a spirit of simplicity

Saturday I went to the Claflin family reunion at the Wenham museum. I am second from the left in the navy shirt. My cousin's grandsons were the youngest in attendance.  We all had a great time and it was wonderful to see everyone. Afterward my sister and I did a little bit of shopping. I'm not a big shopper and don't often get to go with anyone else. It was fun and I got a nice new outfit. Verne got his first haircut! He looks like a real boy now and not so much a baby anymore.  

A few years back I found this old wooden truck at a charity shop.  It came with a big bag of blocks  and I use them to spell out whatever is happening in our lives  at the moment. Mostly, it spells out some one's name... birthdays, graduations, visitors.... but lately it's been simply announcing a favorite time of year. 

candle After church on Sunday I stopped at the farmer's market on my way home. The location has changed from the high school parking lot to the town commons which is a beautiful park  with the Atlantic ocean and the Boston skyline as a backdrop. It was a beautiful day and I picked up some deliciously juicy yellow peaches. I also picked up this sweet little candle holder. It is rainy and stormy this Monday night as I type.  I can hear the rain falling against our windows and the wind and waves just outside our windows.   My little candle flickers in the sweet pottery holder on the window sill.

the fun I took the ferry into work a few times last week! It was wonderful! the good a bit of a snack and a yellow peach from the farmer's market.. so juicy I practically have to bathe after eating it the random Verne....growing cuter by the minute. The good, the random, the fun

Joseph ~He will add Kara ~Love I'm rarely in living/family room these days.  I almost never watch TV and much prefer to be out on the porch sipping tea or reading a book, or combing the beach for seaglass, or scampering over the path through the wood on my way to someplace wonderful. A couple of new pillows that I picked up at the home goods store remind any visitors that we'll be back... Make it pretty Monday

t Micah 6:8 He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God? ~ ~ ~ So...no fancy offering, no new clothes, no perfect house, no lovely family, no expensive car, trimmed yard, no happy marriage, no great job... compares to what God tells us is good: doing justice, loving kindness, walking humbly with him. It is only by falling to our knees that our hearts can truly be lifted.  In the morning I go to the porch and I look out over the beauty that astounds me and when I pray I ask God to show me the way  to a pure heart, a loving heart, a humble heart,  a heart that seeks to serve Him. Spiritual Sundays Sunday Scripture Blessings Scripture and a Snapshot Sunday thoughts

The geraniums on the porch are in riotous bloom! So sweet and old fashioned and pretty. I took the ferry into work a few times this week! I work in Boston and it takes about 40 minutes to get there by sea. I'm not sure what kind of bird this is. It was on top of one of the channel markers in the sound. The folks next door take a walk together in the mornings before work. I can hear snippets of their conversation as they walk past my window on their way back home. It warms my heart. Mornings are lovely out on the porch with a cup of tea gentle sea breeze  seagulls calling out to one another as they breakfast all the air warming up around me scented with geraniums, roses, and the quiet Atlantic

I took the ferry into work on Monday.... . it was a pretty sweet ride. This week I didn't have to work till 8:30 instead of 8:00 on Monday and Thursday! The ferry arrives on the waterfront aquarium at 8:20  which leaves me a scant 10 minutes to make it  to the Bowdoin station.... I may even be enjoying the sweet ocean breezes as you are reading this!

the good   My mum and I went out to breakfast on the harbor. It was lovely here on Sunday morning after a few days of chilly weather. the random 48 Joy Street Beacon Hill, Boston the fun I hit the beach extra early yesterday while waiting for my husband's train. A bit of Chia tea and my camera....  and some editing time on the porch when I got home. The good, the fun, the random

  t Galations  5:25 If we live by the spirit, let us also keep in step with the spirit. It's easy to talk the talk but can we walk the walk? Sometimes in the early morning, I walk Revere beach while I wait for my husband's train to come into the station. You can see the rather tiny sort-of an island  where we live on the horizon.   Those who know of such things put up beach fences to keep the world from tramping over God's little birds in their nests. But, the wind and the waves knock them over as the season progresses. After a while it can be difficult to decipher which side of the fence our steps are falling on.... The line between the world and the spirit is twisted and curved and fallen down in spots and beaten and battered and shifted sometimes so slightly that you hardly even notice... We must be constantly testing ourselves,  examining our hearts, seeking wisdom. I love Galations. I

the fun swingers Saturday I went to visit an old friend at a family gathering there's nothing like a swing on a porch and a summer afternoon with your peeps...  the good Joey spent an extra night with us and in the morning we went out to breakfast the random Joe's train was late coming in to Wonderland one morning which gave me a chance to take some pictures along the beach pavilions before things got too crowded

Verne and I had a bit of a cuddle on the front porch rocker. It's a pretty sweet gig. Bonnie kept telling me I could put him down in the pack-n-play but I just kept on rockin' It's a nana thing....

the good Jack's wicked awesome birthday cake welcome to the world of teenagers! the random apples and cheeses on the porch of an afternoon the fun they call me baby driver... I have no idea where he's taking me but I am enjoying the ride!   Randomosity

 (27) surprise Jack's birthday cake (28) fresh... from the womb - my beautiful first grandchild (29) summertime fare an impromptu picnic on the porch (30) group my daughter's baby shower and my favorite birds  (01) cloudy