thoughts this morning :: in no particular order

i feel like watching a Robert Redford movie
going to the farmers market
and walking around New York City.
i'd like to learn to play the guitar fabulously, today, too.
there are Jewel songs that i need to sing.

i want to lay in the sun
read a trillion books, then stack them up and pull the palm of my hands across them.
i told husband my brilliant bookshelf idea as we lay in bed this morning...maybe he can draw it for me and i'll show you.

i don't like heights,
especially over water.
this morning, i've decided that this summer i'll jump.
i'm done kicking myself for be stagnant, with cracked confidence and the crippling fear of growth.

take me to the water--

images via middlechildcomplex

Cupcakes and Crossfit

Today, was an interesting sort of day.  i'd been having a rough 10+ days, and finally, today, with the help of some sunshine, I was off to the races. 

the turn around included:

a brief morning sun-soak, out the side patio, upon waking.
a 3 mile run at the gym.
a banana chocolate cupcake*
bloggin' catch up.
talked to my sister.
talked to my brother.
my first Crossfit workout.  what?!  I did 175 full sit-ups tonight.  'nuff said.

*did you notice how I fit the cupcake between the workouts?  who does that?

clean house.
no-hassle dinner.
an overall change in mood.

i told you it had been a rough 10+ days?
that is an understatement.

i'm glad to feel myself again.

hope you're off to a great week--

weheartit

This Morning.

The temperature has dropped to the low thirties and the deck is covered in ice.

Even the stove and this cup of yesterday's coffee can't get me moving around the house.

The air feels thick and blue this morning, and under the covers is where I want to stay.

The kids are snuggled in close to me, catching up on cartoons--one with her thumb in the mouth and she forgets I can see.  She forgets she even does it, as she's been planting that thumb in her mouth since her time in my womb.  There's proof in the ultrasound photos.

Jet is full of puppy dog wines and most likely thoughts of the chickens up the road. 

Asher tells me, "I love you Mommy, I will never color on walls."

My kitchen table is covered in fabric, paper, glitter and glue,
and the kids have close to destroyed the rest.  I loath facing the mess.

I've heard two out of three tummies growl and it is enough to pull me out of bed.

The day officially begins now, starting with a fresh pot of coffee, a batch of Belgian waffles and worship music on Pandora.  Worship always changes the blues.

Blessings to you today,

Cassie

xx

pinterest

Ten Minutes Ago...

I nearly stomped my feet when Husband asked me to go outside, in the near freezing weather, to take pictures of the firewood to put on Craigslist.  In the horse corral, nonetheless.  I contemplated the quick trip in my Havana sandals then reconsidered, and I'm glad I did. 

Turns out the moments in the cold,

thick-treed horse corral, photographing firewood, can be nice.

A lovely Tuesday to you.

xx

P.S.  I haven't introduced you to the horses!  Soon, I promise. 

This morning, they are on the other side of the property in their winter stalls.

P.P.S. Yes, the firewood is for sale. 

Shoot me an email if you're in the area and are in need.

so much to tell you...

over pancakes?

Alive & Well

Hey all,

I've been meaning to update you for days now

to tell you that all is well here on the home front!

My last post was a wee bit dramatic, but all has passed and I appreciate your thoughtful kind words of encouragement and reminders of the things that really matter...when you have fifty guests scheduled to arrive and your house is in shambles.  Thank you for that.

Our guests are in town, and there has been late nights and heapings of laughter. Plus, Husband's 30th birthday party on Saturday couldn't have gone any smoother thanks to the many helping hands. 

Be back soon with pictures and stories!

xx, Cassie

it ain't all cupcakes and daisies around here.

I've caught a cold...in the middle of summer.
I have family arriving Friday and my house is a disaster.
My dishwasher just broke.
Saturday, there will be 50+ people celebrating on my lawn and there are weeds all over the place.
I still need to plan the cake.
I still need to plan meals for our out-of-town guests.
I still need to tear out the carpets, refinish the decks, remodel my kitchen, restain the pine ceilings and paint all the trim in the house white, and hire a decorator before my guests arrive.
Just kidding.

On another note, this morning I woke to yells that Jet had pooped and peed in the kids' room.  Husband gagged when he assessed the damage.  There's nothing like waking up to poop.   Thankfully, I'm stuffed up and I've handled poop for the last 5+ years of my life in all of its many forms, because when I arrived to clean up, I found an incredible mess. Forget the pee.  Jet. tracked. poop. all. over. the. floor. and there wasn't one, but two piles of poop in the room.  We now have an outside dog.  Then, while cleaning, Asher explained that his bed was wet.  He didn't seem entirely positive that he wet the bed, but said it was wet.  Wet it was.

wishing there was remedy in my cup...

Did I mention I have guests on Friday?

Or that I'm sick?

Thanks for the listen.

xx

Today (a definition)

To-day (adv.): 1. a quiet rise with children fast asleep; 2. joining Husband on the porch to bask in the already 55 degree am sunshine with our personal preference of caffeine; 3. jumping in my workout clothes and hitting up the trail for a five mile jaunt by the water; 4. returning home to two happy children and a Husband tending to the garden; 5. Husband sending a message to me via my five year old to say, "you wont be a country girl unless you get off the computer!"; 6. work, work, work in the yard; 7. witnessing a mass tadpole population growing in our upper pond; 8. farmers tans; 9. an afternoon drink on the shady porch with Husband and talking about our good friends and how blessed we are; 10. anticipating another full house of visitors this evening so we can celebrate the sunshine BBQ-style.

Now, I'm considering what sweet treat I could make to top off this perfect day?  Any suggestions?

How are you spending your weekend?

xx, Cassie

pinterest

A message on being "Pretty."

There are some messages that must be shared as quickly

as I can log into blogger and coordinate a readable post.

I just encountered such importance,

and feel the need to insert this message here, for you.
Kacy-thank you, thank you for sharing.

Slam Poet, Katie Makkai - Pretty

This is good.
{Every girl needs know this valuable lesson.}

around my neck of the woods...

there's a lion crawling around,

and half a delicious Double Layer Pumpkin Cheesecake

waiting to be eaten.

I know.  How could this be?

I'll thank my amazing dinner guests from last night

for the excuse to make this to-die-for treat, if I do say so myself.

Seriously, it is a treat. 

Move over Pumpkin Pie,

this ones a keeper.

And while I am in the spirit of thanking,

I'd like to give a shoutout to my favorite mail lady.

She is the sweetest, and today she brought to my door

a package that I have been waiting on for over three weeks!

But when you can't read Turkish,

finding out where your package is, is in fact impossible.

Thank you Mail Lady, and

thank you Turkish suppliers for throwing in some extras!

It was very much appreciated after the LONG wait!

You are very kind.

No, not all of this came today, but I thought I might show you the jist,
to get your mind moving in my direction.
I'm not sure if you realize, but in those two plastic bags on the right

 is the glue to put together some serious

treasures.

Only in the perfect fall combinations.

Keep your ears and eyes open.

Tomorrow I'll be introducing a few new treasures,

and sharing

a HUGE deal.

Check back tomorrow!

Happy Monday!

i wish i had a wish.

...or a wish bracelet...

or a sweet imagination

like this girl.

these two are the most

precious wishes

come true.

prayers needed.

I was surfing Facebook tonight and came across a cause that I was invited to join, titled,

Hope for Alex.  When I read further, I remembered the mother (of Alex) from childhood and learned that her son was diagnosed with Leukemia this May.  To imagine this little one dealing with such uncomfortable pain, breaks my heart. Imagining this mother's agony over her son's pain, shifted my entire day from frazzled, busy, irritated mother, to I couldn't ever hold my own children enough.  It is a tender position we fill as mothers.  A fine line we walk as we rear, fall-apart, celebrate, teach, learn.  It is a give and receive that I couldn't imagine having taken. 

May the Lord cradle this baby as he toughs through this illness.  May God comfort his family and keep them strong and courageous.  This sort of thing never makes sense, but prayers soothe, comfort, and strengthen.  Prayers heal.

Last night one of Husband's business partners had a stroke.  We learned today that it was pretty severe as he's torn an artery in his brain.  Last we heard, the doctors weren't sure how to go about the operation.  They haven't a protocol for this sort of operation.  They are stunned that Dwinnen is doing as well as he is.  He hasn't lost any mobility, speech, memory.  A miracle.  Truly.  Prayers heal.

Today I also learned that a beautiful blogger's test-results came back cancer-free.  Prayers heal. 

I believe God yearns to hear our prayers, and He's waiting to be asked for miracles.  Of course His reasoning surpasses our plans and wishes.  Regardless, He is a healer and the granter of miracles.

I believe in prayers.

I believe in miracles.

it's a new day

It is a banana pancake sort of morning.

The birds are calling as rain fills the children's toys out back.

The melancholy that was Monday has passed, and new hope has seeped in--maybe with the rain?

I am preparing to hit the treadmill this morning, but will be walking for a change. My big brother, my chiropractor, has confirmed serious strains in my back. So for a week now, I have been resting and icing. Surprisingly, I have been relatively easy on myself. Every now and then, my mind tries to tell me that I've gained ten pounds in the last week without running, but I know better. And better is to lay off--lay off the self-criticism, the expectations and rest.

Oh, and exchange my morning protein shake with banana pancakes.

image via flickr

-cbm