"30 is not the new 20, so claim your adulthood, get some identity capital, use your weak ties, pick your family. don't be defined by what you didn't know, or didn't do. you are deciding your life right now."

-meg jay

chase the light.

"chase the light, whatever and wherever it may be for you. chase it." 

-tyler knott gregson

weekend gratitude.

for 9 hour nights of sleep, for walking in the woods with kate & b and for the sun that sparkled down on us. for leftovers, date nights, and early morning ski runs. for a particularly snuggly dog, reading on the couch, and for juicing. and for visits with teo & j, a splashy bath, and a content babe sitting on my lap. xo

why i wake early by mary oliver

Hello, sun in my face.

Hello, you who make the morning

and spread it over the fields

and into the faces of the tulips

and the nodding morning glories,

and into the windows of, even, the

miserable and crotchety-

best preacher that ever was, 

dear star, that just happens

to be where you are in the universe

to keep us from ever-darkness,

to ease us with warm touching,

to hold us in the great hands of light-

good morning, good morning, good morning.

Watch, now, how I start the day

in happiness, in kindness.

lately.

ice, everywhere.

festive lights in montpelier.

reading with gran, a favorite activity.

a vermonter's uniform.

selfies with teo.

double dog truck rides.

kidney family band.

mamas & babes kick off 2014.

(isn't it amazing how much the boys look like their mamas?!)

skiing with the boys, as per usual.

bluebird heaven at sugarbush.

to the new year by w.s. merwin.

With what stillness at last

you appear in the valley

your first sunlight reaching down

to touch the tips of a few

high leaves that do not stir

as though they had not noticed

and did not know you at all

then the voice of a dove calls

from far away in itself

to the hush of the morning

so this is the sound of you

here and now whether or not

anyone hears it this is

where we have come with our age

our knowledge such as it is

and our hopes such as they are

invisible before us

untouched and still possible.

new recipes.

a few new recipes i've made recently.

last week i made this slow cooker honey garlic chicken- it as delicious asian flavors. i served it over rice noodles with carrots & peppers (sauteed in sesame oil). topped it with cilantro, scallions, and a bit of sriracha. it was slightly sweet for my taste, but great- and the srirarcha was a good addition.

yesterday i made this slow cooker chicken & dumplings. brett loved this. the dumplings had a hard time cooking in my tiny crock pot, so i ended up scooping them out, finishing baking them in the oven, and then put them back in. the leftovers today are even better. perfect comfort food for a chilly winter day.

i had kate over for tea & popcorn recently, and played with this easy kettle corn recipe! we both enjoyed it, though i think i have room to improve with more practice.

mindful by mary oliver.

Everyday

I see or hear

something

that more or less

kills me 

with delight,

that leaves me

like a needle

in the haystack

of light.

It was what I was born for-

to look, to listen,

to lose myself

inside this soft world-

to instruct myself

over and over

in joy,

and in acclamation.

Nor am I talking

about the exceptional,

the fearful, the dreadful,

the very extravagant-

but of the ordinary,

the common, the very drab,

the daily presentations.

Oh, good scholar,

I say to myself,

how can you help

but grow wise

with such teachings

as these-

the untrimmable light

of the world,

the oceans shine,

the prayers that are made

out of grass?

a little recognition.

i'm proud of b for working hard & having fun while doing it. xo

Christmas 2013.

a christmas eve church service, family & friends gathering for merriment and cheer, christmas morning egg casserole & cinnamon rolls, stuffed stockings, generous gifts, a walk in the park, more generous exchanging, a delicious dinner, and a christmas movie. gratitude for our small family and christmas in vermont.