I got to take Happy for a walk this morning and there was a beautiful pinkness in the distance. This kind of shows it, yet it was much more beautiful than this! xoxo
Oh so fabulous walk with Lillian yesterday afternoon. We stopped by a large gathering of coots who were eating grass. We stood in silence and listened to the sound of their grazing. It was incredibly beautiful and soothing. Similar to the sound of water running over rocks. xoxo
Walk of clarity this morning!! Check out the ball floating in the middle of the lake. Is it hovering above the mountain or floating at the bottom of it? Perspective is a magical thing! xoxo
What a beautiful night! The hills and mountain in the distance were magical with a dusting of snow. Plus, there was a huge bat shaped cloud over the mountain. So incredible!!! These two blessings had a great night. 🎃
Thomas made a vegan coleslaw to go with dinner to night. So yum!!! I enjoyed it with sweet potato noodles and he enjoyed his with wild shrimp. So happy he’s an adventurous eater.
…. And, coming in 2017 at the South Valleys Library’s rotating art gallery ….. a Team TLC showing. I think it will be their first family showing!! The date will not be set until we reach 2017 so we’ll share when we know.
Library day! One of my most favorite days! I just love walking the aisles, having my eye caught by a title, pulling it from the shelf, opening it, and the feeling of excitement when it’s the one. Love, love, love. xoxo
Doing it different takes incredible faith and trust. It brings forth drastic contrast. Sometimes on a daily basis. Love these quick moments we think to capture in the midst of the contrast. xoxo
Some of the best learning and teaching moments simply sneak up on us and happen! xoxo
A couple of Shining Moments from last week – Sent with love and blessings that you be in the moment and aware of the shining moments that happen in your own life in this upcoming week and always … xoxo
I took Thomas with me to the post office on Thursday and let him do the talking and paying. The lady behind the counter said at least 3 times how awesome she thought it was that I am teaching him how to mail something.
She said so many of the teens and young adults don’t know how to mail something. I had not really put thought into this. I had not pre-planned this post office trip with him so that he could learn something. It just happened naturally as we were standing in line. What a blessing!
We went to Trader Joe’s on Wednesday. I told Thomas and Lillian they could pick out a cheese while I got some other things. They spent a long time looking at all the cheeses and they know we don’t have much money right now.
I could hear them discussing it and in that moment time stood still and I knew everything is perfect, happening perfectly, and that everything will be okay and perfect! They chose one that was inexpensive but also a cheese they wanted. xoxo
Reached another milestone today for Thomas’ book, Biggest Little Photographer! I had intended to be further by end of day tomorrow, yet, it’s great progress! We tremendously appreciate the shares, likes, and comments whenever I post about it here or on one of our blogs!
It helps us incredibly when we receive pre-orders. If you were planning on getting a book, come on over to Thomas’ website and check it out. There’s a cool 2 minute book trailer too! xoxoxo
(Here’s one of the photos in the book in honor of Library Day this weekend!) Due out mid to late Fall 2016 and will make awesome birthday or holiday gifts (or even Thank You gifts if you want to order in bulk). Here’s the link:https://thomasadarnell.com/author/
And here’s a bit about the book … ” …. This is not simply a photography book and not a photography book by a professional photographer. This book is about an 8 year old boy, with a passion for LEGO, and a huge heart.
An 8 year old boy who read an article about a professional photographer who had taken photographs of a mini figure taking photographs for 365 days. An 8 year old boy who then asked, “Can I do that?” and then bought a mini figure camera with his own money.
An 8 year old boy who used what he had, a donated iPhone 3G, mini figure pieces already owned, and spent less than $2.00 to purchase the camera piece. So, while you won’t find photographs of the highest quality and clarity within this book, you will find love, inspiration, and the knowing that whatever you dream, whatever you want to accomplish, it CAN be done. And you will find that life is what happens between asking, “Can I do that?” and “I DID IT!”
It’s about an 8 year old boy who, with determination and fun, completed a ONE YEAR photography project from the time he was 8 years old and ending at 9 years old.”
Field trip included library day. Now up there with our other favorite library!!! Second time here and we love this place!!! Lillian was absolutely there … somehow I missed getting a picture of her! xoxo
Lillian and I got to have a sunset walk. I’ve had a rough day and this was like sweet nectar for my soul.
I received an anonymous email from someone who laid judgment upon me and the way I choose to live. It hurt. I have not been able to take my own advice of “What other people think of you, is their business, not yours.”
I finally shared with a small group of friends and that helped a bit. Then I was treated to this most delicious walk with Lillian where I ask her about our walks together. xoxoxo And, lastly, I came home to a Louise Hay post of “I Release All Criticism” … Feeling so much better. Not quite myself. Yet, much better.
I apologize! I turned the video to landscape halfway through. Oops!!
By the end of the day, I chose to see this as an opportunity for growth for myself and to have compassion and non-judgment for the one who is confused by whether my living as a free spirit is by choice or necessity and the one who feels my kids are enduring financial stress that no kid should endure … Oceans and oceans of love to you … LOVE is the answer … xoxo
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August 17 2016:
Wonderful sunset to darkness walk last night. It was nearly 8:45 pm once we got back to the car. So quiet and peaceful with stops several times to listen to the birds talking. It got too dark for more pictures. These walks are so incredibly blissful. … Then we went to the grocery store. 9:00 at night is the time to go grocery shopping! So quiet!! xoxo
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August 18 2016:
Beauties outside of the building yesterday afternoon … Northern Nevada Medical … Where Lillian receives craniosacral therapy. We were in a hurry so I could get to another appointment, yet we stopped to admire natures gift and to try and capture it. Remember to have a sense of wonder as often as you can. It’s life changing. xoxo
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August 18 2016:
Thomas n Camilla sunset walk tonight. I simply could not get enough of the light breeze brushing against my skin while gently blowing my hair. So divine.
Thomas and I had a ball. We watched the killdeer and the black necked stilt for a bit. Then danced a killdeer tango as we walked. If you’ve watched them you know what I mean.
Then Thomas said something that caused me to remember the television show with Lee Majors as The Bionic Man. Ha! Now Thomas knows some tv trivia! Nature is love … xoxo
Thomas wanted to share more about our walks. And I chime in a wee bit too. And so do the ducks!! On our sunset walk last night. xoxoxo
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August 19 2016:
Field trip day!! Lunch stop!! xoxo
Third stop on field trip day yesterday. I’ve only been here once and Thomas and Lillian have never been here.
Definitely got our exercise for the day. Another first for Lillian. She has never hiked on a little narrow path, sometimes with a steep downhill on one side. Lots of anxiety and one scream and one scratch on her toe and one scratch on my hand from her grasping my hand. We made it though!!
A first for me!!! I swam in Lake Tahoe and it was amazing. Refreshingly cold. Relaxing. I didn’t want to get out!! The water hugged and caressed my body like a Mother hugs her baby. Pure heaven.
Thomas swam too. He loved it!! Even though he got a gnarly scratch from one of the rocks. He wants to come back again and again. And wants to move to Incline Village!
Another first for Lillian. She got “attacked” by a dog. Well, not really. She has a debilitating fear of dogs. She was sitting on the towel. I saw the sweet puppy headed over and before I could get there he was trying to lick her to death. I’m sure all of Hidden Beach thought someone was in grave danger. Lillian screamed like I’ve never heard her scream. The dogs humans apologized like 5 million times. They felt so bad! It took her about 15 minutes and then Lillian recovered back to enjoying herself.
As we headed down to the beach Lillian was commenting she never wanted to come again. On the way back up she was commenting about next time this, that, and the other …
Made it back home about 8:00 with 4 scrapes and scratches amongst us and lots of tired muscles and having learned so incredibly much.
And …. We loved it!!! We will all sleep soundly tonight.
Drastically rights my world …. Going for a walk with Thomas and Lillian and taking pictures. So incredibly grateful for it all. xoxo
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August 8 2016:
First day of 5th grade for Thomas and 10th grade for Lillian. Field trip to Bowers Mansion park and pool after a morning of working. Thank you to Northern Nevada Home Schools, Inc. for organizing this. We had so much fun!!!!
Walk with Thomas last night. It was an incredibly beautiful sunset and quiet, peaceful walk. Thomas loved how the holes he made filled so quickly with water. This time around we discussed the stock market and day trading. I love the variety of topics we discuss.
Today he had this to say, “It’s fun to buy things with your own money. It even feels different when you’re holding what you buy afterwards.” He bought himself a pizza for dinner … With his own money.
And he had this to say, “I’m glad I’m not an adult with seeing how sad you are today.” Yes. Sometimes I find it difficult to practice what’s in my heart. I’ve been in pain all day from a tweaked muscle or nerve in my upper left back/shoulder … And I had so much I needed to work on today. It’s been a very low day of wallowing in anxiety and fear and being in pain.
I’m blessed these two amazing young people use these low times to remind me of different perspectives at just the right moments.
The poem is finally finished that goes along with the tree blossom painted rock.
I delivered the rock at the conference, yet, simply had run short of time and the heart space I wanted for creating the poem before conference. Thank you Steve Poteete-Marshall for your support!! Will mail it to you next week.
A friend posted the other image one day last week and it moved me to tears. Oceans of thanks and gratitude for all who support and encourage the creations I put forth … whether with my writings or other artistic creations! It truly means the world to me and my little Team TLC … xoxoxoxo
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August 11 2016:
Thomas wants to learn about stocks and investing so we went to the library today and got him a few books. I also gave him a couple of websites to visit. Does anyone have a good suggestion for a book, website, or class for beginners? I was really on top of it in the early to mid 2000’s …. yet, life kinda took a drastic turn! Thanks!
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August 12 2016:
Just finished one more step for Thomas’ book! Actually took a step backwards as we decided to group the photos into themes. Now we can continue with the layout. It feels wonderful to be one step closer!
Want a little burst of inspiration? Watch the 1 minute trailer. Even if you aren’t interested in the book, you might get a shot of “I can do it” from the trailer. Oceans of gratitude for those who continue to pre-purchase, share, and comment!
Here’s another of the photos to be included.
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August 13 2016:
Thomas and Lillian wanted to get up in the wee hours this morning to see if we could catch a glimpse of the Perseid meteor shower.
My alarm went off at 3:00, yet I turned it off and went right back to sleep. Woke up again at 4:00, got them up and we walked to the lake. We didn’t see as much as we could have further out from city lights or if we’d done it yesterday morning, yet we each got to see at least one! It was so cool! Then home and back to bed!
These are pictures from our day yesterday. Working in the morning, found a heart shaped chip while making lunches, and then Thomas and I went for a swim. Shared an online business idea with each of them and they liked it so took the first step with that.
Lillian wrote and published her next “Emotions with Animals” blog post. I worked on Thomas’ book AND I found a website where Thomas can practice buying stocks in a simulated environment. He’s pretty excited about it! Busy day!
After receiving the extremely sad news about our C18 friend, Heather, we ended the evening with lots of discussion and writing compliment cards for each other and for ourselves.
We have been brainstorming ideas for how we can serve our community as a family and team and at the same time move towards our dream and live how we choose. Here’s what we came up with …. xoxo
Errand Services
Is your “to do” list longer than The Great Wall of China? Team TLC is here to tackle those errands with Tender Loving Care.
Who We Serve
Individuals – Have you simply run out of time to get it all done?
Homeschoolers – We are a homeschooling family. We know.
Non profit agencies – Having run a non-profit for a couple of years, I know the tightness of your budget. We are here for you in those here and there times when you need a second hand.
Small businesses – I’ve been an entrepreneur since 2001. I know.
We serve the greater Reno area. Although, we are happy to assist those not local to Reno if there is anything we can do online for you!
Sample errands and Other
Dog Nanny – Dog walking and/or dog sitting
Drop off clothes/pick up clothes at dry cleaners
Grocery shopping
Return books/pick up books from the library
Mail items/pick up mail
Deliver items
Pick up and deliver restaurant orders
Check on your home while you are out of town Costs
Simple flat fee of $20/hour, with a minimum of a 2 hour purchase for the first use
5 hours or more purchased in bulk receives a 10% discount
*We get as much done for you within the hour as humanly possible.
**For errands that incur additional costs, ie groceries, an estimated amount of the bill is collected in advance.
***24 hours notice needed for all requests. Less than 24 hours incurs an extra fee.
Our Team = Nature lovers, Unschooling, Book Lovers, Writers, Nature based schooling, Practicing mindfulness and emotional connection, Inspired by photography, Tiny home dwellers, Minecraft enthusiast
**More details** We are truly open to hear ideas about what others need help with “getting done”. We will be honest if it’s something we do not feel capable of helping with.
From errands that keep getting put off, to researching products/curriculums, to sorting things like LEGO pieces, beads, nuts, bolts (we like sorting!!), to scooping the backyard dog poo.
On a different note, outside of the Team TLC services, I specialize in nature mentoring (showing parents how to help their child not lose their nature connection and retain their sense of wonder) and as a mindfulness/positive parenting tutor. With this I can assist with introducing mindfulness into a family via mindful eating and other mindfulness practices. And I also offer a unique nature centered style of one to one coaching.
Feel free to ask questions or for more details! xoxo
