color and a list

Aren't these colors great?  I love how colonial homes used such deep, vibrant colors inside their homes. These shots were from our trip to Old Sturbridge Village in early September.

Remember I promised some lists in the coming days? 

Things that have been inspiring me:
 
antique wall paper
sparse line drawings with dabs of color
the colors (specifically the pinks) on the new J.CREW catalog cover
the golden raspberries in our yard
each of my workshop students
individual squares of brown kraft paper (oh! the possibilities)
my new comfortable desk chair, which was bought at the magnificent Sticks and Bricks with my 
    sleuthy partner (photos to come)
my Nanny's gold brooches (some with pearls, some without)
soup greens
red lentils
my new grayish, purple cords (ankle length! and found thrifting)
bright, morning walks to school (and also wet, rainy walks to school)
popcorn

xo e

the other side

On my mind
1.  workshop planning
2.  need more pie
3.  searching for a new place to store my sweaters.  suggestions?
4.  book deadlines
5.  tres chicas (just unearthed the cd under a pile)
6.  yellow sand
7. harvesting our sunflower seeds (must I wait until the backs turn yellow?)
8. a vintage typewriter found in my grandparents' basement
9. tag sale on saturday.  kind of strange that I am feeling excited to spend an afternoon this week in the barn tagging things.

The past few weeks and the next month will be filled with lots of book deadlines, which means I won't be able post here as regularly as I'd like to. Just yesterday, I found out that my friend Emily has a lovely blog where she likes to write lists of things.  It reminded me how much I love to write in list form, and I suddenly decided that I want to write lots of little lists in the coming days.  It will be a nice way to create in this space in the midst of all of my book writing and crafting.  I'll post some photos and write some lists and maybe you'll write some lists too?  I'd love that.  The Wednesday Treasured feature will probably be on hold until the end of the month.

Okay, good.  I feel better now.

xo e

chalk

Just when I thought the end of summer would slip seamlessly into the busier days of September, I noticed one of my daughter's bathing suits hanging on a doorknob, and I felt a pang.  This is the summer where Chick learned to swim, where neighborhood walks and bike riding was the rule, where we ate breakfast at 10 and dinner at 7.  The days felt warm and slow.  And, so, I am preparing myself for a bit of sadness at saying goodbye. 

The children start school next week, and we've spent this week -- our last full one of the summer -- doing regular things.  The moments I end up remembering and loving most about summer are found in the slow trips around town, the quiet afternoons at the town pool, picking vegetables at our farm, listening to chatter of the girls and their friends playing in the woods next to our house, picnics at the park.   The endless togetherness is what makes summertime feel so important.  Throw in a bunch of adventures and road trips, and I've been a happy clam.

Yesterday, my two were knee deep (literally) in sidewalk chalk.  They used a bucket of water to create sidewalk chalk paint and sidewalk chalk "mud,"  which made the colors dense, thick, and vibrant.  I watched them smile as they lathered it on their hands and packed it down with their feet.  Afterwards,  their bodies were rainbow tie-dyed, so they went from the outside right into the shower.  How summery is that?

Whether you are bound for a late summer adventure or just simply appreciating the quiet harmony of togetherness at home, enjoy your end of summer days.


xo e

right now

I'm about to get my groove on  at Mouse's movement class.

Loving the warm sunshine on my cheeks as we walked Chick to school.

Thinking about some new art I've been slowly working on.

Taking photographs of a few vintage goodies I plan to list in my shop.

Sifting through a tin of new old buttons. (more on those later)

Staring at our garden a little too long.

 

 Happy weekend.

xo e