Thankful

We've celebrated Thanksgiving at Sylvia's for the past 5 years. Except for last year. Last year Sylvia was really sick and we weren't sure she would make it. Actually everyone, including Sylvia, was sure she wouldn't make it. But she did...and this year we celebrated Thanksgiving at Sylvia's.

And I'm thankful for Marci...my friend and neighbor. It's amazing to sit around the table with her and her friends and listen to a lifetime of stories of travel, living abroad, trails hiked and mountains climbed (literally)...

Oh yeah, I'm thankful for the food too....mmmm turkey.....

Beautiful Bainbridge

I spent the best day on Bainbridge with some longtime clients. They showed me one of their favorite special haunts. And after a full morning of tromping through the fields we got to go back to their beautiful home for a yummy bowl of turkey soup before a mad dash to the ferry.

I love these next two because they were completely natural. Livvy going off ahead, walking through the mist and the girls piling on their dad (as he tries to keep dry). It's such a moment of childhood...being small enough to just sit on your dad's legs or tummy...

The other fun part about being at the grandparents house was that I got to see photos from my first meeting with the Westphals when the oldest was not even a year!

Sexy White Shoes

I was pretty sure when I saw Louis's sexy white shoes that we were going to have good times together. Plus they were the perfect mix of ideas and willingness. Their wedding at the super gorgeous Fairmont Hotel is going to be dy-no-mite.

I love this one because he's looking at Ann like, "I love you soooo much...you're funny and cute and perfect".

there's a lot of fake flare floating around out there but this is genuine 100% authentic all natural sunshine...

Me and Annie

I woke up yesterday and it was like Christmas was over. It was a very nice evening...Annie's not such a dynamic speaker but her photos are amazing and it was interesting to hear her talk about her work.

Backstage she introduced herself to me and shook my hand which I thought was very cute and charming. She defended me against the ribbing of Linda which made me want to smile and barf at the same time (I settled for backing into a corner and trying to pretend I didn't exist). She gave me a couple of stare downs (see previous reactions) and then it was just the regular business of the lecture and reception with the added twist of a near mosh pit of adoration.

Rosana and Naeem

I try not to be drawn to hyperbole in my blog writing so let's just say that I really really really liked Naeem and Rosana...let's count the ways.

1. they made me seriously good coffee in the craziest coffee maker I've ever seen
2. they showed me their wedding pictures and were patient enough to describe it all in detail and tell me who everyone was
3. they are having a home birth and you know my sister in law is the home birth queen (no, really)
4. their playlist could have been taken straight from my computer
5. they had a million ideas for photos but completely deferred to my judgement
6. no one got tense with each other and used secret eye movements or serious voices (I hate when that happens)
7. they were game for anything...seriously
8. we laughed the entire time

There's more but now I feel self-conscious. Okay, I will just add that I could feel the love these too had for each other...I'm pretty sure they are going to have one super little baby!

It's actually surprisingly hard to draw with shaving cream...

Did I mention they were up for anything?

What you want

I was describing what the SAL receptions are like to a friend who will be at the upcoming Annie Leibovitz lecture. I told her that it is kind of a mob scene but then revised it. For the most part it seems that people just want to stand near the author. If you wanted to actually speak with them you could, usually, just walk right up, introduce yourself and enter into conversation.

I have a firmly held belief that you get what you ask for. It started my junior year abroad in Nepal where we had to conduct independent research projects. I studied AIDS education. I would just call up people...government officials, heads of NGO's, performers, doctors...important people. And they would meet with me. Maybe it was easier because I knew what I wanted. The hardest part now seems not in asking for something...but in knowing what I want to ask for.

I love this photo because even though this group paid for a special walk and luncheon with the well know poet WS Merwin, he is listening to her, delighting in her presence.

Can you imagine just looking at a painting and suddenly you are discussing it's subtleties with John Updike? Or, you hand him the sketch you made of him during the lecture and he kindly tucks it into his jacket pocket...

Up for a trip...

I love a good long road trip but I'll also settle for a fun little excursion and I've got two coming up. Both days have openings so I thought I'd throw it open...

Bainbridge Island: Sunday November 16th

Portland: Saturday November 22nd

If you are interested or have a friend that might be let me know and I can give you more information...I've got special surprises for my travel buddies!

Where oh where will she turn up next?

Hello again

You know what I really like...happy kids. You know what I really really like...happy kids that are silly, sassy, goofy and maybe even just a little bit naughty. Sydney's got it all in spades.

This is our annual installment...I can totally vividly recall each yearly session we've had since she was 6 months...sitting in a flower bed in Seward park with a little knit cap on...I'd dig out the photo but it was film. Yes, it was that long ago!

You Big Baby

Exie is 7 months!

Don't you love those second babies? We wake her up from a sound sleep, she's got a cold, her sister face plants her, we change her clothes in the chilly air...and not a peep. She just takes it with a quiet, graceful acceptance (and a little bit of pumpkin puree barf...)

Back to basics

Ari and I are finding our footing with the new schedule...I'm picking him up from school now one day a week and then heading out on an adventure. The first week we headed to a park. It was a blast. But I stayed around for dinner and witnessed first hand the effects of over tiredness on a 3 year old. Yes, I will have another glass of wine thank you.

So then we tried a more mellow approach. A walk in a nearby park. He fell asleep in the car and, while I spent a delightful 2 hours having a tea party with my friends in their yard while he slept, it wasn't exactly our most quality time.

This week we headed back to basics...We came home and headed out on a walk. We looked for nuts, mushrooms, worms, berries and big green leaves. We held hands, raced, made up little games and sniffed lots of things. I got a kiss and a hug and a wave goodbye. It was a very good day.

moments before the aforementioned meltdown...

such a pretty boy...

mmm....cedar...good to sniff....

Charlotte and Dante

I love love love getting emails like this...mmmm now if only I could get me some black cherry wine to read it by this email would be perfect....

"We all loved our session today! I overheard Charlotte having a conversation with her friend in the car today: "I got my pictures taken today. And I tore this branch off the willow tree and gave Libby Lewis a tail! (then burst into laughter)" Too cute! You are awesomely good with the kids and we enjoy chatting with you too!

Now if I could find me some black cherry wine to celebrate our good photo session- the day would be near perfect.Cheers, T"

uh oh...they're coming for me...

Who hiccuped? Was it you? No? It was me...nooo...I'm sure it was you.....

man oh man she was good at those monkey bars....of course part of the game was that she was trying to kick me...

this might be the exact moment when I got the aforementioned tail...