Joy Pockets # 7

There's been much to be grateful for/happy about this week. To honor it I am going to offer you a few glimpses of our daily life last week.
Like any other morning, M puts the laundry away.

 

Is this the same fruit? -Matching real lemons and apples to the photographed ones.

 

Practical life and nutritive activities: forking tomato bits.

 

Reading a magazine while on the potty...and brushing brand-new teeth!

I hope you like it! What are you up to?

Joy Pockets # 6

 

Sunday is nearing its end here in BCN and I haven't posted Friday's Joy pockets. No excuses. I was about to do it last Friday but it suddenly felt rather machine-like and dropped it. I really like the idea of acknowledging the moments that brightened our week and really consider it a good way of gaining insight into our lives. Bringing those moment unto the surface gives us, among other things, the opportunity of feeling grateful for what we are/do/get. However, when this beautiful action becomes a compulsory task, some of its magic seems to be taken away. This is my feeling, at least and this reminds me why I seldom join daily initiatives. I love them and really admire those of you who have the discipline to keep them up. It doesn't work for me, though. 

Having said that, I now feel a bit more in the mood for sharing those things that made my week beautiful. 

Lunch with friends

Picnic in Ciutadella Park

Interesting Book Club Session discussing Toni Morrison's Beloved

Amaranth, vegetables, and pumpkin

Spring around the corner

Flowers blooming and new words sprouting

My girl's first steps

Successful potty learning

Interesting outings: downtown, market, Gracia

Riso ioga with Zoe

Baked sesame bread and oatmeal banana cupcakes -yummy-

Successful no-pooing (both M and myself)

Walk in the woods: elfs' mini shacks made of branches, delightful trill of mockingbirds, and a horse!!

The expectation of friends coming to stay with us -from Australia.

Reflection day

Joy Pockets # 5

This week we have been blessed with lots of unexpected, and truly useful presents, gifts, and surprises.

One of my daughter's two great-grannies gave me a SEWING MACHINE! Phew, am I not lucky?
Lots of goodies from my husband's village; whole peeled home-bottled tomatoes and tomato sauce, fruit preserves, organic apples, potatoes, and onions.
Hand-made toys made by my mum following my crazy Montessori-inspired ideas.
Two beautiful, inspiring artwork books full of ideas!!
A well-made, handcrafted, wooden bed for M.
Lavender and vanilla essential oils given by Pranarôm.*
Two sacks full of second-hand but practically new fashionable clothes ... my size!!
M's brand-new 'see kai run' shoes, which she has loved since the very moment she tried them on.* 
Delightful moments with my beloved M.
A recovered health, for which I feel grateful.

I wonder how much we are given by relatives, friends, acquaintances... Some years ago I might have undervalued material objects but since I am a mother I have become aware of how much given things save me. It is not only money but time, and not only the time to buy them but to organize, schedule, get to the store, bother M with car rides, which she dislikes so much. All in all this is a great amount of time I save, specially since living far from the store implies rides all the time. I find multiple joy in being the recipient of gifts; among other reasons there's the element of surprise, the fact that someone has been thinking of you, the time and money you are spared, the nice feeling of reusing and recycling.

* Disclaimer: I am not getting paid by any of these brands. I happen to mention them because I like and use them but this is by no means intended as a piece of advertisement. I felt it would be forced to omit the brands just because it could seem advertising. I like giving details -hence I often use more than one adjective- and mentioning brands is just a part of that.

How has your week been? May the weekend brighten it!

Joy pockets # 4

I am late this week, but it is still Friday in Alaska, right? I was sick last night and couldn't make it to post joy pockets. This week has been a busy one.

Essential support from a husband without whom I would have had a bad time this week.
Another morning spent with the wonderful toddlers of the shared rearing group.
Interesting conversation about Steinbeck's novel "Of Mice and Men" at the Rubí Book Club.
M concentrating on suggested activities for long stretches of time.
First late winter sunny days.
The early bloom of beautiful almond trees.
M's first steps on her own.

I'd love to hear about your week!

Joy pockets # 3

Friday again, and today M and me had the great opportunity of joining a wonderful group of shared childrearing. I feel honored for having been asked whether I would be interested in becoming their educator when the current main educator leaves soon on maternity leave. I feel so grateful for being offered to work and at the same time bring my little one along. I will let you know more about this project soon.

Nice, hot shower when it was - 5 outside.

Delicious homemade pumpkin cupcakes.

Enjoyable morning shared with 4 other cute toddlers.

Help with the home cleaning.

Lunch with the husband on a hectic Friday afternoon in our fav. neighborhood in the city; bagel with cheese cream and ginger-apple smoothie.

Midweek morning spent in the local library; discovering new books for children.

Joy Pockets week 2

Here is Friday again -touching its end, by the way- and here I am joining in again to share what brightened our week. It's been a sort of short week splatter with a bit of sickness but also a lot of good moments. I am grateful I found out "Joy Pockets" thanks to Melissa at Vibrant Wanderings. Now I am all week looking forward to reading what brought you joy this week.

All kind of colors in the sky and all range of temperatures within one same day

My lovely daughter's wide grin at seeing a cat and saying "pah"

Saturday afternoon with good friends

Unexpected presents for M from diverse sources

New handmade blocks

A bit of help from niece Clara, who offered to come babysit for a while

Delicious goodies brought by my dear husband on Friday afternoon

Breakfast and good conversation in the city with an old ex-student of mine

Some nice time on my own

New and successful bedtime routine

I'd love to hear what made you smile this week!

Joy Pockets

Inspired by Vibrant Wanderings who was inspired by Holistic Mama, I have decided to join this wonderful idea of collecting pockets of joy... Despite feeling there is much to be grateful for, I sometimes forget.

My old love of crispy leaves highlighted by the joy my beloved daughter showed in treasuring one

Magpies, blackbirds, mockingbirds, wagtails in our garden

The gift of a patient toddler when we adults are in a hurry and the weather doesn't help

Yummy pasta cooked by grandma

Inspiring readings

Uncountable smiles

Kindness, generosity found along the way

"mama mama" heard hundreds of times a day

Snow on a Thursday morning

Stroll under the snow -M and me; nobody else in the streets

And, always great expectations