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Saturday
May152010
Storing up days
May 15, 2010
Our animal lover, YaYa, has been in bliss. The boys have also been in bliss. YaYa is animal-crazy, the boys, in comparison, are only animal-happy, but they all have been having a great time.
(A friend emailed me today, encouraging me to take all the goodness and kindness from family and friends as treasures into my heart, storing them well. I thought that phrase, storing them well, is so exactly representative of what I have been doing. Storing up rest, and ease, and peace. The kids are storing up on pet love. It's a far cry from the beach dogs of Goa.)
YaYa, getting her horse ready for riding. She's an industrious little brusher. Charlie is an elderly horse, very gentle, very slow. Good for kids. Sadly, he's getting to the end of his life.
Tj readjusting YaYa's helmet.That's Johanna, in the background. She's Tj and Mark's lovely new daughter-in-law. She and Eric live here on the ranch, in a cabin a few miles away, and she and Tj have been wonderful about giving the kids riding lessons.
At first, Johanna led Charlie.
Then Tj gave YaYa a riding lesson in the arena. She's concentrating pretty hard.
Oh, just look at her!
So cute. I just want to squeeze her. She rode back to the barn on her own. (With us close by.)
Kid A also did some riding, and got his own lesson. He looks handsome on his horse.
And Leafy! Leafy turned into a warrior. Charlie was led around the yard with the warrior on his back.
We've also been working on schoolwork while sitting in the sun. We need to take every opportunity to get the last books read from last year's curriculum, because the new one is coming soon. But the kids are definitely getting a well-rounded education.
I've also been making necklaces, which I'll be putting up on Etsy. I was looking for some jewelry to sell, when I was in Bangkok, something to help with the cost of traveling, and I realized that I wasn't crazy about anything that I was seeing. I was crazy about the stones and beads I saw, however.
So I've been making some stuff.
I miss India, also. There is always a feeling of immense blessing and happiness over being here, and just underneath, a thread of longing for my little house in the village, for lunchtime on the roof. For crowds and dusty hot days and severe, staring faces. But here we have grass and mild breezes and animals to love. Friends and dinnertime around the table. So the longing is just that little thread, put away until it will be time to go back. It is the traveler's curse, I think. The little thread of longing that weaves through everything.
(A friend emailed me today, encouraging me to take all the goodness and kindness from family and friends as treasures into my heart, storing them well. I thought that phrase, storing them well, is so exactly representative of what I have been doing. Storing up rest, and ease, and peace. The kids are storing up on pet love. It's a far cry from the beach dogs of Goa.)
YaYa, getting her horse ready for riding. She's an industrious little brusher. Charlie is an elderly horse, very gentle, very slow. Good for kids. Sadly, he's getting to the end of his life.
Tj readjusting YaYa's helmet.That's Johanna, in the background. She's Tj and Mark's lovely new daughter-in-law. She and Eric live here on the ranch, in a cabin a few miles away, and she and Tj have been wonderful about giving the kids riding lessons.
At first, Johanna led Charlie.
Then Tj gave YaYa a riding lesson in the arena. She's concentrating pretty hard.
Oh, just look at her!
So cute. I just want to squeeze her. She rode back to the barn on her own. (With us close by.)
Kid A also did some riding, and got his own lesson. He looks handsome on his horse.
And Leafy! Leafy turned into a warrior. Charlie was led around the yard with the warrior on his back.
We've also been working on schoolwork while sitting in the sun. We need to take every opportunity to get the last books read from last year's curriculum, because the new one is coming soon. But the kids are definitely getting a well-rounded education.
I've also been making necklaces, which I'll be putting up on Etsy. I was looking for some jewelry to sell, when I was in Bangkok, something to help with the cost of traveling, and I realized that I wasn't crazy about anything that I was seeing. I was crazy about the stones and beads I saw, however.
So I've been making some stuff.
I miss India, also. There is always a feeling of immense blessing and happiness over being here, and just underneath, a thread of longing for my little house in the village, for lunchtime on the roof. For crowds and dusty hot days and severe, staring faces. But here we have grass and mild breezes and animals to love. Friends and dinnertime around the table. So the longing is just that little thread, put away until it will be time to go back. It is the traveler's curse, I think. The little thread of longing that weaves through everything.
Reader Comments (14)
Wow, you're having so much fun, and I'm so glad for all of you. YaYa's doing something that's on my bucket list - learning to ride. That's wonderful. They all look good. The weather looks like its cooperating with you, much better than all being cramped in a little condo with poor weather, and you have wheels again.
Love you and miss you,
what a beautiful post...so wonderful to see your kids enjoying LIFE! The scenery is amazing!!
And i make jewelry too :) here in mexico...........same thing.....not so into the jewelry here, but LOVE the amazing selection of beads!
.-= Susanna´s last blog ..http://queenbeephotography.blogspot.com/2010/05/this-moment_14.html" rel="nofollow">{this moment} =-.
It looks like you're all having a lovely time, (especially the kids!) So glad you have sunshine and room for them to roam. I too have the traveler's curse. It's strangely comforting to know that others share it with me.
.-= April Alexander´s last blog ..http://thequadshot.blogspot.com/2010_05_01_archive.html#1092786082654922758" rel="nofollow">Brick Walk Way Made From Recycled Bricks =-.
Your last two sentences are so, so true.
Expats are only happy on the airplane, thinking with anticipation of getting home, whether that be their original home or the place they actually live now.
.-= edj´s last blog ..http://planetnomad.wordpress.com/2010/05/12/torturing-not-beating-just-so-were-clear-on-that/" rel="nofollow">Torturing, Not Beating. Just so we’re clear on that. =-.
Those kids of yours are so amazingly beautiful and look graceful in everything they do. Even the "warrior".
Not to ignore your lovely beaded neacklaces but ... that quilt! It's gorgeous! Did you make that? I am in love with quilts.
Your life is so beautiful I could eat it up! I am so inspired by you. I wish I could be a mouse in your pocket on all of your many adventures.
.-= Mountain´s last blog ..http://iamnotamountain.blogspot.com/2010/05/your-average-every-day-run-of-mill.html" rel="nofollow">Your average every day run of the mill stress. =-.
We've moved around a lot...the last place we lived I hated when we got there...when we moved 4 years later I was startled to realize how much I missed it. Would have never thought that would happen. But places have a way of getting into your heart and head. Looks like you're having a wonderful time.
Thanks for keeping in touch with us Rae. I'm so happy for all of you and so excited to catch a little glimpse of Tj too!
.-= Eleanor´s last blog ..http://eleanorfromthecommentbox.blogspot.com/2010/04/sewjourn.html" rel="nofollow">Sewjourn =-.
Yes, store the in your heart indeed, they will be there when you need them.
Good for you on the jewelery making, it's gonna be good I know.
What about throwing a few adds on this blog, speaking of making money. I for one, would not mind in the least.
.-= MoroccoMama´s last blog ..http://moroccomama.wordpress.com/2010/05/16/chronicles-of-nezha-part-2-2/" rel="nofollow">Chronicles of Nezha, part 2 =-.
Look at them loving those animals! What fun!
.-= green girl in Wisconsin´s last blog ..http://melissawestemeier.blogspot.com/2010/05/2-things.html" rel="nofollow">2 things =-.
I am curious what curriculum you use. The horses look fun. My kids would be in heaven!
Dear Rae,
I love your blog. I love your 'voice', I love your courage. I love your photos. Happy belated birthday, and perhaps I will get myself together and comment more often instead of always just reading. :)
~B
I find that I reconcile myself to missing the places I've lived by remembering that my true home is still waiting...waiting. But I also carry a part of each place of lived, each friend I've shared my life with, in my heart and sometimes it feels full--very full. Love you. Hope you are having a beautiful springtime. xoxo
.-= Rachel Clancy´s last blog ..http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/JohnAndRachelClancy/~3/Ab-4WdVN7fI/" rel="nofollow">The Wee Birdies =-.