The moon rose...

and I survived.

barely.

But there were highlights to this moonlit weekend:

Hanging out with the most amazing people in the North East Kingdom.  It is a place people, and it definitely lives up to its name.

Visiting a place reminiscent of the towns Spectre and The Village.  Its white buildings and pristine town green give a feeling of heaven on Earth sprinkled with a pinch of eerie.

Listening to Seth and May play their inspiring music for a second time in one week.  I have been humming one particular song all.morning.long.

Getting to see my very own Mister on a stage with Chris and Phillip.  You did amazing and it was a joy to see you play.

Watching four frolicking children on a perfectly beautiful Sunday, out in the green grass under a very blue sky.

Sitting on a blanket and listening to Matt play his guitar during above mentioned frolicking. Grass still green. Sky still blue. Life still amazing.

Learning about maps and loons from Corrie and Clare, smart women they are.

Lake Caspian.  Watching a young boy squeal in delight as he submerges his naked body in that frigid water.  Brave I tell you.  Apparently our offspring still require 80 degree pools for they barely made it past their toes.  I didn't even touch it ;-)

Coming home.  Living in the most precious place on Earth.

the end.

 

0 + one....

My god do I love me a baby.

You know how mothers all have different ages that they are particuliarly good at or just fond of?

When I was preggo with Gabrielle a close friend was also having a little girl.  We had babies a week apart.  I used to laugh because she was alomst totally bored with a new born, hoping that it would get bigger quick and do something already.

Not me though.

I loved it and wanted it to last forever.

But now I have big kids.  The ones I cursed at the play ground for running past my sweet toddler and being TO CRAZY.  These play grounds aren't for you, don't you have school or something?  

And now I laugh at those ridiculous mothers who think their toddler owns the play ground... sheesh!  

And now I  love having big kids.  But they got big too fast and I wish I could have two more little ones, for old times sake.  But that isn't going to happen... 

So I feel so very privledged when I am invited to hang out with smaller ones!  And last night a certain smaller friend turned one.  We celebrated with the perfect taco (not soggy at all), amazing guacamole (mine of course), and song plus cake too...

Sweet older brother kept his eye on the cake the entire evening.  I am sure he was making sure it was safe and sound for dear Samantha.

and he did a great job!

and Samantha took her very fist bite of cake.  handmade by brother of course.

and Henry approved of the outcome...

and we let Mister Witt have some too!

Happy birthday small friend, can't wait to watch you grow!

Silo Sessions...

When I used to spend a lot of the summer back east for a few years, I would dream about the day we lived here... where I could walk in the woods everyday, go to concerts all summer long, ride my bike, lay in the grass and play in the snow... I never considered that my real life chores would not stay in Arizona and let me move to vacation land all by myself!

The fact is...

laundry followed

grocery shopping followed

a dirty house followed

homework followed

dinner making followed

the dog came 

the kids came

the work came.

I don't mind the work.  It is living. 

However...

Sometimes you have to go to the concert and leave the paint cans, flooring project, proper bedtime, math flashcards, dirty bathtub behind and do what is right.

So we had the pleasure of arriving to a farm dinner...

to eat with these fine folks...

and then hit the farm bakery for an intmate night of music... check out that awesome apron hanging up!!  I wonder who makes those??

and last but not least, the man of the hour, Mister Chris Dorman.  Delightful storyteller, singer songwriter, kind friend...

He put these silo sessions on all winter.  You can read about them HERE.  Sadly they are over for the winter but will pick back up when the summer air starts to chill.  They are oh so special so I recommend you join in!  For now, summer time is around the corner and Burger Night starts again!  Hope to see all you beautiful people there!!

PS: We traded with Chris and Corie, our couch for some kale!  And now we have our very own CSA card!  Their kale and other amazing products are fantastic so if you are in the area I suggest you join, you won't be sorry!  The info on that is HERE!

And if you don't live here but are dying to buy some beautiful kale I totally accept donations ;-)

Chloe's...

Is small town liven' in the big city... well big suburb anyway!

I went from refusing coffee for all my twenty something years until my introduction to this slice of heaven.  Chloe's corner was across the street from my new fancy workplace and all the shop girls were always running over there.  I had been in a few times, mostly for their then famous HOMEMADE POP- TARTS, yes you heard me right.  But never had I tried their ice coffee.  When the girls swore by its magical powers to get you through a holiday shift I was willing, and for 50 cents what was there to lose.
My sanity.
There were days when I was not on the schedule to work and would drive the 30 miles from my own home (that had its own coffee maker) for one of these!
Then I met Alana.  Well I had been ordering coffee from her everyday for a good year and we became friendly.  It was like I lived in a little town and knew the locals ;-)  Then one day The Mister got hooked on the coffee and he too ordered from her.  Then one day he mentioned that he knew me and that we were a Misses and Mister...
And she about jumped over the counter.  So excited to know two of her regulars were in fact a pair.
And I love that story.
Now, for the second year in a row, we have walked in right after arriving in town, and she knows us.  She gives us hugs and buys us a coffee and asks how we are doing.
 And I adore her.
So good to see you this year, hope to see you next time!!

xx

Flash invite. Accepted.

6:30pm. Last night.

We are scarfing down dinner.

Phone rings in the other room, we ignore b/c there is too much to do and we need to keep scarfing.

The Mister and I are making the list...

pack for a cross country trip

don't forget to charge electronics

don't forget underwear

get the laundry out of the dryer

check the weather

do the dishes

finish MAKING xmas gifts

and on, and on, and on...

I grab the phone to check the weather and see a msg.  We all listen and it went like this (word for word):

Okay you guys, this is a flash invite.  Kinda like a flash dance, you know? Where everyone starts dancing. We are inviting you over RIGHT NOW, RIGHT HERE AND NOW when we are making t-shirts, b&b farm t-shirts, we are inviting you over for ice cream.  Boom bam boom everyone gets ice cream and everyone goes home with a t-shirt. BAM. boom. done. like that. boom. Alright bye. 

The Mister took the phone.

Dialed.

Proceeded to say:

This makes absolutely no sense for us this evening.  We will be right over.

and that is the good stuff in life...

Noah has never heard of a better invite, and frankly neither have I.

Um, yes... Gabi likes her ice cream. 

HELPFUL assistants to the right -->

 HOPELESS assistants in the back please!!

Ok, you redeemed yourself... you can help!

 The kids were beaming about their shirts! Gabi put her pre picked outfit on and the red T right over top!  It looks great.  No picture though... can you guess what I was doing until 11:30 last night and then in the wee hours this morning?  Can you say SCRAMBLE??

I highly recommend accepting flash invites if they ever come your way...

Linked here...

Kind friends bring bread.

You know you live in a great place when a friend calls your kido to play at 4 and he returns at 5:30 with two loaves of locally made bread ;-)

Thanks Emily!

Other kind and friendly things happening this week:

an invite to perfectly wonderful girlfriend night

a most friendly and genuine offer for a ride from the airport

a call from a friend that they met another friend that they think i should be friends with

having a husband that is my best friend
looking forward to attending The Nutcracker with a much smaller friend

friday night dinner plans with friends

xx

When you give up a certain life to live another certain life...in the fine state of Vermont... you get to say things like:
"kids, get your coat on, we are going to a farm for dinner"
And it rocks.
Thank you c & c, for having us.  We heart you like crazy...

and the pizza was fantastic. 
---
After the nice distraction of a lovely friday night, the rest of the weekend was spent in frantic scramble to get ready for the holiday that looms around a two week arrival time.  I am living up to my word and hand making ALL of our Christmas gifts for extended family... it rocks, but is also VERY hard.  I am only two, I repeat, 2 gifts down and many more to go.... but I can do it, I know I can!

Sunglass Love...

My very favorite accessory is a good pair of eye sunnies. 

Sadly, Vermont doesn't require an extensive collection of fancy shades due to early sunsets and dark skies.  Arizona was much more in the know in regards to this design.  But I am a lucky girl, for I have a friend in the sun glass biz and we know how to have a good time...

Clock says: 10:45  Meaning: BREAK TIME  Destination: Sunglass hut to see if Josh has time to play...

I got a sneak peak at the Black Friday special... a pair of Vogue sunnies for like 70 percent off!  I tried all the colors and I like plain old brown the best.  I think these puppies come up to being 30 bucks, sweet deal if ya ask me!

You can visit Josh for some fun time in some shades HERE!

Girlfriends...

I just love a good girl friend.

Everywhere I have lived, which encompasses more than a few places, I make a few girl friends.  There are so many that stand out over the years, and now currently, that I can only smile at my good fortune.  I didn't realize until much later, how very important these ladies are and what they have done to lift me in my life. I love you all.  

This is something that must run in the fam, for Gabi just loves making new friends too.  I took this picture of these girls and could not resist their bright beautiful faces, with smiles and loveliness to match.

 Do you have friends in your life you are thankful for?

Happy Halloween...

I can barely believe it is the end of October, for this beautiful month just flew by!  I desperately wish I had some amazingly cute craft to share or some ghoulish pics of our Shelburne Halloween extravaganza, but I do not.  Boo!  

However, I do have a plan to save face!  This evening I will be mixing up the warm Halloween stew for a hearty meal before all that trick or treating and I will also be serving this to my Harry Potter and Gargoyle Fairy...

Can't wait!

So this will be our second Halloween spent in Vermont.  Last year was particularly ghastly.  The town of Brandon and its residents really do go all out with decorations, spooky music, creepy witches lurking about.  It was great.  This year we are a bit farther north and will be prowling the elementary school neighborhood with new friends.

I must admit to LOVING a proper Halloween with chilly temps, howling winds, blowing leaves, the works...  But this spooky holiday brings back the very best memories.  Memories of our posse on Old Paint Trail, back in the desert.  Amazing neighbor hood friends, 6 foot subs, soda and a beer wagon, and some hilarious costumes come to mind when thinking back.  I was always cursing the weather, I was always wishing for New England Night.  I have my wish now and I am grateful...but I am ever so grateful for those amazing memories.  Miss you fine Phoenix Folks!!  Happy Halloween to you!

***despite the absence of a chill in the air, howling winds, or falling leaves there was 

NEVER A LACK OF FUN!

And because I was thinking of a ghoulishly past I gave in to the old photo temptations last night...

This is one of my all time favorite Halloween moments.  Uncle jay showing up as Woody to pair up with his sidekick Buzz for a night to remember.  You are simply the best Jay Allen and I miss you so...

 I think this was Noah's idea, to feed his sister to the candy monster...

His tactic worked... for she was not eaten showing it safe for costume posing!

Noah's idea to be Peter Pan and Tink.

Luke

 Minnie

 

  




I hope you all have a ghostly evening filled with fun and laughter.  I will be bundling up for temps in the 30's and 40's, YIKES!!

Happy Halloween to you Chantal, found this cute pic and couldn't resist!!