. Not to race, nor to go quickly, or far but just to ride and feel the wind in my hair and the breath of the sea on my face.

This summer has seen it's share of early morning bike rides, afternoon rides to the lake, and evening rides when the shadows are getting long. 

I wasn't alone in this quest, everywhere I went I saw parked bicycles, each one an individual like it's owner.

Some people riding far and others just out for a ride to their favorite coffee place.

There is this wonderful quote by Hellen Keller, and I discovered that she loved riding bikes as much as I do. I felt so happy she could experience this blissful joy as well.

Next to a leisurely walk, I enjoy a spin on my tandem bicycle. It is splendid to feel the wind blowing in my face and the springy motion of my iron steed. The rapid rush through the aire gives me a delicious sense of strength and buoyancy, and the exercise makes my pulse dance and my heart sing. ~ Helen Keller

 

                           

 

Fun Friday Happenings ~

 

I'm so excited today !!!! Because the Olympics start tonight. I love both the opening and closing ceremonies and the solidarity that comes together between people and countries. The other thing I love  Olympics is some of the obscure sports one gets introduced to and then becomes an expert of. I don't know about you, but all I have to do is watch an obscure sport for about 15 minutes and I become expert enough to coach from the couch. So here's to the Opening of Britian's Summer Olympics.

NEXT:

I'm going to make you laugh so hard that you'll write me a thank -you note. What could be funnier than Jimmy Fallon acting as Jim Morrison and singing The Doors interpretation of the Reading Rainbow theme song? Nothing I tell you, Nothing.

 

Friend Jamie Ridler is offering this lovely freee- book called "Dreams Really Do Come True and Yours Can Too."

She really wants us to know that somewhere, maybe even just next door, someone's dream really is coming true. Your dreams can come true too. Jamie has put together this lovely collection of life-long dream makers:

 

It is possible for dreamers Kate Swoboda, Danette Relic, Tara Swiger,Amy Palko, Sunny Schlenger, David Cohen, Julie Daley, Leonie Dawson,Chris Zydel, Andrea Schroeder, Bridget Pilloud, Lisa deYoung, Tanya Geisler and Danielle LaPorte.

It’s possible for me.

It’s possible for you.

To pick up your free copy you can find out more about it here .

Photo by Kate England

Artist, designer, illustrator, and incredible iPhoneographer Kate England of Marmalade Moon is offering a course called Unfolding the Creative iPhoneography Course. If any of you have seen Kate's work you know it's brilliant and I for one can hardly wait for this course to learn a couple of iphoto secrets. Be sure to get on the list so you know when the course is being offered.

 

That's it's for this week's fun happenings. Have a great weekend !!! 

 

 

 

 

 

The Beckoning Field

On a day where the sky is blue, the breeze blows gently, and the flowers bloom, the blossoming field beckons.

And where fields beckon, boys will ride.

Fountain Play

Ah it's time to grab a cup of coffee

and watch the littles enjoying the perfect summer fun. 

Fountain Play !!!!!

I love sitting here watching two little ones trying to capture the fountain in a bucket and thinking it's a possibility.

And my other favorite game, hold down the fountain. Both games are completely futile in their goals but oh how they love to try . By the end of the day all are tired and the fountain has once again conquered their earnest attempts, ......

Until they try again tomorrow. I hope your summer days are filled with cool moments such as these. 

Up On The Roof Top

As Emily and I went roaming around Paris discovering the most amazing knit shop, and having coffee and molten lava cake at the Louvre, nothing could have prepared us for our re-entry into our domestic bliss. 

"Mom, the girls were on the roof and they could have killed themselves. Why didn't you tell them not to do that?" Little "O" stated rather perturbed and frantic.

"Well I didn't think not to." I said with a bit of a dumb-founded look on my face.

It was only after we had returned home and I saw these that it became so much clearer.

Zuzu, Mimi, and cousin Lauryn wanted to know where that sky-light window in the ceiling would take them. It took them out into the world, on top a building built in the 15th century, with a beautiful view of the Sorbonne I might add.

From there one of the "coolest" adventures of their life unfolded and that was getting back into the apartment. 

Try not to be shocked, appalled and terrified and know that all ended well. Young brother however is still ranting and raving about it and feels that we need to write a rule book. :) I don't have the heart to tell him I don't think that is going to happen nor do I think they would obey anything with a rule in it. For this is a group of free-thinkers.

Here's a look at their antics. Sorry you'll have to view it on my facebook as this is the only link I have to the video. Feel free to add me as your facebook friend. Link in the right hand sidebar.

A big thank-you to "my girls" for letting me pilfer their photos. Love you much !

The Joy in Doing

Since he was about 18 months old he has loved to beat and drum on things. As a very small boy he would toddle around the house taking all of my plastic containers out of the cupboard. With a wooden spoon he would spend long spells just singing and drumming himself tired.

Two years ago, his sister bought him a drum set as she was heading off to college. They love to play drum duets, or "Playing Stomp in the Basement" as they call it.

Often times friends come over to play "band" and hours of musical talent is enjoyed. It's been wonderful seeing all of them grow as musicians. And me, I have the best view of them all, ....the fly on the wall. They completely forget I'm there.

How thrilling it is to just watch him doing what he loves to do best.......play. There's been no lessons, no performances, just jamming. Playing to the music of all his favorite bands, Coldplay, Queen, Led Zepplin. Ok maybe some of those are my favorite bands, but he likes them too. 

Last week a major milestone passed as "O" played drums with Travis Patton and the Maryville Middle School Orchestra. It was also the first time "O" had ever played his drums anywhere but in our basement.

But that's tomorrow's story. For now all you need to know is he left my house a violinist and came home a drummer. 

To be continued.........

The Birdman of Montreal

It was a hard day walking in the streets of Montreal. The night before an ice-storm had descended upon the wintry city making it nearly impossible to walk the next day. That didn't stop us however. Following my mother's advice of "There's no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing." We donned our warmest clothes, parkas, boots,hats, mittens. All that was missing were toe picks. 

As we slid down the street I was really beginning to reconsider our daily walk around the city. We came upon a beautiful old cathedral built in the 1800's. We decided to stop there for a little rest and re-grouping. As I was headed in, the kids stopped.

"Hey Mom, look at this." Mimi yelled.

Fascinated by the story, I was called over to meet a man who lives a daily memory. For years, this man would come with his young niece to feed the pigeons in the Cathedral court yard. As the years went by their loving tradition became a memory that would last a lifetime. 

The niece became very ill and no matter what treatments they tried, nothing worked. 4 years ago his niece passed over. Every day in her honor, the man walks to the Cathedral to feed the birds. Always grateful for the time they spent together and for her short life on this planet. His story touched us so, that the children asked for a photo with the Birdman of Montreal. 

So here we remember this kind man's niece. This blog, A Place Like This is a testament and living memory of the moments that my we spend together passing fleetingly through this world. What memories do you share? You know, the ones which will last a lifetime. I always say to my beloved children, "Let your memories be your blessings." This life is short. May you make a million blessed memories. 

We Talk With Our Hands

As I was going through the photos from our trip to Montreal, I noticed that there were always a couple blurry images in each photo.  The hands. Yep the hands are always moving, more so than the mouth in family conversations.

"Who us? No Way" Zaina says

For years I've made the joke with my husband that if he had to sit on his hands he wouldn't be able to talk. We laugh and laugh about this but now I see it in the next generation of our Lebanese family, many of whom I've given birth to.

I'm just saying......we talk with our hands.

 

Living With Attention

Holstee Manifesto

Today I find myself in a very reflective mood. When 2011 started I made the intention to live differently. Not the resoultion making type of living different , no not that, I just wanted to live with attention. I wanted to live without missing any little details or to let my brain go off into auto-pilot, missing moments that I couldn't recall at the end of the year.  As I look back over the past year with all of it's celebrations,tribulations,challenges, and daily little moments I can say that this year I have truly lived and created life more, not in the amount of much, but in the knowing that I have lived fully. Serving as my mantra and guide for the year was the Holstee Manifesto. How do I feel at the end of my year of attention? That I have laughed harder, cried rivers, created with others joyfully, loved more, savored every bite, met many old friends in new ways i.e. blogging friends, I have travelled near and far to learn that we are unified in our differences. Life is short. I thank each and everyone of you who show up each time I make a post and share a part of your world with me. Here's wishing you a new year filled with many happy and creative moments and know that I'm so thankful for the time we spend together.

Woven

 

It begins with each one of us just being who we are. Bringing ourselves, our knowledge, and our passions.

 

 

It starts simply. A comment on a blog leads to a daily visit, a recipe shared, a book recommended, and knitting along through the seasons until..........

 

Days have turned into weeks, months, and years. Through our catalog of life's daily events, a sisterhood has formed. Can we ever imagine ourselves without one another? I'm grateful for each one of you and the road we have walked together. My greatest wish is that our time spent together in our spaces, and the memories we have created will be our blessings.

 

Here's wishing you much health, joy, and happiness  through our winter time celebrations and the new year.

~ Peace and Blessings 

Valarie