.: Catching Up :.

It's been over a month since I visited here!  After a wonderful Thanksgiving in Ohio with Robb's family the Advent season was spent celebrating with our typical traditions:  we set shoes out for St. Nicholas in the beginning of December, we lit our Advent wreath each night at dinner and sang a carol, we baked, we relaxed, we spent a wintery weekend away with friends at a cabin in the Poconos. But mostly we tended to not venture beyond our home too much at all.  When our wood stove is cranking it's hard to find any excuse good enough to leave the coziness.  I feel so grateful to be at a point in life when the small and simple are still more than enough, when slow days at home are still filled with imagination, laughter, and delight. 



(Christmas morning revelry!)



Much love and cheer to you in 2015!



.: At the Arboretum :.

(Beneath the mighty Katsura)
 

 

Last week we took what might have been one of our last warm days in these parts to make one of our favorite trips: to the Arboretum.  We were originally going to invite some friends to join us but it ended up just being the three of us.  And that ended up being just lovely. We moved at our own pace, talking, laughing, and sometimes just being quiet together. 

.: Halloween :.

A bright piece of felt, some strands of ribbon, a few scraps of cloth, a play silk, some safety pins, twenty minutes at the sewing machine and VOILA! A princess and kitty. What a night we had!

.: we've been :.

 

 

.: packing away sundresses and bathing suits, pulling out sweaters and hats

.: putting gardens to rest, raking leaves, jumping in leaves, throwing leaves, raking leaves

.: watching many spontaneous ballet performances, most often performed in the kitchen

.: enjoying having two potty-trained kids

.: climbing homemade rope courses (one of the benefits of having an arborist for a father!)
.: (I've been) enjoying my annual trip up to the Hudson Valley for the Sheep and Wool Festival with my sister

.: looking forward to getting our wood stove into action

.: saying last goodbyes to summer, getting ready to head inside

.: winding down :.

Looking at the pictures from the last post (over a month ago, yikes!) it certainly feels as though we are heading into a different season.  The evenings and mornings are chilly enough for sweaters and socks. (though, no matter how chilly it is we still can't convince Frances to actually wear clothing)  The daylight fades earlier and earlier.  The garden has succumbed to weeds and even though there is still a good flow of collards, kale, and tomatoes, you can tell the plants are ready to call is quits. Slowly my mind shifts from thinking about garden plans and trips to the beach to sweater patterns and trips to the orchard.  

Neva and Frances started preschool at the beginning of the month at the wonderful Project P.L.A.Y., which Neva attended last year.  Even though it's just two mornings a week, having this structure to our week is a real contrast to the wide open, lazy days of summer.  They are having a wonderful time at school and, as sweet as it is for me to have three hours alone, it is certainly a transition for this mama to watch my two little ones head off into the world without me!  How grateful I am that they have each other.

(heading out to the first day of preschool together!)

Lastly, if you're in the mood for a video...

.: at the beach again :.

.: Ohio :.

We spent the first weekend of August in Ohio with Robb's family.  There were six kids, seven acres, two ponds and one puppy.  Need I say more?

.: July :.

In our parts the cicadas have just started their long trilling songs this past week. For me, that has always meant the end of July.  And the very beginning of the end of summer.  Even so, now is when summer feels at its most full. The garden is really starting to bust. I spend pretty much each day in the same summer dress. Mornings are spent outside, we take respite from the heat in the afternoons, and then run outside once more after dinner.  Little friends come over to play in the backyard and grownup friends come over for an impromptu picnic potluck. It's no wonder this is one of my most favorite times of year.

find cucumber on vine. pick. eat.

"Mud", or, "sometimes you have to let dinner get cold"

A storm right before dinner turned into postponing dinner to splash in puddles with boots, which turned into taking boots off to dip toes in, which turned into dipping hands in, which turned into....