.SOMETIMES RAW.

Hello and Happy Sunday!

A couple of days ago, I visited a friend who has the most amazing book collection for her children. She reads to them every night as I do. Petit Joel and I have this little routine and he even asks me to read to him when he goes to bed and usually picks out the book he would like to hear. I think reading to children is so important. I started to read to my son when he was four months old. 

So my friends’s son came out with Owl Howl (Heule Eule) and this got me inspired to start a little series on the blog. What Petit Joel reads/likes/eats/loves and such. We sat down on the ground in the garden and my friend started reading Owl Howl. My son, who played a bit further away, stopped everything he did and joined us to listen. We actually purchased the book the next day because he talked about it constantly all day long. He wants to hear it twice every night and takes it to bed with him to “read” it again with his flashlight. 

What is this cute book about? 

The animals in the wood hear a loud crying sound but don’t know what it exactly is. They are frightened. They try to see where the noise comes from while they look through some bushes and try to see what goes on behind trees. “Maybe it is they wolf, ” they think and the bravest of the animals, a tiny hedgehog, walks through the bushes to see where the noise comes from. There, behind the bushes, the hedgehog sees a tiny owl who cries and cries and won’t stop. All the animals try to make the tiny Owl Howl stop crying but nothing works. A raven gave her beautiful, colorful rocks to play with, a beetle screamed at her to make her stop crying and a squirrel fed her some nuts because she might be hungry. Also, whatever the other animals did, the tiny owl kept crying. Until, in the end, the tiny owl flew back to her mom who took her in her arms and she instantly stopped. 

Owl Howl is a beautiful, imaginative, cute illustrated book for babies and toddlers. I think it is a lovely little story, even though why didn’t dad owl try to make baby owl stop crying, hah!? Well, this is how it usually works anyway, so stick to the mom owl for comfort, right.

I like the warm colors of the paintings that are not loaded with tons of details. All animals are easy to recognize and Petit Joel’s favorite are the beetle and the mole. Whenever I read this book to him it makes him comfortable in a way. He asks questions why the little owl is sad and so much more. He feels safe and secure, curls up to me and listens. What a nice way to end a crazy toddler day!

Sometimes it is just a lot of crying over nothing. Mom owl asked in the end,“What`s wrong, baby owl? Why are you howling like that“. Anticipation. What is the baby owl going to say? All the other animals wait desperately to find out why she finally stopped crying. She sniffed a little and then cheeped quietly: “I forgot”. 

I would recommend this book for babies and toddlers from 2 years-old to 5. 

 Get a copy here in English or in German. Enjoy and have a great week! 

Before I go to bed tonight after a busy, exciting day I want to share this video that means a lot to me. Enjoy. More tomorrow. 

Artwork Mischa Schenkel

Hello and Happy Monday! 

Petit Joel and I have been at a funeral today. Mine and his first casket funeral and it was very emotional. Petit Joel did not say a word (unusual) throughout the entire ceremony and was close to me when they slowly let down the casket. I cried a bit, in-and out. I remember the person as a good man and we had our last longer conversation last year in July, just before I left to Martinique. He was okay, he was funny, he was battling cancer but he was alive. Things changed and have gotten worse and he passed away. They slowly let down the casket and Let It Be by the Beatles (a song he loved) played silently in the background. Petit Joel and I threw two daisies in the grave-hole and said goodbye to him. Goodbye to the memories I shared with him way back when when we were kids. 

Throughout the ceremony, I observed cars driving by the cemetery. Life proceeded ike nothing every happened. People do their thing – the world keeps spinning, even though one awesome person passed away. What my mom and I observed while the priest held her speech was a screaming eagle high up in the air. As soon as the casket had been lowered, this bird flew around a couple of times in the air and let out a scream. This was the best part about the entire funeral. This was him – him saying goodbye to all of us. This is what I believe. 

After the funeral we all felt sad and full of thoughts and ended up talking at a café with a friend who also attended the funeral. Setting up our emotional selfs for talks and new adventures. The cars still kept driving by, life still moves on.

My life moves on – to Canada. Le husband and I will explore new territory, new challenges, new discoveries. I am shaking my head in some type of wonder, asking myself, “how I am so lucky to be here still, alive and healthy?’ I found myself today – somewhere I will never forget. My heart aches to live in the moment more than ever since today and I need to nourish that need. Some things constantly change, others change slower and the only constant thing in live is change. Really think about it! Some plans or adventures have to adjust and of course I have to be patient, courageous or more receptive and move on sometimes. 

I want to be present and live in the moment. I will put my phone away and turn my computer off more often. I don’t think about what I missed out on and I am reflective as I was today. Thing that have been causing unnecessary stress in my life will be jotted down.

 I thought about all the moments and wonderful times we spent as kids with this great person who passed away. I am grateful for all the laughs and chats when we walked to his physiotherapy office last year. I wish the family all the best and tons of strength. It was good to have seen you all today. Love!