I'm back

So much for the tomorrow!
I was hit with a nasty flu bug, which I recovered from last week, but was then a week behind in my christmas packages which needed to be shipped across the country. The last package was shipped express this morning and I AM BACK!

I thought about writing a number of times.. and it is nice to be able to finally write. There is something about writing thoughts that is very freeing.

AND... I figured out how to post photos! Now I just need to sort out which ones I want to print. I need to play more with my camera, most of my photos are of my kids and I don't really want to post them here. I'm always sending photos of them via email or facebook and I want a space that is my own... so this blog is dedicated to me. As a stay at home mom, most of my day is dedicated to my children and I find (like many mothers do) that I just don't have much ME time. So I am pushing aside all my motherly guilt and taking time for ME.

Today I thought I would write about something that I love: Road Trips.
When I was younger I thought flying was very cool (because it was something I very rarely did). I did not like road trips with my parents (which were also infrequent) as my parents are point to point people; leave very early in the morning, around 5am and drive straight through, no pee breaks. Not fun.

As I got older and could drive myself I started taking a few road trips of my own. And as I firmly believe that getting up before 6am is getting up before it is actually morning, I would leave later...this alone was an improvement. And I would stop for small breaks. Each trip I took I allowed myself more breaks, not only for bathroom breaks, or to eat, but breaks to stop and look around. Enjoy the scenery. Road trips became fun!

Now, given the choice between an airplane or a car...I choose the car. Even if it takes longer, getting there really is half the fun.

One day this past fall we decided to take a day and drive up to see the cabot trail. No plans, lets just go. I've never seen it and it is supposed to be one of the most beautiful drives in the world. So, we got up and left by nine (getting four kids organized for a full day takes awhile). We spent fourteen hours on the road and had a great day.

best intentions

Hmmm... my intention was to write in here very regularly, which hasn't happened.

This is why ~ I procrastinate. I like things to be perfect, and in my world, they seldom are. I imagine my posts being accompanied by gorgeous photos some of which I have not taken yet and some that have been taken and I just haven't had the time to figure out how to post them.

So, as I often do, I put off doing something until I can do it perfectly. I end up spending far too much time planning and not enough time doing. So, I am just going to write anyway and post a blog, flaws and all. Hopefully, with practice, the look will improve. But, for now, this will have to do.

I did take time today to make a card for my daughter, my goal for tomorrow will be to post a photo!

My Delicious Autumn

I just thought I would post a note describing how I have arrived here.

To begin with, I am a habitual list maker. I have spent hours making lists of things I need to do, want to do, and even lists of lists I need to make. In fact, for many years I spent more time making lists and thinking and reading about things I wanted to do than I did actually doing anything. I am a dreamer, not a risk taker. A few years ago (as happens to many people) I noticed that my youth was slowly, and then not so slowly slipping away. More and more responsibilities were placed upon me as I purchased a home, got married and had four children. I soon realized that many of the things on my lists would never become reality. This scared me. Life became normal...boring.

So, at thirty, my husband and I decided to move forward. I wanted to be a doer, not just a dreamer. The transition is ongoing and difficult. But...rewarding.

Six years ago, we decided to put aside what we should do and what we thought was expected of us and follow our dreams... whatever they may be. My husband quit work and went back to school to get his Bach. of fine arts. I followed shortly after working on a degree in english. (correspondence part time ~ somebody needs to watch the kids!) When his degree was completed (mine is still ongoing), we decided to take another big step. We both love the ocean and on a short trip to Canada's east coast a decade earlier I had fallen in love with the eastern landscape. So, he applied to graduate school in Nova Scotia and we were soon driving across the country with our family.

The scary part was I made no list...no plans...no reservations (A big step for a former travel agent)!!! I loved it. Everyday was an adventure and we had an amazing time exploring our country!

I learned that summer that doing is a LOT more fun than dreaming...than list making.

The adventure continues...graduation with an MFA approaches for my husband... new classes have been signed up for and are in the mail for me...a blog is started to allow me to write while I live...