hello again...

after days and days filled with delightful guests and inspiring travels, i find myself here at "a bit of earth" with a few quiet moments to savor summer in vermont. here are some snapshots you may enjoy...

-fabric procured at gather here in cambridge, ma.

-my japanese indigo, soaking up the sun in the garden.

-freckled lettuce. from the garden to the salad bowl in minutes. freshest.

-the blueberries are ready!!!

-black-eyed-susans and some of her cousins, filling the meadow with their fragrance.

-"green and white is always right", complete with lingering wedding memories.

-an open window in the kitchen, lentils soaking under a bamboo mat, destined for lemony marinated lentils from at home in the whole food kitchen, by amy chaplin.

-tiny wooden spoons, stored in a miniature abenaki pack basket, (with a prosecco cork celebrating the baby news), set by the kitchen sink. brings a smile each time i see it.

-print by jennifer judd-mcgee, purchased at her shop, swallowfield on mt. desert, me. "always be on the lookout for the presence of wonder."   -e.b.white

As we continue to watch the nonsense in our nation's capital unfold, I have found myself seeking out beauty and loveliness with great intention. It has become my summer treasure hunt...to visit places and see things that defy the darkness. Keep an eye on this space in the next few weeks...I'll do my best to share some of the things that have sustained me. 

"Life can sometimes be a wrestling match between love and fear. We can CHOOSE which to embrace. Every day. On my "to do" list? Breathe, hope, notice, invite, love, create, wonder, celebrate. "

-monday, january 19th, 2009...my very first day of blogging.

xo

noticing

someone is arriving this evening for a visit.

i brought a bit of the meadow to her bedside.

The summer seems to be evaporating. 

In a good, life is filled-to-the-brim kind of way.

So many exciting changes in our family...two moves and a grandbaby on the way, too.

A grandbaby.

Our first.

Life.

It moves along even when you wish you could capture it and slow it down.

So I am noticing.

Little things.

Like the slant of the light at all different times of the day.

The stars in the pitch dark sky of the night.

The warmth of a smile.

The coyotes' call and response in the dark.

The freshest of vegetables, prepared as simply as possible.

The hum of the ceiling fan, and sleeping under just a cotton sheet.

The tang of icy cold lemonade.

It's a practice, this noticing.

A spiritual practice.

Being fully present.

As the summer slips into the dog days, what are you noticing friends?

the three season room

hi.

sorry i've been absent.

we've been recovering.

recovering

from all the wedding prep,

and all the wedding excitement,

and all the wedding clean-up.

finished up just days before the festivities began,

we transformed the three season porch

from dark and dingy

to fresh and inviting.

(most of our home is decorated in

peaceful and muted tones,

but we went with bright and whimsical 

for the three season room).

now one can step from the dining room 

into the three season room,

then out onto the deck

and then out into the yard. 

summer living.

reading, napping, dining,

sewing, knitting, chatting, 

jigsaw puzzling, card playing,

letter writing....