lazy wednesday

i have so much work to do today, but all i want to do is go back to sleep. it stormed last night and throughout the morning and now things are just dreary and sleepy all around.

some things that get me moving:

Julie Doiron and Jens Lekman's music: jens' song Maple Leaves makes me want to drive and dance at the same time (probably not the safest combination.)

Loonymag: perhaps an antidote to the still hurting hearts of Domino fans around the country? (i am still one.) although this is more of a "slows me down" item then a "gets me moving" contribution. i am currently glued to my computer screen.

Harney and Sons Paris Tea: probably my favorite tea on earth! Dana got me hooked on this one. (thanks, aunt Dana!) i have already had three cups today. yummy!


my calendar..less than two weeks already? how did that happen?! got to go!

wilcox estate, east grand rapids

courtyard and party space
During Bab's 85th birthday week, we spent an afternoon at the Wilcox Estate Symphony Showcase open house. I think this was one of the top events of my year, being that I have wanted to tour the estate since its restoration a few years back. During high school I would walk the gardens and peek through the broken glass into the empty pool house, and squash room. The mystery of the vacated space became food for poems and short stories in my high school creative writing classes. To see it all dolled up, and ready to brag its restored beauty to the community was a joy.



The old pool house. I love the wood beams and beautiful cloudy glass windows



child's room


Mirrored French Doors


stenciled walls



muted walls, bold bed



muted purple walls


bell jars and bejeweled fruit




worn leather, local art, and lots of light



REB painting (left,) planter box in the window, lots of light, and Babs!



i loved this beautiful paintbrush-turned-art



astro-turf carpet, rectangular open fireplace in the center

white walls and an assortment of art- the squash room turned Paramount Hotel-inspired party room

too much stuff

Sometimes the tactile "necessities" we collect in our life become outdated and are no longer a necessity, but a weight. Over the years I have collected a lot of stuff, too much stuff in fact, and a lot of it is pretty weighty.
I am packing for my big move to Washington, DC and am realizing as I do so, that half of my possessions will not be joining me. Toys that were put away for my future children are being donated to Goodwill along with clothes, shoes, jewelry, pots and pans, a microwave, bags, and books. This process of sorting and purging has left me in a state of sadness, and renewal. Letting go of the past has never been a strength of mine, and reading old letters and looking through photographs has reminded me of this. However there is something so wonderful about the release of objects; Throwing away letters and postcards, high school tests and work, recycling textbooks and old art pieces has opened up a huge amount of space for me to move forward and focus on the present and plan for the future. It has also allowed for me to be able to move lightly. My initial trip will be two suitcases and a box. As I get settled in to an apartment, five more boxes will be sent via UPS from Michigan to DC. I am excited for this transition and for the pairing down of my things!

hello summer

happy birding,



and shadow hunting,



happy window washing,





and flower viewing,
and happy planting