I just had to tell Graham to shut the oven door. Despite having seen me put the dough inside, he was curious about what was baking.
"What is in there?"
"Bread."
"Banana? Or just bread?"
Monday, June 22, 2009
Summer Tradition
Summertime means strawberries. Moving to England means a shorter, later season. But that season is now & the trip to the pick-your-own-patch was today. Supper was German pancakes with strawberries -- yum.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Old Photos from Jersey
I was just glancing through photos on the hard drive & thought I'd share a few photos from when we lived in New Jersey. . .all of these images are at least two years old. The kids sure are bigger now.
At Rutgers Gardens. Frogs live under the paving stones where Cami is standing. And Cami & Graham both fell into this pond at least once. I'll find the shot of a soaking Graham & post it someday.
I almost never put photos of myself up (obviously). But here's a random shot that one of the kids took. I miss that lamp in the background.
In her "third (fourth?) birthday" dress from Quinter. She still wears it for sleeping.
My little guy in 'jamas. I see this expression on Rose's face now.
It always made me laugh when he'd climb into the easel.
At Rutgers Gardens. Frogs live under the paving stones where Cami is standing. And Cami & Graham both fell into this pond at least once. I'll find the shot of a soaking Graham & post it someday.
I almost never put photos of myself up (obviously). But here's a random shot that one of the kids took. I miss that lamp in the background.
In her "third (fourth?) birthday" dress from Quinter. She still wears it for sleeping.
My little guy in 'jamas. I see this expression on Rose's face now.
It always made me laugh when he'd climb into the easel.
Rain & Shine
Graham had the day off school yesterday, so after I dropped Cami off at class, we headed to my much loved outdoor space, Bolton Abbey. We climbed up the hill opposite the Abbey & through the fields. The clouds threatened rain & just before lunch we got pretty wet, but I have now confirmed that I love the Yorkshire Dales even when the day isn't gloriously sunny.
The hiking trails we took went through this farm. I saw the roses climbing above the door & told Jason, "I want the life that goes with this house." (The Kodak image life of spending the days hiking & then having gloriously simple dinner parties on the patio with friends & laughter.)
Just before lunch and just after the rained stopped.
Graham sat on this "stair" in the wall while he ate lunch.
The beginning of our hike. Two hours later, on the way down the hill, Graham aided erosion at this very spot.
The hiking trails we took went through this farm. I saw the roses climbing above the door & told Jason, "I want the life that goes with this house." (The Kodak image life of spending the days hiking & then having gloriously simple dinner parties on the patio with friends & laughter.)
Just before lunch and just after the rained stopped.
Graham sat on this "stair" in the wall while he ate lunch.
The beginning of our hike. Two hours later, on the way down the hill, Graham aided erosion at this very spot.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
No Longer My "Random Bit of Trivia"
I just spent the last few hours filling out a job application. It's the first position I've applied for since 2001. I forgot how exhausting it is to try to get a job. Not only was there the application to fill out, but I didn't even have a resume. Ironic, since the most recent job I held was "Writing Consultant/Resume Writer." I guess I can't use that as the "thing you'd never guess about me" item at parties anymore.
Monday, June 15, 2009
Weather I Love
It's raining. Not the constant, classically-English drizzle, but real rain with lightning, thunder, and the clatter of drops hitting concrete. The windows are open & the air smells amazing.
Sunday, June 14, 2009
How Much is it Worth?
"They are very aware that you can make things yourself and that those things have value." Brook Williams said this about her children in this interview.
I've been thinking about how I treat things. With all the moving I've done since I left high school, there have been many things that have entered my life which have been left behind. There have been many things that have entered my life which were dragged from coast to coast and then across an ocean.
The quote from Brook Williams somehow connected with my thinking about whether or not I value the things that I've spent money on. Jason and I have been talking about what it is that we really value about being in England -- we value travel, both exploring new places & returning to family and friends. Family and adventure. Really, for me, that matters more than items that fill up space in my house.
But what about the things that get used in my life? Do I value those things enough to take care of them properly? When clothes get torn or stained or a piece of electronica short circuits, do I miss the item or do I miss the entertainment it provided or do I just regret the money spent that could have gone to purchase something else? Like plane tickets.
And what about the things that I've picked up, intending to do something with them? I'm great at seeing the potential in something & then not doing a thing about it. Why do I value the time on the computer, trolling for inspiration, rather than actually doing what it takes to try to create beauty? What do my actions teach Cami, Graham, and Rose?
We came to England in part to teach the kids that the world can be their home, not just North America. I hope we can also teach them to create something beautiful, not just consume beauty, in all parts of the world.
I'm not saying this well, because my thoughts aren't perfectly clear. But I hope that I can be a creator, not just a consumer -- even when consumption is needed to create a beautiful memory.
I've been thinking about how I treat things. With all the moving I've done since I left high school, there have been many things that have entered my life which have been left behind. There have been many things that have entered my life which were dragged from coast to coast and then across an ocean.
The quote from Brook Williams somehow connected with my thinking about whether or not I value the things that I've spent money on. Jason and I have been talking about what it is that we really value about being in England -- we value travel, both exploring new places & returning to family and friends. Family and adventure. Really, for me, that matters more than items that fill up space in my house.
But what about the things that get used in my life? Do I value those things enough to take care of them properly? When clothes get torn or stained or a piece of electronica short circuits, do I miss the item or do I miss the entertainment it provided or do I just regret the money spent that could have gone to purchase something else? Like plane tickets.
And what about the things that I've picked up, intending to do something with them? I'm great at seeing the potential in something & then not doing a thing about it. Why do I value the time on the computer, trolling for inspiration, rather than actually doing what it takes to try to create beauty? What do my actions teach Cami, Graham, and Rose?
We came to England in part to teach the kids that the world can be their home, not just North America. I hope we can also teach them to create something beautiful, not just consume beauty, in all parts of the world.
I'm not saying this well, because my thoughts aren't perfectly clear. But I hope that I can be a creator, not just a consumer -- even when consumption is needed to create a beautiful memory.
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