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lubec // day one

My husband’s family owns some land in Lubec, Maine (the Eastern-most town in the U.S.) and most years we spend at least a week there on vacation. It is a long drive — it usually takes us 9-10 hours — so the first day of the trip is mostly spent on the road. Last year we made the mistake of trying to drive in the night, which resulted in my husband feeling physically ill from all of the caffeine he had to ingest just to stay awake. This year we tried a different approach: leaving early in the morning (about 5:30am). We got to watch the sun rise as we waited at the Dunkin Donuts drive-through, but the early hour unfortunately meant that the little guy didn’t enough sleep or enough breakfast so he ended up getting sick, twice. But, we made it! It felt so good to get out of the car, stretch our legs, and gaze across the beautiful bay. And, we were even rewarded with a beautiful rainbow.

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mid-year resolutions

From “Late Summer” by Jennifer Grotz:

Summer lingers, but it’s about ending. It’s about how things
redden and ripen and burst and come down.

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Since we’re more than halfway through the year, I thought it might be a good time to check in on the resolutions I made back in January. So, here are my goals and the progress I’ve made:

1. Paint the basement and put up the curtain walls.
// Making some good progress here! I’ve primed most of the walls, painted and semi-furnished Damian’s workshop area, and I have in my possession the dropcloths I’m going to use as curtains. I need to get some galvanized steel pipes to hang them from (they’re pretty heavy), and finish priming and painting the remaining areas.
2. Work on creating my “mom cave” so I can be creative without distractions.
// I did set up a nice craft/art area in the basement, but it is going to be a shared area for me and the kids. Now I’m working on creating a “cloffice” for myself in our bedroom. So far I’ve removed the old shelves, filled all the holes, primed, and painted. The last step is to buy the lumber and install the shelves and desk.
3. Finally finish college and have a graduation party!
// DONE!!!!
4. Read all of the books that I got for Christmas, before next Christmas.
// I’ve finished 3 out of 4!
5. Write letters to my grandmother once a month.
// I think I’ve done pretty well with this, though I’m not actually keeping track. It’s the gesture that counts. I’m also trying to be better about corresponding with friends and family, in general.
6. Stick to the budget I created last fall, which was completely disregarded in December…
// For this goal I’ve been all over the place. We had unexpected car-related expenses in July that totaled over $600 so that month the budget kind of went out the window. I am trying to be more aware of our finances, though. And, I try to update my budget spreadsheet on a bi-weekly basis.
7. Schedule time to be alone, time to be with my kids (individually), and time to be with my husband.
// Nope.
8. Put up pictures in the hallway.
// Not yet.
9. Work on Lillia’s ballet performance scrapbook.
// Argh! I need to do this!
10. Grow some stuff! (Vegetables, flowers, whatever strikes my fancy).
// I got some hand-me-down tomatoes from my parents and they have actually produced some fruit. Not enough to be more than passing entertainment for a toddler, but still…
11. See my friends at least once this year. I miss them.
// Still need to do this. My friend left me a message and I need to call her back!
12. Learn how to use my new camera — techniques and composition.
// I haven’t really worked on this yet. I would love to take a class.
13. Work on the Anna Maria Horner feather quilt (the only craft on this list, for a good reason).
// I doubt this will happen, but there’s still time!

I have a ton of pictures from our vacation to Maine, but I can’t do anything with them until I get my laptop back. It should arrive this week, so hopefully I will have a chance to work on that soon.

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“graduation”

Because I already participated in the commencement ceremony for my degree (way back in 2005!) I was not eligible to walk in this year’s ceremony. But, my husband’s parents treated me to a graduation ceremony of their own this past weekend. It was a lot of fun!

My mother-in-law gave a very nice commencement address in which she discussed the importance of hard work, perseverance, and resilience.

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In addition to the honors I received from Keene State College, I also received several awards from the Wilsonian Institute, as well as from various members of my family (including my cat!).

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It’s hard to believe this but the last time I “graduated” Lillia was the same age as Zane is now! She’s grown a lot since then but she always was, and still is, a huge part of my motivation to finish my degree.

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My mother-in-law even made me this delicious cake, complete with a red & white color scheme — the colors of my alma mater.

I am so grateful to have such a wonderful family.

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easter

This post is a bit late, but better late than never!

First, the egg hunt. Papa made an excellent caddy for Lillia, our little spring bunny. It brings me such happiness to look at these photos and see her joy. Even though she is nine she still deeply feels the magic of holiday festivities.

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Then there was the egg decorating! Lillia is a prolific egg-maker.

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Zane is more of a mess-maker. But, he was really proud of himself anyway!

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I hope you all had a wonderful holiday.

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the easter hare

From “What Does the Easter Hare Have to Say to Children?” by Freidel Lenz:

The gentle rabbit, who never harms another animal, is a plant-eater and a rodent. He never shrieks except in peril of death, and then only a little. He does not have his own home; his lodge is here today and there tomorrow. People say he became the true picture of the Easter rabbit leaving his eggs in the spring because of his fertility. But other animals, such as the mouse, are much more prolific. The rabbit has exceptionally fine hearing; he is “all ears,” our Mister Longear. His eyes are sharp, not externally, but rather inwardly. One even says he sleeps with his eyes open. The number of his enemies is great. Hunters and dogs go after him. If he sees a comrade being chased who cannot go any further, he springs into his place and deceives the hunting dogs, while the other hides himself, and so he rescues his brother. It is all of these attributes, and especially the last one, which make the rabbit a noble and significant symbol.


My children are growing up in a world where holidays are about gifts and treats, and it is often said of Americans that our holidays are “too commercial.” This may be true, but it doesn’t mean that we can’t bring meaning and purpose to celebrations in our own home. I really love Freidel Lenz’s analysis of the noble qualities of the rabbit. Though at first glance a simple creature, it is an animal with many qualities that we as exalted humans often lack — gentleness, kindness, and selflessness. The rabbit has much to teach us.

Happy Easter.

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