the weekend.

spring has arrived, and i love it. sunshine, days upon days of it. open windows, warm breezes. sound sleep. graduating from my certificate program. happy hour with my parents. sushi takeout. farmers market. a hard workout. carrots & pb. a long walk and catchup session. boys on bikes. lazy dogs in the sunshine. hot coffee. bagels. blasting indigo girls, the lumineers, and family of the year. wedding planning. a skype date to india. a walk around berlin pond followed by my second creemee of the season with j & the pups. reading on the porch. lazy family time on the front lawn. delightful bluegrass with mom. early to bed.

a prayer among friends.

Among other wonders of our lives, we are alive

with one another, we walk here

in the light of this unlikely world

that isn't ours for long.

May we spend generously

the time we are given.

May we enact our responsibilities

as thoroughly as we enjoy

our pleasures. May we see with clarity,

may we seek a vision

that serves all beings, may we honor

the mystery surpassing our sight,

and may we hold in our hands

the gift of good work

and bear it forth whole, as we

were borne forth by a power we praise

to this one Earth, this homeland of all we love.

-- John Daniel

boston.

have you lovely people when wondering where i disappeared to? here i am. in boston. it's been a busy week with a conference and two days of meetings, but we're wrapping up and i'll be headed north this afternoon. it's a bit surreal to be here after all of the recent events, but it's been a great week. 

the avett brothers.

love these guys.

magical.

lately.

friday snowstorm: signs of spring.

contentment.

baby loving.

spring!

tennis ball, crocuses,sunshine.

spring is arriving, one day at a time. last night we enjoyed drinks on our porch with our downstairs neighbors-- soaking in every last moment of sunshine before it dropped below the montpelier church steeples. 

the weekend.

this was a most relaxing weekend-- a good balance of downtime inside and being active outside. the weather was accommodating for both, depending on the moment. i got in a couple of good workouts, a bit of parent time, some muddy walks with the dog, the usual weekend chores, and spring cleaning/elimination of stuff around the apartment. i got to enjoy a whole day with brett, said farewell to one of my favorite of brett's coworkers, and spent a sweet afternoon sipping tea and catching up with jenna plus eventually em and baby tanner. i tried a new soup recipe (spicy!), g-chatted with two of my besties, and am now winding down the weekend with a perfect chocolate chip cookie (jen makes the best) and a tall glass of milk.

stay eager.

signs of spring.

• the first itty bitty purple crocus tips in the front garden. working so hard to shine on up.
• two boys and a dog drinking beers in the sun on my front porch when i got home. no beer for the dog. one boy in mountain bike gear playing with his new bike. 
• a wide open front door blowing a little breeze up into our apartment.
• being able to walk downstairs and out the door (to the garbage cans, to the basement, wherever) without putting on a coat or thinking twice. i love the feeling in the summer of 'this is all my house' even when i walk outside. does that make any sense? typically, going outside to do any of the above (trash, laundry, dog duty) is a huge pain. in the summer, no big deal.
• daylight!
• wearing a dress with tights and FLATS instead of boots.
• handing brett a $20 bill while he's peddling in circles on his cruiser (in his slippers) out front and saying: 'quick! bike down to chill to get me some of the sea salted caramel gelato they made today! they close in 10 minutes!' a total success.

a circle of women.

grateful, always, for my women.

the weekend.

friday: class, a quick dog walk, a gentle and relaxing community yoga class, friends & dogs over for pizza dinner. vacation dreaming.

saturday: a fresh haircut, 5 loads of laundry, a trip to the winter farmer's market, sweet sunshine but the coldest wind, a slippery walk in the park, a nap in the sunshine, mint tea & cinnamon toast, fun with fashion, and date night: al's french fries & the family of the year concert.

sunday: reading & coffee, breakfast burritos, a warmer walk, playing pups, a quick elliptical session, comfy clothes, grateful dead pandora followed by mumford live at red rocks album, a smoothie paired with a hot dog, and oatmeal cookies baking in the oven (grandmommy's favorite recipe). a little visiting with family then friends, and a tasty dinner.

for a new beginning.

i enjoyed a sweet friday night community yoga class on friday evening. this poem wrapped up our practice.

"in out-of-the-way places of the heart,
where your thoughts never think to wander,
this beginning has been quietly forming,
waiting until you were ready to emerge.

for a lot time it has watched your desire,
feeling the emptiness growing inside of you,
noticing how you willed yourself on,
still unable to leave what you had outgrown.

it watched you play with the seduction of safety
and the gray promises that sameness whispered,
heard the waves of turmoil rise and relent,
wondered would you always live like this.

then in delight, when your courage kindled,
and out you stepped onto new ground,
your eyes young again with energy and dream,
a pair of plenitude opening before you.

though your destination is not yet clear
you can trust the promise of this opening;
unfurl yourself into the grace of beginning
that is at one with your life's desire.

awaken your spirit to adventure;
hold nothing back, learn to find ease in risk;
soon you will be home in a new rhythm,
for your soul senses the world that awaits you."

-john o' donohue

an ode to life and joy.

i saw this little video posted on fb recently and just loved it. a few minutes of inspiration, living, and a song that grounds me so deeply. the song was the savasana song at my old friday yoga class in steamboat, and the first few notes take me straight back to that accomplished, humming, calm.

"and friends. of course, my friends. i try to collect moments. i step back and watch the movie that is my life for just a second, because it's easy to miss the good stuff, the magic, when it happens. i try really hard to realize it when it's amazing. and even when it's not...this one is for trying hard, for wonder, for people who rock out in the car and have the music turned up so loud everyone else waiting in traffic can hear it. and coffee. thank god for coffee."

life is simple. enjoy each day. choose your own adventure.

you can view the video here.

"i think it all adds up somewhere. and when it does, you're not doing something. you're being something. and what i want to be, is happy. excited. and inspired."

the little things.

"you've got to learn to appreciate 
the little things
in life;

like a good cup of coffee,
or a 
fresh-smelling flower,
or the smile of
a stranger
as you pass
on the streets.

the world is a
monumental beast,
frightening and
discouraging, but
in small doses, it is
the most beautiful thing
you'll ever discover."

-unknown

cape time.

it was another wonderful weekend on the cape. the weather had hints of spring and the sun was shining for most of the weekend. brett enjoyed his time fishing. i enjoyed walks on the beach with both my mom and with brett & lu. we had a lovely family meal with the whole clan on saturday eve, and a simple easter lunch on sunday. time with gran & fred is precious, and we enjoyed quiet reading time, cocktail hour, and conversation. 

i will wait.

this song is following me today-- it found me in the car during a snowy moment of my drive, and then it caught back up with me while getting squash soup and spinach quiche for lunch nearby. enjoy--



evening edit: as i got into town tonight, i turned off my book on tape, and there this song was again on the radio!