my best fellows

taken with joe's iphone. yes, while driving, but i couldn't resist.

undeterred by his fallen Rocinante

morning musings

quiet early hours all to myself. i was reminded recently (through a friend's careful eye) of simpler photographic searches... a little bit of light is all this medium really asks for.

showing off his newest tooth! (see, on the upper right, there? it just popped through today!)

it has been far too long since i have found the time to post something, i'm sorry! particularly to all those grammies who daily itch for a little taste of the babe.. so, for lack of something better, here are a few glimpses from our recent days.


beauty and the least.





two weeks ago or so my mom started smooshing things and letting gideon try them (basically whenever he seemed inclined to do it himself). over the course of a few days he had peach, blueberries, a strawberry, some kale & apple smoothie, a few pieces of pancake, some cracker, beans, rice, avocado, and cheerios. he gagged a few times trying to navigate each of these new things around his little pallate, but now all is well. his favorite thus far (many thanks to his enthusiastic auntie vivian)? hummus. he must have eaten a 1/2 cup. i think he had a tummy ache later, but i'm sure he's only getting more and more able to digest these things. he insists on eating now whenever we're eating, and i love to have the opportunity to share with his mouth all the lovely things i put in mine.

this is one of the beaches (private. beaches.) on the "Turner Farm" property where the greenhouses were recently installed. owned by "The Donald" (billionaire, and close friend of/to the Lodge), this piece of property is among the most beautiful on earth, i do decree. we ventured down for an afternoon sit... i thought it would be fun to stick my toes in the water & thought it would be even more fun to let gideon join me. he would, ultimately, disagree.

this, this was the most perfect afternoon. we had no guests; so gideon and i made our way -- slowly, mind you -- to ames' point. with the meager exertion of walking i was toasty in just my t. we passed exactly zero cars. perfect, i tell you. just a degree too warm if it weren't for the slightest, ocean-smelling breeze. it is rare that gideon will even rest his head in the stroller, let alone relax enough to fall asleep, but he did, deeply and quietly. this was my view, on this lovely afternoon, with no sound but the faint wind to bother me.

joe's mama (aka "Granny Harper") is here for a visit. she brings with her the vague scent of home and a reminder of all things missed. she gave gideon a few new toys (which he plays with, here). we brought her over to eat dinner in the restaurant, which was wonderful, though at this point it is impossible for me to separate myself from this place enough to enjoy it as a guest. i got up immediately after dinner and went in the basement to switch the laundry (which i had started immediately before sitting down to dinner). i have been working more and more hours of each day, of late, and, with the exception of friday night, sleeping fewer and fewer of every night. the romance has certainly tarnished a bit, though i can safely say it has not entirely worn off. what was romantic remains, i think, charming. i myself feel sort of like our silver-plated flatware; functional, durable, completely over-used, but still nice to look at.

ha. and cheap. ha ha.



gideon started crawling last week and has quickly become unstoppable. he had been standing (with assistance, but very confidently) for months, and now that he has the ability to move from one thing to the next, everything under 3 feet is within reach. (unfortunately for us (and for him, perhaps, in junior high), i think he has my wing-span.) i can't believe some of the things he can get in to! and of course he couldn't be less interested in his toys now. i will set him on the carpet to take care of one thing or another, and next i turn around he is sitting behind some door eating dust-bunnies.

oh, exhausted, beautiful boy. i wish i could make time during the hours he is awake to stare at and dote on him.



phew. the last of the work crew (that has been lodging here for three weeks) left on friday, and, though in some ways we were sad to see them go (as joe and i were ultimately quite taken with a few of them), the prospect of having a few quiet(er) weeks is so relieving. i am long overdue for some gideon-time, a bike ride, a run, a hike, and probably a good dunk in the ocean. not to mention some sleep. and some eating. and some new scenery for my camera to munch on.

flying lessons

Gideon and i ventured (home?) to portland this weekend. it was a whirlwind of hellos and goodbyes. goodbyes, mostly. aaron and emilia had a going-away party, complete with all of the greatest people i've met in the world. they are very soon leaving for a trip (or rather a series of trips) that will land them in every corner of the world... gideon and i may not see them until next spring; i can't imagine where we might be then. their lives seem so gloriously full of movement and motivation and good-doing and well-meaning and adventure and.. each other. two of the healthiest and most lov[ely/able] people i know, and such a source of encouragement and good humor to those they love. i envy them each seperately and especially together, but, much more significantly, i am proud and honored to know them. i was thinking, on this quiet ferry ride back, that i might write them each a list of all the things i love most about them. they would recieve pages and pages. and i would be only skimming the surface. anyway, i love you two, and i am so excited for you to have this chance to live as large as the stories you tell. (that was not sarcastic -- think nancy frederick not peter frederick -- you both are wonderful storytellers, that's all i mean.)

so, i can't decide if i like this picture; one moment it pulls me in, and the next it just sits there in front of me. that happens a lot. think i'll show you some others i've been having the same problem with...