angelbirdflies

Sometimes I feel like a spiny succulent with all my juicy moistness encased in an armor of prickles and barbs. Agave's are incredibly hearty, capable of handling a wide array of climate changes, all the result of their particular botanical evolution. The truth is, I find them startlingly and deeply beautiful and although I long to be soft and willowy, perhaps a part of each of us needs to find kinship with a cactus.

Bodhi loves the animals at the zoo. This morning he woke up and announced, "Mama, let's go see the animals!". Of course! We packed a light picnic and headed out. When visiting the zoo it is best to see it at Bodhi's pace, without an agenda or some frenzied determination to see as many animals as possible. Today, Bodhi looked at the map, found the picture of his beloved elephants and said, pointing, "Let's go there". And so we did. This time we were treated to a visual explanation of the term "I have to pee like an elephant". Something Owen and Shane began saying a few years ago after a similar experience with our pachyderm brethren. Next we visited the penguins, the mandrils and the flamingos. At the flamingo exhibit Bodhi immediatly attempted a break in. When stopped, he stared in disillusionment at his pink friends, stating simply, "I want to be a flamingo too". As we were getting ready to leave, we discovered a kindred spir...

This is such a good example of our cultural insanity. It brings to mind Aldous Huxley's, A Brave New World , as does so much of our media driven cultural environment.

Really!!!!????? I wonder if they're mass produced in China or something.

Wow!!!! Bodhi and I explored the Colorado dunes for the first time and there are no words sufficient to describe the magnitude of such natural beauty or the fun of exploring it.

San Francisco de Asis Church in Ranchos de Taos, every angle presents beauty against the brilliant blue of a New Mexican sky. Taking to the road with an unpredictable two year old, changes the way you see the world and also how you interact with it. As many of you know, I love holy sites of all faiths. I like to close my eyes and sit, quietly breathing in the reverence afforded such places by those who worship there. Bodhi approaches things differently. The statue of St. Francis seemed like a fabulous play patner and in no time Bodhi was walking around him chanting, "ring around the rosies". A fact that led to a number of scowling visitors, but no doubt pleased the holy of holies. Next, we entered the church where Bodhi immediately saw the holy water. I showed him what it was for, dabbing my fingers on my forehead, chest and both shoulders. Bodhi, looked at me with a sort of pity and showed me what water is for, drinking. Next, we attempted to approach the alter to lig...

Occasionally when I am having difficulty with the foggy human-ness of life and can't see the rocks well enough to navigate safely to shore, the sailor in my heart turns the ship to the open sea. The wind rushes at my face reminding me to breathe, the salty spray mingles with my tears and I remember to look up and out, at the beauty that cradles my imagined smallness. For an instant, I grow wings and the world smiles with abandon through my eyes. For an instant I am not Angelina, beset with emotions and a tangle of thoughts, desires and limitations, instead, I am the wild dance of life breathing life and all the space in between. In that moment I am home. My beautiful younger brother and kindred soul, Danny, once described this as being a sailor. A 'sailor' is something bigger than someone who sets out on a literal boat, it is a way of inhabiting the shifting sea of life while embracing a horizon wide with possibility. I like that. The next few posts are devoted to ...

I love hands. They say so much about a person and a life. Here are three photos of some of my favorite hands(my father's and my sons'), seeing them causes my heart to expand with a deep awe-inspired breath of life....

Happy half birthday to our Bodhi-boy. I had no idea that any single person could be so full of joy, life and energy! WHEW~ He had such fun making his requested pink half cake and then to add to the fun he had a special date with Baba and Mojo! Now if you ask him how old he is, he will proudly announce, "My body, two and half years old".

Spent. This is the third week of summer vacation and my cup still feels utterly empty. Not a desperate emptiness, just a quiet lack of fullness, inspiration and nourishment. I find myself wanting to stare for long moments at the play of sunlight on a lilac leaf, or the cottonwood as it winds a feathery dance toward the grassy floor. My ears strain after bird calls trailing in flight and bathe in the gentle sound of rain fall on a tin roof. My arms savor the weight of my son's sleep weary body in a post-nap embrace. The taste of watermelon bursts its juicy, red sweetness over a thirsty tongue filling me with a fleeting rapture. I want to slow it down, to extend the simple moments of life so that I can breathe into them without rushing on. Perhaps this is all I ever need, to sink into the simple beauty that surrounds me and BREATHE.

Check out the new scooter!!!!!! Bodhi keeps wandering the house collecting odds and ends, proclaiming, "I am going on a trip and you are gonna miss me". Obviously the result of so many loved ones coming and going in and out of his young life.

So what have we been up to? My lil' sister, China, and her love, Raphael, came for a visit. How wonderful to see family! Particularly my niece who is still safely growing in her mama's belly. We went for a beautiful hike for Father's day, just outside of Evergreen. Along the path we found an abundance of mushrooms, Wildflowers, And even a sword tree!!!

Here is a glimpse into the daily comings and goings with a Montessori flair: Here Bodhi is practicing one-to-one correspondence with numerals 1-3. He is really enamored with the process of counting and usually yells "Again, again mommy", whenever we finish the sets. I made him a felt oven on which to do his cooking and thus far he is proving an excellent and tenacious chef. Whenever real hunger knocks on the belly, we have this rotating snack shelf. Here is an example of a cereal making work with raisins, cheerios and a small pitcher for his almond milk. He loves this new level of independence. When his snack is prepared he finds a seat at his new dining area and eats. Here he is enjoying some popcorn with blueberries and almond cheese, an original Bodhi recipe. Bodhi has always been enamored with the process of opening and closing things. Here is a work designed with that in mind: And some tong transferring to strengthen the hand. Bodhi prefers to work with this one on...