blackberry, lavender jam has been served daily on my old farm table, thanks to this sweet new friend. honestly, this jam is so beautiful, it takes my palate, to lavender fields and afternoon picnics, on favorite blankets.  a swap brought us together... each gift is cherished. especially the handwritten letter. sheer love. and beatrix potter? how could you have known my love, for her. ; )
thank you, friend.

this little blog has been busy as a bee, in the past week. deep sigh, for the love you have shown me ; )

i am going to get to work on a tiny project, with a most kind and beautiful, fellow midwest blogger. shh... more on that later. xo

happy pumpkin weekend, my friends.

one love~

on a windy~ autumn rooftop

i spotted the steeple in my rearview mirror. my heart warmed. i did the once over in the car to make sure i was strapped with my camera bag. yes.
i was hesitant. my words lingered on my tongue, battling with hesitation, and my love of the lens.

the lens won the battle.

do you mind if i stop and take a few pictures? she barely shook her head no.

like i said, the love of the lens won.

i sped up the ramp, to the rooftop. the sun was bright, trust me, nothing was ideal for this capture. i felt rushed, she needed to be where she needed to be, and i was to get her there.
i allowed the presence of the churches to calm me, as i raised my lens.

her words scratched my surface

how long will this take?
my frame went south
i was sure to be left with a crooked ass photo
my words sharp
im done!
i b- lined toward the car

she stood still

you like to take photos huh?


fire burned inside of me
another moment of facing that my mother knows absolutely nothing about me

tight lipped, i mumbled some nonscence

your first camera was pink... you carried it everywhere.

my fire was cooled by her unveiled memories of me

my mothers finger pointed west

i used to go to this church as a little girl, your grandmother brought us here every sunday
we would try and hide our church shoes so we didn't have to go. that never worked. 


she chuckled and pulled her coat tighter

i ran through those halls daily... that's where i went to grade school

i stood in the corner i backed myself in, my shoes in a puddle of selfishness.

i knew none of these things about my mother.

i eased my way through the doors of her words, stepping careful not to scare her words off.

she leaned over toward me, asking if she could see the photo i took

i eased the camera that held my crooked photo towards her, coming closer to her than i had before

there we stood, on a windy, autumn rooftop

her face stern, her nod firm... her words matter of fact... it's perfect.

the fire in me gone, the space between us, less empty.

a photograph that i will cherish.

lessons learned

one love~

*
won't you share a story? head over to the amazing blog~ the habit of being, and join in.

thank you, thank you, for allowing me to come here, to my little blog, and share bits of my life. xo

another sweet find from the antique store. had to have this coffee creamer thingy. : ) goodness, i remember my grandmother drinking sanka coffee. she would laugh, if she could see me paying the crazy prices i do, for lattes+ other shameful java fixes. lol

the leaves are blowing and a storm is brewing. a perfect day to bake, cranberry orange bread.

yes orange!

i am just thrilled to have my orange work, chosen as a guest on this fab blog. thrilled i tell ya!

happy tuesday, my friends~

and hummingbirds

dearest autumn, you make my life so sweet. : )

how are you today, my friends?

i am in love... i would adore, seeing this up close. deep sigh, for discovered memories.

while antiquing this weekend, i found these two hummingbird, sketches. i just had to have them. there is something so personal and serene about them.

and the framing has amazing detail. they appear to be old, but in very good shape. i'm almost certain, they were loved, at one time. on to a new chapter in our home. love love.

a bowl of popcorn and a date with, "this emotional life" on public television, tonight. all about happiness. 

as for the rest of the day, i will allow the  comforts of home, be my guide.

peace~

away is good.
every once in a while, leaving it all behind, can be a great thing.
... to look into the faces of those you love
to find time for the rising sun
buying pumpkin wine because the label is cute~ and finding out, omgoodness, it's SO good.
antiquing
port wine cheese and sesame flats
laughing w/the one i love until my tummy hurts in front of a sun drenched marsh
to find time for the setting sun
relaxing in adirondack chairs-
around a bonfire
in the crisp autumn air
wearing favorite sweaters
and old blankets sprawled on our laps
+
 heading home with armfuls of memories is good too.

thank you, thank you for the love, on the post below. you honestly mean the world to me. xo
ps; if i owe you a goodie parcel~ it is officially on the way. : )

one love~

thank you~ artful blogging magazine

i am honored to be featured, in the winter issue of artful blogging magazine.
my work is nestled between these beautiful pages, beside such amazing, talented artists.
i am honored.
... a bit speechless, so i will just clasp my palms together and say, thank you~ artful blogging, you really know, how to make a girls day. ; )

have a lovely weekend, my friends.

one love~

i haven't used this old bowl in years. i thought it would be nice to mix my bread in. ; )
not too much going on. simple. slow. just real life, ya know?

i finally got a few packages mailed. great success! lol

i am making a northern bean soup, for dinner. oh, it will be perfect for this chilly day.  i even bought some yellow squash, to add to the pot. : )

coldplay + joe + jaymay + the roots, on my i pod. yes!

and thank you for the kindest comments, on my last post. he is SO loved. ; )

slow
slow

have a lovely day, my friends.

the gift of a son

this morning we went to breakfast together. i had to pull over and take 174 photos of him. ; ) yes indeed!
he wants to be a poet. his voice is deep. he was born with a beautiful old soul. adores basketball. loves Jah. girls that don't know him, wave at him. say huh?
he speaks a bit of french, loves cheeseburgers and karate movies. he admits he is a mamas boy.
as he gently smiled toward my lens, i thought of the days i used to zip his coat, and tie his shoes. i will stop there. goodness...
i really didn't think it was possible, to fall more in love with him... i was wrong.


happy sunday, my friends.

on a saturday

the job was simple. my assignment was to go take photos of a historic home, laden with wonderful halloween decorations. gotcha! so to get the best shot, i walked across the road and i switched lenses.  as i was swapping out lenses, he nudged me. yep, he nudged me and scared the hebbie geebies, out of me. i could barely raise my camera. i was floored.

the city girl in me, softened immediately. i tried to get a good photo, i really did...but oh well, once he laid his nose right on my shoulder, and i felt his eyelash wisp across my chin. it was over. i melted inside and out, and put my camera on the grass. oh, did i show him love. : ) bless his heart.

in an instant, i remembered every plastic horse that was lined up on my windowsill, and each of their names. i couldn't have been more than 8 or 9 years old then. i was going to live in the country, and the horses and i, would be family. : ) i remembered every detail.
under my breath, i thanked this big guy, for the most amazing gift.

and as he galloped away, i promise you, he took a piece of my heart. : ) and i am so very grateful.

happy saturday!

one love~

"i would like to achieve a state of inner spiritual grace from which i could function and give as i was meant to in the eye of God. Vague as this definition may be, i believe most people are aware of periods in their lives when they seem to be "in grace" and other periods when they feel "out of grace," even though they may use different words to describe this state."

from the book, "gift from the sea"  anne morrow lindbergh

i adore the book "gift from the sea" it seems no matter how displaced i get from myself, or from the path i have chosen, these pages of the most beautiful words, bring me back to a home. a kind of home, that welcomes me with open arms. for whatever it's worth, i choose grace ; )

how have you been, my friends? i have often thought of you.

i have been on go, for the last two weeks. today i will be more than happy to make breakfast for my family, and pass a loaf of bread, around the table. i am grateful in every way for this moment... this simple moment, of now. i dig that. : )

praise to The Most High.

happy weekend, my friends.

are you enjoying autumn and all that it has to offer? sigh, for such a beautiful time of year.

walking in crunchy leaves is a requirement at this time of year
apple pie
pumpkin bars
chili
collars turned up and scarves wrapped tight on cooler evenings.
***

read this two or three times~ love!

walked in to this post and wanted to stay

such good news + let's keep praying for little ellie. 

***

i sat reading a cookbook the other night, before bed. i reached over and sipped the rest of my wine.  it was a spanish wine. swoon! muye bueno! that simple moment filled me, it was more than enough.
life is good ; )

one love~

prosperity

i am so grateful for these last couple of days. it's been mostly up hill, but as i feel the road beginning to smooth out a bit, it feels good to know, i made it through. as the student, i know life, will happen again, and i will walk toward it, instead of away from it.


i adore the long, drawn out dinners, we have made time for, as a family.  deep sigh, for plates that read, prosperity ; )

how are you, my friends? you are loved, so very loved. : )

peace~

beside my heart

i got off the train a couple of stops in, to walk over to the library and grab a book. randomly i chose a book called "chef" by jaspreet  singh, i have never heard of the book + don't know how it will turn out, but for now, this book is charming me. charming me in the sweetest way.
"outside  i see india passing by, i readjust my glasses. it is raining mildly, and i am glad it is raining because india looks beautiful in the rain. rain hides the melancholy of this land.."

i also stopped to grab a handful of, herbs de provence, from the spice shop. i added it to a pot of  tomato bisque soup. grilled cheese is on the menu, as well. it's just one of those days. yum + i crave comfort.

i have stepped out of my comfort zone, this past week. some of this zone i am in was my own doing, most of it, i was just kind of thrown in head first. im not sure i am doing well with that whole thing, but i am trying to approach each hand of the clock, with prayer, grace and gratitude. i believe it's hard to go too wrong, with this attitude beside my heart.

...time to love on my fam, before the sun goes down.

one love, my friends.
goodness i miss you~

"chip"

i have had my executive chef hat on, this week. so that means i haven't been around home, too much. sigh. i give so much credit to the chefs that do their jobs, sun up- til the last bite. i don't think i could hang in there, anymore. : )
i am so grateful that i have seen some of the most beautiful offerings, of autumn, as the train sways me, from side to side.
oh, i miss saying good night to my kiddos, although as i get settled into bed, at night, one of them will eventually make their way to my side. i love that they are teenagers, and still do that. ; )

and because my kids are such angels, and would never use my camera while i am gone + hubby has it all "under control"
N
O
T
!
i found these photos of "chip" on my camera.

no one is claiming the chip ahoy cookie offering, but i warned them what happens, when you give a mouse a squirrel, a cookie. ; )
i can't say anyone leaves this home, without a full tummy. lol
big smile!

: )
thinking of you, my friends.

hello october

hello october! is that you my old friend? ; )

wrapping a few gifts for an autumn swap, im participating in. oh, i hope she likes the goodies, i am sending her way. 

slow

slow

stepping away from the computer this weekend, to do a whole bunch, of nothing. yes!

do something you love

with someone you love

*

sleep late

*

wear your p.j's all day

*

order take out

*

buy a coloring book and go for it

*

share the sunday paper

*

hang around positive people who encourage you to fly high

*

give ya guy or girl the look. ; ) come naw, ya know wha look.  lol

*

do a whole lot of nothing

; )

one love, my friends.