Last fair of the season

I wasn't sure we were going to make it to a fair this year.  The two big ones usually happen on Labor Day weekend every year.  This year we were exploring Prince Edward Island at the time.  But!  We still had Deerfield fair to look forward to.  It was windy and cold.  But so much fun to take Liam and show him the tractors, the animals, the excitement.  

Eleven

  I've been in a writing funk.  So many ideas and good, hearty topics cloud my mind while I'm driving or working.  I have so many pictures linked with emotions and words to accompany them.  I have a first (first!) birthday party approaching and so many feelings about that.  I have a boy, who learns and grows faster than I can emotionally handle right now.  

He is in daycare full time now.  The transition came at a time when he was getting physically ready for full/active days.  It came when I realized that working from home and taking care of him at the same time was no longer easy or the best for him, myself or my job.  

After kissing him goodbye with wishes for a good day and tiny chubby hands waving goodbye, I pulled into line to leave the parking lot.  The school aged kids were beginning to board the yellow bus.  I watched as these little first graders took the big steps.  One little girl was kissing her mama goodbye.  

In that moment, my eyes filled with tears. Eleven months in, i can't imagine my life without him.  

And really, that's all this mama's heart can put out there tonight.

Ramblings, at the end of August

The closer we get to the Vermont border, the more corn fields begin to take over the delicious green scenery.

Beautiful farmhouses nestled among fields of corn.  James Taylor's voice fills the car while Liam snoozes in the backseat.  

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I was finishing up my weekly grocery shop the other day when i overheard a nine or ten year old girl ask her mom how fruit was made.  Not; "where does it grow, or how does it grow," but who makes it and how.  I kept browsing while extending my listening time a bit too much.  The mom quickly responded with; "It's not made, it grows.  Common, we need to hurry."  I looked at the little girl, staring at the cut up pieces of watermelon, cantaloupe and pineapple put into a perfectly square take out container.  I'm not here to judge that mom, because goodness, we've all been in a hurry before.  But that little girl, she had a very important question, she was curious.  She was shut down.  She continued to follow her mom out to the checkout, still staring quietly at her fruit.

I get caught up in the hustle of life as well.  I have appointments, deadlines, things to do and send and edit and get done.  I've been thinking a lot lately about how much time i spend taking photos of clients, editing them, scheduling things.  I love taking photos and capturing moments for other families, but as Liam grows, i'm not sure how much time i want committed to others, when i still work 45 hours a week.  Some days it gets to me.  Some days i love it.  I only had two sessions in August, it seemed about perfect.

I don't want to live fast paced.  I want to have the time to anwser Liam's important questions.  To tickle his toes.  To sit on the grass and watch him play without thinking of things I should be doing.  Because I should, I'll want to be right there.  Right here.  

There is a hashtag on Instagram: #theartofslowliving.  I like it.

This view never gets old.  I remember as a kid, figuring out the timeline of summer by the corn's height.  We knew that when the corn was really tall or being harvested that new school clothes were purchased and the yellow bus would pull up to pick us up.

We ended up at Farmway.  Only the best store ever.  I mean it.  It has everything you can think of.  We browsed, spent a bit too much money and headed out to the furniture tent to grab a complimentary cider doughnut before hitting the road home.  I should emphasize, Liam's first cider doughnut.  Quite a big day for the little guy.

Right before taking the bridge back across the river to NH,  i saw this little antique flea market.  I quickly turned around and headed back.  So much to look at and wonder about.  Not much ever comes home with us, but that's never the plan anyhow.  A few buttons and some magazines i might frame for a wall in my sewing room.  Liam began to snooze in the Ergo as i wandered the market.  Every single lady over forty had to take a peak at him and gush.  I loved that.  But the best part was conversing with the older folk there, who were selling their treasures.  The lady i purchased the buttons and magazines from?  Well, she was quite busy eating her banana with a fork when i interrupted her by asking how much i owed her.  Her response was short and rushed, "A buck.  Everything is a buck." she said with a mouth full of banana.  Ok, i said.  I handed her four dollars, and as i did she began telling me that the needlepoint magazines i was purchasing had some really good tips, if i was actually going to do the handwork.  I thanked her and told her that i couldn't wait to pour into them.  She gave me a half smile (as much as i think anyone would get from her), and i went on my way.  

Nothing quite like old Vermont farm ladies.  A breath of fresh air, if you ask me.

#theartofslowliving.  Vermont does that for me.

The first of August

The day was going to be hot and humid, the first of August.  The first Saturday of the month.  Liam and i woke, had a quick bite of breakfast and kissed daddy goodbye while he slept off last nights work. We scooted out the door to give him a few hours of quiet.  After a stop for coffee and scones, we landed at the farm, our favorite place.  Good mornings exchanged, baby placed on the braided rug at the tables feet.  Tea heated, coffee sipped, scones begin their crumbling escape.  Liam screeches and hollers.  He spy's the kitty, Crystal.  He pulls up on the chair, he tests the kindling bucket for good wood chips.  He greets Eliza's granddaughter with fascination and love.  Stuffed animals are cautiously shared while pieces of scones are scatted about the floor.  When his eyes begin to look heavy, we say our goodbyes and head out the door for a walk around the loop.  

I exhale.

He begins to let his body slump into mine as we walk.

The warmth of our body's tucked closely together, it's sweaty.  It's good.  Not quite asleep yet, he grabs for leaves on the trees we pass.  I pause and let him touch and feel them.

We follow the warn tractor paths.  Paths used for decades and decades to cut the hay, to gather firewood, to reach the woods.

As we enter the woods, the humidity is cut back with the cool forest floor beneath us and tree canopy shading us.

He doesn't fall asleep.  He used to sleep within minutes of being strapped to me.  Now he wants to take in this world, to explore, to feel the earth.  I can't blame him.

As we round back to the house, i feel more grounded and ready to take on this beautiful summer weekend.  After picking some blueberries, we pack up the car and head home to greet daddy.  Liam's asleep before we even pull out of the driveway.  

Welcome, August.