Vernal Pools

I was happy to take a break from all things happening and tuck away a precious time with my daughter to discover nature. We both went to presentation on wetlands in other words on vernal pools. It was very informative for both of us. We are planning to go again in two weeks time so we can really listen to wonders of nature. We learned so much that vernal pools are ideal temporary locations for amphibians and reptiles. These pools could dry out completely during summer and some might retain water if it has a thick cover above it. Tuck in thick woods.When it dries out completely, animals move up -land to make their homes and come back when they are adults to lay eggs. 

We saw few of vernal pools in the Middleboro area, and it was still covered with snow but it was so neat. We are at the tale end of our winter and some might not join me on that comment, depending on this winter we are experiencing. We have had really a long winter and we are still calling snow for this Tuesday and Wednesday.
I took advantage of sudden change in the temperature from low 30 degrees to upper 59 degrees and enjoyed the wetland presentation and the walk in the woods and learned a lot. Additionally, on a side note I was highly impressed with bunch of home schoolers, and  how enthusiastic they were to learn about vernal pools. We did not had any instruments or tools to explore pools but it was fun. I truly believe learning is fun!


We learned about so many amphibians and few reptiles which are native to MA, like Fowlers’s Toad, Marble Salamander, Black silver snake, and many frogs that I could not keep track of. I am highly motivated to have few frog eggs in my class so children could see the development. 

Taking Care of classroom pet...

This school vacation we decided to pet sit. Nicolette was super excited to bring her classroom pet home, according to her she wanted to play dress up, and want to give Finn a bath. 

The ginuea pig is very active in the night as Niegel and I watched TV way into morning during one night. Finn decided to add the after effects of the scary movie, fun night turning light off after the movie. 

We have been adding Finns bedding to the compost, and offering him carrots. I am not sure, if I am confident enough to pick and handle him. However he is getting use to me more, since I am the only one taking care of his bedding besides Panduka.

I see he is venturing out from his house to see what is happening around him. He sure loves his carrots, and hey. We gave him a treat of parsley and he sure likes that. The more into the week I notice him playing outside of him home more. My allergies are bit off, but still worth the effort of taking care of Finn.

It is REALLY a fun way to take care of a pet!

On and Off Snow

Yet, another winter storm engulfed us with gusty wind. I am not in a mood to take Nicolette across town on her sled for donuts. I am sure if I offer that to her, she would drive me nuts around the house until I take her to donuts. 

However, it was peaceful outside, watching snow falling gently on the ground. We decided to watch it fall from inside. The fire pit is totally covered and was so beautiful to watch outside. 

Record breaking

I was in a mission to write many posts this year; because, I have been posting the same number of posts for the couple of last few years. Years 2012 and 2011 both sum up to 119 posts published, but, I am still posting this year and way over 119 posts. 

I do not have a big number following my blog but I love my usual comments, and a big thank you goes to Meryl Carver from My Bit of Earth. I love reading her blog which has inspire me in many ways. I share many of her interests which Meryl blogs in her blog. 

This year has been my second year blogging while at work. I learned to value time more than any thing this year. It has been a great year, teaching is getting back to me and I have begun to share my love with children in class including forcing bulbs. Thanks to many posts on internet. 

We are working on a big project, this year and will be posting about it this spring. We are all excited about that and more to come. 

I am happy to enjoy the time off from work, it is not exactly time off for me, but I get to do few things I love the most, reading, sewing, knitting, and ofcourse stocking my little shop. 

Holiday baking is taking shape, and enjoying catching up with friends and neighbors. 

I am planning to blog more in 2014. 

October

October brings so much to the table, I might say, I had much to do with September. Well, September went really fast busyness of schools, brings in adjusting to schedules but still making attempts to enjoy the last bit of Summer. That is exactly we have been trying to do enjoy the outside as much as we can. I still have a long to do list. I have two  flower beds to attend which includes digging out some beautiful summer annual bulbs. Three raised beds to clean and build one before frost. We will having total of four raised beds next summer. More canning and sprouting into exploring more new varites of vegetables with our kids!

Garden is still producing, during busy evening, when I pull the car over to park by the garden beds, I still see few bees humming by flowers. I bet they want to suck all the honey they want for winter. This reminds me of this coming spring I need to add at least one bug/bee house, this could be a winter project for me. Garden is getting ready to go dormant. My little garden has worked so hard and offered me an abundance of vegetables, my trips to the grocery store has been cut down significantly. 
This summer, our garden took an indirect step to teach me how to can. I have been busy canning my tomatoes and the summer abundance.

October, brings a nice cool breeze with a hint of chill in the air. I might take on few garden jobs this Columbus day weekend. By the way do you know two cities had been named after Christopher Columbus, One is in the state of Ohio, and the other is in the state of Georgia a FUN fact!

I have a long list I like to accomplish this long weekend. Since, I have been, not feeling under the weather. October, throws the allergy season as well with its spectacular leaf show!

One Hour, Listening to Music, and Creating

Some who was close to me once asked how do I managed my time. Well, I wish I have more to say however, I try to relax, and get my work done as much as possible during mornings. I will work in the craft room for certain time just like I would work in my yard. Lately, I have created my playlist to last long just around an hour so I can get things done during that time while enjoying my favorite music. 

This is much more relaxing than using the timer. I know I need to wrap things up and move on to the next task. I find this way that I do not get bored and i can work on multiple projects. 

What works for me right now will not work for me when the school starts but I might tweak my schedule this year so i can spend more time creating and hanging around with my family!

My point is Music could help you to organize your work style when you are at home. In some occasions to motivate you as well. 

Changes in Blogging...

 Decided to change few things up in my blog. Not so much the style of blogging in other words publishing pictures. I have been commented few times by some of you that I do a great job in taking pictures so I decided to let that take in to the center stage because that’s what you guys liked. 

Publishing my pictures x-large and writing in between the pictures so you have an ideas what I am talking about makes more sense. 

I am a more in tune to read blog that help me to understand what is going on with the post. If I get the pictures to be large and explain what is happening it is much easier to understand; at least for my case. 

 Promise to keep things simple and clear going forward. If you do not like it please do not hesitate to contact me.
 Notice the new tab for contact information. Now it is one more step closer to send a personal message if you like. 

I hope this Makes sense

Also I wanted to be centered with my writing that will flow easily with pictures.

Quote of the day “ remember that you have an ability to start over”

Enjoy!

Am I Rooted in My Culture or in the Process of Assimilation...

In the early twentieth century, a Jewish immigrant named Israel Zangwill offered this description of the US in his book The Melting Pot: “There she lies the great melting pot- Listen! Can’t you hear the roaring and the bubbling? There gapes her mouth-the harbour where a thousand mammoth feeders come from the ends of the world to pour in their human freight. Al, what a stirring and a seething - Celt and Latin. Slav and Teuton, Greek and Syrian, Black and Yellow... Jew and Gentile.”

According to Zangwill, European immigrants would gradually lose their traditional ways of life and blend together. A new mixed culture would emerge from this process. This process is named assimilation, the change in which people lose their cultural differences and blend into the wider society. 

Where do I fit in is the big question. I use to heavily engaged in the Sri Lankan community then with traveling and work that bond disappear. No matter what I believe in my religion but do I practice  enough by means of going to the temple, participating in Sri Lankan cultural activities I wanted to say I like to do more in this area. 

I have been questioning myself a lot lately because I am taking a class that involved in diversity consciousness. I know deep inside me I am trying to fit in to the culture that I am surrounded with by doing so am I diverting away from my culture is the biggest question. I do want to pass the beautiful culture which I was born. I was born to two beautiful people with different religious beliefs, ethnicity, race, but at the end they united to take care of their children. I was raised in a family to respect other people’s beliefs, ideas, personality, above all I was exposed to two different cultures. 

I believed in my faith, religion, found peace, made resolutions during tough times. ask for strength to take on difficult tasks, and I want to pass this belief  to my children. I want my children to understand our culture and integrate it to their life and world. 

Part of me embraced the American culture not to bring any memories of the Sri Lankan New Year. Because it was the day I lost my Mother for a heart attack. Deep inside I think part of me wanted to fit in to people around me. 

I found solace in someway going to temple participating in activities. I could not bring myself together to celebrate the New Year but I cannot live in that forever. I want to pass my heritage the beautiful culture that I grew up to my children.

I found peace with the auspicious times and the loss of the most important person in my life. I want to remember, offer arms, and celebrate with my family the beautiful heritage that belongs to me.  

In the book further more it discussed the process of the Pluralism which is the cultural differences are acknowledged and preserved. In to some extent this is a debatable subject. Visiting back to the melting pot we as a nation as become more like a  salad bowl which i like very much.

If you have any thought on this please feel free to write them.

Quote of the day “Let go/ forgive/ accept”

Enjoy!

Signs of Early Spring…

 
I was talking to a friend over the and there was so much activity in the woods… I mean birds flying… I started to take a closer look. To my surprise I saw a flock of Robins, yes.

I mean their chests were dark orange and looks like they were resting or taking a break. I told my friend who was not happy to the second snowstorm that spring is just around the corner.
We were happy to see the Robins…

Quote of the Day “have sunny thoughts on cloudy days”

Enjoy!

Happy New Year…

 
My New Year resolutions consist of a list as always; How about you… what have you decided to accomplish this year, give up, help out, seek out, grow into, dig into, to create, or is it simply to soak life in… I would love to hear so feel free drop a line or two…

My New Year celebration was wonderful, memorable, and fun. I was able to watch fire works with my family on a boat at the Boston Harbor. I could not ask for any more it was beautiful, breath taking and the weather was great Surprising warm front help the Bostonians to celebrate New Year in spring fashion very unusual for most of us who choose to live up North. We all had a great time after a very long time as a family. I would not forget that.

I am anxious to see what 2011 has offer to me or in other words what I have to offer 2011. We will see as time unravels. Past couples of years have made me stronger, bolder, and a pusher. Not only that it allowed me to explore the creativity, understand me, what I want, and to realize where my life is heading, what I need to focus, my family and my children. It was indeed a great experience which I am still learning and exploring but it has definitely made me a totally different person.

Understanding relationships, family, and friendships… Yes, I have changes took charge of different situations, cried a lot but I grew up a whole lot past few years. When I look back those tracks I am humbly happy where I am it was not an easy ride… I thank many of you who stop by in my blog to take peak with your busy lives.

Quote of the day “accomplish something everyday”

Enjoy!

Town's Library Display, Features My Hats…

 
 
 I am sure some of my friends and family can remember I used to rattle off about the knitting group that was formed at the local library. It was formed last year somewhere in May I think. It’s been a while now since then it has grown a lot. We all enjoy knitting and chatting and we enjoy newcomers and learn from each other. Most of all we love talking about local news.

I knitted a dress for my daughter with the help of our leader. She has out grown it but I treasured it. However since my schooling things have change. I drop in for some meetings but still keep up with the group.

Anyway this month the librarian asks us to display our knitting goodies and we did. I had so much fun creating the display. I was able display some of my hats and little things that I have knitted during this past year. It included almost everything that I have done so far.
Cynthia the leader of the group was able to showcase some of her items too. I love all her stuff and she is also a great on crocheting. I did not have anything to display on that aspect but had fun helping to finish the display.

We love our local library very much my kids use it a lot and so do I… do you get involved in your local organizations… and I am very happy to see my son following this path he has been a great volunteer at the library and enjoys it very much.

Quote of the day “carry something to read with you”

Enjoy!

I am thankful and grateful to you…

I started this blog as a creative outlet for me… I have to admit I do enjoy it very much… not only that through this blogging I was able to visit many blogs and find about other talented and creative people. After clicking the next blog tab several times I would crawl back to my blog to make entries… sometimes when I watch other blogs I would get intimidated by its followers and I would simply say to myself oh my gosh those people are talented… and when I am all cozy in my safe heaven I would look at my blog’s subtitle FOLLOWERS and that empty space… and use to think will someone will ever follow my blog…

Yes, there were a lot of questions I would question myself and I would worry about it a lot and some days I thought I wish I have just one follower… I remember numerous times I use to check that empty space first as soon as I log in… after a while it faded… Yes, just like that it faded it never bothered me because I really enjoyed posting what I did with my kids…

If I post something that I did especially with kids I would send an email to our family members and would ask to check on it… and sometimes they would leave a comment and it was such a huge deal to me.

Then I started to leave comments on others blogs… instead of sending e-mails to the family members. I was so happy for the very first time www.thesleepytimegal.com left a message on my comment section. Yes, I literally jumped up and down… I was thrilled… (I really liked her blog because she did a lot of work with her kids… and I loved her blog… and that’s the first site that I started commenting) I have no idea how to explain it or to put that into writing when I received a comment from a person which I have not met (I am sure all of you went through this one point).

And then one day when I was going through my blog I saw ONE follower that made me so proud of myself… and then I saw my second follower I am elated with the fact that other people like my ideas… my craft, my activities I get to do with my kids… I really like my blogging and very GREATFUL to have my followers…

I am very thankful for all of you who leave comments on my blog… It’s going to be almost a year that I started my blog it’s getting close… but at the end of the day what matters is that we all have something in common… as mothers we wants to give the best to our kids, nurture, guide, show the correct path… or simply show them to appreciate what is around us… or enjoy just being with our kids and watching them grow and mature is scary but FUN…

I do enjoy this load of work…

Quote of the day “curiosity inspire creativity”

Enjoy!

I do enjoy photography…

While I was walking towards the kitchen I found my camera bag on the living room floor… without much thought I picked it up and place it on the table… after couple of days basically 2 days I took the camera to take pictures to a post on my blog. Those who are blogging know how you look through lenses to capture the moment.

In other words it is the third eye which is not physically located in your body… I did invest on a good camera before I had my little one because I did want quality pictures. I may still not producing quality pictures but I do love my camera.

What I found after placing it on the table picking it off from the floor was devastating… due to the impact the lenses were not working in other words the zooming was jammed… it is easy to type now but I was practically handicapped without my camera. I used my phone camera to take pictures. I am not complaining but writing posts were in halt for a while.
I am in the process of getting a new lens which I am going to be very happy with due to zoning. It does have a larger zone that allows not changing the lenses very often which I love … it is great weekend camera lens you can survive. You can just take this lens and will work on many situations with lighting…

This is a topic I love learning because again it is a skill and an ART…
I did found the culprit for this damage… can you guess… she was too cute… but I did learn my lesson keep my camera bag reach out of children…
So we did decide to take the lens apart now we are stuck because we cannot put it back together… I hope including myself and everyone else learned keep the camera bag reach out of children…

Quote of the Day “redraw your view of the world with visualization”

Enjoy!

I am grateful to YOU…

It’s being a while I made a post: I have been extremely busy with a project which has a dead line and number of items. I personally think that’s a goal. Anyway I will blog on that later it will come up soon because I enjoyed every bit of that project. It feels good on my finger tips to feel the keys and start writing what’s in my head.

There is a lot going on… schools are starting… Full filling boy’s scout rank requirements… taking care of 18 month old thinking going on 3 years… and stopping by to feel life and admire nature… and life in between is GREAT! But could be bit over whelming but no complains because I do enjoy it very much…

My older one is extremely busy working on merit badgers and I enjoy helping/aiding in this process and I thank everyone in my life right now extending their hand to us get there. He is been busy as a bee and the great part is he is learning something new every day. I am happy to watch him navigate the World Wide Web to get the right information and amazed with his talents… I think every mother should enroll their son in BOY”S SCOUT it is a wonderful program to grow into.

So all of us are growing… working… busy… and having fun. That’s a good thing.

My son asked is it ok if he makes the lunch… I jumped to answer YES, I was sewing and wanted to finish the project and little one was sleeping. I didn’t want to be in the kitchen. I sealed the moment to burry deep myself into my project. Oh… Yeah… He asked me to help him with cheese because he was making spaghetti with pasta sauce very simple but great with parmesan cheese, crushed pepper, rosemary, and olive oil.

I did and quickly came back to my project… He did prepared lunch; sorry I couldn’t take a picture of it before. I was hungry and we had a GREAT lunch together. It reminds me of me when my mother goes out for shopping or run errands I would make something so when she comes home there is food. I do miss her deeply in my life.

But the lunch my son made for me was great… I volunteered to do the dishes. I did the dishes with pride and gratefulness for my 12 year old. You ROCK son!

Quote of the day “never discourage a child’s individuality”

Enjoy!

Summer and Green Grass...

I enjoyed every little bit of summer… I like to be up in the mountains… because it is always few degrees lower than the normal temps. I was up in NH closer to CANADA and I love the weather (at least the summer weather). New Hampshire is a beautiful state and the most beautiful part of it was tax free. Yes, you do have to pay for FB but the others are tax free which I loved.

The land formation is beautiful felt like surrounded from mountains. The view was breathtaking… what I wanted to write was the smell of grass was sweet… and watching the grass being cut to use as hay was really nice up in the country. It is a lot work but the feeling you get by doing all this hard work I guess must be amazing… All the trees are bearing fruit and vegetables… bees are buzzing all over the fields and the flowers are in bloom. I love the bounty that summer brings in.

Quote of the day “be kind to the child in you”

Enjoy!

Wanted to go to my knitting Group…

Thanks for stopping by to take a peek in my little blog… to see what’s going on with my life...I was at home all day today with kids doing house work, cleaning, cooking, ironing, knitting, and what not in between… Yes, I wanted to go to my knitting group being confused since we meet at the local book shop as well as the public library I gave a call to Cynthia and found out it was at the Library… since Kathy is coming I wanted to take Nicolette’s baby clothes, return library books and  take the collection of hand me down knitting needles I bought from the craft lady for a buck while carrying all these in my hand. The nice gentleman from across the hallway was holding the door and thank him and hurried downstairs and got them situated in front the right hand side passenger seat…

Yes while I was driving my sons scout master called and we arranged a date for my son to meet up next week to go through his book requirements… said and done with that I am heading towards the intersection to take 140 S to take School street to go to the Library… while waiting to the incoming traffic the person behind me hit my truck.

Yes, this has happened to me before in NJ and my daughter was in the car and she was tiny and the other car hit me from my side. I was driving and from the driver’s side… I was shocked and bit frazzle… I was heading to pick my son from school at that time. This is my last collision memory… or experience I remember…

Today it was hard it was a big thundering sound and I was jerked but thank God I was buckled and no KIDS in the car… I was much disoriented today, crying, panic, angry, in other word I was an emotional wreck… Somehow I pulled myself and found out I have left my purse at home while attempting to carry all the other things. I called my husband he came in talk to the police officer who was very friendly and helpful when I explain to him that I don’t have my driver’s license at the moment. I explained to him that my husband was on his way with my purse… he told me that’s fine…

I felt bad for the other person… his car was new and an expensive car not only that he was going home after work… I wanted to apologize to him saying I am sorry for what happen at least I was able to explain to him neither of us didn’t had any injuries… I hope everything goes well with him being able to get to work… and all…

Other extraordinary thing was my husband was involved in an accident week before… on a rainy day and he hit the other car from behind… so both our cars are involved in accidents on the same month… to top it off I lost my wallet too… I am in the process of getting all my cards and cancelling my credit cards…
What a month… I can’t wait to see what’s going to happen next…

Quote of the day “experience life and death in each moment”

Enjoy!

Give with your heart…

Hello, I have been addicted to knitting and not only that I have begun some bad habits. Perhaps I should say I found project to vent frustrations out of other projects. Finally it’s all adds up… I am doing pretty good job so far because at the end I will have so many projects done. I am then going to stick to my old plan to do one project at a time. I guess I need a change of phase but who will not. With the season changes bring so many opportunities being outdoors and enjoy other interests.
I want to blog on this particular project because I put so many hours and my love and respect to it. I have not experienced the sisterhood with another sister but I want to make it very very special for this kid… and make it memorable for her hopefully. Because being a BIG SISTER could be a daunting task or a responsibility… So no matter how many books you read or how much role modeling you performed it could be scary for some kids… I can totally understand that. So I wanted this little girl to enjoy it as well as have fun because no matter what at the end brothers and sisters finally do stick around for most cases… I have come to in contact with an older community and I hear it very often that many people do regret waht they have said to their siblings when they are young or in an angry state of mind. Funny thing about siblings most cases they forgive or let go and always come to unity for taking care of a parents or a parent at the end; it’s amazing… how strong this bond could be… no matter how many years you are close or apart I have experiences with my own siblings as well with my own kids it’s amazing.

It could be a very simple or much intercut relationship but it’s a wonderful to have a sibling so I do care for single kids it’s hard to state what they are really missing.

I made a box of gifts for these two sisters with all my abilities and talents I really hope they will enjoy as much as I did assembling it together… This was one reason I couldn’t stick to knitting projects to finish on time because I had other projects. I was busy working; but it’s all for a GOOD CAUSE… make me feel so happy about myself at the end of the day…

Quote of the day “let go of your need to be overly involved”

Enjoy!