new years eve

the table is set. the house clean. the champagne is on ice.

time to take a nap.

we've been ringing in the New Year with our neighbors for 9 years. from the first year (weeks) we were here. until today. the party has grown. more friends come by. it is casual. comfortable. joy full.

wishing you a very. happy. new. year.

'here's to all the places we went.
and here's to all the places we'll go.
and here's to me, whispering again and again and again and again; I love you.'

happy nest

four days off. a cluttered house a bit less so. closets cleaner. piles more sorted. lists made and scattered with check marks.

had a most wonderful day with friends being thankful. thank full.

counting blessings and days 'til Christmas. and travel. and babies (of all ages). joyful. joy full.

'I may be justifying my pockets of chaos. but I will always choose people over perfection & the heart over task and tidy.'

dear people

(image courtesy kindnessgirl.com)

the most wonderful time of the year

I am ever so excited. today I'm breaking out the uggs. a very happy day indeed. as I indulge in the fuzzy warmth of these incredibly pampering soothing things.

off to run errands. enjoying every step.

'now shall I walk or shall I ride?
"Ride," Pleasure said: "Walk," Joy replied.'

contented heart

home. sweet home.

away was pretty sweet. alone. together. always sharing. there'll be lots to talk about. but for now I'll just share a rocky mossy shot taken during a walk around Helmsley with the hubs.

lush. green. ever so beautiful. happy me.

'in every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.'

there and back again

well, the hubbub of the big event is over. and I am happy, very happy, to report it was perfect!

so now it's time to take a little time away. a wee bit of time, I should say. as the hubs and I head to Scotland later today. he has to go for business. I get to go for absolutely no reason at all. and we are positively giddy about it.

so off we go. see you soon.

'begin doing what you want to do now. we have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand, and melting like a snowflake.'

me oh my

goodness gracious. what a week. how does fall become so full?

planning. planning. planning. for birthdays. for travel. for events.

tears. tears. tears. for loss. for new beginnings. for joy.

prayers. prayers. prayers. for comfort. for patience. for love.

I fall into bed at night, exhausted. I wake up early, my head filled with to-do lists and anticipation.

the season has turned. the air is crisp. the skies a piercing blue. the evenings twinkle. blessings are all around.

just stop. you'll see.

'pray on the shadowy hillside of hardship and on the sunny hillside of happiness.'