road trippin': charlottesville, va

one last look back to 2012-

to our fall road trip to charlottesville...

i've been meaning and meaning to blog it forever

(that seems to happen a lot)

but couldn't find the words

so i'm just going to let the pictures do the talking

...

wine tasting . horse swooning

barn living . lounging . hugging
cooking . baking . cake making
exploring . treasure collecting
birthday celebrating
foggy morning goodbyes
...
a trip so needed
my heart still aches with gratitude

happy list

a collection

of the little things that have made my week

(started here)

...

football

drive-in style. down comforters, wool hats, outdoor fire, red wine.

yardwork

it's become a thanksgiving weekend tradition.
family dynamics at their best. (note the inappropriate brother-in-law)

the final weekend

this season, after 14(!), co-workers felt much more like family.
and much harder to say goodbye to for the winter...

puppy visits

three weeks old.
and a name: NOLA

5k records

at long last.
i broke 30mins.
a personal victory... and then i was found dry-heaving in the woods.

...

thanksgiving.
it was wonderful.
and hard.
more, coming...

happy list

a collection

of the little things that have made my week

(started here)

...

1. obama.

 need i say more?!

2. cheers

to my guy, on his birthday

3. goggles

 back in the pool. ooooh, baby.

4. vermont sunrises

on a weekend spent with great girlfriends
...

welcome, november!
lots to be thankful for, indeed...

happy list

a collection

of the little things that have made my week

(started here)

...

1. this map

 

 because it led the way on our impromptu road trip. old-school style. to see the best of friends.

2. birthday cake

celebrating 13 years...

time. flies.

3. linen sheets

 

ah. maz. ing.

 best for: sleeping late, girl talk and a good book... 

4. hand-stitching

pocahontas. for a special little lady.

the little things

a collection

of the little things that have made my week

(started here)

...

1. silky knits

busy fingers, inspiration found...

2. running shoes

 

 laced up before dawn. bring on the endorphins.

3. care packages

hunting, gathering, baking for some favorite littles (or not-so-littles!)

4. stripped walls

 

 new beginnings

5. blackberry scones

the day has to be a good one when it starts like that, no? thank you to the ladies at three sisters!

5. this view

a quick trip to the big city found me waking up to this

...

it's been a good one.

catching up with old friends

lunching outside (!) with new.

lots to be grateful for... 

the little things

this summer

after a day especially filled with pre-teen angst

i laid next to theresa 

 and we talked about how it was so important, especially on days that felt endlessly dark

to take the time to acknowledge the things that we were grateful for
the things that were good

the two of us vowed to start writing three such things down, before bed each night

(i think oprah once talked about doing this...)

i've thought a lot about that conversation over the last month

and as i go through my day

(even the darkest ones)

i try and make a mental note of the things that make me smile
the things that are good

even admist the hard

because

sometimes

 it really is the little things

that makes life living.

lately, these are mine:

1. these flowers

because sometimes, giving is better than receiving

2. organic raspberries

on sale, and eaten by the pint

3. leaves changing

life, keeping on...

4. breaking out the beanies

+ chambray and wet hair on saturday mornings = early fall perfection

5. new necklace

sent by a dear friend, arrived on the perfect day and is worn 24/7

6. this chalk board

reminding us that life is good. even if it's also really, really sad.

...

so this might be my weekly feature-

a little thing or two 

that makes me smile