found these two down the street
guess the price was too high
even with
that stripy, ratty love seat
thrown in as a bonus.
—
he who loves, flies, runs, and rejoices; he is free and nothing holds him back.
– henri matisse
Jul24
Category Archives: family
Jul21
little boys should never be sent to bed. they always wake up a day older. – peter pan
spending the weekend with grand baby joeys, f and m,
(who have a look of mischief in their eyes like the vintage lads above)
while their mom is away with friends
and it’s so very different
from time spent with our girl babies
yet every moment is equally exciting
in its very own way
where going swimming in a pool
counts as a bath
and waking up in bathing suits
makes us ready
for another day’s adventure
and it’s all about
perpetual motion
and peeing
and rocks
and bugs
and ghost tales
and staying up late
and everything is sticky
and wet
and dirty
and it is a delight.
boys are found everywhere – on top of, underneath, inside of, climbing on,
swinging from, running around, or jumping to.
– alan marshall beck
—
image credits: everything vintagesteff.com, pinterest.com
Jul17
sometimes, bad days are there to remind you that you have good ones to look forward to. – author unknown
like the day
you stood on the upside-down water table
with your beloved blankie and pacifiier all dirty
a bandaid on your scraped-up foot
mosquito bites itching
an empty bug net
and a turtle with a snapped-off tail nearby
you can’t find your shoes
your diaper is wet
you’re tired
and your shorts are all twisted-up.
and then –
suddenly
it is the next day
and the sun is shining
and
you have a fancy cocktail
right in front of you
with
floating fruit cut in shapes
a special bendy straw
and you are standing
at a table just your size
with your fancy red shirt on
and your smile
is as big as the universe
and
in an instant
all is well with the world
once again.
—
here’s to you, baby j, as you continue to persevere
and find your way through the world, even after the tough days.
you are a model for all of us.
Jul16
the smallest feline is a masterpiece. – leonardo da vinci
and we have added to our family once again.
this handsome fellow,
a flyweight
weighing in at just 8 pounds
and 8 years old
has lived a hard life
first on his own
surviving
on the mean streets
with scars, and cuts, and ruffled fur
then with a family
who may not have fully appreciated his charms
and he was sent away
to spend his days in a small cage
with nothing but an uncertain future
and a short timeline ahead
but he has persevered
against all odds.
–
and when we walked into the shelter
and he reached
with
a tiny ginger paw
out of his cell
to wave to us
and called out
with a little voice
we knew
he had been waiting a long time
to meet us
just as
we had been waiting a long time
to meet him.
and when
we carried him into the cottage
he
was instantly transformed
into
the most affectionate and gentle cat
we have ever met
and knew that he was home at last.
(he has been lovingly named nacho, and he is the furry one with the orange hair.)
Jul15
too many cooks make a fine soup
how do
a dozen adults plus teenagers, toddlers, babies and dogs
all in one kitchen
end up with a perfect meal?
m and j actively working on their teamwork skills
—
as the fine web
of family connections
spins and grows
the communal vacation kitchen
thrives and glows.
“in the long history of humankind…
those who learned to collaborate and improvise most effectively have prevailed.”
~ charles darwin
Jul13
“and at the end of the day, your feet should be dirty, your hair messy, and your eyes sparkling.” — shanti
a windy day
at empire beach
on lake michigan
by sleeping bear dunes
Jul12
there’s something special about the feel of a vacation
Jul11
and we have taken the family circus on the road and headed up north
under the big top in glen arbor, michigan
there’s always lots of action in all 3 rings
and then,
we relax and look ahead to another adventure tomorrow
Keep the circus going inside you, keep it going,
don’t take anything too seriously,
it’ll all work out in the end.
David Niven
—
animated image credit: bil keane
Jul8
i owe my success to having listened respectfully to the very best advice, and then going away and doing the exact opposite. – g. k. chesterton
on a walk
by the detroit river
one cousin
two years older
and wiser
offers the other
a show of support
and perhaps
a small bit of advice.
—
Whatever advice you give, be short.
Horace
Jul7
a well-spent day brings happy sleep. leonardo da vinci
and at last
the family
is all tucked in
and
tuckered out
from another day
spent together
and it is good.
I didn't have my glasses on.... 