William's Walk

My mother has an uncanny knowledge of flowers, herbs, trees and bushes. Our walks are usually peppered with exclamations like "Oh, that blue flower is Astor." or "Did you see the Jack-in-the-pulpit back there?" I love it! She also knows bits like: when you pick Stinging Nettle out of your garden you have to grab and pull it out fast, no dawdling. Anyways, maybe she can help me figure out what these papery white flowers are--they are so lovely amongst all the fall colors.

PS. A, it was so lovely to meet you this morning--I just wish we could have chatted longer before William's Drs appointment.

Deliberately

I went to the woods because I wished to live deliberately...

--Thoreau

Chestnut Hill offers two great attractions for me: beautiful Victorian houses with stone walls and lush landscaping--straight out of story books--and clever trail heads bordering these historic neighborhoods that lead into the Wissahickon Valley where huge Beech and Ash stand watch over quiet hiking trails. Truly, this is a dream world for me. I can slip from one favorite walking space to the next. Come and visit, I'll show you!

William's Walk

I took a few shots of William on our first walk back in Philly, I liked this one. He's holding his hands while pondering the strange view from 4 months. Four months! It's so good to be home. Nothing quite like it. You always appreciate the trip, the time with family and friends, the change of scenery, but home... *sighs* Yeah, it's a good thing.

PS I was trying to find a word to describe the yellow light with the yellow and orange leaves. Buttery? Gilded? Vibrant? Hmm...

Add some hot chai

I found this shop over on Etsy--the images seem to capture so many of the things I love about fall. I can almost smell the damp earthiness and feel the chill in the air as the sun sinks low. Add some hot chai, my wooly socks and a hoody and I'm a happy girl.

We head back home from our trip to Minnesota tomorrow night. I feel like I've learned so much. Maybe it wasn't the most relaxing trip--not quite a "vacation"--but it's been good in many different ways. I think William now recognizes his grandparents and smiles and coos for them--makes everything worth it in the end!

Sending love,
Jewels

William

Oh, our wee William!

Traveling light

I have quite the list going on this morning. All of these little things to finish up before I head back to Minnesota for a week. As long as the Nor'easter holds off, or decides to pound Boston instead of Philly tomorrow, and no one gets sick, then we're golden. I'm wondering if you can actually "travel light" with a baby. Hmm...

Images found here

Studio Tour

An informal studio tour! Welcome to the world of Red Otter. It's wee, but cozy.

William's Walk

On William's Walk this morning with Papa. William spends most of his time looking up into the trees, I'm sure he didn't notice this beautiful hydrangea, but I did. It's been a quiet weekend filled with good food, Fall Fest down town, and some quality book making. Hope you guys are enjoying your weekend, too!

PS the hydrangea is for Cindy, who is "a little bit delicate and curious" and always beautiful!

Weekend

Have a wonderful weekend!

Image found here

A cup of tea

After receiving a few notes of concern from dear friends I wanted to take a quick moment this morning to set your mind at rest. My last few posts seem to have had a sad, depressed feel to them. I think part of it is due to the seasons changing, fall is always hard for me. And because these recent life transitions and changes have been tough. But maybe what isn't apparent in my posts is the resiliency and strength that comes with these feelings, beneath the mishish moments and episodes. I write my rambly posts because I find great joy is sharing what I'm going through and what I'm coming out of. And because I think maybe it'll help give voice to something you're going through or coming out of. By the time these feelings make it to the blog my journal has been filled, my thoughts shared, my concerns voiced and tea has been made!

This tea cup was a birthday present from my mother-in-law. Lilies of the Valley are not only my birthday's flower, but also the flowers used in my wedding--great bundles of the fresh smelling beauties. I've filled the cup with euros from my time in France visiting Andrew. So long ago! There's a great line from the book The Elegance of a Hedgehog: So, let us drink a cup of tea. Seems to sum up my thoughts perfectly this morning. The beautiful act of boiling, steeping, and making up a cup of tea is delightful to me. Then drinking it, whether alone or with someone else, seems to set the moment apart from the rest of the day. It takes a little time, but it's a simple act made beautiful and meaningful.

So, my dears, let us drink a cup of tea.

Rambly

Ever feel that fitful, vulnerable, strangely enigmatic feeling that comes in the morning, when it's too early to be morning and too late to be night? Sometimes I feel it when the sun starts drifting in the afternoon sky--light wanes and shadows deepen. It's like feeling a door close behind you, or being caught out in the cold. I'm not sad. Not happy either. Something feels "off." I try and describe it here because it helps in explaining to Andrew later on in the day that, no, it's not you hun. It really is me. It's feeling alone, even in the face of new and beautiful friends. It's feeling incompetent when nothing is going wrong. Sensitive... just sensitive, maybe? I'm not sure. I do know, however, that recognizing this... whatever it is, is the first step. Next is tea. Because there's nothing more soothing to me that a steaming mug of tea. Lots of milk. And writing. Today is a rambling writing day, sorry. I just thought that maybe you've felt this too...

Image found here

William's Walk

Last week passed in a kind of blur. Monday found me battling a sinus headache that moved into a migraine. And it was repeated on Thursday. The in between days were sort of fuzzy--lots of naps and gatorade. Let me just say that you prove to yourself again and again that you have the strength to do incredible things through tough situations! Of course you never want to experience these times, but once they've passed you feel a little more confident, a little more edgy, a little more whoo-haa.

This picture was taken on William's Walk yesterday. I don't know what they are, but they are perfectly autumnal.

Sending you love,
Jewels