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A Night at the Beach
June 7, 2011
Staying with my parents has transported us to a weird sort of reality. A working vacation.
Maybe our new life will always be a bit like this. Isn't that what following your passions and doing the work you love kind of looks like? I don't know for sure, we're only starting this journey.
What adds to the vacation element is that we're staying in my parent's beautiful home and because we're new to the area there is a certain "touristy" element to every day comings and goings.
Like going to the beach.
Since arriving here two weeks ago Damien and I have been pretty serious about getting our life in order after the chaos of the move.
Damien has been focused on his responsibilities. Being the overall breadwinner and provider, getting our family outdoors, and unloading the possessions we need from the trailer.
My focus has been establishing a homeschool routine, home and kitchen management (with my mom), and organizing our stuff in my parent's house.
Our days are very full. I think at some point leading up to the move I had a notion of taking a vacation when we arrived. Snort!
After months of moving chaos - the lack of routine (except for sort, organize, pack, repeat), the compromises in home cooking, and our writing/professional projects put on hold - our family needed structure, right from the get go.
So these have been busy days. Certainly not a vacation. But not nose-to-the-grindstone, 9 to 5, daddy at "work" with mommy and kids alone type days either.
These days we set our own schedule, according our individual needs and our family goals. But my oh my, how many goals we have (smile).
Last Monday after another full day of morning school, healthy cooking, exercising, home management, writing, programming and more we needed a little break - all together.
An evening at the ocean was in order.
Where we used to live in Maine was a solid hour from a decent ocean beach. Going to the beach was not an evening activity.
And this is why life here feels a bit like vacation because come evening, when we're a bit tired and cranky and just need to reconnect with each other and nature - we can head to the beach. It's a 10 minute drive to this particular beach (there are many in the area) and we were treated to this spectactular misty sunset at the end of our hectic day.
The days do feel like vacation, and work. It feels like living the life we want.
PS. This is Hirtle's Beach in Lunenburg County.
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Laura on June 7, 2011, 11:20 a.m.
My children will be staying a couple of days with their grandparents later in the week. I am hoping to spend some time thinking and praying about what my life should be. I don't think we will be taking such drastic (in a good way) steps as your family (though my husband is job hunting!). But, we should all want to live intentionally. I'll be looking through your archives for such posts to encourage me. I'm kind of not sure how or where to start. Thanks, again, for being an example of living intentionally!
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Vickie on June 7, 2011, 1:11 p.m.
Your pictures are gorgeous !!! The one with just Celine in it is out of this world amazing. I agree, there are so many beautiful tourist-y sites in Nova Scotia. On this side of the province, we have Mavillette Beach, it's a provincial park.
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Lee on June 7, 2011, 2:24 p.m.
Truly beautiful photos - luminescent light. We move overseas in 4 weeks and I love your point about getting back to routine as quickly as possible. We also homeschool and I am busy stocking up on supplies to go in the shipment. We are selling off somethings and purchasing others (my daughter has finally outgrown her toddler bed!). Sounds like you are off on the right foot for your journey.
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Nola on June 7, 2011, 6:33 p.m.
How beautiful! I haven't spent much time around the ocean. I have lived near many lakes though. I enjoy going down to our large lake (a few minutes by car or 15 on bikes) to recharge and love the evening when the light is like that.
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Spring on June 8, 2011, 12:40 a.m.
So lovely!! I am pining to come play on that beach you with! ;)
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Naomi on June 8, 2011, 1:05 a.m.
I felt the same way after our move. I was dying for regularity! One nice surprise though, was that I had expected a period of mixed emotions and "finding our place" sorta feeling when Glen came home full-time. I thought we would have to adjust our roles so we wouldn't be frustrated from changing expectatons, but really, it was almost a smooth transition. I think keeping the family discussions going was really helpful in creating a new family structure where we all work at home together. And it's working! We love our new rhythm! Hmm, blog post topic?
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Dee on June 8, 2011, 2:55 a.m.
How incredibly beautiful it is!
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Kika on June 8, 2011, 7:02 p.m.
Renee, this question is off topic but... I wonder if you can recommend some resources (print or online) for using flowers/herbs in body care products and for medicinal purposes (ex throat losenges/elderberry syrup).
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renee on June 9, 2011, 1:11 a.m.
Re: Flowers/herbs in body care. Maybe try these books:
The Herbal Body Book
EcoBeauty (this looks less herb focused, more diy "green" beauty)
Celine really recommends the book Organic Body Care which is more beauty care orientated, not so much herb focus, though it is all natural stuff you make yourself.
Also, you should definitely check out Shoshanna's Bulk Herb Store YouTube Channel. She has lots of flower/herb teaching. Right now there is a calendula cream tutorial.
I've picked up my limited know-how in this area by random reading (online, magazines, etc) and trial and error so I can't definitely recommend one book or resource.
Re: Flower/herbs for medicinal purposes. I'm not sure what exactly you mean by that. You're harvesting flowers and wonder if they can be used medicinally? My favorite herbal how-to book is Rosemary Gladstar's Herbal Recipes for Vibrant Health.
Ironically, just this week I purchased the game Wild Craft from Learningherbs.com. They have a special going on right now - 50% off with a bunch of other e-resources, like an herbal gifts e-book which might have some of what you are looking for.
There is so much out there on the internet now about using herbs. Frugal Granola also sells Herbal Nurturing (which I don't have so can't speak for) but I'm not sure if it has a flower section or focus at all.
Hope that helps some Kika.
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Kika on June 9, 2011, 5:12 p.m.
Thank you. These ideas do help.
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Debbie on June 8, 2011, 8:09 p.m.
It looks like Canada. :) <3
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Laura on June 7, 2011, 11:11 a.m.
It is unbelievably gorgeous there! Thanks for sharing all the pictures for those of us who live far away from that type of beauty (we have a different type). Even though it is work, I'm glad that things are coming together the way you had hoped. Your choices and following through with them are an inspiration to me!