space

time management. never been something i'm really good at. i'm drawn to the things i want to do. and easily shove off the things that are less interesting.

balance. yeah... i'm working on it.

the colder wind and the colored leaves have brought out my yarn stash and my needles are clicking away over here. which can be oh-so-dangerous. because i am creating something, it feels easy to push aside other tasks and stay seated. knitting. my kids are getting read to a bit more.

if they hold the book.

i'm working on it. the push and pull of these desires and demands. hoping to make more open space. more room for little people, train tracks, walks through the leaves, dirty dishes, letters, and, naturally, the needles.

_________________

to close- some pics from a delightful costume parade a friend invited us to yesterday. i love costumes.

and if you have any thoughts on this balance topic, please share. i'd love to hear how this has panned out in your life. i know none of us have a perfect scale, weighed out with friends, husband, family, bible, and everything else, but if you've developed a system that works most of the time- i'd love to hear.

happy weekend friends!

recap

we had a show. it was lovely.

bess and i hung out for the weekend in such a beautiful space. it was wonderful.

it was a weekend full of a lot, though. and by sunday, my body checked out. so sunday night i went to sleep with stabbing throat pain and an aching head.

and yesterday was so needed. full of nothing. yoga pants and shirt that's way too big. little people and a train track going under the dining room table.

we also stuck our hands inside our pumpkin.

pumpkin seeds. yum.

just in case: i just washed them, then dried them in the sun, drizzled some olive oil on them, sprinkled salt, dashed a little worcestershire sauce and baked at 375 for 17 min.

we made some pumpkin scones for dinner.

ate outside

and then did more nothing.

i've got to get a better handle on the schedule these days. i know it's a constant battle- something that needs consistent reevaluation. but i'm so thankful for my upcoming week- full of very little. i've missed my sunny home space and my bright children. i've forgotten what a clean kitchen looks like.

i'm looking forward to a bit of stillness.

a few lovely things

in the middle of my steps, one of these recent days, i realized that my head was down. joy was nowhere. and i was wrestling with the hours and minutes. and, really then, wrestling with my Maker and Planner.

He helped me stop. ann encouraged an ongoing list of grateful words. i couldn't find any. so i wrapped my camera strap around my neck and stood at the ready for good things. and, of course, there were many to be found.

shells hunted and brought home after many beach trips:

pumpkin muffins in a week with few extras:

a fresh dishcloth knit by my grandma:

beautiful yarn given to me by a friend last birthday:

and the project that i finally found for it:

i'll be at the gallery this weekend. hope to see you there. may we each have eyes to see the good. even if we need help.

p.s. i love this song.

my guys

these two are tight. always have been.

even when he was an infant, no one's touch worked quite like daddy's to calm this little boy down. and they've remained.

seriously tight. someone asked samuel while we were in Minnesota, "so, samuel, who are some of your buddies back in South Carolina?" maybe half a second passed before the response came, "well, daddy." and that list seemed sufficient.

and when his birthday came and he got to do something fun with me and something fun with daddy, i suggested that he and i do our thing first. "how about we go get your lollipop right now and then after that you and daddy can go get your pizza?' i asked.

there was a long thoughtful pause before he very sweetly replied, "but... i like daddy best."

yup. they've always been tight. and for the most part it doesn't bother me. it has never gotten under my skin.

but the other night as he came out of his bed to ask me for the second time if daddy was home, and i had his little hands in mine as i said, "no, buddy, he's not home tonight." i cried a little after his face fell and he wriggled away from my touch.

he and his daddy are tight. super close. and i'm so glad. and i hope the attachment never leaves- that the safety is always there. i may be jealous some mornings. i may struggle through a few nights of a couple of tears. but it is such a good thing. and i wrote this post to help me remember.

Market Saturday

show coming up this weekend!

i'll be selling pillows, birds, garlands and a table runner or two.

my friend bess is joining me in the Flatiron building on Pendleton on Friday and Saturday this weekend. Art & Light is bringing in a couple other vendors and making it an all-out fabulous Saturday.

stop by and say hello. i'll be there friday 9-1 and saturday 1-5, though the show is 9-5 both days.

gotta run- have to crank out some more garlands.

home from home

okay. prepare yourselves now for an onslaught of photos. there were too many fabulous ones. and believe me-- i'm limiting myself here. i am.

we had a wonderful visit. i'll try to give you a rundown of what we did.

a good bit of hanging out.

enjoyed the autumn colors

saw family we love and miss

painted finger nails. the moment we arrived she asked about it. and her auntie complied. cause that's what aunties are for.

had our favorite pizza

discovered legos

we went to Duluth. to Lake Superior. jason and i haven't been in years and we miss it. it was so good to be there again.

i want to decorate a room with this color scheme

jason and samuel went downtown

and we had a family photo shoot. mindy rocks and i'm so glad she does this for us. i had such a hard time choosing what to share with you all. there were so many good ones.

oh- and we played at grandma's

things back home keep changing. malls are torn down and roads are redirected. past the spot where i got my first ticket. new bridges and concrete. makes a girl feel a little old.

we drove by the home i lived in from 5th grade on. an unknown family makes their memories there daily and i drove by. pondered all of mine.

there is much to ponder these days- thinking about home and past, family and friendships. it is always so good to see people- hard to come home. but it was good to be home too. good to say hello to my own bed and cook in my kitchen.

just pulled my great grandmother's oatmeal cake from the oven and have chicken broth simmering on the stove. relishing this cloudy day and maybe biting off more than i can chew. we'll see.

my thoughts are muddy today. thanks for sticking with me, friends. i'll be back soon.