fortieth birthday celebration.
turkey harvesting.
egg collecting.
hair infused with campfire smell (one of my favorites things ever).
sailor jerry rum.
and cousins.
mix it all up and create a shindig on the best little farm near the mason dixon line.
(fyi: fun does run in my family…)
#naphopomo day 24
it's all happening.
the good stuff.
and the hard stuff.
my feet are on the ground and i am ready.
bring it.
#naphopomo day 23.
piles of picture books.
the chop.
and a farty dog.
add to that,
a french press full of coffee,
my favorite mug from angel fire,
and pajamas worn
late into the afternoon.
i am looking forward to this weekend.
#naphopomo day 22.
artists and their work.
inspiring conversation.
(the kind that makes you set goals.)
(the kind of goals that make you simultaneously nervous and giddy.)
brisk night air filled with the smokey goodness of
a big-ass fire pit.
whiskey smash and government mules in copper cups.
new friends and old.
laughing as the glow from the fire takes snapshots
of a perfect evening.
#naphopomo day 21.
#naphopomo day 19.
one day you finally knew
what you had to do, and began,
though the voices around you
kept shouting
their bad advice.
though the whole house
began to tremble
and you felt the old tug
at your ankles.
"mend my life!"
each voice cried.
but you didn't stop.
you knew what you had to do,
though the wind pried
with its stiff fingers
at the very foundations,
though their melancholy
was terrible.
it was already late
enough, and a wild night,
and the road full of fallen
branches and stones.
but little by little,
as you left their voices behind,
the stars began to burn
through the sheets of clouds,
and there was a new voice
which you slowly
recognized as your own,
that kept you company
as you strode deeper and deeper
into the world
determined to do
the only thing you could do.
determined to save
the only life you could save.
"the journey" by mary oliver
in my inbox today, a timely email from "a little bird told me":
Dear Beautiful Girl,
That thing that's been lingering on your mind, burning in your heart...that scary beautiful thing that you can't get out of your whole soul because it wants to be heard and acted upon........guess what lovely? It's not going to go away.
It's not going to go away because it's the deepest wisdom and authenticity of you trying to get you on exactly the right track. It is your truth.
What would a leap of faith look like? What is it that is holding you back? Would it be so bad just to take that first step? Would it be so bad to stop and really honor yourself and at least listen to that longing?
This is where your choices will make every difference in the world. This is where the fork in the road just might lead to the place you've been praying to be.
Get quiet, dear friend.......listen closely....then be brave when you know exactly what to do next but can't quite get the courage to do it. Be brave and go for it, then do it again. Live THAT ONE PRECIOUS LIFE OF YOURS....really really live it.
It is time.
You are so very beloved.
xoxo
Tell me, what is it you plan to do
with your one wild and precious life? - Mary Oliver
#naphopomo day 17.
cousins. first, second, and third.
gathered on the farm.
where tales are told, secrets and dreams are shared, and memories are made.
where you feel safe. and loved.
no matter what.
#naphopomo day 16
to keep it simple.
to quiet my head.
to keep my heart from becoming numb.
i find it necessary to focus.
focus hard.
reeling a bit this week.
my camera, my boy, and the
search for even the tiniest bit of goodness
have kept me sane.
looking for signs. everywhere.
they are right in front of me.
my art.
my boy. (who is READING!)
finding the good.
#naphopomo day 15.
the chop: playing "restaurant"with his toy kitchen.
the puppy: snuggled up on her princess bed.
pizza: baking in the oven.
bourbon: in my favorite painted glass.
old crow medicine show: doing their thing.
this.
running through the harbor of this city of charm,
i came across these blues and golds
and gritty textures.
alone, there by the water, i reminded myself to breathe.
#naphopomo day 10.
crisp autumn night.
blankets and movies under the stars.
wee ones giggling and eating s'mores.
campfire smoke curling around us
so that the smell of our hair
tomorrow will make us smile.
#naphopomo day 9.
i told her i was probably going to just stay in for the night.
girl, no. get dressed, said the response text from Heather.
come meet us.
i pulled on my jeans and boots, at 10:00
and drove to the swanky club in the harbor.
girlfriends are the best.
#naphopomo day number 8.
it's broken.
yes. but look what is in it.
what?
us.
and you can see mr. tony's pidgeon coop.
that, too.
and i can see our love.
yes. i think i can see it too!
that is the best part, mama. take a picture of it.
*click*
day seven of naphopomo.
it's not too late! join in the fun!
jam. out.
that is what we did.
my mind was blown. i honestly don't know how to word the
fantasticness of
the boom bap society.
i only know that i am so glad they are in my city.
go outside.
there are heartcrushingdays.
there are lifeistooshort days.
there are idon'twanttogetoutofbed days.
justsnugglewiththechopforfivemoreminutes days.
go outside.
lace up your shoes.
and run.
let the cold november air cleanse the self-doubt,
lift it into the trees.
go outside.
because you got this.
you've got this amazing life.
stomp around.
feel your feet on this earth.
make some noise.
go outside.
let's play "good guy/bad guy"
sounds good.
mama, you have to be the bad guy, ok?
and i am going to win. because the good guy should win, right?
yes, sweetpea. that is how it should be.
(and i ended it there. i didn't have the heart to tell him that real life isn't like that.)
(#naphopomo, day 3.)
a photo a day.
for a month.
a way to remember to stop and look around you.
take a moment to breathe it all in…take in the color and sound, taste and touch.
really look.
also a kick in the booty to shoot for yourself.
create for your own beat. your own groove.
want to join me? check out the rule-ios here.
30 days of purposeful clicking. ok…go!
tonight's bedtime chat.
rocks. for my bourbon.
bourbon because i came home to the second dog-harness, chewed up into tiny pieces.
dog-harness because this puppy is so mischievous on her walks.
the puppy...well, because she is so stinking cute.
cute makes buying the third harness...
ok, let's go back to the beginning: bourbon.
liam gave me a bracelet he made at school.
me: thank you, baby. so sweet. i will wear it and think of you.
liam: *hugging me* i love you mama.
me: you must know that girls love getting jewelry.
liam: you know what boys like getting?
me: tell me.
liam: hot wheels.
oh, summer...you kicked my ass.
in a good way.
i am betterstrongerwiser and exhausted.
i will take your warm energy and venture into the next season
with my heart wide open.
wide enough that it could break at any moment.
but the risk is worth it.
because who knows how many seasons we will encounter?
autumn. bring it.
playground picnic.
the chop and his dog.
digging holes (the dog) and swinging on
the big-kid swing (the boy).
popsicles and cat-shaped biscuits.
both are asleep now...dreaming their dreams of a tomorrow
with endless exploration
and heck yeahs.
