-
Cross Country Cousins
We were blessed by a wonderful summer treat last weekend – a visit from our Wyoming cousins. You know, it is not often when West meets East and it had been far too long since our family has had the pleasure of being in the company of these two sweet girls. The kids had a fabulous day together – playing…
-
A Slew of July Fourth Memories.
Oh you guys. You know July Fourth is my favorite holiday. And I’m not home writing now and typing this post – I’m embracing internet-less good times at The Farm in Virginia. And I’m sure I will return with photos too many and stories too much. But – right now I’m just giving you a little weekend reading. I’m linking…
-
When a Sport Inspires a Song.
It’s everywhere. In every pub and the subject of every person’s social media status. It’s in our living room. World Cup Soccer. We aren’t exactly sports fans. Kevin doesn’t own an orange jersey and I cannot name more than two current football players. I get ridiculed for not more thoroughly embracing the Olympics and this house boasts no favorite sports team…
-
It’s winner time!
I confess. My track record here is poor. I think I was late on announcing an earlier giveaway. Can you guys ever forgive me? I sure hope so. I was busy today – taking the kids on an early morning guided bird walk with an expert ornithologist. Watching World Cup Soccer. Watching my friend teach the kids how to make those…
-
The Slack Line.
Last Christmas (Wait. Was that seriously six months ago already?) our kids’ main Christmas present was a zip line. It’s been jolly good fun. That gift was part of a concentrated effort to make our yard Fun. We want our kids to play outside. And we want our kids’ friends to want to be out there too. With those thoughts driving…
-
what I actually hope for my children …
“I just want my children to be happy.” “Follow your heart.” “What’s your passion?” There’s a lot of advice we give and we get – as parents and as humans – that is actually really bad advice. Really bad advice. I think following your heart and finding your passion and pursuing personal happiness rank right up there with the worst.…
-
Phoebeflock: A Giveaway!
You guys. I have this plethora of talented friends and family members and framily members. I’m so lucky! And you all are about to be so lucky too. Let’s talk about my friend Jo. Jo makes things. She sews. She sews beautiful things. Quilts. Napkins. Banners. Fabric art. Headbands. She created some curtains for our house. London “hired” her…
-
Sunday Morning In The Seats
The first few weeks of summer our Sunday mornings run a little differently. Our church takes a break in their children’s programming at both the beginning and the ending of summer. I think it’s great for the faithful in-the-trenches-every-week kind of volunteers our church is blessed with. They need a bit of breathing room as the school year finishes. The…
-
I know, son.
Whilst in a store with my nine year old son …. “Bergen, can you please settle down? Maybe stop leaping down the aisle?” His blonde head pauses briefly in its movement. “Okay, Mom. I can try. But it isn’t in my nature.”
-
The Summer Screen Blues
It is full on summer now – right? I mean, I think summer really begins according to the calendar this weekend. But – seriously – the temperatures are in the nineties this week and we haven’t seen school in days upon days. So – it’s summer. For the past few days – when we’ve been home – I’ve found myself wiling away an…
-
being affectionate. naturally.
I am not, by nature, wildly affectionate. I’m not a hand patter. I don’t walk up behind you and give you a shoulder massage. (Unless you are my husband.) I’m not likely to hug you when I first meet you. I am not like my mother in this respect. (She hugged everyone she met. Every friend I ever brought home…
-
now available for you ….
I’ve watched Kevin’s hands with pencil in place for decades. Just over two of them now, in fact. I love his art. His style has really grown and morphed during these years. I’ve witnessed him engage in the struggle of The War of Art or The War with Art. And he has come out on another side and he’s a…
-
Summer Days
Ah. Sweet summer days. These are good ones. Days to sleep in. Days to discover that the blackberries growing wild in the pasture are sun-ready and ripened to deliciousness. Days to take those delicious blackberries and create an afternoon reading time snack of berries and cream. (We all decided it was practically health food from the earth. Berries wild from…
