There's something about Maddy

We've still got two weeks of summer left in these parts.  Miss M is finding all sorts of kooky & kicky ways to brighten her days. Yesterday it was the fort-making, complete with music, lights, fan, art supplies, a soft nest (she slept in it last night), food, books, and phone. Proving that you're never too old for a good fort with white lights.

 "Rules of Maddy's party fort:

1. Marvel at the wonder from a distance, please!

2. No biting pillows or blankets (you know who you are. *Louie*)

3. If your name isn't Louie or Maddy and you weren't formally invited into the fort, guess what? you weren't invited [this is a bit of a little-red-hen situation. no one would help her make it.]

4. When music is playing, lights are on, and fan is fanning, fort is occupied.

5. No harming or ta(m)pering with the fort or else you won't have chairs at dinner tonight.

6. Rules spontaneously come up by Maddy must be followed in the fort.

Thanks, the tenant"

. . . 

On vacation, Maddy came across a card & quote at a museum gift shop that called her name:

"I am fairly certain that given a cape and a nice tiara I could save the world"

Last week she and her best partner-in-crime decided to go ahead and equip themselves & save the world.  These are their costumes (plus scooters, some monster spray, and a lot of chutzpah):

I love this Alice shirt

She is hilarious. Man, I love that girl. 

. . .

 Listen:  Sweet Disposition, The Temper Trap

moments.

Isn't this lovely?  

Moments from Everynone on Vimeo.

I think yes.

I'm back, I'm cranking up the computer. Prepare for the deluge of posts (once I get over the techo-reluctance I acquired on vacation, that is).

The pull

Here's what gets me out on my (somewhat) daily 4-miler: the scenery is both a distraction and a payoff.

Join me?

Fields of green and gold

 Shady, winding roads (the better to think on, my dear)

Sunlight through the trees (and, oh!, the hill...huff, huff)

And then my favorite part: the scene opens up and the sky is wide

(reminds me of home) 

What a vista. Chat with a woman in the field about a bird's egg she's found.  Say hi to the horses.

Lean over, hands on knees.  Breathe. Stand up, retrace steps, and head back home. (Downhill now!)

Splay on the grass for a few minutes' recovery and sport a red exertion face for the next hour.

Want to host a tour in your neck of the woods? Post scenes from a walk/run/ride around your neighborhood and leave the link in the comments here. Armchair travel, my favorite!

Snippets + verbs

photo via

Shivered.  It's cold 'round here.

Read.  I loved this essay by Mental Tesserae.  And this passage from One Magpie.  Kindred thoughts in both of these.

Wrote.  Posted on Segullah this week, a (religious) piece about Mary and her "how shall this be?" response. (If you've read this blog for more than two years, you might recognize the first paragraph or so...) Also, I've played around with the formatting for this blog. I've been having so much fun...like moving the furniture around without all that effort and floor scraping.

Watched.  Had a long-awaited movie date with G this afternoon. It's been ages since we were able to get out just the two of us...ever since our girls acquired social lives and obligations. (Although last night we did go out to dinner. Sam came with us and was a wonderful dinner companion.  Still. Not really a date.)   We stopped off at the Danish Pastry House on the way home to prepare for St. Lucia Day tomorrow--hooray! Now I'm catching up on emails and watching It's a Wonderful Life.  "George Bailey, I'll love you 'til the day I die." (Someday I hope my kids understand how George Bailey-like their dad is, in all the right ways.  Because he is, lucky us.)

Delayed. I have a take-home final due next week.  No headway there. Also, we haven't yet taken our Christmas card photo. Ditto no Christmas tree...hopefully Monday's the day for that.

Savored + celebrated.  Feeling really content to take my time with the holidays this year.  Each day I'm doing a little bit and shunning any guilt or agendas (trying to, anyway). So far: books, candles, garlands.  Next up: tree, nativities, presents.  Bit by bit, especially until finals are over.

. . .

Best of .09: Food.  Hmm. I think I'll dub this the year of Really Good Chocolate. Truffles from Burdick's. And Nancy sent me some decadent chocolate from a chocolatier in her Brooklyn neighborhood: the really good stuff, with interesting flavors like pepper and salt and chiles.  It's not new to me but I upped it a notch.  How 'bout you? Best new food of 09? 

Pieces of peace

1. Every Sunday, around 2:30.  Sunday nap. Weekly dose of peace and contented breathing, right there. *Sigh.* I feel peace just thinking about it. 

. . .

2. In August we took a short hike in the Adirondacks.  After a bit, we came to a clearing and the happy sound of water.  There had been some bickering as we climbed but now the kids scrambled out across the shallow falls, exploring and delighting in our find.  G and I sat at the edge, in the sun, quiet.  It's the spot I first think of when I think of a moment of peace from the year.  For that moment, we were together, the water was cool on my feet, and there was peace there in the pause between climbing up and hiking out. (And the entire upstate NY trip was a pause before the chaos of the fall schedule began, too.) 

. . .

Best of .09: Day 8: Moment of Peace. An hour or a day or a week of solitude. What was the quality of your breath? The state of your mind? How did you get there?  Join in the Best of 09 challenge here.