an ocean away

The days like waves lap at the shore and melt away. My heart swells.

After an early morning phone call with my mom I am thinking of sunny, winter days on the beach in Washington. And even though land and sea separate us it feels almost like we live right next door to one another.   Talking with her is so restorative.  Our catch up sessions never fail to right a balance and buoy my spirits.  

Thank you, Mom!

what the world needs

Today, the world needed me to go and ski with two, wonderful girlfriends.  I would like to thank the world for being so thoughtful and generous, especially for offering a bluebird day with 60 centimeters of freshly fallen snow and bright sunshine.  

I have come alive! 

Have a great weekend!  And if you feel like sharing, I would love to know -- what makes you come alive? 

local love

We left Clover with his grandparents for a night last week. Félix and I made the absolute most of it and stayed a night in Annecy.   We picked a spot near where we used to have an apartment, right by the castle on the hill.  Waking up the next day as the sun rose across the valley, it was  positively dream-like.

We spent a wonderful morning walking down the cobblestone streets in the old town.

And looking over the old, tiled rooftops of the city.

We stopped for a morning coffee at a café beside the canal, drenched in warm sunshine.

and happily strolled along our favorite spots and well-traveled paths.

We reveled in the beauty of an early morning ballade next to the lake.The dreamiest start to a day, before Félix had to head to his classes and I went back home to pick up Clover. It was perfect, a much-needed moment to pause time and reconnect before returning to the usual pace of life, running in all different directions. I think it's a getaway that I will tuck away in my memories to be brought out and thought of during hectic moments.  A lovely, happy escape.

baby bird

 Little blue-eyed boy, you are joyful and sweet, inquisitive and mischievous.

Everyday you climb a little higher, run a little faster, and make our lives infinitely sweeter.

mini musician

There is no shortage of musical instruments in our home. Clover plucks guitar strings with Félix or they play the piano together, the pint-size pianist sitting on his papa's lap. The little man likes to tap out notes on his xylophone and bang away on the tambourine. However, he has shown a certain affinity for this old, J. Richard organ, but after watching a bit closer, I found it is not so much for the organ’s musical merits. Clover has deemed it the perfect hiding spot for his toys, tucking them in a hard-to-reach space behind the  wooden foot pedals and when he plays on the keys it is merely intended to distract prying eyes from discovering his secret stash. Sneaky, little music man, very sneaky.

merry and bright

This jack-in-the-box Santa is up on our door every year at Christmas. 

It's time! The holidays are really here.  My coffee has a hint of cinnamon. The tree smells amazing. The snow is swirling outside our door.  Clover and I are singing christmas carols around the clock. There are a couple, last-minute gifts to pick up but other than that we'll just be reveling in the holiday spirit over here. I wish you happy holiday celebrations with those you love. May your christmas be merry and bright and maybe, with a hint of cinnamon and peppermint, too. All the best!