Have I mentioned that I’m obsessed with this baby? Yes? Well, I’m obsessed with this baby.
There. Emphasis.
She is so stinking crazy. And so stinking cute. And oh sweet lord I adore her so very much. If you need further proof, see my Instagram feed.
This week I’ve been working away on a knitting project and plowing through all three seasons of Downton Abbey. Can I be the Dowager Duchess when I grow up? Wonderful! Thanks. I’ll have the final result of the knitting endeavor up on the blog next week.
I have an Easter DIY up my sleeves, a sewing project for March, plus another knitting project in the queue. This weekend I’ll be hosting this screening at our local independent cinema (if you’re in the area, please come!), attending a one year old birthday party, and maple sugaring. Here’s to a snowy, albeit busy, first weekend of spring. Sunny was quite frustrated on the first day of spring, after a morning spent discussing the day in school.
Mommy, how can it be spring when there is snow on the ground? It’s still winter if there is snow.
Welcome to New England, LA baby! Best get used to it as there will likely be snow on her birthday. In May.
Happy weekend, all.
Kaki’s outfit: Dress by Tea, Tights by Mini Boden (similar here), Hand knit sweater
All week I’ve been stewing over this. My mind has been a jumble of angry, sad, helpless, terrified thoughts. I’ve been jotting down notes as language comes to me – muddled thoughts that crop up in the midst of everyday happenings – in the hopes of writing something productive or at least forward looking in response.
But then our dear friend’s dog went missing. And our household energies refocused on finding her. Yesterday, while on a hike with her dog-walker and a whole pack of fellow canines, Ali took off after a deer and did not return. By evening, when she had not surfaced, James and Joe headed out on the trail, armed with flashlights and the hopes of a speedy recovery. Unfortunately, they returned home empty-handed. I carried a nauseous pit in my stomach all evening, knowing that gut-wrenching fear and helplessness one feels when their beloved pet goes missing. I was brought back to the (far too many) times one of our pups has given us such a scare and was desperate to help provide some relief for our friends.
This morning, James and Joe headed back out on the trail. The dog-walker had done the same at first light. Many people were on the lookout, searching the land for that sweet, timid black pup in the hunter orange vest. When I arrived to the office, I was met with concerned colleagues who had learned of Geraldine and Joe’s situation and were eager to help. Flyers were distributed, emails were sent, lunch breaks were filled with hikes or drives around the neighborhood where she might find her way. My Facebook feed was a flood of posts with news about Ali, encouraging everyone’s help in the efforts to find her. Whether dear friends or colleagues, family or loosely acquainted community members, it felt as though our entire town had come together to help support this family.
In the early afternoon I received a call from a colleague that one of our student workers in the office had seen Ali near her family’s home. Of course, when she’d arrived to work, she heard the story about the missing black dog and realized that it was Ali that she’d seen earlier that day. A flurry of calls and texts were sent to Joe and James, and they quickly hopped in the car to head that way, only to receive updates from community members who had spotted Ali making her way further into town.
Much to everyone’s relief, Ali was found, merrily trotting down one of our local streets, wet and tired, but safe… but safe.
And in that moment, as James texted me a photo of Ali in the arms of a relieved, blissfully joyous Joe, I was struck with a surge of emotion that went well beyond my own relief and joy at Ali’s return. It was for the many many MANY amazing, kind, thoughtful, caring people that make up our community. In the face of a week where I found myself questioning my fellow human beings and our ability to have real and meaningful empathy and care for one another, I was reminded of the outstanding and overwhelming capacity human beings have for good. The way entire communities can lift one another up, can come to one another’s aid, and provide comfort, support, and love for one another, person to person. At a time when social media was a platform for such evil and ugliness, it surfaced as a pillar of support and outreach, of action and empathy.
Thank you Ali and all of the people who make up our community for reminding me that even in the face of hate and violence, there is so very much good in the world. People have extraordinary capacity for good. So today I am championing that above all else.
And this. And well, hey, the Onion put this together two years ago and hot dang it felt like we watched that play out in real life on Sunday night.
I’m still fuming. And yet unsurprised. And terrified for my girls. I feel a longer post brewing but for now I’m sharing where I’ve sought language when my own has failed me.
1. I sleep. She gawks. We snuggle.
2. Proof of the upright stair decent.
3. BEH-BEE! Olivia and her fan club
4. Courtland’s favorite activity is reading.
5. Sunny’s favorite activity is helping her little sister read.
6. Meet Ingrid. Sunny’s Hug-a-Plush.
As I approach the big 3-0 (one month away!), I’ve been thinking quite a bit about my age. I’ll have a much longer reflection to report come April 22nd, but it’s been liberating to feel totally and completely comfortable and at peace with the current numbers attached to my existence. I very much feel 29 going on 30. And I am genuinely amped for what the next decade has in store. I think thirty is going to totally kick ass and take names.
Sure, there are times when I am taken aback by how clearly NOT twenty I am anymore. Working and living in the town where I attended college is a daily reminder of this fact. This Someecard sums it up perfectly.
The current college students seem like wee babes. A clear sign that I am no longer 21 and aware of just how very young and inexperienced we are during our undergraduate years. Not that I am somehow wise or all-knowing now.
Rather, I think it’s simply that I’m more comfortable with who I am. I’m settling into me. More in tune with what makes me tick and keeps me energized. Less insecure or concerned with what people around me think about what I’m wearing, how I look, what I’m doing, etc.
And that has most certainly translated into my locker room behavior. A setting to which I’ve become quite accustomed now that I’m in the heart of my half marathon training schedule with the best weight loss pills by my side.
Yes, I promised that this wouldn’t become an exercise blog, but I never promised that I wouldn’t comment on my use of the facilities associated with said activity.
I work out during the weekdays during lunch with a fellow colleague/friend. We head to the college locker room – the one used by students, faculty, staff and the community – and change before heading out on a run or hitting up the weight room or a spin class. After our workout, we return to the locker room, where I now shower before returning to work.
In my former early-20s, pre-partum life I was more modest in my locker room behavior. I would keep a towel wrapped around my body or try to subtly remove my clothes while swapping in or out of my workout gear (which, in reality, just draws more attention to the fact that you are stripping down and is a far-less efficient method of changing – rouge boobs popping out left and right – what a mess). It was less because I was concerned about what people would think of my body, and more out of respect or concern for other people’s comfort levels. Particularly in America, we’re all so flustered and embarrassed by nudity, so I felt it was more polite to keep myself covered than strut around like an inhabitant of Wesleyan’s clothing optional dorm.
My how times have changed.
I’m now that older woman in the locker room, fully nude, lifting a boob to scrub in the middle of the public showers. Sure the three curtained stalls are vacant, but I’d rather hop under the shower head most conveniently positioned near my locker. Full frontal. Fully exposed.
I’ll slather lotion into every nook and cranny before reaching for my undergarments post-shower.
And, the other day when I had forgotten my towel, I had no qualms about standing right in front of the mirrored sinks blowing myself dry with some strategically positioned hand dryers. There were many awkward, darting eyes from students as they tried to scrub their hands in peace, avoiding the reality that an older staff member was boldly standing mere inches away, fully naked, being blown dry by the hand dryer.
Oh if Ashley at 20 could see me now! I’m fortunate that my training partner is just as brazen – so it was not one but TWO nude staff members that greeted bathroom goers to the hum of the hand dryers. I could almost hear the frantic thoughts of one student as she hurriedly washed her hands… Be cool, be cool. GOD WHERE DO I PUT MY EYES!
If this locker room behavior is any indication, 30 is going to be totally wicked. Much like this view on one of my runs this week. Ya know, I’m kind of falling in love with this running thing… I know. I KNOW! Famous. Last. Words.
If you’re in the area, please join us for this family-friendly event (there will be children galore in the theater) plus a raffle for free photography sessions with your truly and gifts from Shima.
Ina May was a source of much inspiration and wisdom when I was preparing for Addison’s arrival, and I find myself quoting her quite frequently when attempting to express my feelings about birth and maternity.
Many of our problems in US maternity care stem from the fact that we leave no room for recognizing when nature is smarter than we are.
It is important to keep in mind that our bodies must work pretty well, or there wouldn’t be so many humans on the planet.
I’m thrilled to be a part of this effort to spread her story further. See you Saturday!
BIRTH STORY: Ina May Gaskin & the Farm Midwives SATURDAY, MARCH 23rd, 2013
10:30am
Images Cinema, Williamstown, MA
A documentary about Ina May Gaskin, a counterculture heroine who led a group of women to teach themselves midwifery, and created a model of care for women and babies that changed a generations’ approach to childbirth.
“A portrait of my children, once a week, every week, in 2013.”
Sunny: Miss Jam Fingers is eagerly anticipating her birthday this spring. She’ll be four whole fingers… nearly an entire hand. She’s already plotting her birthday wishes. Namely another sibling (not happening) and a party in a treehouse (happening). Kaki: She’s coming back around to the camera, but only if she can confront it with her big, cheeky CHEESE! face.
More details about The 52 Project here. To view all the portraits in the series with explanations as to why I’ll be capturing the portraits in the early morning, visit here.
Been a while… mostly because I’ve been so busy being awesome. It has nothing to do with my incredible partner, Ashley, running around everywhere. Doing everything. Inspiring. Photographing births, birthing photographers.
The sun is melting, and outside smells like the earthy awesomeness (i.e. shit) that is almost spring. The snow is shallow enough I don’t mind putting on my boots and mucking through our neck of the woods with the camera. I must have been all inspired by my snookems* so was out there playing with composition lines and light….yep, I just said that. And now you’re reading a snooty-photography post.
* if I were to ever call Ashley ‘Snookems’ she would, in this order: glare, eye roll, call me weird, remain silent for about 3 seconds, mock me under her breath, and then tell me she hated me. Ours is a love of the deepest level.
1. Snow melting
2. Just another Birch
3. My favorite – lines and light playing together like giddy school children! Or at least like angsty teenagers unified in their rebellion against parents…
Another CAMERA READY class behind us. How amazing is that?! Not surprisingly, we had another fabulous, fun, inspiring day. A great group of students, a beautiful setting, and a ton of learning and picture taking. We loved teaching to a smaller group and have decided that we’re going to cap our classes at 14 (maybe 16 if people are really yammering to get in) because there was something so accesible, so laid back, so personal about having a more manageable size. We loved it!
We taught at a quaint New England schoolhouse as part of IS183 – a nonprofit art school in the Berkshires. A portion of our registrations were donated to this group to benefit the arts in our area. Which we think is rather rad.
We had Corrina of Blue Door Vintage to thank for our dreamy, colorful flowers. I love the vase choices… flowers are just so worth it. Especially in a photography class. Everyone pulled on these blooms for inspiration.
We had a camera name tags for each student (Kate’s pretty darn creative, eh?). And everyone received a Green Eyed Monster bag packed with one of Kate’s prints, Tattly camera tats, miniature ceramic houses from Jackie Sedlock Pottery, custom CAMERA READY notebooks (and playlists), and utility cord bracelets (from my most “pinned” tutorial). We love a good goodie bag.
Plus, everyone took home the product of their For The Makers project. We used these DIYs toward the end of class to teach students about documenting a process and telling a story with their images. Plus, we’re just really big DIY slash For The Makers fans. You can subscribe to receive boxes of their monthly projects here.
And of course everyone had their portrait taken by the talented Kate. We clearly have no fun at all during that portion of class. All the portraits are viewable here on our Facebook page.
We also had this gorgeous photography print from Minted and these sweet felted cameras from Wool Buddy that we handed out as prizes to a few lucky students.
The highlight of the class this time was absolutely, hands down, the food. Stephanie from Bee Hill Catering went above and beyond. I’d explained to her that this was for a photography class and I wanted not only delicious, interesting food, but beautifully presented, “camera ready” food. When she walked in with these platters and this menu, we all about fell over. The whole class snapped photos before digging in. And yes, it was truly as delicious as it looked. Such amazing flavors, and textures, and combinations. I’m salivating just writing about it. If you’re in the Berkshires, may we STRONGLY recommend Stephanie? We may.
And of course, Sara Miller Cakes delivered yummy, adorable carrot cupcakes. And Jackie Sedlock Pottery provided our plates and cups. All in all, food and drink presentation got two very enthusiastic thumbs’ up.
And there was learning and practicing. And practicing and learning. And lots of silliness and smiles mixed in.
And, last but certainly not least, there was a group photo. Kate compiled this fun stop motion video of the proceedings. Another wonderful experience under our belts.
Here’s what some of our students had to say about the class:
CAMERA READY is a very intense camera workshop that combines serious fun with serious, expert teaching. This is the class for you if you want to get out of automatic and learn to manually drive your camera so that you can maximize its potential as a machine and your potential as a photographer! THANK YOU!!! Kate and Ash :-)
This is a laid back, fun, hands on class! AND for a bonus, you get your portraits taken by the lovely Kate. I got to meet other people with the same love for photography :) You ladies rock!
I was so impressed with how much I learned during this fun and informative class. I still need much practice, but now I am more aware of how to adjust the settings on my camera so I am able to get the proper shot in various environments.
CAMERA READY was an amazing experience. I have gone from being an auto shooter to shooting in manual. It was a whole lot of fun, too!
This class is for anyone who wants a crash course on what they can do with their DSLR. In one day, you can go from wondering how it all works to taking beautiful pictures. Really.
Do register for our future classes here if you want to learn to shoot in manual mode in a playful, creative setting. Hope to see you there!
We all happened to be in the same place at the same time – hooray for small town living! Jackie took CAMERA READY Berkshires, and Kira was at the schoolhouse for a class in another room. We couldn’t resist the opportunity to mark the occasion. It’s a great starter home – and we feel so lucky to be its most recent inhabitants. We’re following in some pretty stellar footsteps.
