blessings

temps in the triple digits drove us to the beach this weekend. as i sat amongst my neighbours and watched our kids play in the surf i silently said goodbye to summer. the girls and i are headed to australia. i am thinking by the time we return our beach days will be over. at least beach days like this. i am so grateful to live close to the sea. so grateful to have these friends as my neighbours. so grateful for these summer memories.





today would have been my dad's 69th birthday. i thank him daily for teaching me the value of community. and for leaving me so many wonderful memories.

and ::40::

We celebrated my 40th last night. We weren't going to do anything now - the girls and I are taking off for a couple of weeks - but I am glad we did. It was impromptu and informal and I was surrounded by people I love. I felt very very lucky.

I keep trying to think of something clever to say about entering a new decade. A list perhaps as before. (Nice to see I have checked off so many! 31. is my priority this year.) Something to celebrate where I've been, and guide where I want to go. But I am coming up empty. We are so busy. And I am so content. Things seem to be fitting nicely. I can't say that 40 will be easy. I have a feeling I will be challenged. And I am looking forward to that.

{thank you ang for documenting it for me. xo}

nine.years.old.

life is really full right now. i could write pages on how happy this kid makes me. instead:

nine wonderful years. the joy is more than i could have imagined. it is a gift to be her mama. i love you baby. xo

what we learned on our summer vacation.

10. i never get enough.

what we learned on our summer vacation.

9. a turkey can have more personality than I ever imagined. (and a day at the farm is always well spent.)

















Trincomali Farms (where the girls were riding this summer) also operates as part of Rest.Q Animal Sanctuary. It was an amazing experience for the girls to spend time with these animals. Harry the pig, and Gavin the turkey made an especially strong impression. The animals all had stories. Mostly of hardship. But luckily the stories end at this beautiful farm. You can read more stories over on their blog.

what we learned on our summer vacation.

8. gumboots make a fashion statement. (and can be worn daily.)

what we learned on our summer vacation.

7. days can be full.  with absolutely nothing.

what we learned on our summer vacation.

6. it is very difficult to carry home enough blackberries for three jars of jam.

what we learned on our summer vacation.

5. there is a joy in staring out to sea.
it is important to do as often as possible.

things we learned on our summer vacation.

4. a swing is a very good thing.



alone.



or not.