OLD HAUNT

a quick trip to say bon voyage to our beloved friends who are setting off on their own adventure

stayed at The Dean - warm rain fell - a birthday and a long drive home

AS IF FROM A DREAM

it has been nearly a week and I have just now looked at these images - nearly a week since we left 

I thought for weeks about taking these images before our last night (or what we thought would be our last night, we underestimated how long we need the next day and had to sleep another night), somehow it felt so final to take them. These scenes, the almost playful way the ambient light of the city lay shadows over our walls and ceiling, these shapes were part of my nightlife. Photographing them felt like telling a secret, a bit of a relief.

20/52

"a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014"

a really special moment with our much loved babysitter/friend on our last "date night" in Providence 

FROM THE DRIVER SEAT

most of our stuff in boxes, our house under contract (that was fast!!), 

it is all coming together and feels so right - after 11 years I am so ready to move forward - 

I was once so inspired here, that was a long time ago

a little distraction // MOTHER / mystic mama / interview: Brigid Schulte // swing sets 

Gere is currently making up a song that goes "I don't want to move because I don't want to pack" sounds like it is time to take a break and go play for a while, new line "I do want to move but I don't want to pack" "I don't like packing, poo, I don't like moving, poo"

18/52

"a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014"

joining in with Jodi

GETTING OUT THE DOOR

Elizabeth Mitchell has been on repeat in the car, seems to be everyones request, 

we all end up singing and humming our favorite bits all day.

INSIDE/OUTSIDE

HANGING ON - HANGING AROUND

getting excited for summer projects, tie dye by Shabd Simon-Alexander // attempting one last dress before my sewing machine goes in box, inspired by kids clothing week // joyful cooking, we made these raspberry macaroons, delicious // thank you Spring for bringing sunshine to our kitchen // not pictured but we just finished True Detective, so good and so completely terrifying

SATURDAY

"What is one change you could make to your daily life that would create more joy and less stress?"
Sara Avant Stover in The Way of the Happy Woman

A BLIP

so many highs and lows

Cleaning, preparing for our open house, running after two tiny people who seem to be undoing everything you do. It is crazy making, I wouldn't wish it on anyone. That was just this last week. We were escaping north for a long weekend so that we wouldn't have to keep cleaning and straightening.

Oh all of the posts I have written in my head while lying in bed trying to fall asleep. Trying to figure out how I feel and how much to share. It all really started 2 weeks ago when we had a meeting with (who we thought would be) our contractor. Our house that we had spent all this time designing was going to be too much to build. What a bombshell, how did we get here and where do we go from here.

We walked away from that meeting and had sometime to think, the contractor was supposed to get back to us with more solid numbers. We knew nothing was going to change but it gave us time to think, for better or for worse.

And that was when my panic set in. If we can't build this house where will we live, we already have a road! What about a familiar yoga studio, good lady friends! (oh, right most of them seem to be packing their bags too), coffee shops, acquaintances at the grocery store, the pulse of a city, what am I thinking? I have never lived anywhere with less then 150,000 people. Strange things happen when life presents you with an opportunity to second guess yourself, I had to explore it. As it turned out it was painful exercise, but one that felt really necessary.

Change can be scary, even when all the old familiar are not working anymore it can still be hard to let them go.

Now on the other side, I am feeling reinvigorated - with new bids and spring on the horizon we are all feeling more hopeful.

the photograph above is an everyday snap shot of our place not the super clean one

14/52

a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014

SISTER/SISTER

a double sister weekend. 

Her timing was perfect, I needed to see her, to walk, talk and drink coffee. I had been feeling homesick for the west, her company was grounding. She holds a mirror that only she can hold up to me. So sweet the one that has known you all along, a gift really.

13/52

a portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2014

FADING TAN

spring is here - listening to so much reggae

new language and self expression, seeking treasure in our backyard, cherishing the warmth of the sun, a gratefulness practice that has even the littlest one participating