confessions of a pack rat

The boxes are piling up (to the ceiling piling up).


Right now?
I want to chuck it all in the garbage.
Who needs this much stuff?
Apparently I do.

Moving day is Monday and I will be offline for a few days.
Drowning in my boxes of stuff (and more stuff).

Hope you are enjoying your summer. I'll see you in a couple of weeks!

Today

...my little monkey, you are now 4.



You are such a little adventurer. Fearless, in fact.
Who needs to scamper up a hill when we have mountains?
You love to play, and play, and play.
You love to talk, and talk, and talk.
You boldly and unapologetically wear your heart for the world to see.
You take such delight in the warmth of a cuddle.

I hope your beautiful blue eyes always sparkle with the brightest of lights.

Love always,
Mommy

dropped threads

While reading Dropped Threads 3, a collection of essays written by women for women, I was immediately taken with Silken Laumanns' Unchartered Waters. An accomplished olympic medalist, she eloquently describes how difficult it is to achieve balance in her role as mother. Her greatest need? The need to complete a thought.

The ability to complete a thought.
B.I.N.G.O.
How I struggle with this lately.

from
spilled juice
to scraped knees
to tantrums
to swimming lessons
to snacks
to runny noses
to homework
to ringing telephones
to appointments
to meeting the needs of two little people who need you completely all at once

....I often live in terror that I've lost my ability to complete a thought.

And then a hug, a cuddle, a knowing smile is flashed my way and I immediately feel whole. The panic subsides. I know this is what is right.

Well, I'm off to New York City for some decadence. Three days without my little interruptions. I'll have some time to wander around, sleep in, while away the afternoon in a cafe, reconnect with my husband, and most importantly I'll have the chance to complete a few of my thoughts.

Of course the best part of any trip is......returning home.

of cheddar and strawberries

Today you announced you wanted to make your own lunch.

And so you did.

Stawberry and cheddar sandwiches.

Carefully assembled.

Gobbled up hastily with such delight.

And just in case I needed to make one for myself, you kindly drew me a recipe.

It is one of my greatest pleasures to watch you sprout and grow.

Over the past year or so, it has become clear that your mind may work a little differently than most. I must admit that sometimes my heart grows heavy with worry about how the world will accept your eccentric little self. I firmly believe you will accomplish great things in life. Of this, I am sure.

Thank you for being you.

Love you forever,

Mommy

such a spring day

It was such a spring day as breathes into a man an ineffable yearning, a painful sweetness, a longing that makes him stand motionless, looking at the leaves or grass, and fling out his arms to embrace he knows not what.

~John Galsworthy






I've gone a bit flower crazy lately.
Can you see why?

Furr

And now my fur has turned to skin
And I've been quickly ushered in
To a world that I confess I do not know
But I still dream of running careless through the snow
An' through the howlin' winds that blow,
Across the ancient distant flow,
It fill our bodies up like water till we know.

~ Blitzen Trapper



While on the subject of fur..... have you ever seen one of these before?



It was prettier than pictured.



I'm feeling rather "grandma-ish" today.
Purchased my first pair of reading glasses.
Oh yeah.
Looking fine.
Looking fine.

Done

The tour last weekend was a success. I received some tremendous feedback (and sales) and I couldn't be happier. Despite my shy, introverted self, I actually enjoyed meeting and talking with so many new people. I also loved connecting and working with other artists with the soul purpose of promoting art. I'm so used to working on my own all the time, it was a real joy to feel part of a team.

Of course, I had to make a purchase. I bought this........




....a necessary addition to my growing ring collection. It was handcrafted by the talented Sue McNenly. It isn't very often that I discover a jeweler whose work is so consistent and amazing that I want to own their entire collection. Sue. I want it all!

So...news.

We bought a house.
It's in the burbs.
We will have a lot more space.
Better schools.
Plenty of greenbelts and biking trails.
A gourmet, eat-in kitchen.
A real garden (with trees and flowers)
And I will have a new........ studio!!!!

I'm beyond excited.
I can't wait to decorate (and create).