Baby Bunnies

Last Thursday, Dean and I saw a bunny in our yard building this:







We thought, "Cute, it's building a little nest for itself." We left and a few hours later, it seemed that the nest was flattened, so we thought, "Oh, well, it must of moved on."


Monday morning, we were leaving our house and Henry screeches, "Mommy, Mommy, come look it, it's a baby piggy."

Me: "Huh?"

Henry: "Mommy, Daddy, you've got to come out here and see this, it's a little piggy, just lying here. Not moving"

Me: Thinking.... Um, no, can't be a piggy. Two, uh, lying there not moving? Dean better go look.

Long story short. We have baby bunnies in a nest in our yard. And on Monday morning, a predator, took one out and laid it on our pathway, left for dead. It seemed that some thing got to it and had taken off its ear and knocked its poor little head.

Not knowing what the heck to do, and a little bit frantic, I went over to our neighbors house.
Me: "Mary will know what to do!"

Sure enough, she did. We took this little creature over to the Second Chance Wild Life Refuge. They cleaned him and check him out and then put him in a warmer. I hope the little thing survives.

Low and behold there are two more.




So everyday we have been watching this nest, like a hawk to make sure that no prey comes to get them. However, we learned that the neighbor Mary, her cat had brought one of the baby bunnies to her bed last night at 1 am. She brought it back to the nest. So today we thought to put a milk crate over it during the non feeding times (the mom has come over to feed at 8 am and then again at around 7 pm). For some reason she did not feed them this evening and we are a little worried that she may have come this afternoon and couldn't get to them because we had the box over them. Fark!

So what to do?! We wait and watch. Hoping these little guys make it!

Yoga time

Yups! It is that time again. Yoga teacher training is in full force this week with my mentor and teacher, Shannon von Burns.

This intensive is, well, quite intense! We are not even half way through the program. It ends early 2012.
The past two days have been about shoulder openers, legs, back bends, shoulder openers, bandas/abdominals and shoulders! Yes, a lot of opening our shoulders the past 24 hours. Note to self: buy EPSON SALT! We are also, doing our meditations and our breath work as well, so these centering aspects really help level us while doing all these deep and intense asanas. Tonight my two favorite asanas:
Warrior III against the wall. We started with blocks under our hands then collecting our "bandas" deep pelvic floor and then placing our arms up over our heads and interlacing our fingers (pointer fingers out)
Hand Stands with the strap slightly above elbows (at the wall). This one was NUTS. Well in a good way. Shannon spotted me as I am still working on opening my shoulders and gaining the strength. While in the handstand, she supported my legs as I lifted my pelvic floor, squeezed my legs/knees/feet together and lifted (I also had to adjust my pelvis a bit too).


Here's a little more about this incredible woman who I am so honored to be training with and learning from!

Shannon von Burns

"Shannon von Burns believes Hatha Vinyasa Yoga is the antidote to all our daily challenges. She is a teacher's teacher, known for her healing approach to yoga. She holds over 1000+ hours of yoga studies and is an anatomy geek. Firmly rooted in the deeper principles of the Raja Yoga System, Shannon shares philosophy in her classes , in a no-dogmatic, positive and joyful way.

Shannon has been teaching yoga for 10+ years. Her love for yoga is fueled by watching her students progress, laugh and heal. Originally from Los Angeles, Shannon is also a renowned master bodyworker, yoga therapist and walking therapist. She is currently studying Ayurveda and teaches Master Classes, Intro to Yoga and Ayurvedic Lifestyle as a way to continue the practice of unity off the mat. As a yoga therapist, Shannon utilizes gentle and supported yoga postures to help relieve chronic neck and back pain, migraine head aches, frozen shoulder, joint movement, Sacro-Iliac dysfunction and numerous other chronic pain related issues. She encourages her students to learn how to modify their practice to heal their bodies.

Shannon's walking therapy involves applying yoga principles and philosophy to carry yoga alignment into your daily life through the lens of your walking technique or gait. She welcomes all shapes, sizes, ages and abilities. Her motto: "Yoga is for healing everyone, including you!" "

This afternoon while playing with Henry, I had made a comment about how I had a headache or something about my shoulders "nemesis" being tight and Henry piped up, "Mom, you know you should use your breath (he starts to inhale through his nose), its good for you, you know. You should do your Yoga cause it is really calming." Yes, he used the words breath, yoga and calming. I've trained the little guy well! I about oodled all over him in with hugs and kisses after that one. Boy I love that child!

Off to regurgitate all the modifications and adjustments (that are swirling in my head) that we did tonight, in bed.

Downward-Facing Dog: SanSkrit: Adho Mukha Svanasana
(note to self: fix head placement, drop heels)!

Cookies and DANCE

Yesterday, we made the most yummy oatmeal chocolate chip cookies! Henry and I love to cook together. Henry loves being a "chef, " so I had stocked up on organic baking needs from Whole Foods. I picked up butter, eggs, chocolate chips, and the oats from their bulk bins. I had all the other necessary goods needed.
When trying new recipes I opt to look at a few online and then combine the ones that look best to me (usually don't like cooking with abundance of Baking powder and Baking soda at the same time, and usually I cut the amount by a 1/4 tsp).

So I combined Betty Crockers version with this one, from Savory Sweet Life blog.

Ingredients (as Organic as possible):
1 1/2 Brown sugar, gently packed
1 cup Butter (slightly cold but not frozen)
1 1/4 tsp Vanilla
1 egg
1 tsp Baking Soda
1/4 tsp Sea Salt
1 1/4 cup flour
1/2 cup Almond meal
1 3/4 cup Oats (not quick oats)
Chocolate Chips (semi sweet)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
In a mixer (with the paddle attachment), mix brown sugar and butter until fluffy (about medium to high speed). Mix for at least 2 minutes.
Slow down the mixer while you add the vanilla and the egg. Let it mix completely. Add in baking soda, salt, flour, almond meal, oats and chocolate chips.

Create spoon sized balls onto non-greased baking sheets. Cook until lightly golden brown!

YUM to your tummy!

Lately, we've been looking over youtube to look at dance. Henry has shown an interest in dance. He wants to know about ballet (not sure where that came from but most likely innately from my genes-I was a ballet dancer for many years). So I have been showing him little blurbs from my favorite dance company, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, out of Brooklyn. The dancers in that company are mind blowing! They're athletic, technically skilled, and overall incredibly talented. They have INCREDIBLE STAMINA!




The Fire Island Dance Festival clip here is amazing! This includes multiple
dance companies (about 15) including Complexions. Henry loves watching it (so do I)!

Not that either of these blog topics are related, but at least now that you have a new cookie recipe, you can dance off all that deliciousness with this inspiring dance clip!!

A schlew of things....

There are many blog topics that I have on mind these days, so decided that I would end the week with an array of things!


Memorial Weekend!

After much persistence from our 4.5 yr old, we finally took Hen doodle to NYC!
Will write a post about this adventure as the 3 of us had a blast!

Interior design is one of my secret addictions! Currently I am trying to decide what color to paint my front door. Thinking that a yellow door will add a nice pop to my white house with gray shutters....

Here are some of my faves!!

But there is always blue too.....





Blue Door, Dublin Ireland, 2007. By Michael Gebauer Photography





Not quite sure what to choose, but will go buy test colors tomorrow to make my decision.

Greens Drink to start the day off!
Today was a fun and nutty day, but managed to start it off with a greens drink, which was actually quite delish, especially with pineapple coconut juice. My acupuncturist gave me this sample to try out. It has greens and minerals (like Kale, alfalfa, basil, dulse, kelp, nori) as well as various enzymes and probiotics!



Enjoy the weekend!!