Mandala of Compassion

The Buddhist monk with the kids is Venerable Ngawang Chojor and we got a special viewing of him building the Mandala of Compassion here in Portland a few weeks ago. The kids were great at such a quiet event, they were so interested in what he was doing they just sat and watched for 15 minutes. The message of the Mandala of Compassion is supposed to give us the important elements that can make us a happy and a caring person. The fact that he built the mandala here is supposed to give a special blessing for the area and for the people who live where it is constructed. Through the power of the Mandala the negative energy of the area is removed and positive energy established.

Sand painting is an ancient Tibetan art form. Until 1989, the creation of Mandalas was a secret practice. Then the Dali Lama opened the practice to teach all people the main message behind the Mandala itself. The creation of a sand mandala begins with an opening ceremony. Monks consecrate the site and call forth the forces of goodness through chanting mantras accompanied by flutes, drums and cymbals. The construction of the mandala begins with the drawing of the design on the base. The artists measure out and draw the architectural lines using a straight-edged ruler, compass and ink pen. Once the diagram is drawn, in the following days you see millions of grains of colored sand painstakingly laid into place. The sand, colored with vegetable dyes, is poured onto the mandala platform with a narrow metal funnel which is scraped by another metal rod to cause vibration for the grains of sand to trickle out of the end. The two funnels symbolize the union of wisdom and compassion. The mandalas are created whenever a need for healing of the environment and living beings is felt. When finished, to symbolize the impermanence of all that exists, the colored sands are swept up and poured into a nearby river or stream where the waters carry healing energies throughout the world.

This is the really special part. Lama Chojor saw the boys watching quietly and interested in what he was creating. He drew! them into the Mandala. Have a close look at the white sand on the red line close to the bottom of the Mandala. The one on the left is Alyosha and the one on the right is Luka. The Mandala of Compassion is made to inspire people to live with a compassionate spirit for the sake of all beings and to help end suffering for all. I think my boys are on the road to being compassionate. It was beautiful.

Spending time in the beautiful outdoors

Well, this one isn't outdoors, but I just like this picture.

Our friend, Anna, let us come to her backyard orchard and pick pears from her trees. They are so delicious-even Niki is having a taste. It looks like he is sneaking one!

Here is our sweetheart! Sitting up on his own like a pro.

Alyosha is a great big brother, taking care of the other two. I can't believe that he is starting Kindergarten in a few weeks.

Lemonade Stand

The kids had a lemonade stand fundraiser for Isobel's Clubhouse. They earned about $100 in 4 hours to donate it to CHAP and Isobel's Clubhouse. They had a lot of fun--it was such a hot day!

Picnic in the shade...guess who is running the stand while the kids are resting?

Art Museum

We had a special tour of the Portland Art Museum and it was GREAT. What a wonderful place for children and the art is amazing. As you will see soon enough, we are getting into the art mode for now--the kids are loving painting and drawing and telling stories. I think we are doing a great job this summer inspiring little minds with our little summer group; it shows in so many ways.

This is an original Monet painting. One of his 250 Water Lilies that he painted during and after the First World War. The museum guide told us that he painted them for as relaxing encouragement for soldiers returning from the front.

Romka sneaked photos as we were going through the galleries. We had approval, but the various museum security people didn't know it so we were discreet and quick.

My photo wasn't as good as Annie Lebovitz, but I think that Luka is surely a character like Steve Martin.

My little artists creating their own masterpieces. Alyosha made an exploding volcano and Luka had a happy bear.

The Portland Art Museum will be our next membership--only $50 and so much to see!

Pascal and Pi

The Jacklins came to visit. Well, we did visit, but the main event was Greg's ride from Seattle to Portland. The Seattle/Portland bike race has been going on for 30 years--it is a 1-2 day, 200 mile ride that almost 10,000 people participate in each year. Greg made it in 10 hours! Yeah, Greg.

While Greg was doing his little bike trip (he will like that I said it that way...) we were playing and having a good time in beautiful Portland with Tanya and the kids.Here are the boys. Niki, 4 months, Pi 2.5 years, Pascal 4 years, Luka 2.5 years and Alyosha 5 years

Pi, Pascal and Luka are fishing in our 'backyard'.

I think that the kids could swing for hours. It is no wonder that Alyosha doesn't want to learn to pump and swing himself, it is really relaxing to just sit and be pushed back and forth. I could sit there for hours too.

Well, this trip isn't so relaxing-if you let Greg push you on the tire swing, then hold on tight and prepare to be dizzy when you get off.

Luka LOVES baby brother. He is a really good big brother for Nikolai. Niko is very lucky.

We went to the Rose Garden--Niki's first view of the roses on top of Portland

Sauvee Island strawberry picking before leaving to Texas

В последний день до отъезда в Техас мальчишки пошли собирать клубнику с друзьями на остров Соуви, неподалёку от Портленда.



Ранним утром, пока солнышко не припекло и народ не оккупировал грядки мы прибыли на ферму и даже были лично приветствованы владельцем фермы и "другими уполномоченными лицами". Как оказалось, наша команда открыла клубничный сезон в этом году!


Алёша показал-таки верх трудолюбивости, собрав пол-ведра клубники за рекордно короткие сроки, при этом он успел пообщаться с другими, показав свой "улов", поделившись планами на завтра (Техас), а заодно и планами на весь месяц (беспредельное купание, изучение скорпионов под каждым камнем, поиск окаменелостей, выпечка с бабушкой Рози и гриль с дедушкой Стивом и пр.).



В отличие от сына, папа был способен делать только лишь что-то одно, в данном случае собирать ягоду, причём он явно дал фору Алёше так и не догнав его по объёмам. Кроме этого, папа оставил Лукошкиного "бэби" на ферме, за что ещё явно поплатиться позже.



Лукошка, в свою очередь, работал только на себя, как настоящий капиталист. Всю собранную ягоду он отправлял в рот не раздумывая, да простят меня фермеры за потерянную для них выгоду. Мне кажется, что детей до 4 лет фермеры должны взвешивать до и после выхода на поле, а за разницу в весе брать по стоимости клубники...
Только посмотрите на эту наглую физиономию.

Хорошо, что они не используют пестициды!

После сбора все уселись под навесом и с удовольствием откушали по-деревенски, пригубили холодного пивка, поговорили о том да сём, пока дети с удовольствием ловили бабочек и изучали окрестности.

Making our Neighborhood beautiful

Today was an Oregon state wide day organized to clean up the neighborhoods. We live in a great neighborhood with wonderful maintenance workers who sweep the curbs every day-so luckily there wasn't too much to clean up. But the kids spotted every cigarette butt or stray gum wrapper and picked it up with their extended arms. Here is the group-Luka didn't want to wear the orange safety vest-OR his sun hat. He was a true pirate.

Luka is helping his brother make his Bobo feel better. Alyosha got a big scratch on his chin-you will see in future pictures how we decorated it with Zelonkia.

We also planted wild flowers in the field in front of our bridge. Hopefully they will all sprout-it will be beautiful.

I (Jen) carried Niki most of the time because Roma was carrying the big trash bag, but in the end I was releived by Roma and the Baby Bjorn--Niki isn't really supposed to face forward yet, but he likes to see the world.

In the afternoon we trecked over to Wallace Park beside the elementary school Alyosha will go to in September-It was a beautiful day. You can see where the scratch is hidden by the green paint.

Luka is a monkey robot. For some reason, he decided to talk like a robot all afternoon.

Alyosha thinks he never goes to sleep because he just lays down and then the sun comes up-like the night is only a minute long. When he got into bed he said that this was a really great day and he wanted to do it all again tomorrow!

Picnic on Sauvie Island

It was a beautiful day in Portland today and we enjoyed the entire morning and afternoon on Sauvie Island. First we drove out to Oaks Island trail--a gorgeous and easy walk. We would have like to spend more time there, but lunch was calling and they didn't allow fire grills anywhere on the trail. So, we had to turn back pretty early, but I would like to bring sandwiches next time and do the entire 2.5 mile (4.5km) hike.

Another family enjoying the trail took our picture--they warned us of black bears and tigers ahead of us on the path--it was their 4 year old who saw them though. Fortunately we didn't find them.

My new hat that Roma got for me! I like it. Roma is experimenting with our camera; his new favorite is to take pictures through the binoculars. It comes out pretty cool.

The boys found an eagle flying high over the wildlife refuge.

Our picnic. We had yummy bratwurst (organic and local) and Peter brought steak. The kids played amazingly together and enjoyed every second of being outside.

Zoo Park

I love watching the sea lions swim. The are so huge and graceful. I wish I had this view when they were swimming in the open ocean, I bet they are fast!

Can you believe that it is even possible to get this close to a polar bear?

Nature School Tuesdays

Sellwood park again for Tuesday Nature School. This past Tuesday was the most beautiful Tuesday of the year. Roma studied in the park while everyone else attended their own duties, then we had a picnic lunch and stayed the rest of the day, lured in by the sun to forget any other responsibilites we may have.

Luka likes the see-saw, but I get a work out doing squats so he can go up and down. I noticed that in all newer parks that have see-saws, they have springs so the kids can do it themselves--I'm not sure which ones I like better.

Alyosha is a good tree-climber. We will work on this all summer so we can go apple pickng in the fall. Now he just climbs to shake the flowers down from the tree. Thank goodness it wasn't an apple tree--even the flowers fall pretty hard. That's gravity for ya.

The boys climb on Papa whenever they get a chance. It is great that he has the chance to spend so much time with them--but, even school takes up a lot of time so they take advantage of every minute.

Papa running with 2 boys. Look how long their hair is--tomorrow it will be all gone. :-(

Yes, Please...I'll have more Portland

Graham, TX
72° F 47° F 22° C 8° C


Tallinn
42° F 19° F 6° C -7° C


Portland, OR
76° F 47° F 24° C 8° C