Fruits of Our Love

This spring and summer, fresh, organic strawberries are ripe and red again! Little did I know that this book would touch my boy's heart and belly in such a delightful way. Fortunately, we had a cool batch of strawberries lounging in the kitchen when, at the closing of the book, he said: "Let us eat some strawberries to remember." This reading was in season, in synch, and instills some immeasurably profound values in our young ones: loving-kindness with words, generosity, and forgiveness. I hope you all enjoy this Cherokee story! Thanks to Joseph Bruchac for writing this book and to Mr. Michael for finding it! With Love, Mandala

Summertime... and the living is easy?

As the weather begins to warm up, and we enjoy more and more daylight and sweet breezes in our backyard I'm realizing... I stink. Yes, I'm already sweating in the afternoon sun that floods our backyard. Miss M is sticky with dirt and mud already and it's not even 80 degrees!

She doesn't seem to mind, but I see that we can NOT spend the ENTIRE summer in this yard. Sure, some of it, but I gotta give the kid a little more. That, and people are probably going to think we have gophers from all the little digging holes.

So, I've got some ideas about what to do this summer. I can sweat other places (and Maya can get dirty other places) like farms where we can pick berries, the beach, the pool, the botanic gardens. I can keep cool in the museums (and Maya can get dirty there too!), libraries, music class, aquariums, the beach and pool again! And I try interesting and new things like movies in an old Hollywood cemetery complete with a picnic of good food, wine, my little family and friends (I think Maya can get dirty doing this as well!).

We don't have any exotic getaways planned this summer, maybe a trip back east to see family, but I have a feeling that it'll be a great summer. Hopefully, some really beautiful memories will be made.

What are some of the ways you and your babes and family will take in the Summertime? I'd love some more ideas. Summertime with a child/children is not exactly easy (or clean), but it already seems like a lot of fun!