out & about

dan has been away since wednesday, attending a conference in brussels, belgium. tashi and i miss him of course, but we've been having a nice mother daughter bonding session. i've had to arrive late to work and leave early from work for tashi's school drop off and pick up, and i've loved it. dan usually does all this running around as his work day starts later and is more flexible. i so miss being more involved in tashi's day; i can't describe the ache it fills me with.

today we've been out and about.

we went to a "meet the midwives" picnic put on by birth matters in belmont park. i am starting up a doula practice and am meeting members of the birth community in charlottesville. it's very exciting. the picnic food was delicious and there were so many nice people in attendance.

we also went to the festival of cultures where we ate more good food, made crafts, listened to music and watched some great dancers.





after the festival we took a walk on the downtown mall and discovered the john lennon exhibit.



this is a special three day exhibit featuring a huge collection of his drawings, paintings and hand written lyrics that yoko ono has released to the public. apparently, shortly before lennon was murdered, he and yoko visited charlottesville and were considering buying a summer home here. she remembered this recently with fondness, and decided to open the exhibit here. it was really special looking at his romantic, peace loving and often whimsical works, and listening to his music cranked in the background. tashi took a special interest in the line of drawings he made for sean.

she liked "a walrus wading" best.



i liked "a horse laughing".



(we purchased a book)



when we came home there was a surprise waiting outside the door. thanks my love!



happy mother's day to the true creators of the world.

and remember this, the original intention behind mother's day:

"The original Mother’s Day proclamation was penned in 1870 by Julia Ward Howe, the renowned author of The Battle Hymn of the Republic. The holiday began as a bold cry by mothers for all mothers to rise up against war following the carnage of the U.S. Civil War. It began with, 'Arise then, women of this day! Our husbands shall not come to us reeking of carnage for caresses and applause. Our sons shall not be taken from us to unlearn all that we have been able to teach them of charity, mercy, and Patience.'”