Hugh is 16 months now. He's a blur of movement, a chattering, singing, hollering fellow, and it feels like he's got one foot in babyhood and one in full blown kid-dom. Here's a handful of little things that really seem to capture the moment: Lately, we're hearing a lot of Hugh's suddenly clear-as-a-bell, almost incredulous, … Continue reading Hugh
Last Friday, we packed up the kids and drove to Vermont for a weekend of hiking and spiritual retreat at a grand old house called Thendara. The group we joined there -- a motley crew of anglican/episcopal/catholic friends of all ages -- has been gathering for years to hike, reflect, worship, and enjoy big pancake … Continue reading Weekend in Vermont
A smattering of things I've been thinking on, noticing, reading, and appreciating lately... Back to School Vivienne continues to love her new school and has SO many friends beginning that journey this year, too, with varying degrees of fear and excitement. More than any other year, I've loved hearing back-to-school accounts for all our little … Continue reading Lately
Wednesday was the the big day: kindergarten. Vivienne was equal parts nerves and excitement as we talked (and talked and talked) about this big new step. What if no one likes me? What if I forget and can't write my name? What if my feet walk the wrong way and I get lost? As with most … Continue reading Interview with a Kindergartener
About this time last year, Ryan and I started getting serious about an idea we'd been tossing around: what about starting a supper club? We were hankering for a good, old-fashioned gathering of foodies - not necessarily experienced cooks, but people who would really get into researching recipes, menu planning, wine pairings, centerpieces. Beautiful, slow meals … Continue reading Supper Club
Five-year-old Vivienne is obsessed with the American flag. "Does everyone know I'm an American Flag Spotter?" she asked me in the car the other day. Well, I think people know you could spot American flags, I said, maybe not that you enjoy it quite so much. "Ok, so we should tell them that's my job: … Continue reading Stars, Stripes, & Harvard’s Implicit Bias Quiz
All of a sudden, here we are rushing into the golden days of August -- a season brimming with delights here in New England. After 16 years here, I'm still exhilarated by the beauty that unfolds before us each summer. It commands a pause. And thank goodness for that, because these last couple months have … Continue reading Blue Shutters
I've been thinking a lot lately about Vivienne's budding faith -- probably because of the steady stream of questions she's throwing at us... Little things, casually peppered into breakfast conversation or a walk to the park. Why can't I see God? When will God make me into a grown-up? How will God take care of … Continue reading The Eucharist
'Tis the season for voluminous CSA kale bouquets! Out of curiosity, I just did a Google search for "kale," aaaaand: 113,000,000 results. So, I'm not going to write anything revolutionary here. In fact, I hesitate to write anything at all, because: ugh, really? We're going to talk about kale some more? But the thing is … Continue reading 3 Actually Good Things To Do With Kale
When I was pregnant with Vivienne, a seasoned mother passed along the most helpful pearl of parenting wisdom: everything is a phase. The hard moments will pass... and so will the delightful ones. It's okay to pause and bask in the joy a little bit. It fills you up, sustains you through the the harder … Continue reading Weekdays at the Beach
The Key to the House 