Bluebirdbaby

goodbye summer, hello tomorrow

Some shots from August taken with my film camera. Boy, how summer passed us by. I miss it already. But I'm also looking forward to knitting, cozy nights on the couch under a warm blanket, and snow ball fights!

I have two weddings left this season...both in Massachuessets. I feel like I've been a bit absent from this space lately. Partly because I have been spending 10 hours a day editing photos and doing computer work, and the last thing I can think about is editing more for this space. Then I just feel like our lives are moving so very quickly. So much is happening (good stuff!), we are really trying to live in the moment and enjoying a little simplicity in the midst of some very busy things (my business primarily), and the little one is growing oh so fast.

This space feels like it needs to morph into something more...or less. My life has changed. My inspiration and motivation and way of seeing the world has changed. I am finding that finally, at 28, I have discovered who I am and what I'm capable of.

This space comes up a lot in my thoughts. You come up a lot in my thoughts! I love it here. I love you all. I am inspired and humbled and motivated by you. I am incredibly grateful for all of you.

So, what am I saying? I'm not really sure yet. I want to find a way to make this space more me. And I'm going to work on that. I'm hoping you will all be here to see it.

xoxo.

An Unusual Apple Picking Day

Well, each year about this time we head to the orchards for some apple picking. On this particular day, the temperatures were in the mid-80's, which surprised us all. We wondered through the orchards in our shorts and sandals, feeling like it should be fall, but knowing that it felt more like summer. We go to this orchard every year. I love the memories it brings back. I feel like somehow it marks the growth of the little one each and every year. The first year she was on Sasa's shoulders most of the time, reaching high for apples, but mostly just running as fast as she could down the hills, with one of us chasing after her. This year, she picked a whole basket, plus loaded up another bag. It always surprises me just how helpful she is.

At 2:

At 3:

At 4:

And today (at 5!):

After gathering our apples, we went home to drop them off and then headed out on a canoe ride and for the last swim of the season. It was the perfect day. I have so many pictures from that, but they are all on my film camera, along with the fair pictures and so much else. 3 rolls of 36 exposures...that's going to be good! Hence my absence here.

But after our canoe ride and swim, we headed home to make applesauce and apple pie. I see much canning in our future! (We also canned 36 jars of pesto, with many more to go...) The next morning I made my favorite apple pancake for breakfast. And even though the temperatures outside still hover in the high 70's, it now officially feels like fall to me!

And looking back, I'm not sure how we managed to squeeze all of this into one day, but we made a fall banner for the front door. I love coming home to it everyday. It's very cheery! No sewing required...just strips of fabric with raw edges, and some fabric markers! We had a blast making it...

 

How are you spending the start of the fall season?!

the fair

 

At the Common Ground Fair. It's officially autumn! Many more photos on film to come...

in the yard

This afternoon you would have found us in the backyard swinging, picking pumpkins and squash, playing with tractors, being totally amused by the chickens watching themselves in their new mirror, and having a fabulous visit from the little one's schoolmates!

We're trying to soak up days like this as much as we can. The colder air has made its appearance and we know that warm days full of sun and short sleeves are quickly disappearing. This afternoon was just perfect.

Perfect is nice.

loving.

Thank you for all your birthday wishes!! You are the sweetest! Here is a little list of loveliness for you!

• so yea, i got the high waisted kahkis and they rock. 
• loving this
• can't get enough of this stream
• kind of want giant black glasses like this
• totally love love loving the above dress from Ruche!!! (oh, how i want this dress!!)
• this has to be the most beautiful song i've ever heard
• grain free pizza? YES!

What are you loving this week?

5 years old

I am the mama of a 5 year old. It seems so crazy that 5 years have passed since she was first born. I never realized why mothers would still call their grown children their "babies" but now I do. I look at her and still see the one year old toddling off on those little pudgy legs. She will always be my baby.

But 5...wow. 5 is BIG! She was so proud of herself too. We spent Friday celebrating with our birthday breakfast table tradition, a walk in the woods with friends and picnic by the river, and a dinner out complete with chocolate cake and the best french fries ever, then followed it all with a fantastic concert where we heard a fiddle player not only play the most amazing fiddle music ever, but also dance while doing it!

Then Saturday we had the big party. She requested a "giant potluck party" like we often have throughout the summer. Wasn't too hard to round up a bunch of friends last minute to make it all happen. But it all came together nicely. Instead of gifts, she asked for donations to bring to the animal shelter. We got a giant basket full, plus bags of food, and two big dog beds! People were so awesome! So that sparked an animal themed party, complete with "pin the tail on Pepper" (not the real Pepper...), a photo booth, face painting and animal ear making, and the best dog bone cake ever made!

It was a blast (we are all still recovering) and I think we heard the phrase "you throw the best parties!" about twenty times. But all that really matters is that my big 5 year old enjoyed herself, and that she did. See for yourself...

And the photo booth, which was hilarious and filled with way more adults than children...

 A big thanks to all the sweet friends who made this night so special!! You are all the best. We love you guys. xoxo

the swing of things

It's funny having a different rhythm all of a sudden. Waking early to get things prepared for the day, driving the little one off to school, coming back to work until the moment I go back to pick her up, picking her up and coming home to have a snack, resting, going for a walk, dinner prep and eating, clean up and outside play before bedtime. There's something comforting in the rhythm that we've already formed, just in a mere three days. I like knowing what to expect. I like having things consistent, but with enough flexibility to make the day feel spontaneous and free.

Right now we are settling into this new rhythm. We are a bit tired, a bit excited, a bit relieved (to have more time to get work done!). But mostly, we are just happy to be doing it all together. Lucky us!

Second Day of School

The scene last night...

Me: "Okay you! Let's get ready for bed. We've got to get a good night's sleep for school tomorrow!"

Her: "What?! School?!! But I went yesterday! I have to go again?? Two days in a row? Noooooo!!! I don't want to!!! I want to stay with you!!!!!!!" Cry cry cry. Panic panic panic.

 

This morning at school while she's climbing the apple trees...

"Mama, you can pick me up after lunch. No need to come early. Bye! I love you! I'm going to give you two hugs before you leave! See ya!"

 

Ha! She is hilarious. I get a kick of the way 5 year old brains work! These are some little snippets from the drive to school and the school itself taken with my iphone! Enjoy!

First Day of School

Well, after much preparation, much protests from a certain little one, lots of sleepless nights, lots of anxiety...the little one went off to her first day of school (all decked out in stripes and "jewelry"). Or maybe I should say I dragged her off to her first day of school.

When we turned down the wooded road, the last stretch before the school, she said, "Mama? I think I'm getting kind of excited!" And that was that.

She still didn't want me to leave, she still hugged me like she never wanted to let go, but there were no tears. Just a sweet "Goodbye Mama! See you soon!"

And off I went. And off she went, climbing her apple tree.

It was a bittersweet morning. I was so thrilled and happy that she excitedly jumped in, and a little sad to see another stage left behind. She is growing, that one.

And I feel so incredibly fortunate to have this little school up and running just in time. It is a magical place...

thoughts on a busy life

We all lead busy lives. We all lead hectic lives. Most of us probably try to lead these busy lives with all intentions of simplicity, and well...still run around all day wondering when we'll actually get a moment to just be.

Sometimes at the end of the day, when I finally finish parenting, working, taking care of the house and animals, I wonder if I'd ever actually breathed at all? Or did I ever even sit down?!  I get so caught up in the moment, and then the next, and the next one after that, that is seems as though the day flies by and my intentions of simplicity and slowness get devoured by the pace of life.

But then I get photos like these back. I remember these moments. I remember the slowness, the simplicity, the awareness...all present when I took each one. And I am reminded that in the midst of the chores, keeping track of a little one, the cooking and cleaning, and running a business, that there really is plenty of those moments that I strive for all day long. They are there, however brief. These photos are a reminder of that. Just looking at them now makes my breath slower, my heart rate slows, and I feel grateful for the little moments like this that make up our days.

It is, really, all about balance. xoxo

Expired film from a kind reader! Thank you! I haven't touched my digital camera in days. Also, please check out the new sponsors on the right! Yay!

b&w

More shots from the winter. This was with expired b&w film. I love the grain. I just dropped my film camera off today for some repairs. It's been out of commission since the spring. I did just buy myself a "new" one on ebay. Waiting for that to arrive anyday now...

I've had a super busy week of work. I'm hoping to get another wedding preview up tomorrow, and then another a couple of days after that. Watch for those! They are super sweet weddings.

Sasa has been cooking and cleaning and doing so much around the house to make up for my domestic absence during this heavy workload period. He just fed me homemade garden tomato soup with chard and lentils, and some summer squash fries. Yum. He's the best!

We're also gearing up for the little one's upcoming birthday, then a camping trip, and then my birthday after that. I can tell September is going to pass us by in a wink...

And, oh my...school starts on Tuesday for the little one. Three half days a week. Many of you have asked about it...it's a great new school starting up in the area focusing on "place-based education." Read more here! I feel so fortunate that the little one has this opportunity!

Happy midweek, my friends! xoxo

loving.

Lately I am loving ::

• stripes and plaid
• eating chard or kale with quinoa for lunch (with a little hot sauce to top it off)
• mr. pickles and my $7 shoes
• my love of high waisted pleated kahkis. oh yes, you did hear correctly.
• tea with friends on rainy afternoons
• this album which i can not get enough of
• this photo
• all the delicious food sasa keeps filling my belly with
• this photographer, because i think she's awesome

What are you loving today?

film

This is film I shot last winter. Color slide film that I couldn't find anyone to develop until recently.

I adore film. I got a bunch of medium format stuff back from weddings this summer and I am in love. It makes me want to go film full time. I wonder how my wedding clients would feel about that?!

Hope you are having a peaceful weekend.

 

good morning.

hope you had a good morning too. xoxo.

Blueberry Hill

Another year, another day of hiking, picnicing, watching, playing, laughing, and enjoying. We love this spot. Year after year...it's amazing to remember the past visits and it's remarkable how much the little one has grown. She made it all the way up (and down) at full speed. Of course, this year there was a puppy to coax her along.

We missed the blueberries this year, but the chamomile was still there and we do have a big plant in our garden that we brought home from last year. So fun to think of it being a part of our life here in town.

Today we tried to soak up as much summer as we could. School starts soon, and with it, we find that everyday freedom we've had for so long is quickly coming to a close. The little one is growing literally before our eyes. Her long, lean legs can carry her on a hike no problem now. Last year, she rode up on Sasa's shoulders. It's bittersweet to see it all happen so soon. I'm loving this age and all the fun we are having, but also miss the little hands dropping the berries in the basket, and clasping mine for a little help along the stone wall.

This is my favorite part about traditions: marking the growth all around us against something that is constant and steady. Blueberry Hill will always be there for us, and so will we...however big, small, old or young we may be.

morning, noon, and night

 

morning :: egg collecting.

noon :: bread making.

night :: watering the plants on the porch.

 

I'm suffering from a pretty severe migraine tonight, so it is a sweet and short post for you, my friends. I'll be back with more tomorrow! xoxo