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 very hour of Hugh's birth, Vivienne rushed into the hospital room, gazed at him with four-year-old wonder, and squealed, "When will he be baptized?!" Not what I expected! And, she didn't give it up... She nagged me to call our priest and schedule a date. "Maybe Tuesday would be good," she'd suggest. She showed … Continue reading The Joy & Wonder
Writing about motherhood often feels like a futile exercise. How on earth does one capture and organize the three dimensional whirlwind of active bodies, the deep emotional valleys, the adventures, the quiet, private moments? I have always loved the economy of poetry -- the freedom to omit context or narrative and zero in on one … Continue reading Poems & Motherhood
I’ve always put canning in this category of “things really meticulous people who have time on their hands do.” Something that used to be done out of necessity, that is now essentially a foodie hobby. So, when Ryan decided we should try canning, I had reasonable questions, like, “Why?” And, “Do we really have time for … Continue reading Small Batch Canning
After a busy June, we suddenly realized the Matisse exhibit at the MFA Boston was closing in a matter of days! Now, we are not terribly spontaneous people, so it should give you a good indication of our true and undying love for Matisse that we dropped everything, packed up the kids and some sandwiches, … Continue reading An Impromptu Evening with Matisse
The Key to the House 