Favorite photos of 2014

I am planning on going through all of my photos this year and getting some printed and turned into books. With all of the photos that I've taken, I have almost none up at my house. And there are so many that I love, I should have started this years ago. But, there is no time like the present-- I guess this is my traditional new years resolution. Print more photos. So here are a few of them that made me laugh or gave me warm fuzzies while I was going through them!

Lamby has shown up in almost all of our photos!

These two have grown up since the first time we were all toghether. 

And these two who have such a sweet friendship!

These cub scouts and their crazy antics!

A frozen lake with our beloved Bon-bon.

Exploring creativity from new angles.

Winter hikes on warmer days!

Summer road trips!

Lamby in a Yoda costume!

The weekend before we opened the coffee shop. 

Quiet mornings. 

What's in Store for the Weekend: Home Style

When Isabel woke up this morning, she asked me what we had planned for tonight and I said, "nothing!"

"And in the morning?"

"Nothing"

"And on Sunday?"

"Nothing!"

It was quite unbelieveable to me too.

But we do have quite a few things planned. But they are all based out of our cozy little home.

We will probably have Sketchbook Saturday Morning, but we'll be around our own table. In our jammies.

I am going to make a few of these awesome and easy fabric baskets.

I will be watching a drawing class from the uber-talented Lisa Congdon.  

We'll walk to our local fair-trade store for some equal exchange coffee.

I'll be making wedding gifts for my little sister! So exciting.

A big pot of Abondigas soup, meatballs and veggies in a beautiful bone broth.

I'll be investigating fermenting Green Tea and Honey.

And I'll start this little project, small but smart knitting!

Isabel has been begging for carrot cake with cream cheese frosting. Or maybe, a gluten free version of this is in order. 

Maybe, I'll finish reading the Perks of Being a Wallflower, I'm almost done!

I hope you have a happy weekend! I am sure we will!

This Moment: On the Street Where You Live

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. If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see.

Joining Soulemama

Yarn Along: Litany

We were snuggled in on the couch reading before bath time and Isabel read the cover of my book and asked, "What is a Litany?" I said, "usually short prayers where the priest will pray and we will respond. It's a practice of prayer, but in a structured way."

And then I begun thinking about Keeping House -- and the truth that it brought to light. Meeting basic needs of a community is spiritual practice.  I know that warm food, warm clothes, clean sheets make us feel safe and whole.

Last night, I had all three kids (my two plus our beloved Olivia!) in the snow. The snow was so wet, they came and changed some article of clothing, pants, gloves, hats, just to run outside again for more. When they came inside for dinner, their cheeks were rosy, their hearts were full and they were hungry. We lit candles, added a few more chairs, shared dinner together. And I realized, keeping house is much more than folding laundry or changing beds, but it is those things. It's a heart cracked wide open to the people we love and the community we live with.

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This picture is the beginning of another pickles plain vest, it's off the needles, gotten a few wooden buttons and has been given to a sweet little man. It's knit in Plymouth Yarn- 553 Coffee Beans, colorway Gray 9389.

Joining Ginny for Yarn Along.

July Desktop Calendar

What a beautiful day it is. The sun is shining, the crops are growing and it smells the glorious green of early summer. This morning, I woke up and took the kids to the kitchen table for breakfast and I saw the light. It was playing between the tree branches and leaves. It was golden against the vibrant, alive grass. I am grateful to be home.

I did make a little desktop background for July to keep our national park trip alive. I took this photo in Joshua Tree National Park, we were able to drive through on our way to the Grand Canyon.

You should be able to directly click onto the image (it will open in a expanded preview window), right click the preview image and save it into your images file or desktop. And you can share a bit of the beauty we experienced.

Blessings!

Quotable Sunday: small house, larger garden

Small house, large garden, friends, books-- quite a beautiful list, don't you agree?

I might add a worn quilt, a soulmate, two little people and a big black dog.... but that's just me.

Have a beautiful weekend, beloveds.

In a tradition started by Kyrie of Are So Happy and carried on with Kerry of Young Ones and Linnea of PeppermintAlley... you can add to the flickr group here. 

Live Into

My goals this year seem simple. But after 8 months of feeling crummy, I am making large strides towards feeling better. And I hoping to continue to make my health a serious priority in the coming year. Being well not just in my body but in my soul and in the souls of my little family as well. I want to encourage us to stop everyday and be thankful for all that we been given.

Over the next year, I hope to live into each piece of the motto above. Learning how to live well, create well, love well. Will you join me?

You can do this in your own way. And share in the comments. I'm planning on doing good work in our little family in 2013, what goals do you have for this new year?

Finding Fall: Light that Binds Us

I am the light in the late summer and early autumn afternoons that bathes the fields in gold.
I am the light that blisters your skin in the summer,
I am the light that sparkles on the snow in the winter.
I am the light you ache for in the winter,
revere in the springtime,
escape from in the summer, honor in the fall.

Seeking autumn's beauty: 

weekending: Camping Calm

I am sitting in the woods and it is hot! Roaring fire is before me and our tent is behind-- I'm listening to our little people talk to each other in hushed tones, they think we can't hear them whisper! My feet are dirty and I'm sweating but my heart is calm.

For me the smell of campfire, pine trees and the sound of a singing whippoorwill send me straight to my happy place. Cicadas singing in the trees and drops of rain on tent nylon in the cool night air are the sweetest lullabies.

Do you have a place where no matter what goes on year heart calms instantly?

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Blogging by hand: I'm trying something new, I'm writing my new blog posts in my journal first and then posting them here at a bit later time. I feel like I can collect my thoughts better. You should try it!

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Joining Amanda.