Monday, April 23, 2012
If you're a frequent viewer of interior design blogs, then you know there are endless, wonderful, and inspiring images of homes out there. I'm always struck by how many design blogs really don't show much "living" going on. I'm sure most of it has to do with privacy. Some young mom/designers show lots of pictures of their young kids, or babies on the way, or an arrival. But, older design bloggers, like myself - tend not to show too much of our every day lives.
When I sat down this morning to write a post, I knew I wanted to share our weekend. Record it, really. On Saturday, our sweet dog of eleven years passed away. Sushi was his name. He was a Shar Pei and lab mix (we think...). Sushi found us, or rather, he found my husband. Eleven years ago, John was at work and had just come back from lunch when he noticed a stray dog in the parking lot. The rest is history.
Our patient, loving Sushi was such a companion to us all. Like most families with dogs, they enter our lives when the kids are young and, as the kids grow up, they grow old. We sent our first child to college last fall. We had noticed how Sushi seemed to be slowing down. I remember being in college when my childhood dog passed away. In just a few weeks, I'll be driving north to pick Frank up from college, glad to have him home for the summer. We were all sad that Frank didn't have a chance to say goodbye to Sushi.
Like all busy weekends with kids, our middle son had a ballet rehearsal and our daughter had a theater rehearsal. Their shows are in just a few weeks so things have been in high gear.
And.. it was my middle son's prom night. On Saturday morning we said goodbye to our dog, our family member, with aching hearts. And on Saturday evening we celebrated Walt's 11th grade prom. He looked so young, so handsome, and full of life and future.
We, in the design world, create these spaces - obsess really. All the while, life is happening in these spaces every day. Saturday reminded me why I love design so much. It's creating the idea of home. And home is the best place on earth.
Sushi, we will miss you always.... home won't be the same without you.
Posted in:
Family,
Pets
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Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Sometimes it's good to have a pause. Yesterday morning was a lovely pause. As most of us on the east coast know, it's been a no-snow winter. But a little clipper that was suppose to bring a "no accumulation" dusting, dumped about 6 inches of snow!
Most of it is gone. In fact, by midday everyone was out and about with completely cleared roads and sidewalks. It was a winter wonderland while it lasted.
This has to be my favorite picture I took. My neighbors have a wonderful hill in their backyard. Makes for great sledding.
Posted in:
Family
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Friday, September 9, 2011
Thank you, fellow bloggers.....
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(photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.) |
I've seen it in my blog roll over the past few weeks; fellow designers, authors, and artists writing beyond their design projects, their latest ideas. It began when I read Lauren Liess's post, from Pure Style Home blog on the balancing act of raising children and forwarding her passion and career as a very talented designer. Lauren so openly and honestly told her story, her struggle with the delicate balance of motherhood and career. It touched so many, including myself. It's the never ending fear of not being there enough while raising our families, and feeling the need to nurture our creative passions that are difficult to place on the front burner. Thank you, Lauren, for showing us that every day we must adjust to what our heart tell us.
And then I read Katrina Kenison's post on Courage. I've been following Katrina's blog since reading her book, Gift of an Ordinary Day about 2 years ago. Katrina wrote on the choice between love and fear. Katrina gives us such insight into our ordinary days, holding our hand through the passing of time. She captures in words, like no other, the raising of our children to ultimately leave us and make their way. A few weeks ago, my husband and my two younger children took Frank, my oldest son, to college. I felt so profoundly proud and happy for Frank and so deeply heartbroken about my task of letting go. Thank you, Katrina, for helping us see and hold onto what is ordinarily sacred.
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(photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.) |
Alicia Paulson (Posie Gets Cozy blog) wrote her post A Journey in the advent of her travels with her husband from Oregon to Illinois as they embark on the journey of adoption. At this writing, she has received over thousand comments on this single post. If you follow Alicia's blog, you know that a past trauma, surgery, and prolonged hospitalization lead to her passion as an extremely talented needleworker, knitter, and blogger. You can also see pictures from her journey here. Alicia has a way of writing where you can feel the warm cup of tea in your hand and sense her expressions, as if you are right there on her back deck, sitting with her. Thank you, Alicia for your open love of life and celebration of the work of hands. Blessing to you as you enter motherhood.
Yesterday, I came across Erika's post on her blog, Urban Grace. Erika simply told about her friend, Jen who was facing ovarian cancer and about to have surgery. We were linked to Jen's blog and her story. I watched (with tears) a silent, home movie that her friends had put together as they drove her to the hospital on the day of her surgery. Jen reminds us all of our vulnerability, our unknown futures, tapping into courage, and the gift of friendship. Thank you Erika, for reaching out and finding healing energy for Jen. For us all.
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(photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.) |
I loved the simple, honest post by Joan who writes the blog, For the Love of a House. She titled her post, "happy end of summer" and wrote plainly that she had writer's block and was going to unplug for a while. Thank you, Joan for showing us that we can and must unplug, go outside, and take the deep breath!
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(photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.) |
The photographs on this post came from my recent trip to Seattle and Canada. It wasn't an ordinary trip out west to see my sister. It wasn't an annual trip, it wasn't one I made with my family. It had been 17 years since I had been out to visit Jennifer and her family (her grown up children). While we had seen each other a few times at certain events, there remained a gap.... until now. My recent trip to Seattle was a time of healing the past and finding my family.
I'm still finding my voice on my blog, finding the path of my own story. In just a few weeks, my blog will be a year old. The very first blog I ever saw was only a few years ago. It was Dominique Browning's blog, Slow Love Life. I discovered it after reading her book by the same name. Dominique was the editor-in-chief of House & Garden magazine, among many other things. I so admired her honest, open need for slowing down life and being in the moment. I was so taken with the journaling of a blog, the recording of our daily lives, the slowing down, the recognition of the ordinary, and the not so ordinary.
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(photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.) |
I follow my blog roll for a list of reasons; incredible inspiration, amazing talent and writing, and a peak into who we are. It's the first person context, the honesty in trying harder and learning from mistakes that keeps me here. So, thank you fellow bloggers!
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(photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.) |
I walk a path with my sister into unknown futures, blessings, struggles, and joys. Today I celebrate her and all her generosity and love.... on my blog.
See you at Christmas, Jennifer!
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(photo credit: Muraca Design, Inc.) |
Posted in:
Family
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