missing.

the a b c's of summer {g}

GOATS:

the a b c's of summer {f}

F O R T S :

i know you might be wondering what happened to
a - e...
don't worry they'll catch up!

the view from where we sit

this is a very special post, about a very special lady!

since becoming a mama i have been both surprised and amazed at all the love and guidance i have been privy to via *the greatest moms on earth* or more to the point the wonderful friends and family i have that are now amazing moms!
one of the most dear to my heart is this lady, cute red polished toes pictured above.
this is her...to a tee.
here she is "camping" with the kids, and look at those pretty toes.
(see below my pale sandy feet)
those highly polished digits belong to a very old and dear friend. one i have not "seen" in years but who's friendship has been a quiet voice in my head most of my life. she and i were the best of friends in our youth, from trading lip gloss secrets to planning middle school proms (she's one of the reasons i'm so crafty!) when i moved away in high school (try about 3,000 miles away) she always wrote. addressing letters and cards in bubbly script, neat and inviting. but as the years passed we lost touch a bit. now as mama's we are reunited!!!

you see this is the girl who makes you want to be the best mother and wife and woman in the world that you can be. she is one of those amazing mothers that makes packing up two kids, a husband, camping and fishing gear and a canoe look effortless. (and you better believe she didn't forget the s'mores fixin's)
she makes kindness and goodness and beauty look easy. and we all know it's not always.
so~ to kick off a little summer love i have invited her to do some guest blogging about her crafts and travels.
she's feeling a bit shy and i am sure she is up for the task!

mama h~ i missed you. and am so glad to have you back in my life!

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

thanks soulemama!

r & r re-cap

we spent some long overdue time in rural new hampshire this weekend...very close to the vermont border.

my beloved's parents own a little house there on a great pond.

little one woke me on the 3rd day there with floaties in hand saying *schwimmy schwimmy* and it was only 5:30 a.m.!

here is just a sneak peak at some adventures...more to follow!

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

thanks soulemama!

{this moment} expanded and delayed!

i know i know...more than one photo but couldn't resist the *story* of this one.

thanks to soulemama for inspiring!

secret garden

just found this lovely spot less than 2 miles from our house, it is surrounded by large shrubbery and i had no idea of the beauty!

saw a few of my favorites, peony...pear tree...

as well as some new loves...weeping spruce!

now don't think me frivolous... or...obsessed with the red shoe.

but...i can be both.

for i.e.~ who i dare say has an affinity as strong as mine!

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. inspired by soulemama!

buy nothing new year

a few posts back i was telling you dearies about the possibility that our family would be undertaking dottie angels *challenge of the utmost kind* and as of july 1st we are!

summer shoes are ordered, as are bike parts, a train set and beeswax crayons for emma, new towels, a few extra sheepskins for winter coziness (you really have to think ahead...365 days of no new things!), and some books and cds i've been meaning to order.

and although it felt funny to place such a large order...it's really not much if those are the ONLY new things we buy for a year!

and so it begins...

...wish us luck!

red letter day

so excited for the mail today!

not only did it include a lost AND FOUND dear little elmo,

but new red sandals for em and i--hip hip hoooooray!

wash wednesday (raining on my parade)

as i mentioned before dear iris has inspired me to change up my laundry routine.

on sunday elizabeth and i mixed up a batch of homemade washing powder using iris recipe.

yesterday we washed and waited...trying to wait out the rain...no fair!

so wash wednesday went like this- washed with our new soap ( i used about 2/3 peppermint and 1/3 lavender) smelllllssss so good! but alas, had to put the wash in the dryer! better luck next time...if this rain ever lets up!

double i.

hanging the wash felt like making prayer flags of my own.

i have not hung anything on the line since i was a child...i now see the efforts are so well worth it.

when gathering these things up, our fabrics, our things, folding them (and hey no wrinkles!) i had a deep sense of peace.

hooray for fresh laundry.

off to make some soap....

double i...

that's code for *iris inspired*

thanks lady!!!

more laundry efforts to folllow.