Breathing in.

On my list of things to do this year: banish fake tree garland around the front door and replace it with pine cone garland. While Mario worked from the village coffee shop the kids and I went on an adventure to find pine cones. We brought a huge laundry basket to fill, snacks, jackets, and our trusty $5 wagon.

At first the kids were all about collecting pine cones. Then after the novelty wore off and we still needed many more pine cones they transferred their energy to cleaning the wagon with pine brooms and puddles. At each puddle we passed they stopped to clean the wagon while I ducked into strange yards to gather cones.

At the end of our journey we ended up at the park for some swing action. I really tried to be present while pushing. I absorbed the Spanish moss in the live oaks, the chubby rolls on Wesley's body, the color variations and streaks of red in their hair, the damp air, and the feel of my hand on the back of their swings. It felt good to just be doing what we were doing and nothing else.

Later this afternoon my dad and I went for our traditional father/daughter pedicures. Usually I plow through trashy magazines or a novel during the experience while sipping a coffee we pick up en route at the Starbucks drive-thru. This pedicure started out the same way but then I stopped reading about Reese Witherspoon. I put down my drink, put the magazine on the table next to me, and closed my eyes. I focused to absorb every luscious foot and leg massaging sensation all by itself in it's own regard. I enjoyed the longest ever pedicure and accompanying massage that I have ever had because I paid attention.

On the way home I ran into Ace Hardware to pick up jute twine and an inexpensive pair of garden gloves. I am ready to tackle the pine cones we collected today, to clean the very muddy wagon and to make something beautiful.