in the moment...

  Adjusting to life at home was a little hard after 5 solid days of intense friend (do whatever I want all day and night long with no one to take care of) time. The first couple of days of any vacation I spend mentally comparing the new city to Seattle and kind of missing Seattle and then a shift happens and I start to feel the energy of the new city and it feels good and fun and new.  Chicago was a whole new place for me. I've never been to the Midwest and was at first surprised by the flat, sort of barren landscape. In some ways it reminded me of LA and NY. Very urban and lacking in greenery. But beautiful in a burnt out industrial way. People were friendly and real. I had such a great trip and it was wonderful to get to spend time with my friends thrifting and eating and staying up way too late.

  Back in my own reality now. Trying to concentrate on simplifying and doing one thing at a time. Planting seeds, getting the garden going, cleaning up the yard, getting rid of the "things" that are cluttering up a house that is really too small for 4 people and 2 cats. Getting things in order and being in the moment.  Also, stashing away spare change in the vacation fund, summers coming and these kids (and mama and papa) need a little desert trip! xo m

moments...

  I find the rapidness with which time passes pretty painful when I think about it (which tends to be often, late at night, when trying to sleep). One of the lessons I'm trying to learn is the importance of living in the moment and loving it and truly appreciating it. It's very easy for me (a dreamer-Libra) to get caught up in magical projections of future greatness instead of smiling and holding in my heart the real, actual, true moment that IS right now. I will keep on trying.

I found this cross stitch of horses on a square of fabric (an old-really old- sugar sack!! you can faintly read "Crystal Sugar" over the big horses back!! love) and had to make it into a bag. I'm very happy with it. I need some real horse time in my life but until then, these little beauties will have to do.

We found some lilacs in our secret blackberry picking spot. For the next few ways it will be blackberry town around here because they're right by our house, plentiful and FREE! I used to be a little annoyed by blackberries and favored the raspberry but in the last few summers I've began to appreciate the magic of blackberries and I think they may now be my favorite. There is nothing like the perfume that starts flowing when you are boiling blackberry jam. I want to bottle it and call it "Summer of 1896" or some such year. The scent is just so farmy, feminine, good and old timey. mmmmm. I will be posting my favorite jam recipe this week. I promise.

Salvia, succulents, basil, lavender... mess in background.

hello, it's the great time sucker! Chicken coop oh dear. I took this picture a few days ago and much progress (MUCH, really) had been made since then. Hopefully my hens will be able to play outside in their run tomorrow.

  The master of the manor surveys his scene. I am enjoying the cats going outside. They're being responsible and staying close and coming home when called so I think it's a good thing. I wonder what will happen when it starts to rain.

  Sweet dreams!