Washington Park Zoo Train

After mid-day naps on Sunday, our fantastic four -- armed with snacks and sunglasses -- headed to the zoo. But animals weren't on the agenda this time. Instead, we went straight to the train station and bought tickets for the next train. In about 12min., we were loaded onto the front passenger car (per Kiel's request), as close to the diesel engine as possible. I could reach out and touch it, look down and see the joist holding us together. Matt and I traded off holding kids, whispering in ears. At times comforting, but mostly excitedly pointing out points of interest along the way and sharing the experience heart-to-heart.

 

The train winds its way through Washington Park and has one stop at the halfway point. This station just happens to be near the International Rose Test Garden, a gigantic oasis of beauty and fragrance in an otherwise woody forest.

 Isn't he the cutest, smelling those roses? He can't stop talking about this, the train, our trip. And, Matt got such awesome shots, especially of the roses. 

The place floored me, and we only saw about 1/10th of it! Looking forward to taking a proper picnic back soon. There's a huge playground downhill as well, so we have much more exploring to do here! We got back on the last train of the evening, around 6pm, and rode the 35 min back with blissful smiles and happy hearts. As we wound our way out of the zoo, we couldn't resist a few visits with the residents.

 Goodnight, Mr. Polar Bear. 

My idea of a perfect day,

m

Art+Garden Party

Every Tuesday night in July, I took some time away from my mom life to meet up with some other woman and do art. It was a time of exploring with mixed media and letting go of our ideas of perfection. Which made it perfection. We would all don frilly aprons, sit around tables with brushes, acrylic, canvas, wood, packing materials, bubble wrap, and vintage paper...and just create to our hearts content. Music was on, tea was set out, and Jen Predoehl of Blue Plume Studio led us non-artists into a place of tangible beauty. 

Needless to say, I looked forward to my Tuesday nights very much! 

 

This was my first piece. The vintage newsprint said "Young Couple in Canada." How could I resist?

 

 I love how we all had the same example, but each created something new. They look beautiful as a set, have the same theme, but are completely different from one another. Kind of like us. Like people. Like His image. 

I created her. Isn't she so wonderfully made? Like you. Like me. Like us!

So this class ended, of course, when July did. But last night, I got the cool privilege of revisiting some of those feelings. Those feelings of beauty and wonder and taking time for oneself to celebrate and create and just be. A party was hosted in Jen's garden, the birth-child of one of her students, Monet (fittingly pronounced like the famed artist). I met Monet one night when I was over at Jen's place doing some clay-sculpting. We watched The Notebook and chatted, while cuddly animals formed from the twisting and rolling of our fingers. We were knuckle-deep in white putty when Jen ran into the next room and brought back an invitation, hand-made by Monet. Creativity is always breath-taking, isn't it? It was to be a night of blessing each other. How could I resist joining in a night of honoring others and being honored? We were instructed to come fit for celebration, to be clothed in strength and dignity. So, I put away my mom uniform and donned a frilly dress, and with care and effort prepared for a night of celebrating and being celebrated. Monet and Jen put so much care into this night...how could we NOT feel special. A night just for us. We ate, laughed, photographed. We wrote down things we appreciated about ourselves. We threw our cares in a bird-cage and let them fly. We admired each other. We appreciated beauty. We created more beauty with our fingers, our mouths, our very presence. It was a time of approval. 

Criticism and judgement, you can fly.  Strength and dignity? Oh yeah. You may stay!

"She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come." - Proverbs 31:25

All is extravagant grace,

m