2010

I was lucky enough to have a mid-December mama gathering, where the men folk and kid folk were sent off to fend for themselves, and some very excellent mamas came to my house to quaff a few fine wintry brews or sip my sweet and creamy tequila drink that I love to make in the winter-time, Cola de Mono... sit around the fire and laugh and confess and talk...
a well-deserved respite from the stresses of the season. To add a dash of gravity to the conversation I had some paper and pens out so that (if we wanted) we could write what we were ready to let go of for the new year and toss it into the fire, to watch that dastardly old albatross sizzle and go up in smoke. How satisfying.

I also had these little slips of paper on which I suggested that we might write our wishes for the new year... and tie them in our nectarine tree... for the wind and rain to wear away over time. Did you know I was such a taskmaster when it comes to the woo woo stuff? Are you afraid to come over now because I'll say, "I thought since you were coming over anyway, we'd do some journaling and maybe a guided meditation or two"? Well watch out, I just might. No no, it just seems fun (and of course just even figuring out what it is that you want increases the likelihood of it happening, but you all know that) and anyway, there was plenty to talk about and we didn't even get around to that, and then suddenly it was rather late, my family arrived back home and everyone took that as their cue to rumble on out of there, I got called inside for a sad baby, and everyone went on their merry way. It wasn't until the next morning that I had the startling and pleasant surprise to see all the wishes hanging from my nectarine tree!! I just love that. Your wishes are safe with me, ladies. And out there for the universe to see, and take into consideration. 2010, baby, all the way!

And also, to prep for this awesome new decade, I took the awesome best year yet class with Carrie Contey. Took it last year, loved it, back for more. This is my motto that I came up with in that class for the year to come. I really love it. I feel like it's huge for me. There's so much that I love to do, and yet I piss away quite a lot of my time doing stupid stuff on the internet, etcetera, etcetera, etcetera. How fun and amazing it will be when I get that time back for actual fun stuff. I way prefer this to a new year's resolution... instead of grimly chastising myself for my failures as a human being, and solemnly vowing to do better (and almost certainly failing), this makes me all jazzed about the goodness I'm going to receive by bringing awareness to that area of my life. And gently, slowly, lovingly shifting towards something that's more healthy, more fruitful, more dynamic, more zowie for me and my family. So yeah, if you can dig it it's not too late, well I mean, it is too late to take Carrie's class unfortunately (which is really the best way, in my opinion), but you can get the book, and Best-Year-Yet it up your own fine self. You won't regret it. It's so cool, and just think... all the things we spend time racing around doing, but just taking a few hours to reflect on the year that has past and what we want for the year to come? And drawing up a little action plan? I think you've got that much time to spare.

Such fine friendly beautiful ladies

First meeting of the second phase of our fabulous women's group, led by myself and my friend Laurie Kemp. It went so swimmingly.... further reinforcing our theory that only good can come of women getting together (and if it's in the name of positivity, change, and sharing on a deeper level, then all the better!).

So super fun, inspiring and rejuvenating as always, and WHAT fun and cool women.... time could not be better spent.

Finishing School

It's been kind of throwing me for a loop, taking care of my little girl's lovely curly locks. I'm pretty nervous about having another head of hair to care for, other than my own. I feel like I don't do that great a job with my own hair, body, clothes etc.... and now I'm supposed to prevent my little one's hair from forming into one little dreadlock on the back of her head?
I've been saying all year that I was going to put myself through finishing school this year. Like this was the year I was going to kind of get a style going, get some clothes that I like, proper shoes, and nicer hair. I feel like in my early twenties I could not shower for two weeks and still roll out of bed looking fairly adorable. During this period of having three children in six years I've pretty squarely lost that ability. Besides which, I'd really like to kind of look deeper into why I have such a lack of joy in the self-care department. And by self-care this time I'm speaking obviously more in the physical realm... just caring for this particular body I've been assigned to, this time around. I don't have very positive associations with getting dressed up (stressful shopping trips with my Ma) or with doing anything with my hair (a bossy older cousin use me as one of those semi-life-sized Barbie heads that you can play hairdresser with, and she was NOT gentle as she yanked the comb through my snarls) and I'd like to clean that up a bit so I don't pass that on to my kids.
When I was pregnant with this last little one of mine, the one who turned out to be a daughter, actually before I even knew she was a daughter, I read Mother/Daughter Wisdom by Dr. Christiane Northrup, who I hold in SUCH high esteem, I absolutely adore her. Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom is huge for me. It made me think about a whole lot of stuff, and I remember one day early on having a big ol' cry with a friend and thinking about all these generations of women behind me, leading up to me, and leading up to this baby who was maybe gonna be a woman too, and thinking about how I hoped to release all the sadness and hurt all those women had endured and stored.... so that I could pass on less of that and more of all the other wonderful qualities they had, the strenth and wisdom and humor and brilliance and creativity. And of course, of COURSE, same thing goes for my boys too...
One thing in that book that I thought was really sweet was that she did this spa night with her two daughters once a month, where they would just just do facial masks and comb out their hair and just have a really sweet togetherness few hours where they relaxed and had fun with this kind of spa theme. I thought this would be just as well for boys to learn and so I tried to do it with them... and maybe at some point they will be down with it, but it just devolved rather quickly to a lotion and water fight, not exactly what I was going for. I gave up on the idea, until a few weeks ago when I found myself really needing to confront the tangled little knot of hair that was forming yet again in my little girl's hair. She's an opinionated little sprite and it wasn't going to be easy convincing her to let me drag a comb through those snarls. So I climbed into the bathtub with her and lathered her head with conditioner and we just had this really sweet and gentle time very slowly and carefully working out those tangles, and also just enjoying each other's company. And I realized that this really was what I had been aiming for, and we were doing it together way earlier than I had imagined... sharing this time together, and having it be a really positive experience, caring for the ol' body and all...having it be a bonding experience rather than the stressful power struggle that happened to me, and to my mom, and to my mom's mom... a definite shift, and enjoyable, to boot.
Of course I'm not very far down the road with this whole mothering-a-daughter thing... and as far as finishing school I'm pretty sure I'll probably always be pretty rough around the edges... and I don't know about being finished, but at least it's a start.

Austin Village

Austin Village series: round 2!
revamp, rejuice, share, explore, and shift your body, mind, and soul
…a women’s group


We invite anyone and everyone to join us as we continue to sink deeper into our soulful selves~ together!!

For our next series, we will carve out 5 monthly sessions to explore and focus on 4 key issues in our lives:
money & true prosperity
sexuality
body image
relationships
(although these inevitably tie into the entire fabric of our beings…)
and end, with a luxurious, fun, creative mini retreat as our grand finale.

We will delve into what we truly want in these areas and clearly define our dreamiest versions of ourselves within each.

Our wish for all is to create a clear pathway and arc of awareness within each area, putting all of our affairs in order and readying for one big leap into the upcoming year, THE YEAR in which we all truly embrace our essential selves. Finding all the love and support we could possibly hope for, releasing old patterns and limitations, and lifting off into what will surely be the beginning, deepening, continuation, or even complete soaring into the next phase of our brilliant & happy journeys ... with a little help from our village...

Our original intention remains the same -- which is to offer each other a safe, cozy space to connect with ourselves & explore these issues (at the very least) , which we believe will absolutely eventually catapult each other into a greater connection with each other, community, the greater sisterhood, and ultimately, the whole wide world and universe (at the most, totally doable)!!

And, our greatest hope is still that women will leave feeling lighter, more connected, and encouraged to explore the endless avenues of self care and be on their merry way toward what we are really here to do which is to either begin, define, deepen, or enrich our own personal journeys.


This will be led by Kami Wilt and Laurie Kemp in our usual cozy space using the same easy organic flow of conversation (allowing plenty of space for our messiest, teary, bright, dreamiest selves), with the addition of a light snack + bevies, with a mega healthy and delicious lunch at our final meeting.
For the final meet we will invite 2 special guests to join and share their version of self care, healing, shifting, with lots of additional fun and easy tools for you to take home!
Last but not least, we will offer a mid monthly check in by phone (via teleconference) for additional support towards making that major shift in consciousness that will result in more fulfillment and deep, beautiful growth.

WHEN: 10 – 1, one Saturday each month
October 17
November 14
December 12
January 9
February 6

WHERE: the home of Laurie Kemp, South/ Central Austin

COST: $150
This cost is NOT meant to be prohibitive~
we’re very, very open to barters & trades in any fashion

CONTACT/ SIGN UP:

kwilt@austin.rr.com


A LITTLE BIT ABOUT US...

Kami Wilt and Laurie Kemp are both mothers of three, self employed, and both have a yen for personal growth, community building, and spiritual questing. We are avid students who have taken scads of classes with Carrie Contey and Bernadette Noll, Kirsten Nottleson, Dottie Curry, and Amy Childs. Our influences include Shakti Gawain, Dr. Christiane Northrup, Caroline Myss, Sonia Choquette, and many more.

what we're up to out in the world~
www.kamiwilt.com
www.digitgardens.com


WHAT OTHERS HAVE SAID (testimonials)...

"This group has meant so much to me. It has been, and continues to be, a place where I feel REALLY SAFE to share and experience whatever's up for me. Laurie and Kami have been the perfect gentle guides, so loving and accepting and wise, with just the right amount of encouragement, creating a space that made it possible."

&

"Oh how I wanted a village. I wanted a group that I could spill my saddest, my darkest, my most conflicted self to, and have respond with a "hmm, I gotcha," "I feel ya." I'm glad that I accepted the invitation to this nourishing, loving, supportive, and even enlightening circle. This village of support helped me through a difficult time..."

Saturday morning

Mmmmm..... I fled my family yesterday for another insanely beautiful morning out at Laurie's hill country hideaway with all those lovely women. Still can't get over how easy, fun, fulfilling, nourishing, and inspiring it is. What a perfect group. Everyone is so receptive, enthusiastic, brings so much to the table, is willing to be open and caring with everyone else... the time just unfolds so easily and organically, Laurie and I don't have to lead this hardly at all. We just created the space (really, Laurie did) and this popped up like a perfect green sprout that was just meant to grow there. Our little village, growing.
After everyone left, Laurie and I talked a little about my new idea: a new blog (I know, I know! This is my last one, I promise!), an article for Mothering magazine, ultimately a book.... with Laurie to take photos for all, with the basic kind of feeling of this book, A Year of Mornings, just beautiful, serene, homey, and still... the little moments, not the big picture, but the little lovely moments that make it all worthwhile.
Anyway, I'm SO excited, so happy that Laurie is in and doesn't think I'm crazy (she never does!) and I'm just going to go ahead and live life as if our book was already here and resting comfortably on my bookshelf (would I ever really be able to put it away on a bookshelf? I think I'd have one in every room of the house!) because really, why not. Maybe it will happen, maybe it won't, but we'll just do the little things that inch us towards our dream, enjoy life as it is, and keep our ears wide open for that call from Oprah.
And by the by, I got ASPARAGUS in our CSA box yesterday.......... how much more ridiculously spring can you get?? Except for maybe the strawberries from last week... Thank you Johnson's!!

Delicious soup, delicious friend

I finally had a soup making date with my new friend Kiera. I have wanted so much to move in this general direction... doing chores together is just way more fun. So I cooked the soup and she swept the floor and wrangled babies. It was way fun and now dinner is done at 2 pm. So much better than trying to do it at 5pm when the kids are at their most insane. I chose a soup recipe I haven't made in a long while and oh my it's so cotton pickin' delicious. Try it, won't you.

EAST AFRICAN GROUNDNUT SOUP (from Moosewood Restaurant Daily Special cookbook)

3 c. chopped onions
3 celery stalks, diced
1 tbsp. oil
2 green or red bell peppers, diced
1/8 to 1/4 tsp. cayenne
2 tbsp. garam masala or other curry powder
1 c. raw brown rice
3 c. diced tomatoes in juice (28 oz. can)
6 c. water
1 tsp. salt
1/2 c. peanut butter
1 to 2 tbsp. sugar
2 tbsp. fresh lime juice

chopped fresh cilantro (optional)
chopped scallions (optional)

In a large soup pot, saute the onions and celery in the oil for about 10 minutes over medium high heat, until the onions are soft and transluscent. Add the bell peppers and saute for 5 more minutes. Stir in the cayenne and garam masala or curry powder. Add the rice, tomatoes, water, and salt and stir well. Cover and bring to a boil; then reduce the heat and simmer for about 40 minutes, until the rice is tender.

Whisk in the peanut butter, sugar, and lime juice. Top each serving with chopped cilantro and scallions, if you like.

You don't always get what you want....

...but then again, sometimes you DO!!

Yesterday morning Laurie and I had our monthly women's group once again, and once again it was restful, rejuvenating, and super inspiring. It is phenomenal what can happen by just getting together, as one person talks about something they want and need and then someone else just happens to know just the thing.... absolutely magical.

Towards the end we did an exercise where we were going to target one part of our lives that we wanted to change and then spend 5 minutes writing our absolutely perfect fantasy of that situation as detailed as possible. Then we were going to think of two tiny little baby steps, nothing too grand or intimidating, that could help inch us in that general direction. Katy misunderstood and timed us for 15 minutes instead and nobody even noticed because we were all so deeply immersed in our pleasurable fairy tales. We shared our stories and wrapped up the group just in time to see Laurie's family barreling down the driveway ready to reclaim the house.

I wrote about my family life and how loving and harmonious I wish it to be. I wrote about the village I want to have, the community of like minded folks right close by that can share the chores and share the wealth and share the love as we raise our children and try to get by and prosper and be happy in this world.

And what did I come home to? My children, laughing, playing, loving each other and me. This is a night and day change, ladies and gentleman. They are laughing and playing together as I write this. A minor miracle but good enough for me.

The icing on the cake was that I had been planning on going to this party for women bloggers last night. In all honesty I was not totally clear about what the deal was or who was throwing this party, which was richly appointed with fine snacks and drinks in a hip downtown shop. I was too busy thinking of whether I could handle it socially (I wasn't sure if there was going to be anyone I knew there at all) (and I tend to be a big giant dork at parties in general, which is why I avoid them at all costs) to understand what it was really for. It was thrown by LiveMom but Matt implied there was probably a corporate sponsor or something hidden in there somewhere. But he was wrong. Guess what it is: this website "dedicated to building a better village"....Check it out!

More of my village! And the village raised $800 for baby Ike, too. GO village GO!

Wishing and letting go

My dear, dear friends who I see altogether too seldom (that will change in the new year, surely!! we will make it so) met at Woodland for some new year intention-setting. I had this amazing champagne cocktail with elderberry liqeur that made me feel like a dear little woodland creature but anyway...
We wrote our wishes for the new year down on slips of paper and tied them in a wishing tree that's right at the entrance to the pedestrian bridge at Lamar and Riverside. Did you know that if you write down your wishes and tie them in a tree they are 99.5 percent more likely to come true? Sorry, that statistic is not scientifically proven, not yet, but you'll just have to try it for yourself and see...

We also made little origami boats, painted or drew on them what we were ready to let go of. We then pushed them off into the waters of Town Lake with the wee little candles all aflame inside 'em, and watched as they burst into flames... hee hee! OK, not all of them exactly burst into flames... some did, some just meandered off and smoldered in the reeds, but.... still, I think this was a powerful exercise. It felt really good and complete. A powerful image to carry with you the whole year long. Goodbye fear, doubt, resentment, stubborness, anxiety... goodbye messiness of my house, goodbye, goodbye, goodbye!

Candle(s) in the wind

I wanted to make some teensy tinesy candles for a kind of Solstice-y happening I'm doing with my friends tonight. I wanted to make a few candles out of acorn caps but the kids were sleeping and I couldn't walk to the oak tree I had in mind... I did, however, have a bowl full of pistachio shells so I used those. So there you go, thirty mini candles...

argh! You would think the minutes of my day are many, but they are all too few! and yet I spend them sometimes doing things like this...

Well, I think it will make for a cool effect, anyway.

I'll keep you posted. Your participation may be requested.

New year's resolution

That's right, even when I'm sleeping, y'all!

I came to this a la Carrie Contey's class on the book Your Best Year Yet. Of course Carrie is utterly fantastic, and the book is utterly fantastic, and setting aside a few hours (or even a few minutes, if that's all you got) to make a big wish for the new year, well, that's fantastic too.

Get in on the fantasticness and give it a shot.