pashmina, chai latte, pink morning horizon, joy that comes not from my own being, grace that makes everything possible and endless, list making, poem dreaming, annie dillard reading, singing, humming, peanut butter dripping, panicking, breathing, snacking, robust laughter.

TO YOU

WHO LEAST NEED REMINDING

that before this interval of the South Branch under black mountains, there was another interval, the Upper at Plymouth, where we walked in spring beyond the covered bridge; but that the first interval of all was the old farm,our brook interval, so called by the man we had it from in sale. -Robert Frost



red leaves fall on green graves

I made a visit to David's grave today to leave some flowers (Gerber Daisies...my fav) and eat some sushi for lunch in my car. Forest Hills Cemetery is beautiful this time of year and I had been meaning to make a visit sooner. I'm grateful for this place which kind of freaks me out because I used to hate the idea of memorializing the dead and while I still don't particularly agree with gross displays such as the Fouche mausoleum, I left a flower for Blanche too. Graveyards are definitely a thing for the living. I'm drawn to Forest Hills because it reminds me how little I will leave behind and that most of it will not be all that important. I don't even remember why I was drawn to David's grave (probably the hilarious surname), but I do remember thinking how crazy it was that I could only compile a small biography on a man of public importance in Chattanooga. He didn't leave behind a personality or any sentiments...just some facts and a lineage. Places like this should remind us of our ultimate humanity and the perfection of Jesus' life, character, and legacy.

 

Room Tour: Gracewell 348

View from the door. I love our setup. My bed is on the right.

My closet door (left side). Katie Daisy designs, Prague metro tickets, Chattanooga postcards, a modern painting from a Santa Fe magazine, Newark photos, Grandparents, and a Georgia O'Keeffe print.

Collection of artwork form Missy's munchkins

Above my bed: Dreaming of water and docks. Kalmar Nyckle photo, a J. Crew ad that says "Sun-Faded Oxfords," keys from Bakertree last year, and a favorite Katie Daisy print.

View from sitting on my bed: skirt lamp, bookshelf, CH Vogue ad, Beasts of the Southern Wild newspaper clipping, twins on the horse tree picture, Cesky Budejovice postcards, Trend firefly cutout

The cupboard Missy sold me last year. Lots of mugs to share!

Hannah's bed/side and what I wakeup to every morning. Love that girl!

Windowsill. Mason jar, Cheerwine bottle, vase, Sally, pinwheels from James and Waverly's wedding

Our inviting and colorful door! Come on in!

Hodge Podge

Last Friday, after the Inauguration of President Halvorson (for which we were given a day off), Rachel K, Hannah, Madi, Elisabeth, Alicia, Erika, KatieBeth and I drove over to Signal Mountain for their annual craft fair/ farmer's market. It was great fun and I picked up a few lovely things from some of the vendors.

• 2 hairbows (green and blue) $1 each
• Sweet Salsa Rita from a lovely woman. It's gluten free b/c she has celiac's and so scrumptious. $2.50 a jar.
• A sea green pearl necklace and small starfish charm. (1st and favorite purchase) $8
• Turqouise drop earrings $5
• Handmade wooden vase. Wormy Maple wood. Artist: sweetest old man named Mr. Ross $15

:To Share

• Yogurt, fruit, and granola. I personally am obsessed with the Archer Farms (Target) Chocolate Chunk Hazlenut Biscotti Granola. So yummy! I usually pair it with vanilla yogurt, sliced peaches, and occassionally strawberries.
• Writing down all of your assignments and deadlines for the week on a brightly colored notecard keeps you on top of everything and happy to look at it/ cross things off. Mine fits perfectly into my little calendar book.
• Look at the Related Artists on Spotify. You could discover wonderful things like Beta Radio.
• Sleep IS important. You need it to survive and function.

Autumn Plunder

 

 

 My 2 flannel shirts have been worn, not washed, bathed in smoke, and hung every evening on the back of my chair. It's autumn.

I've returned 14 books to the library only to check out more. Todays plunder comes in the form of this list and the subsequent photograph.

1. Footnote (2011) Hebrew, Portuguese, 106minutes
2. Summer Hours (2008) Criterion Collection, French, 103 min
3. Domesticating History: The Political Origins of America's House Museums by Patricia West
4. Fox on Wheels by Edward Marshall (reminds me of Robert)
5. When I Was Young in the Mountains by Cynthia Rylant
6. Georgia Music by Helen V. Griffith
7. Crow Call by Lois Lowry
8. Mountain Wedding by Faye Gibbons
9. Louhi: Witch of North Farm by Toni de Gerez
10. The Tale of Three Trees by Angela Elwell Hunt



Pleasant Pages

 

 

Working at my school's library has become a danger to myself and others. A danger to me because I currently have 20 books checked out and no time to read any of them. A danger to others because I beg them to let me read stories to them on a regular basis.

I love the simple joy of a picture book and have been taking the time to read old favorites and new and wonderful stories.

 

Here's what I currently have checked out from Kresge:

•  Many Moons by James Thurber
• Caps For Sale by Esphyr Slobodkina (I recently read this to Birch, Iris, and Laurel; it was a gift from their former babysitter and they LOVE it).
• The Quiet Book by Deborah Underwood (best line is "'What flashlight?' quiet."
• George and Martha One Fine Day by James Marshall (Lyss and Rachel C read these to each other and it warms my heart)
• Home by Thomas Locker
• The Mountains of Quilt by Nancy Willard (seriously the funniest book I have read in a while)
• Goggles! by Ezra Jack Keats
• Blackout by John Rocco
• Little Pea by Amy Krouse Rosenthal
• A River of Words by Jen Bryant (a William Carlos Williams biography in the form of a picture book!)
• A Chair for my Mother by Vera B. Williams
• I See the Winds by Kazue Mizumura
• Adelita by Tomie dePaola
• Fin M'Coul by Tomie dePaola
• Jamie O'Rourke and the Big Potato by Tomie dePaola (I so wish I could find a dePaola anthology...favorite illustrator ever.)

I am so grateful lately for words and stories and the passing down of these things to our children. So, if you ever want to read a story, please stop by and I'll drop just about anything to listen or read along.