Ah Sundays. Dad's home and Mom can do the important things like organizing her flickr photos, thinking thoughts, and sipping coffee while it's still hot.

Bliss I tell you, Bliss!

The reason you know?

A photograph.

Always, a photograph.

Be at peace.

Picture it with me if you will.  11 hours of sleep, 4 of those filled with dreams of children screaming for help, lovers finding replacements, and family members clamoring for favors.  The saint left early to work on a brewing weekend, and though I usually revel in alone time, today it feels really sad somehow.  I made a cup of tea and topped my toast with rasberry jam, decided to make a fire (the first time we've needed it in two weeks), and have sat in my living room deciding how today will be.  I'm bundled in confusion and thoughts and transitions and  people and the future and possibilities, and I just cannot seem to think things through clearly.

So today I decided to take advantage of this time, bring out the multitude of empty frames I have and work on a photo wall.  One of the things I was most excited for in this house was my own creative room.  This means I can decorate it in my own way and have a photo wall!  The saint is a rather minimal bloke, and does not enjoy things covering wall space in large proportion, and I can understand that.  So my room will be totally, all, completely, thoroughly ME.  Unfortunately, up until now it's been a storage room for things that had no place (there is an organ in there, seriously).  In preparation for my sister's visit, I've slowly been cleaning it out.  I think today is the day that I really work it out.  I've got some great ideas, and feel nothing but completely in need of an all-encompassing project, turning up Miles Davis obnoxiously loud, donning some red lipstick, and opening bottle of red.

It's grey in my soul today...and Seattle embraces me.

~crm

Oh my, it's a glorious Sunday here at Booklings Manor.  The saint is making all kinds of man-sounds out in the yard with various heavy machinery and I am peaking at him through the window above my writing desk.



We got an extra hour of sleep (which we needed in order to recover from our bourbon pumpkin pie eating, (with homemade crust by yours truly!!) pumpkin stein making, and late night viewing of Hitchcock's The Birds (what did YOU do?)) and decided to saunter into town for a breakfast bite.  Coffee, tea, two griddle cakes, bacon, and eggs later, we returned home just in time to catch the most brilliant sunshine.  Truly, I am wasting this remarkable light and should be outside with my camera capturing this fall set aflame...but there is more day to be had.  I think I'll ask the saint to take a fall drive with me on our way to his parent's house for our regular Sunday relaxationation.  Wanna come?!

Today marks the beginning of November's 12 month challenge, the month of mail.  I am happy to say that I have just finished writing my first postcard and will be placing it in the mail on my morning walk tomorrow.   There is still time to join up if you think you'd like to participate in the challenge.  Shoot me an email!

Well I am off to busy myself about the day with a glad heart.  I will be detailing my car, enjoying my family, paying my rent, making the menu for the week, and playing with my camera.  Happy Sunday!

I don't do groups very well.
Correction: I don't enjoy groups very well.
The bubbling cauldron of everyone's issues mucking and mixing together burns my soul to the core.

That being said, I can do groups if I've managed to have approximately 1.5 tons of solitude. I am a solitude whore; an alone-time glutton. Though I have been able to fill my solitude tank to the brim, I noticed that since early July it has been rapidly depleting. It totally, fully caught up with me.

So this last week and weekend, I decided no groups. It was a good decision and by no means an antisocial one. I was able to see almost all of my friends on a one on one intimate basis. And this weekend? The first weekend with no big event. Oh so nice.


We went to Mom and Dad's house both days this weekend and stopped at yard sales, picked berries off the wild branches, took naps on a bright yellow blanket, ate too much pasta even WITH the smell of blackberry cobbler cooking, clipped dahlias, cuddled with Abbey, squeezed fresh limes, smelled tomato plants, and just rested, rested, rested.




And consequently, today...Monday, it feels grand and hopeful.
Here's to your Monday, your self-worth, and your weekends of nothing,

My home is eerily quiet after my lovelies left. What a wonderful time we had! Though I was trepidatious about fitting into my tiny apartment, we all managed just fine thanks to the XBox (they learned to play Fish Frenzy) and old episodes of Inspector Gadget. I was sad to see them go, it was such a nice source of motivation for keeping on top of dishes and cooking at home. It was lovely to chit chat with no time limit with my long-time friend. It was amazing to see the kids growth over the year; Mekenzie is a great swimmer now, and it's so fulfilling and moving to see a child grow in confidence. Gavin has millions of new words than last year and twice as much personality!

So much happens in the life of a child over a year, and it's such a reality check for being intentional about noticing the small changes in adults as well, though they are certainly less physical and noticeable. We DO grow, we change, we learn. I love this about being alive. Since my birthday is approaching, I am also taking inventory of this last year - what has changed? Where has destiny tended to my growth? It's all so fascinating, and I am happy to say, good.

It was also such a nice break from the nagging questions of my life. Where will we live come the fall? Will I have to get a real job? We need to buy a car. How can I make ends meet to see all the people I want to visit?

I am determined to keep these questions at bay for yet another week for Joel and I are sauntering off to the mountains for a quiet camping trip come Tuesday, so Monday will be full of the delight of details: grocery shopping, gathering camping gear (which I LOVE), and making rice crispy treats. I do so love the details (provided I have enough time to complete them at my leisure). At the end of these details is the quality time we get to spend with our old friends the trees and pebbles and ocean. Oh I do so love camping with my saint.

Today was another lovely day at my parent's house, listening to thunder and the pounding of summer rain on the skylights, dark coffee and casual conversation, a wonderful old movie with my sis Jen, and enjoying the leisure that Sunday is. How have you cared for your self today?

It always does my soul quite good to hang out with my father, the one who raised my husband. A good man begetting a good man is rare and moving to behold.




and to me, he's been redemption.

_____

And to my step-father, the man that was always there. Always steady. Always willing. Always eager to love. Always remembers me...

_____

And to my daddy...whose enigmatic, broken love still bolsters me, despite everything.

_____

and to a few other dads who are setting a new standard for fatherhood in our generation.
i admire you, boys.




_____


and to those to be a father this year...

Happy Father's Day.

Stiff back, morning yoga.
Steamed shower, poached egg.
Orange off the shoulder, blue flats.
Salty sea air, umbrella'd skies of gray.
Farmer's market, lemon and sugar crepe.
Sound of lens snap, forwarded film.
Double short latte, flirty walk home.
Long kisses in the kitchen, big green eyes bat their lashes.
Washed strawberries, goodness of fresh-caught (this morning) mussels.
Productive photo shoot, the kindness of friend and neighbor.
He leaves but his goodness lingers.
Wishes for boating, friends ever-hospitable.
Saying no because "I have a deadline."
Solo work day, article quite near satisfactory.
Loud Ulrich Schnauss, hours of photo editing.
Caprese on crackers, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo swirling in glass.

Living. Breathing.
Goodness.

Sunday.