how to say goodbye

whittling, bow and arrows, and an atl atl--a very productive weekend

this cutie belongs to our friends--it's even cuter on the inside!

a neighboring camper's '49 Chrysler

a home for ? I heard it, but never saw it...

best pot roast on the planet--thanks John!

lots of knitting, I can still smell the fire in the yarn :).

our campsite was minutes from the beach :).

I don't think much about having to say goodbye, not until that moment comes and suddenly I am at a loss for words. Whether they are friends that we see often, or friends that we see occasionally, the reason we have remained friends throughout the years is because we have shared experiences that will last longer in our memories than the seconds we actually spent together.

That is how I feel about the "gang", as we call them. At the core, there are about 10-12 of us. I have only known them as long as I began dating my husband, but it was clear to me from the beginning that this eclectic group wasn't like any other that I had ever met. Each, with their own story and from all walks of life, had a bond with the other that is authentic and unique, kind and generous, loyal and honest. We don't see them that much, maybe twice or three times a year if we are lucky. We have grown together through marriages, breakups, moves, family problems, personal joys, deaths, births, and birthdays. We may not know all the details in each other's lives, but I am not sure we really have to. All of that seems unnecessary when we gather, as our focus remains on enjoying what's in front of us. And usually, what we enjoy with each other the most, is camping. In the midst of the outdoors and in nature, we enjoy each other's company in laughter, and in silence, with thoughtfulness, with sharing, and of course, with good campfire food :).

If I remember correctly, we started camping with the gang at least once every year for the past 5 years, beginning when E. was 4 and M. was 2. We have camped in many different campgrounds all across the state. We even spent Thanksgiving together one year in the hills of North Carolina just outside of Asheville. Many memories have been made in the woods across Florida and honestly, I can't imagine camping with any other folks. Plainly, camping will not be the same without them. The live-oak filled woods, a good fire, delicious dutch oven meals, funny stories, some reminiscing and even the humongous raccoons, that is exactly how I would have liked to say goodbye to the gang, and that is exactly what we did. Well maybe not goodbye, but until the next campfire, thank you my friends...

much love

xoxo

linking with Amanda for Weekending...

Together

Yesterday we joined a brand new co-op, and for me, situations like these are always somewhat nerve racking. New people and families, unclear expectations, you know--the unknown. Yet, as usual my apprehension was unnecessary as we were met with smiles, friendly greetings and open arms. Turns out we knew about half of the families, confirming that it is a small world here after all :).

There is a stream that runs through this beautiful park in the heart of downtown Orlando. It's a child's dream... full of minnows, mud, and a steep bank to climb up and down. Both my kids disappeared from the moment we arrived, having quickly found their friends, new and old, mingling and reveling in all that nature provided. We did eventually wrangle them from the green, like pulling unwilling weeds from their possessive dirt bed. We made duct tape wallets, talked about folk music, and had a friendly contest on building the most "sound" structures from dried spaghetti and mini marshmallows. I could not help but glow from watching these children interact with each other, teens working side by side with 6 year olds, making sure they felt included and contributive. This is exactly how I imagined homeschooling to be. Kids of all ages outside playing together, working together, finding treasures together, getting soaking wet, completely muddy, stinking like the stream and ruining good shoes kind of togetherness. Yeah, it was awesome.



xoxo

Postcards II

To the market we go, with my good friend N. keeping an eye out for me.

Beecher's cheese...

The original Starbucks

Puget Sound

...so little time.

Luly Yang

Seattle Downtown Public Library

Gasworks

Thanks N, for this great shot :).

And as if this day wasn't amazing enough, we had the pleasure of meeting Rain and her son from Rainblissed.  So nice to meet and spend time with you Rain!!

Today is our last day, but we have another full day planned.  I won't be back in this space 'till Thursday as we'll be on the plane all day tomorrow.

Bittersweet, endings are... sad to leave but looking forward to catching up on all that's been missed...

much love
xx oo

Postcards

It begins with coffee, because in Seattle, that is how it always begins...

And then comes the rompus...

With friends whom we've have missed...

Dearly missed...

A few walks and my eyes were filled with color. Flowers, gardens, and green everywhere, balking beautifully at any gray that lay overhead...

And then a market, oh, that market, enough to overwhelm all sense of sight, smell, and taste.

The sweetness of donuts made right before your eyes, then salted caramel, fresh fruit, honey, and cider...

Craftings of colorfully knitted and felted nature, as a master clicks away in the corner.

And as I basque in the bursts of brightness everywhere, I then take in the most delicious smell...

Of fresh baked wild caught salmon...I never had salmon that melted away so willingly in my mouth.

Discovered...foraged fiddleheads, among other things found...

I love this place so far, and I have barely tapped in to this city. There is a spirit here that is undeniable. A place that says "I don't care what the sky looks like, I'm here anyway, and I'm thriving. And as if tired of fighting, the clouds eventually break open and say "Okay, you win for now..."

much love
xx oo

This moment ~ Recovering

Joining SouleMama, with a few extra words...

He has been a beloved part of our family for nearly 9 years, since just before E. was born.  The most loyal, loving, generous, and patient best friend a young boy could ever have.  And until this past Wednesday he had been intact.  

Upon picking up my son from his sleepover with a friend, E. broke down into my arms sobbing and handed me a half-chewed, one-eyed, and one-eared bear with the front of his face nearly falling off.  Bear had become a chew toy for one of the dogs at his friend's house.  I felt tears welling up in my own eyes.  To see the deconstruction was almost too much to take.  I had come to love this little inanimate (but very much alive in our hearts) bear as much as E..  But, I held it together and held my son, making promises I wasn't sure I could keep.  I promised I would fix Bear.  I promised I would make Bear better and that I would do it as soon as we got home.   And I did.  I added more stuffing and then managed to sew him back together one stitch at a time.  The hole that was left where the eye use to be was about the size of a small egg.  Well, as you can see, we found a proper solution for that, too.

After a good bath, Bear was ready to find E.'s arms again.  It was a sweet, joyful reunion, and I can't tell you the happiness that filled my heart to be able to see them together again, intact and recovering.  Abundance has returned :).

May your weekend be filled with friendship, love, peace, and light...

E. and Bear at 4 years old.

Finding treasures...

Cool mornings, warm afternoons, a day with friends, a canoe, and a lake.

Fishing with a net, come here little fish!!

Alas, too slow, but wait!! What's this?  A treasure, a find, buried underfoot!!

No map needed, no plan, no shovel...

Treasures are abound with a day, a canoe, a lake, and some friends :)...

What did you treasure about your weekend?