8:27 PM

weekend to do

clean backyard turtle pond
sweep studio
meal planning & prep (gotta get this going again!)

instagram garage sale? (do you think these things work?)

ease into ::45::

::45::

marking milestones always makes me nostalgic. and I'm feeling remiss that I haven't recorded a bunch of going-ons here. for me, this space is really my visual and written diary. so in celebration of another year older, i'll list a few ...

- the sunsets lately have been spectacular. late summer. hot nights. but when I realize it is the end of september I begin to get antsy for cooler weather. we're ready. (even if the predicted "h-el-l nino" arrives.)

- we're leasing a third horse. Cisco. I'm a sucker for old animals in need of rescue, and he fit the bill. he is sweet and slow, and perfect for me to join in riding with the girls on Sunday. love.

- a close friend recently lost her mom after a short and aggressive bout with cancer. seeing her grieve, I was reminded of the complexity of loss, and death, and what it has brought to my life. on the other side, to know joy. true joy. there is so much space between the two. where i usually sit. i need to appreciate that space more.

- d ran a 1/2 marathon! we are extremely proud of him. he worked hard. trained hard. and set a personal record. he inspires us all...

- with that e has joined me spinning. while I enjoyed running, I had started to get bored and wasn't motivated to run when the weather was hot. riding has been great for my core, but i needed some cardio. I did some cross-training which I enjoyed, but then friends put me on to their studio, which I fell in love with. I'm going 3 times / week. and happy to have e peddling at my side at an early weekend class.

- I experienced my first american high school football game. albeit working the "snack shack". it felt like some kind of initiation. perhaps not that different than the wheat king games of my youth. I am excited for e - and her HS experience. she loves her school - and I am extremely grateful for that.

- k has also settled in nicely to school as well. I recall the transition a little more difficult for e. I'm sure seeing it first, has helped k a lot. she is familiar with the school, and the principal is actually someone we've known for a long time. (she is amazing!) while I've had my hesitations, she seems to be confident with the choices made and happy to be there. I am known to ramble on school choice here, the girls own academic pathways are something I keep to us. our public school system affords many levels of learning in an effort to differentiate. while in theory I might be attracted to this idea, the segregation that seems to be a result troubles me. i try and hold onto words my mom said to me a long time ago - you don't need the best for your child, you need what's best for your child. (thanks mom xo)

- we're going out tonight to celebrate 45 - and a friend's 44 at the six in calabasas. love the spots that have started to pop up in the west valley. hope the drift continues.

- our neighborhood has changed quite a bit this year. death. divorce. job loss. moving. and kids that at one point so easily played all together are growing up and with that new interests and a little drifting apart. it is great to see that when social occasions bring them all together, they fall back easily, like family. and I am still so constantly grateful for the friendships I've formed here. I don't know what I'd do without them.

- with new families in the neighborhood, and little kids too (yay!) a couple of young moms started "wine wednesday". described as "bookclub without the book" we gather the first wednesday of the month to nosh, sip wine, and talk mom-stuff. it is really great. and a treat to sit with these moms as they weave through motherhood, work, graduate school and so on from my vantage point, with older kids.

- trying to make this space more than just about my list making affinity! though re-reading this made me remember the importance in our house of getting things done on the weekend in order to enjoy our busy week. working in horse chores has been tough. but worth it. our groove feels close. and writing here feels good.

i think that's it. though i feel i'm forgetting something (memory, with eyesight perhaps? did I mention I finally chose reading glasses?)

with my birthday here, I have to say (again) I love my 40s. and am confident this mid-point will be a good one. hello 45 :)

weekend to do

*

early saturday spin class with e (our new routine)
iel meeting
haunted ranch meeting

around the house
rearrange artwork in k's room
what next to order for the bathroom?



* visited a beautiful new exhibition at the getty center with my mom this past week. Louis Style: French Frames 1610-1792 (which D worked on) is up until January 3, 2016. so add it to your to do list ;)

::14::

12:33 pm she turned 14. strong, smart, beautiful. she has taught me so much, about so much.



happy birthday, dear e. xo

weekend to do

around the house
trim backyard plants
sweep decking
clean bbq

post expedit on craigslist
prep for gramma's arrival!




a 4 day weekend =
extra riding
reading poolside
trying a new (favorite?) drink
sister corita kent at the pasadena museum of art

sketch-ed

spent a day this week reviewing 40 years of one artist's sketchbooks. mainly life drawing, but also portraits of family, and simple still life drawings capturing the day-to-day. so good.

weekend to do (monday edition)

the bat mitzvah ate our weekend. so...

around the house
final clear for k's desk. books to goodwill.
order tile and flooring
wash windows in the early morning
clean out fridge
meal plan
make granola

work deadline wednesday. go!

happy monday

#mazeltovjoelle

glickman love is fierce. bubbie leads the way. and her amazing granddaughters (all 11 or them) follow her with full hearts. it is such a joy to watch these girls grow. the youngest of the big is entering her last year of university, set to receive her BFA in printmaking, and a teaching credential in the spring. the eldest of the littles, is two years away from university. it seems like yesterday we were celebrating her bat mitzvah.

and we are so especially proud of our niece joelle, and the work she put into getting to this day. she is so much of the very best a 13 year old can be. xo




bubbie's bat mitzva 2007

weekend to do

and wow. week one of high school and middle school. bam!
absolutely nothing else seemed to happen this week! (the girls are loving their new schools. and I am loving the love. and the fact that E can walk to school once again!)



around the house
order desk for k (long time coming - and while my preference is for homework at the kitchen table, I totally appreciate her desire for a place to study in her room. plus it is currently on sale!)
measure placement for shower fixture
reorganize "library"

bathroom redo (2)

those of you following me on instagram may have noticed our smaller bathroom is currently demoed down to the studs. d decided to take on this project, and now we are in the throes of a remodel. luckily we spent some time mulling over choices some years back, and have our master bath to base it on. (i love it still, after all these years!)

there are only a few variations. this bathroom has a stall shower - and we will add a glass door to the list of changes. other than that, the fixtures, for the most part, are staying the same as the other bathroom. (i'm a big proponent to design continuity, especially in a smaller house. i like seeing the same color palette, light fixtures, faucets, tile, etc stretching through the space.)

will keep you posted. (or hop over to instagram for more day to day progress - or not ;) )

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weekend to do

with a heatwave arriving, staying cool is on the top of our list...

and enjoying our last weekend of summer vacation!

"country fair with ocean air"

yesterday we drove up the coast to ventura county to visit the fair.

4H exhibits, chicken/rabbit obstacle course, pig races...
bacon-wrapped turkey legs, deep-fried everything, cold beer on a hot day, funnel cake...*
rollercoaster, fun-house (x2), gravitron...



















going to the fair brought back many childhood memories. a country fair was a constant of my summers in manitoba. ventura county didn't disappoint. how great to see how little has changed, from blue ribbon produce to future farmers of america showing of their year's work. to cowboy boots and classic country songs. to the rides and the carnies and the food. (*we didn't partake in anything bacon, nor fried, but did indulge in the beer - adults - and the funnel cake - kids!)


ventura county fair - august 5 - 16, 2015

enter at "A"

hosted by Pacific Dressage at the Hansen Dam Equestrian Center

both girls tested Intro Level B and ribboned. E on a challenging horse she isn't a big fan of - and she was amazing. K on the same pony E rode in her first test. this little lady is one to watch!

weekend to do

around the house
clean turtle ponds
buy interior trim paint
order new book case
dust house plants

horse show!

day trippin'

we had been wanting to visit the quicksilver ranch for a while. coupled with an invitation to carpinteria, and wine tasting in the santa ynez valley, yesterday we packed up a picnic and headed up the 101 to make a day of it.
































santa ynez valley (sideways :) )
brander winery (perfect picnic spot)
quicksilver ranch (huell houser episode here!)
jedlicka's
sides hardware and shoes (bacon!)
carpinteria state beach

weekend to do

call plumber re: shower redo

relax by the pool (camp is over and there are two weeks left before school starts...!)
enjoy blueberry coconut popsicles a la E <3

happy august!