beauty that moves

there will be a whole lotta swimming this summer

{I have started, deleted, and restarted this post too many times now.}

Today was supposed to be our last day here. July 1st we were heading to Vermont. Yesterday I received an email from a friend asking if we'd moved up there yet, he was going to be in the Brattleboro area this weekend and wanted to get together. He didn't know of the changes. The timing should have been perfect.

{This is the part in the post where I started to reveal too much about our Vermont plans falling apart. I deleted three paragraphs.}

It's going to sting a little for the next few days, no doubt about it, but it will pass. It's not the house we were planning to move to that is the loss, Vermont is full of charming and quaint properties. It is the clean water and air, the gentle lifestyle, and the progressive mind-set of the state in general that we crave.

Our dream is to live in a place where nature does not close at sunset. It's a bit of a family motto actually. It will happen, in the right time. One thing we have learned is that if Vermont is indeed where we wind up, we do not need to rent a property first to transition. We know the towns, countrysides, mountains and valleys of Vermont better than most of those here in Connecticut quite frankly. It would be much easier to just buy a property from the get go. Lesson learned. 

We will reside here through middle school and then we will see. Maybe our 'move' is meant to be a piece of land that we build a cabin on to retreat to while the work of our lives remains here. I'm open to that.

However, choosing to stay here (for a bit longer at least) has added a few adjustments to our lifestyle.

{Here is where I started to go on and on about the total absence of green space and clean water in our current area. Well, with a car you can find some lovely trails, but clean, flowing, public access water is not easy to come by. I deleted that too.}

Instead, I'll just say this... we joined the community center (in the next community over) so Emily can have a place to swim anytime she wants. We joined three days ago and have been three times already. I think this was a good investment. There are many other amenities besides the pool, but let's be honest, it's pretty much about the pool. Yes, it is chlorinated beyond belief, but there are no dirty diapers floating by which is a plus. And it is open for several hours after sunset. Imagine that. Such a strange, mixed up world.

{Thank you for giving me the space to share a little.}

more of this please

Without carefully laid plans to do so... I stopped by the park, laid down on the earth, and read a few chapters from my book. It was perfection.

Thank goodness for unplanned moments.

over the weekend

Only in New York will you find yourself standing on the street corner at 8am holding a raspberry basil popsicle, gifted to you in celebration by The Cooking Channel as they filmed promotional pieces right there on the sidewalk. The popsicles were "commissioned" by a "local food artisan." I would like to be a food artisan. I would also like to make lemon verbena coconut popsicles. 

summer studio tour :: 1

Turning a printer's mistake into bookmarks to include with shop orders. A little thank you!

Working on something many of you have been asking for.

Emily's contribution to The Butterfly Project.

All current orders are on their merry little way!

Proof that Emily's love of HGTV is not just about sitting in front of a screen. ;)

With only two weeks of summer vacation behind us, it is easy to see (and appreciate) the many extra snippets of creative time we manage to fit into our day. We seem to be approaching our days with an easy, summery pace - leaving projects out and at the ready for when we can tend do them. In between a swim at the lake with friends, an air conditioned library visit, a walk with our dog, a trip to the farm, making yet another batch of lavender lemonade... in between it all, we visit the studio for 10 minutes here, 45 minutes there, whenever the mood strikes really. So easily we've adopted our sought after summer groove.

Once a week over the summer I'll share a few glimpses into our weekly studio time (whether we are creating here at home, beachside or deep in the woods, I'll try to capture a few moments along the way). Each Friday I'll post a view into our summer studio and you are cordially invited to stop by for a visit! The idea will be more pictures, less words.

Care to join me? It doesn't have to be on Friday, any day is fine. We like to keep it casual around here for the summer, but do be sure to stop here each Friday to leave a comment linking to your Summer Studio post from the week. Ooh... maybe I could figure out one of those Mr. Linky things I see around. Wish me luck with that. I think I figured it out. You can link up below inviting folks directly to your Summer Studio post each week! Hey, you know, the more I think about it, this could be a really good time. I love peeking into other's creative spaces to see what they are working on. So inspiring!

You may not feel ready (photo wise) to jump in this week, but be sure to join in soon. Maybe you could take a few pics today of what your family has on the work table right now, start there!

I'll go make a button for you to add to your blog. Check back later for it. Fun! 

Here it is! Copy and paste the code below to your blog.

<a href="http://beautythatmoves.typepad.com/beauty_that_moves/summer-studio/"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1002/4732386015_1cd118c781_o.jpg" width="125" height="125" alt="tweet" /></a>

Thanks for letting me know you were having trouble with the code. I think I fixed it! Let me know if you still have a problem.

for emily's best friend

It's impossible to wrap my mind around the swift passing of time. Surely it was a moment ago when Emily and her best friend stood giggling on the front steps with a doll in one hand and a key to our new home in the other. (Our friend lived, and still lives, directly across the street. It is why we bought this house!) They were so little then, first and second graders. Now, they are both soon to be teenagers.

Certain milestones, or stepping stones, in life provide moments of reflection. Something that I do treasure, indeed. So easily we get swept up in the hustle of the day to day, but pausing and marking the passing of time, ushering in a new season of life... these are the sort of big, life picture experiences that encourage me to stay present to the now, knowing this moment is what matters the most. This is where truth lies.

This past weekend marked our friend's Bat Mitzvah. Oh my the preparation involved! Adding to what is already a remarkable event in the life of a young Jew, her father is the Rabbi! Needless to say, it was a pretty significant weekend for her family and congregation. We are happy for them all, and so proud of her.

As a gift I painted her this image of a hamsa, using watercolor. I wanted it to be sunny and cheerful - yellow, happy colors are her favorite. It was the first time I've given someone a painting as a gift (of course, it's only been a couple of months since I started painting!), but I knew she would be the one to welcome such a gift, she is an artist herself.

The passing of one momentous life experience represents the culmination of so many tiny, truth filled moments. Thankfully, there will be many more to come.