{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

inspired by soulemama

Studio Work: Rock On

The sheetrock is up and mostly taped. Doesn't it look inviting? They will be putting a smooth finish on the walls. For those of you from the east coast saying, "duh, what other kind of finish would you put on your walls?" Let me tell you simply; Texture. I'm committed to letting the boys explore fully this world and am, frankly too lazy to wash it all up every twenty minutes, I'm not messing with any old world texture. Smooth finish, if you please. Easy to clean. Nice to look at.

I am contemplating selling my jewelers bench. It's a hard decision. But, truthfully it is a tiny space, 16 by 22, and has to fulfill two roles. One: a homeschooling space, eventually for both boys. Two: my art studio, would you like to see a list of the art that will go on in here? Clay, both slab and wheel; small metals, mostly jewelry; glass bead making; sewing; textile decorating including, dying, batiking, weaving (maybe); painting; book making - I'm not finished, but you get the idea. I have to get rid of many things. I have been slow as a snail to rid us of the things that clog our space and truly get in the way of living a full and free life. In here I can start from a clean slate and I intend to have only what we need housed here. I'll let you know how this works out.

Walk on, Brother. Walk on.

Have you ever noticed how a change in scenery can alter your perspective and how you feel? Being outside, taking time to notice the world around can shift a mood or refresh a tired mama and her restless offspring. I have been in need of changes in perspective; I get stuck. Stuck thinking in circles. I get cranky; there's so much to accomplish and so little time and help. My village, you know the one it takes to raise your child(ren), well mine is still forming, it's in its infancy. We've been in this town for three years and I'm only just feeling myself take root. So we take to the woods or the beach and we walk with each other and our dog named Kitty. We walk and we talk and we enjoy being together. We return home and move on through our day with a new perspective. I would love to hear what you do to find solace or renew your outlook, leave me a comment below, if you please.

What we've been up to this week: reading, drawing, playing outside, biking, hiking, listening to This American Life and Homeschool Radio Shows, talking, thinking, dreaming, some small amount of destruction also a wee bit of construction.

It's the hiking I find the most fulfilling. Perhaps because we are not at home and the seemingly insurmountable piles of things to sort are not staring me down. It also seems these hikes bond the brothers in a way that the shared territory of home can not. And they request walks, almost daily. We don't call them hikes because that sounds too much like work. Plus, to me we stop too much and play for such long periods of time these walks just don't qualify to be labeled "hike". Whatever they are, they have been enriching, engaging, entertaining and we have loved every moment of them. Even when we fall into the water.

Check that climb out, you can just see Coleman's red shirt. Admittedly, I was nervous until all four feet landed safely.

The boys named these berries "Chucklebutt Berries" because they looked like butts and they made them chuckle

Flag at the playground at Tara Redwood School

A portion of the playground at Tara Redwood School

Self portrait with toes

Lovely grass

Ammo, ready to fire!

Banana Slug

Straw House in a burned out tree

Friends

Seven on the Seventh

Seven years. It's a lifetime for our sweet Max. So much has happened in the course of his lifetime already. He's lived in three different houses in two different states, gone to three different schools made so many friends and has taught us all so much about life and ourselves. Max, from the beginning has been the easiest going of any of the four of us. He's a little sprite at times, he adores his brother and has a love for him that is unshakable. He's a daredevil, a dreamer, a compassionate friend, an animal lover and all-around interesting guy. We love him so much and are all so happy he is part of our lives. Happy Birthday, Max Henry!

Here are some photos from the past seven years of Max:

Studio Work

It's no secret that we love tweaking our buildings. We can't help ourselves. This summer's building project is on a shoestring budget. I'm the general contractor which is usually Chris' job. I am having fun. Of course, this project is miniscule compared to our previous projects and therefore not as many details. My heart goes pitter patter every time I look out the back door and spy my studio/classroom. That space has housed our baby chicks, our meals when we were remodeling, our stuff when we had nowhere else to put it, laundry facilities, art supplies and projects, I'm sure I've forgotten something. It's been our overflow space since we moved into our 900 square foot house, mostly to store things we aren't using, don't need, don't even know we own. Do you have a space like that, things like that? This garage is being reborn as a dedicated art studio and a homeschooling classroom. I've dreamt of a dedicated art space for 25 years. Twenty five! Wow, I am so darn excited. Sheetrock goes up starting Monday. I may have this done by my birthday on August 15th. Happy Birthday to me. There will be more progress and photos next week, stay tuned.

Clearing things out...

Continuing to clear things out...

Insulation going in...

{this moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

inspired by soulemama

The Road to Redway

Is Paved With...

Road Trip to Redway & Memory Lane

This past week we were away in a cabin in the woods on a river north of home by six hours; a world away. Close your eyes for a moment and think about the word Summer. Roll it around your mind a little while, take your time. Hold it in your hands. Breathe it in, taste it. Summer. This rustic cabin and its surrounds embody all the good things summer can hold for a pair of brothers and their dog. Freedom, Heat, Cool Flowing Water, Inner Tubes, Squirt Guns, Skipping Rocks, Catching Frogs, Searching for Illusive Snakes, Catching and observing Fish, Popsicles, Old Cartoons, S'mores, Laughter, Family, JOY.

In 2005 we four left our home in Boston and have returned only for visits since. The story is long and to be told another time. What I want to tell you about today is one of the stops we made on that original California trip six years ago to a place called Redway. It's in Humboldt County, CA. This story is simple, Coleman wanted to catch snakes on our adventure. Lots of snakes. Redway, which was our first stop on this adventure had many, many snakes to catch. And catch them, he did! I took pictures and with those pictures, which are up in Chris' office we reinforced the memory of that magical snake pit of a place in Redway, even for Max who was not quite one. The boys wanted to go back, and we did too. This summer we had the opportunity to visit that spot, very close to the house we spent that first visit in 2005.

Tell me what wonderful summery fun thing you have done this season, I would love to hear about it.

Memory Lane; Redway, 2005:

The little house we stayed in in 2005.

Coleman, snake in hand and Chris searching for others.

Happy Max, hanging in the river.

Brothers.

Coleman and one of his many snakes, he's telling it something important.

Road Trip; Redway 2011:

Welcome!

The cabin we stayed in this visit.

Brothers.

Max caught a frog.

Coleman caught a pollywog (love that word).

Self portrait with Kitty and Max.