Transitions

Transitions...I seem to finding them everywhere. Some really good bringing peace and contentment. Some I am fighting and digging in my heels with the utmost resistance. And some are just making me feel lonely and sad. I know this is life. And I know all the stuff going on isn't really much on the radar scope of life just blips. Little bits of life nothing compared to the stories of some but right now I have enough little blips to keep me hanging on.

And today a very dear friend of mine is retiring. I am happy for him. Glad he gets to relax and explore and move on. But I am really very sad. He and I have been friends for 16 years. We have been through so very many big life things together not to mention surviving that place called work. And today the person who has talked me off the proverbial ledge more times than I can count, is riding off into his sunset. It just feels like a loss.

So I am still here. Treading water and trying to find an even keel but right now I am not doing this gracefully I am tired, I am edgy, I am on the verge of tears...but I do know this is all good and it too will all pass and when I am through it all I hope I will have learned something from it and can find a bit of peace.

Where have I been??

There was David Gray and Ray Lamontagne

There was coffee with a view...

There was a Drive in Movie...

There was swimming...

There was building...

There were picnics and music
in the gardens...

There was tomato canning!

There were great eats...

There were train rides...

There were naked cowboys...

We went to New York...major goal for trip

was to see the Intrepid which we gratefully

did it was incredible!

There have been S'mores

There was blueberry picking

There was some porch reading...

(not nearly enough of this)

There were camps...

There were visits from Dear friends

There were celebratory tea parties...

There were Lego exhibits

And Museums...

Jack Johnson...and concerts...

Boated with friends...

B and I Relayed and she sang...

Bandanas for Relay...

4th of July spent watching things crash...

E and one of the things that crashed

love us some figure 8!!


So as you can see life has been full. Very full!! In a good way but I must say I might have just packed a little too much into my days this summer. Just a tiny bit...she says laughing...

But this summer brought beach time, and I am so in love with the beach that I didn't say no and still feel like I didn't get enough in. Not enough wasting away by the water for me ever!! We got to wander with friends. We got to giggle a lot!! We got to hear a lot of live music in case you forget it is important to support live music so go out and see bands and cheer and say thank you for sharing yourself. We got to reconnect with family. We got to be part of something bigger than ourselves. We took advantage of what our local farmers have worked so hard to produce and our freezer is thankfully stocked for the winter ahead. Encourage farmers to farm food!! Find your local farmer's market every place has one somewhere. Go out and buy! You can't beat fresh picked produce for dinner! And many markets have happy chicken's eggs, and healthy farmed meats! Right there on your doorstep! No excuses. Hook up with a CSA or a u-pick and fill up your pantries and freezers! I canned for the first time this year and am looking forward to more next year. We read LOTS!!! We dined on the porch. We swam. We watched the world go by.

And now we get ready for the beginning of another school year and getting back into our schedule. I have read several articles lately about how September should be the New Year. How everything feels fresh and goals get set. How the scent of fall makes you want to turn inward and begin to make change. I love this time of year although it makes me a bit sad that my time with my girls gets to be less. Our adventures get more spread out as my work schedule and their school schedule do not always mesh. But FALL!! Oh how I love fall!!

I have had a goal every summer to have a dinner party with friends and have yet to achieve it...hmmm maybe fall??? Harvest party? Yeah I haven't been busy enough!

Hope everyone enjoyed their season and are all ready for the "New Year"!

made a change

I have been a blogging MIA so I am letting my guest blogger the Lady B have a go at filling you all in! I will be back soon!

Well your probably wondering what do i mean when i say made a change. Well i recently joined
relay for life and my mom is a co-captain . cool huh! it's really a good feeling is really good .you can really make a difference if you try.and if i may I'd like to point out that I'm 9 and I can make a difference .well the way i did that was i had a bake sale and i raised $ 120.92 wwwwwwwwwwooooooooowwwwwwww!!!!!!!!! my same thoughts too.



and that's the scoop on how we made a difference

Happy Father's Day!!

My girls are lucky to have this man in their lives. He is patient, he is kind, he is intelligent, he is creative, he inspires, he encourages, and he brings order to our girly chaos. I only hope if the ladies someday settle down that they find someone with all the same characteristics as their Dad. He is an amazing person and I am so very lucky to call him my best friend! Thank you Irishman for all the many things you do to keep your girls happy! We really do appreciate them all!

Summer Feet

John caught us girls and our summer feet on the porch swing...there is something I just love about being barefoot in summer with happy painted toes looking up at me. And something I love more than that is being on my porch on the swing!! I like sitting out there watching the world roll along, taking a break from it all. It is like someone pushes the pause button for a little while and I can breathe and daydream. I take a book, light some candles and incense, grab a cup of coffee or a glass of wine and just lose myself. In fact, I lost myself so completely last week I fell asleep on the swing just swaying in the evening breeze listening to the windchimes and the birds...there may not be words enough for how much I love a good porch!! So wishing you some porch swinging, watching the world pass you by time...

The Style...

Ella got ready for the art fair the other day and this was her outfit...there is a style and a sass and a confidence that this little lady has in matters of fashion that I so wish I possessed. How do we loose that sureness. That "I am awesome" feeling about ourselves? Where does it go? And how do we let people take it from us? I have a big ole hope that I can keep it there for my lovely ladies. That I can preserve it for just a bit longer and let them be proud of their choices and style no matter what that may be. So maybe just one day in your week you will find a bit of your sass and have an Ella style day!

Snuggle up day...

Today the skies have opened...the gray has set in for a spell...the winds are blustery...and I command ye all to snuggle in the softest, coziest quilt you own (older is definitely better for this occasion), light a few gently scented candles, gather your journal, your favorite book, and a hot cup of liquid (your choice I suggest a sumatran or a double bergamont earl grey), and curl yourself up into your most favorite nesting spot and indulge the senses in all things peaceful...listen to the rain splatter, the winds chime or put on the music that makes you daydream! You are under orders so do not miss this opportunity...settle in relax and restore!!