Tuesday, April 27, 2010

Little Jackie Paper

#9, my littlest little, Jack Timothy
Jade carried this bundle into my office yesterday and said
"Look at this sweet boy."
I paused, really paused to look at Jack.

Jack, it will be your birthday soon. How can that be? In my memory, you are still a little 5 1/2 pound bit of wrinkly skin and bones. You are so good that it is easy to let the squeakier wheels take the attention. Let's make a pact, me and you Jackie. If only for 5 minutes each time you are here, let's just BE. I will hold you, rock you, read, dance, sing with you or just watch you grow, right before my eyes.
Thank you, thank you for radiating your sweetness.
Blessings Baby Boy,
GrammyCat

*

Random Beauty

Perfect Day ~ a little river

X - Big Sur

Soaring - Laguna

Powerful - A secret pirate cove

Clear Path - Sedona

StarSea ~ Pacific Ocean

Wednesday, April 21, 2010

the rude boy's back in town


That's right! On Friday Michael and Spearhead will be back in SLC playing at the U!
I'm still enjoying a post road trip something or other and am going to take my vacation mode self to this show! I know the calendar says spring has been here for a month already. It's still so cold and rainy though. I'm hoping this show brings springtime to town and will mark the beginning of an exciting season. I'm feeling jumpy and dance happy. Can hardly wait. I've got some great Franti fans as dates, girls that know how to do a concert. We will miss Sinny and Gina. Someday, someday. . .

Meanwhile, let's dream of the perfect show. I'm thinking IG and Franti live in the Redwoods. We can camp close by. Y'all fill in the details. I've nearly worn my fantasy head out.

Well, well, look what the UPS man just handed me!
If you want to come check it out with me, feel free.
Upstairs to my cozy cove I go.

p.s. to Holly M. Tickets are free to U students. Meet us there!

that's the sound of sunshine going down
so the moon can shine on me
so the moon can shine on you

//////000000\\\\\\

Tuesday, April 20, 2010

something to smile about

Xavier Rudd has a new CD out today.
Don't even spend time sampling, thinking about it.
Buy it now. Buy all of it. It will make you happy.
The first listen was an immediate bonding.
I love when that happens.

I am wishing that I lived on a mountaintop in Costa Rica.
I would dance the Brazilian Capoeira, my dreads flying.
I would do my woman work as my sun drenched babies played.
I would trek to the water when my soul was thirsty.
I would feed my man from the fruits of our land.
I would calm and chill under the stars at night.
Yes, I am wishing.
I would.

Thanks Xavier, for tripping my fantasy switch this sunny Tuesday morning..

Sunday, April 18, 2010

Peace

Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Roadies


The rhythm of my life is dictated by EDB's, B/P's, FH and FHT's. I saw a natural break coming. In my sub-C, I ordered it. Alisha's baby was born early, early on March 16 (a wonderful day to be born) and Erin's baby is due April 28. That translates to 4 weeks off call. Wheeew. . . the giddiness of being untethered. Now what? Now where? Bri's mom, Beth extended an invite to Laguna Niguel. Meditative, uninterrupted, cup-filling time at the beach. Are you kidding me? Are you freakin' kidding me? Seize the day, Cath. GO! With Cherry Chocolate cake, love and hugs from Alisha and her mom, we were off. Two midwives and a Passat filled with our guts. The camera, the iPod, iPhone, old Birks, a stack of books, longings for peace of soul, peace in our relationships and intentions. Good ones. . .

The reality of "road trip", uninhibited, boundary free, "road trip" didn't really settle on us until somewhere around Page, AZ. We followed the night into the woods, into Sedona. No artificial lights allowed. They believe in sky light. The reward: more stars than I have ever seen at one time. The Milky Way. If this was a movie, the soundtrack would begin. Uncle Graham Nash singing "Milky Way". Nice. Our first night was spent with Aunt Peach. She welcomed us with these words. "You ladies are always taking care of everyone. For now, let me take care of you." And she did. Heaven.

From Sedona, we traveled to Phoenix. It was our pleasure to spend time with the Francis girls, three of them pregnant! It was my joy to put my hands on Diane's baby belly, listen to her little one and begin my care of this beautiful woman. We met with a great midwife, Wendi, who was more than willing to provide care in between our visits. I love midwives!

On to Laguna Niguel. There are not enough superlatives to describe this place. I wore out cool and beautiful in the first 5 minutes. Beth is a a gracious, amazing woman. She provided me a cozy room of my own that was my home for 7 days. I miss it. I miss her. I miss the Blackwelder boys, the Blackwelder kitchen and family scripture time.
While there, Bri met with a family friend, due in July and did a home visit prenatal. She wants a home birth. Carly, an MCU grad practicing in San Diego will be taking over her care with Bri attending if the birth gods allow it.

Our first stop on the road north was this French bakery. Our intent for a health spa vacation made a U-turn at this point. We loaded up; chocolate croissants, chocolate dipped macaroons and almond meringue puffs. The quest for delightful French pastries was just beginning.

Only in Big Sur will you find a Spirit Garden. This full woman did not go unnoticed by the midwives. Neither did the human sized nests, a stage full of bongo drums, African art
or the shop full of treasures.

Same day, another bakery.
Monterey, Mt.Shasta, Oregon, Washington and the babies, birthdays and very special belly will get blog moments of their own. Later.

Late Wednesday night as we were loading the car for an early Thursday take-off, Bri asked me,"Do we really have to go back to real world?". My thoughts went back to the week before on the sand of Thousand Steps beach. We had pledged out loud to remember that moment; lying under the sun with all of the pleasures of the beach around us.
We knew what we were coming home to. We filled our vessels to the brim.
5 AM on Thursday morning, we headed south. It has become tradition on this part of the trip to stop at The Boise Food Co-op. It is a delightful place. The routine is to browse first, make final choices, order lunch at the deli and sit at the counter to simply enjoy, give thanks and carry on. On to the last leg of Chick Road Trip.

Somewhere in California we passed a loaded Suburu Forester with the bumper sticker
Midwives Help People Out
The driver looked tired. Like us after an all night birth. We were wishing that there was a universal sign that sister midwives could flash each other at such moments. Somewhere around Burley, we passed this cute Beetle with a Birthing From Within logo.
Birth junkies rock!
What's that universal sign midwives?

We are home.
Our cups are full, our lives are good, we are grounded, we are flying.
We know who we are.


"get out the map,
get out the map and lay your finger anywhere down
we'll leave the figurin' to those we pass on our way out of town. . .
why do we hurtle ourselves with every inch of time and space
i must say around some corner i can sense a resting place
with every lesson learned, a line upon your beautiful face
we'll amuse ourselves someday with these memories we'll trace. . .
i'm gonna clear my head
i'm gonna drink the sun
i'm gonna love you good and strong
while our love is good and young"
IG


<<<<>>>>

Friday, April 9, 2010

jiggedy jig


yep, home again, home again

back at the office today
notice my two new clients
i did a prenatal in AZ and one in WA
now that's what i call a chick road trip!
~~~