How to start.
I’m at loss for words.
{which is a very odd predicament for me}
Thank you for your unbelievably gracious
and kind and supportive and encouraging
response to my
dear mom who feels like she is failing post.
I am simply overwhelmed
and grateful.
Thank you also for all of your kind comments and emails.
To all of you
– keep doing what you are doing, just keep trying, keep doing one thing at a time –
and remember that what you are doing matters.
Mothers matter.
Samuel
oh those eyes
that boy
that sweet boy
he blesses me greatly.
apples
waiting for apple crisp
or one of the little boys to grab
and ask for me to cut in half
{to make sure that there’s no worm}
we are so grateful for the bags and bags and bags
of apples from my parents.
my photographer gracie
{who is wearing that fave nyc shirt again}
wandering around taking pictures
of the last days of summer.
the blank wall
waiting for the chalkboard to be rehung
and pictures
and handprints
but for now
just fresh paint.
art
life as art
apples on a chalkboard
simple beauty
light
reflecting and casting shadows
on my chairs
in the mid afternoon
chairs waiting for little ones to
sit and color and eat dinner and laugh.
wreck this journal
Chloe asked for this all summer long
and it has become a total fave in our home
here’s the amazon link
Wreck This Journal (Duct Tape) Expanded Ed.
{and remember I’m an affiliate so please see my disclosure policy}
this book has become our birthday gift of choice.
okra
{anyone have a recipe for me?}
from my dad’s garden
{again}
waiting for me to figure out what to do with it.
my dad’s grapes
{I just love him and my mother so much.}
that he grows for our family
to simply enjoy.
reading on a Saturday
Brennan
sitting at Grandmas
reading a comic
resting
and
enjoying life.
and finally
my birthday boy
Elijah
opening his presents for the big
five year old birthday
at my parents.
I am so blessed to be his mother.
16 comments
Samuel’s eyes are stunning!! What sweet pics all around.
Have a wonderful weekend!
Falen
I need to know where you live! For some reason I thought it was Minnesota (that’s where I grew up). Your produce is amazing!! I would give anything to have an apple tree. I think I’d better plant one and see how it does. I think it’s too hot here in South Georgia since all the orchards are at least 2 hours north.
We have a ton of okra too and all I know to do with it is cover it with olive oil, salt, and pepper and grill it. I’ll be watching to see what everyone else is doing!
I was one of the people who was truly touched by your post. A friend sent it to my, not knowing how bad I was feeling the day before about my failings. It really lifted me up like you wouldn’t believe. I’m a new follower and so glad to have found you. From Australia.
Anne @ Domesblissity
you always remind me to stay focused on my kids happiness!
As always, I am thankful for you and your words of encouragement and wisdom … God bless you!
those apple pics give me fall fever. and oh my word… Gracie the photographer is presh!!!
Beautiful post and photos! x
Love all of this, thanks for sharing. Also, what age do you think the Wreck This Journal is good for? It looks so fun!
I found your blog because of the dear mother post! Thank you so much for sharing that, and giving me the boost I desperately needed.
Okra – steam it, serve it over rice, with some soy sauce. Oh so yummy!
I’m friends with a lot of mom’s on FB. Mostly mom’s probably. Your article was on my news feed TWENTY TWO times. It touched everyone, including myself.
Okra – we fry it! OMG, so so so so so unbelievably good. 🙂 The farmer from our CSA gave us the recipe. It’s very similar to Paula Deen’s recipe http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/fried-okra-recipe/index.html (I can’t find the one we use right now)
Thanks as always for the great post & photos & for hosting the linkup, & God bless,
Laurie
My kids and hubby absolutely adore pickled okra. They’ll go through a pint jar in a sitting if I let them, and it’s one of the quickest and easiest things that I make during canning season. Also, my kids love to eat the cloves of garlic that pickle with the okra, and prefer it with mustard seeds instead of dill seeds. Give it a try!
Did your daughter take all of these?? They are beautiful pics! I’m sorry I missed this link. I’m going to add it to my calendar for next week!
your beautiful pictures want me to document the simple things in life. so beautiful! Thank you for sharing! i linked up for the first time
Pickle the okra
Or cut up and fry okra use egg/milk mixture cornmeal and salt pepper.. It’s amazing
Pickle the okra
Or cut up and fry okra use egg/milk mixture cornmeal and salt pepper.. It’s amazing