Our Own Journey

The way things ought to be.....

I know it's been a while....Sometimes every aspect of life seems more important than getting my thoughts out.... I forget how good it feels when I finally sit down to write.

Yesterday we took had an exciting adventure!  Our neighboring community had their annual fair.  What made this event so special is that the idea set forth every year is a focus on using what you have (something I am very much into).  There were no ferris wheels, no booth games with cheap plastic toys for kids to waste their money trying to win, no commercialism.  It was centered around a Pirate themed playground constructed entirely of things people had sitting around. The community spent hardly any money, only time and creative energy, and therefore were able to offer admission at a very low cost: free. 

Here are some of the pictures, and I'll have to say we had the most fun we've ever had at a fair.

Here's the map of the playground (Found on the ship near the captain's wheel)

The pirate ship was the size of a yacht!  It was build from plywood, railroad ties, and other used materials residents had sitting around.  There was a deck above with a dining room, captains wheel, slide and stairs leading to below deck where there was a hoard of treasure (Again, most everything was pooled together by residents, very little was bought new)

Here's where the young pirates boarded...

My little pirate...

The ship's mast...

Orion at the Captain's wheel..(Probably one of the only things they actually purchased)

The Captain of the Ship...

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And some of the other Amazing...totally creative things that they thought of to really make it a perfect place for kids to play and explore..

Here they fenced off an area for the kids to plant a garden all for themselves. 

They provided the tools, plants, and water, and the kids loved it!

The "Little Maiden's Tiki Huts".  These were so cute...

One was filled with cushions to be a living area, and the other was the kitchen that was stocked with pots, pans and utensils.  Of course it didn't take the kids long to figure out they could make an endless variety of dishes with dirt and the plants from the garden..=)

The kids were running this little store selling pirate swords, hats, and other goodies.

The work they put into this was incredible!  This was the entrance...Yes, that's made of stone with a real drawbridge!

This was one of my favorite parts of the whole fair, the Royal Crest.  This was actually HAND KNIT and sewn onto a felt backing, and made into this flag.  Just for this fair and this community.  I was impressed with it....

The kids enjoyed an old fashioned pony ride...and yes, it was also for free....

The thing that I enjoyed most about everything was the down home, old fashioned feel of everything.  There were no police, no security guards. Everything was built by hand.  The kids had so much fun and there wasn't any of the usual I want this or that...I wanna ride on that one..I want cotton candy..I want to play a video game...I want I want...what is usually what fairs these days have become all about.  SO much self gratification and focus on consumption.  It was such a pleasure to watch so many children just play and use their imaginations to transform their world.  I feel blessed that my children can grow up in such a place. 

I hope you all enjoyed sharing in our adventure!

30 Days of Happiness

So I've finally buckled down and started a blog.  I decided to start it with an idea from a friend of mine, to spend 30 days intent on finding happiness in each day.  I know it seems somewhat silly, but with the hum drum of the usual chores and activities the days begin to meld into each other.  When we seek out the beauty, newness, and well, happiness of each day, each moment seems a little more worthwhile. 

Today was easy. Things started off with a bon voyage party for a friend and neighbor.  There was superb food, much of it prepared from fresh fruits and vegetables from local gardeners, and good vibes abounded.  After resting a bit, we headed over to Grandma's for a sign language lesson.  No Grandma wasn't teaching, but learning too.  It was a video designed especially for kids by a mother who's little girl is deaf.  We settled in to learn while the summer rain drizzled outside. 

Which brought me to the moments which seemed to bring this day of happiness together perfectly.

 

What is it about summer rainstorms that makes us feel so heavenly? And rainbows of course always top it off....

 

Eating ripe, juicy white grapes off the vine... 

Somebody else discovered the grapes...

 

Cutting some fresh wheat grass to juice in the morning....What a blessing!!

 

And this was from yesterday but I couldn't resist including it....Hosanna and David were being my biggest helpers...They unloaded the dryer (we fluff, then air dry) and both worked together to carry the basket all the way outside.  I thought they would just wait for me but they both decided to team up and hang up the laundry together.  "Here sissy..." David passes the clothes to her while she stands on the slide..PRICELESS!