maine momma

becoME

2012-01-27T23:39:00.003-05:00

becoME, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

i am stretching self imposed boundaries that have not necessarily served me well in the past. i am trying to be braver. putting myself, my work, my art, my passion out there. feeling so very vulnerable yet electric with the possibility of it all.

i found my one word, it is not at all the word i thought. funny how that happens. my word for this year is become.
it feels ballsy. i want to own it. i will own it.

“you must persist relentlessly in the manifestations of your own blessings” ~ e. gilbert

yes.yes.yes!

FREE stuff! yes i said FREE! :)

2012-01-25T08:27:00.004-05:00

Hello readers, friends, family. I have an exciting offer to let you all in on.
The lovely people at Paper Coterie are offering any of you $30 FREE STUFF! yes for real!
From now through Feb 7th go on over and create any products of your choosing, at checkout use this code MAINEMOMMA to receive your $30.00 discount.

Valid for $30 off your purchase
Standard shipping rates apply
No minimum purchase
Does not apply to gift cards
Valid through 2/7/12
***NOT limited to one time use!

SO go on over and check out all the FAB stuff they offer, Photo books~totally customizable, recipe books, journals, cards, sweet valentine's (have my eyes on those myself right now) , canvases, calendars! so many great products and let me tell you, you are going to LOVE the quality! I have created a book and more than a few calendars (holiday gifts) and the paper is so heavy and lovely.

SO remember, just type MAINEMOMMA at checkout for you $30 voucher. you can use it over and over and over for the next 2 weeks....
GO! happy creating!!! XOXO

sunday story

2012-01-22T19:31:00.005-05:00

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Untitled, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

i love when photos seems to want to be together. i do not "style" my photos, no, i am far too lazy. :) but some days when i see what i uploaded , i notice a common thread or color and i like to put them together.
today was one of those days. the colors in my fabrics and the colors of the orange slices were a pretty match.
today was sunny and cold.
i woke, showered and promptly put my pj's back on (fresh t-shirt and undies. i was comfy not gross.). kids and daddy had a serious lego project going on, not my forte, so while they did that, i moved my bedroom furniture around for a much needed deep cleaning under the bed. (if you ever visit, do not look under the beds. please. ugh.) feeling motivated and on a roll, i dug out my sewing machine and 9 squares (that just happened to be hiding under my bed. go figure.) and got to finally finishing them. i love to sew a quilt, i DO NOT love ironing all those tiny seams! oh my brain.after that, i wanted something sweet, and remembered just the other day while reading "The Daring Book for Girls" with Casey, i spied a recipe for shortbread in it. I grabbed her book, compared that recipe to my ever trusty ATK cookbook and set to work making shortbread. This is the very first time i have ever made shortbread. both recipes explained how to combine your very simple ingredients and then both said flour your surface and roll dough... they lied! after much trying and everything crumbling and turning to shortbread dust, i threw in the towel on the rolling, i was so frustrated i almost swept it all into the trash (can you say temper tantrum? obviously i can.) but instead i had a mini light bulb moment and grabbed a pie plate, swept the sugary crumbs into the plate and pressed hard. i threw it in the oven hoping something yummy would come out, and 45 minutes later it did. (yay!) i brewed myself a cup of tea and had a slice with some orange pieces. YUM. the kids and hubby loved it too. success.

so this was our sunday. a pretty darn good one. i hope yours was too.
xo.

lessons

2012-01-20T10:52:00.002-05:00

O, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

"....Knitting gifts me lessons in patience, in imperfection, and on a good day, success. Some days its lessons are in unraveling, coming undone, acceptance, starting over, and not giving up. Amazing how something so simple has so much to teach...."

more at Paper Coterie today.

woke to the most beautiful sunshine and fresh fluffy snow. winter was busy while we slept. it is the most gorgeous winter wonderland out there today. the sky is beyond blue. i saw steam rising off the ocean this morning. what a great start to this day.

happy friday everyone, xo.

you are unlimited

2012-01-18T08:54:00.002-05:00

you are unlimited, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

a little reminder from a friend.

yes i am.

so are you.

i am at shutter sisters today. please join me there.
xo.

xo

2012-01-12T13:17:00.001-05:00

tilt, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

snow day today.
xo!

breather

2012-01-09T14:19:00.004-05:00

3, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

these past few weeks have dealt my little family quite the blows with a virus we have been passing from member to member. fever, headaches, sinus pressure, congestion, coughs, chapped skin and lips, more fever. Casey added a not so fun bout of vomiting and near dehydration to her round of it. squeeze in the lobster dip right in the middle of it all and then my best girlfriend being a trooper and coming to spend a weekend with us, and we are just about worn out. I think i am going to take the rest of january and recoup, a little break from my space here. i never like to "disappear" without a word, so here i am saying see you later alligators... just feeling the need to recharge. who knows? maybe i will find some fun things to share before february. perhaps this self imposed break will light a creative fire under my uninspired butt.

besides, i am never far away, i am taking a photo a day this year, so you can always find me over there.

see you soon.
be well. stay warm. take your vitamins! ;)
xo!

best

2012-01-07T20:34:00.002-05:00

best, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

she is just that, the best.
not just to me, but to all of us.
we shared stories, chicken and dumplings, a few walks, (some sea glass treasure was found, and animal prints in the snow) a pretty snowfall, a yummy meatloaf panini, hugs, laughs, and good times. we even made a giant rainbow paper chain together. (she brought the kids her extra strips of construction paper all the way from PA). one thing i hope we did not share were our germs, and there were plenty going around the house while she was here. she knew that and came anyway.
today she flew away, and our hearts feel the hole already.

see you soon(er)

love you jen.
xoxo

love thursday

2012-01-05T08:40:00.003-05:00

tilt, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

my best friend flies in today.
have not seen her since last june for taylor's high school graduation which seems like a lifetime ago already to me now. i am sick. that figures right? at least i feel like today i am pulling out the other side of the illness. must get more fruit so i can hit my juicer hard again today. that felt so good yesterday. why did i ever let it gather dust? (silly me) the kids even had some of the batch i made at dinner, threw in a few strawberries too in that one. so good. hubby says this is "our year" to get back on a healthy track and really make it work this time. i can say being sick i am ALL for anything to make us feel better. who knows, maybe this is "our year". we both turn 40 soon. (wow!) i met him when we were right in the middle of our twenties, now here we are side by side turning 40 this year. that almost makes me giggle. we have been together now longer than i had been in school and i remember thinking school took "forever"! lol... :)

while i was sick i did finish 2 books. my reading pace has been pretty good these cold days. i like that. I read Joan Didion's memoir, "Blue Nights", the follow up to her "The Year of Magical Thinking". and for a lighter choice I read Kristin Kimball's memoir , "The Dirty Life". I loved reading this one since so much of what she wrote about i have seen first hand with my own eyes. She began her story in State College PA (i went to Penn State many moons ago...) and there was much talk of the Amish and horses (i grew up right outside Amish country and attended many Amish horse auctions as a kid) and then the story ends on a farm on the NY side of Lake Champlain (that i know too... but the VT side). seems i am into non fiction these days. now i need to get to the library and get something new.
What are you reading?
happy thursday everyone.

beautiful little words

2012-01-04T11:16:00.002-05:00

words, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

i was gifted these tiny treasures made more beautiful by the handwritten words of a friend.

i love words, don't you? with a new year here much thought goes into these little words. they gather momentum and meaning through intention.
some are so good at choosing one little word, i am feeling a pull toward 3 this year.
center, balance, simplify.
join me at shutter sisters today and play along all month long in our one word pool on flickr where we celebrate "your word".

what is your word(s) this year?

brand new year

2012-01-01T21:41:00.006-05:00

we came
we saw
we dipped!

"Lobster Dip 2012 "

Create a free slideshow with Picnik!

my final amount raised this year for Maine's Special Olympics was an amazing $1755.00!
THANK YOU.

this year i got to do the dip with my very good friend Meredith. a year ago she said "one day i will do that with you." (she lived in texas when she said that) little did we both know it would be THIS year! how awesome it was! sadly my family had to cheer me on from the warmth of home this year. they have been sick for days and unfortunately were not healthy enough to venture out with me today. i did miss having them there with me. there is always next year... speaking of next year, kellen will be old enough next year and he has already told me he wants to do it. i will be his biggest cheerleader if he decides he really wants to go for it!

happy new year everyone.
xo!

today

2011-12-31T16:02:00.002-05:00

31 december, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

registration, done.

tomorrow we dip!

XO

one last day

2011-12-30T14:59:00.002-05:00

myself & fellow dippers post dip., a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

today is my last day to help raise money for my new year's day lobster dip. tomorrow i pre-register and hand in all my information and monies raised.

i set my goal high this year at $1,000.00 and with all the amazing love and support of friends and family i am so very pleased to report that as of right now my total amount raised is $1,527.00!!! that is beyond my dreams. thank you so very much. and if you like the donation link is still open all day today and into tomorrow. sunday at noon i will venture down to the beach with my friend and fellow dipper and we will say hello to the ocean for all of you. all the support and encouragement i have been so blessed to receive last year and this year gives me the courage to be way crazier than i ever am on a "normal" day. i rarely swim in that ocean in august let alone january first!!! but it is an honor to be able to do it, and i am honored by all of you who have helped me make this grand gift for Maine's Special Olympics.
XO!!
thank you.

thursday lovin'

2011-12-29T17:02:00.002-05:00

tilt, a mosaic by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

we have a round of the flu beginning in the house. :(
here's hoping we can contain it well.
so sad when littles are sick this way.
i just want to make it all better. cool cloths, orange jello, ginger ale...
3 days til the dip. cannot.get.sick.no.

happy love thursday everyone.
send us some healthy vibes please.
xo

winter

2011-12-27T16:41:00.003-05:00

today's pallete, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

several days can pass where we don't make a point of seeing the ocean or beach in the winter. when that happens i can feel myself grow restless. there is something very grounding about a winter beach. the stillness, the quiet, the solitude, the wind, the cold. today we ventured down. it was windy and traces of snow remained on the sand. some times the kids are happy with my excursions, and then other days you can see all they want is to climb back into the warmth of the car. even on those days when our trip is fleeting, i hope something deep inside them feels more centered and balanced by just being there. i know i do. it is such a gift to live near the sea. so wild and beautiful.
hello ocean.
xo

6 more days....

2011-12-26T13:22:00.002-05:00

gimme claw!, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

one 6 more days til New Years Day.
6 more days to help raise money for The Special Olympics.
6 more days til i put on a swimsuit and dip into the cold Atlantic Ocean in Maine!
6 more days... my butterflies are growing!!!!!
please give. every single dollar helps. xo.

xoxo

2011-12-24T12:07:00.001-05:00

tree topper. ;), a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

merry christmas eve everyone.
1 more sleep til santa! ;)
however you spend your days, may you feel loved.

xo

traditions

2011-12-23T18:49:00.004-05:00

spice ornaments.
so simple.
smell SO good.

love thursday

2011-12-22T14:34:00.004-05:00

tilt, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

winter beauty and inspiration.

today is our first official day of winter break. kids are home, craziness is already ensuing. laughter, running, harmonica, giggles, more running. last night we sat up past bed time watching the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular on Netflix together on the couch. I remember going as a kid with my dad and step mom on a bus to nyc at christmastime. it truly IS magic especially when you are 3 feet tall! everything is huge and grand. watching that last night took me back to being small. i hope to share that grandeur with my little ones ones. we took taylor there at age 8 (the spring after 9/11) and i am always so glad we did. now we need to share the beauty of nyc one day with our little ones. last night just brought that all back to me.

happy love thursday everyone.

moment of change

2011-12-21T09:10:00.003-05:00

me back in the jeep. big smile feeling all happy & excited by what i just watched., a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

i am at shutter sisters today talking about the very day i felt a big shift in my heart.
please join me there.

P.S. if you live in maine DO be careful out there today. it is ICY. that thin deceptive, looks like rain but it is not, kind of ice...

xo.

counting down

2011-12-19T10:32:00.002-05:00

maine "lobstah", a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

13 days til new years day & The Lobster Dip!

73% to my goal as of this morning. Thank you to all who have already donated. If you have even $1 to give, please click on over and help me reach my goal of $1000.00. all going to The Special Olympics of Maine organization.

I will be "freezin' for a reason" in honor of all of you. thank you.

13 days... oh my goodness. last night was 12 degrees here. the coldest so far this winter. made for a very chilly morning. thank goodness the dip is at noon. gives the day a little chance to 'warm up' before diving in..... :)

silent night....

2011-12-17T20:28:00.005-05:00

sleepyheads

last sunday night after we put up our tree, kellen asked to sleep by it. monday was a school day so i said "yes" to his wish but that it would need to wait a few days for the next weekend. friday arrived, we had our potluck party at school, returned home, and they both reminded me of the plan. we blew up the air mattress, brought out pillows and blankets, 'purple' and 'puppy',and watched the polar express by the light of the tree. after the movie i found them like this. all snug and out for the night.

just the other day i read this quote thanks to my friend sarah,

"forever is composed of nows." ~ emily dickinson

this is a now i want to remember forever.

hello friday and a winner! {yay!!!}

2011-12-16T08:33:00.008-05:00

well after clicking the magic random number generator.... (drumroll....) the winner of the $50.00 Paper Coterie giveaway is #19. the 19th commenter was "Texas Transplant", Lauren Lindley! Congrats Lauren. Thank you for stopping by yesterday and leaving your comment. (please email me so I can get you your winning code) have fun creating!
Speaking of, I just received the last of the calendars I made through Paper Coterie last night. Every year I make calendars as gifts for all our family. A great gift for anyone I think, but especially nice for us since we live far away from ALL our blood relatives. This is a nice way to share photos of the kids from this past year with them. I am very impressed by the paper quality of the items I ordered. Heavy and matte, with such a nice feel to them. I made 2 totally different styles and love them both. I hope the family love them as well. Plus I may be biased, but the kids in the pictures are darn cute too. ;)
AND i am very happy to announce that yesterday, i followed through on my mission. i made my list. i went out and bought a new address book. i have had the same address book for years and then 2 little ones on top of that, so i can never ever find an address i am looking for and when i began my "official" address book years ago i wrote in pen. not very smart of me... people move, A LOT, it seems from my book. crossed out scribbled over, yes a total mess. Now i condensed all 3 into one, in pencil this time, and then after i finished that project, i actually got my cards done too! WOOT! 9 progress and hand cramp) and then with the last of my calendars arriving at my door last night, i gift wrapped those and will deliver ALL to the post office today to begin their journeys to all our family and friends.

any fun plans for your weekend?
tonight we have a potluck holiday party to attend. i LOVE a pot luck.
and tomorrow some good friends are joining us for food and cookie making. i am so excited for all of it. speaking of cookies look at this face i found in my flickr stream from 2 years ago. i remember this very day just by looking at the photo. we had just visited our dentist, he did awesome, our dentist just happens to be side by side with a bakery, (LOL funny huh?) so as a treat i let him go in and choose 1 thing. anything he wanted. he chose that gingerbread cookie. i remember getting him all strapped into his car seat, i turned around to see him holding that big cookie in his little hands and took his picture. he is growing up so fast. photos like this one make my mama heart ache a little. sigh.

kristin~mainemomma">
sweetness squared : 351.365 gratitude, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

happy friday everyone!
xo

so much to do... just need to start { *giveaway!}

2011-12-15T09:03:00.009-05:00

simply, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

happy love thursday everyone.
i am feeling out of sorts this holiday season. unable to pinpoint just exactly why. lack of snow on the ground seems to be making me as restless as my kids. "how will santa come if there is no snow?!?!" even i seem to feel anxious about this. yesterday with good intentions and a list, hubby and i ventured out into the crowds to get the gifts on santa's list. i really expected to come home happy and done. silly me. nothing was exactly what i had envisioned to buy, so then i have a hard time committing to any of it since it was not what was in my mind's eye.. maybe i am over thinking it all. maybe this restlessness is just permeating everything, who knows? not me. typically i am the girl who has her holiday cards written and stamped by Dec 1st.... where are my cards this year? by the side of my bed. unaddressed. unsent. today i am making a vow to myself to make my list and just do it! cards first. i love getting cards in the mail. i have them hung all over my home from Christmases past, so i have no excuse to put it off any longer. i just feel a little stuck this year.

to get me more in the mood how about a little gift giveaway for one of you? Have you checked out all the great products at Paper Coterie yet? journals, recipe books, cards, calendars, canvases! so many great ideas to create something all your own with... Today I am offering one $50.00 voucher to be used in their shop on anything your heart desires. perhaps a last minute gift for someone else, or go ahead and indulge in something just for you. you totally deserve it!!! (santa told me you were good this year) ;)
just leave a comment here and i will randomly choose 1 winner and announce the winner here on the blog.

here's to getting in the holiday mood.
what do i want for christmas??? some pretty white snow.... and happy happy kids on christmas morning.

xo~ good luck!

***************

P.S. I am 58% to my goal... 17 days til THE DIP! (eeeep!) please give if you can. thank you.

***************

UPDATE: comments are now closed. a winner was chosen this morning. congrats to Lauren "Texas Transplant" the winner of the giveaway!

doing the dip!!!!

2011-12-10T13:29:00.005-05:00

scenes from the dip last year, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

it is that time once more. new years is fast approaching. and we all know what happens on new years day in my town.... THE LOBSTER DIP! the motto is "freezin' for a reason" i love that. yes we dippers gather on the beach here in Maine on New Year's Day at noon and take a dip into the very cold Atlantic Ocean all donations we gather go to The Special Olympics of Maine.

last year with all your help and support I raised a total of $900.00 for the Special Olympics. crazy great number! this year i have upped my goal to $1000.00. Please help me raise this amazing amount. every single dollar helps. please give and help me take the very cold plunge once more!

click here to go straight to my personal fund raising page.

21 days and counting til the dip!
thank you so very much.
XOXO
Kristin (lobster dipper)

my grown up winter list

2011-12-09T06:00:00.010-05:00

winter list, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

"In seed time learn, in harvest teach, in winter enjoy." ~ William Blake

my grown up winter list:

time cuddled together indoors under a fuzzy blanket
mugs of hot chocolate served with buttered toast sprinkled with cinnamon & sugar for dipping (takes me right back to my childhood)
the smell of cloves and cinnamon simmering on my stove top
scent of fresh cut pine
the warmth and weight of the extra quilt on our bed
frosted window panes
comfy soft slippers
a bulky sweater
the rosy cheeks of my little ones when they come in from the cold
snowmen
sled rides
reading
candlelight
holiday music on our record player

my list goes on and on. when i read my own words it makes me realize there is so much to love about winter. the slowing down, the coming in, the creating of cozy quiet moments. it is not all shoveling and scraping and layering... it is so much more.
join me at Everyday Storytellers today and share your thoughts.
what do you look forward to in wintertime?

happy friday everyone.
we have a busy weekend ahead of breakfast with friends, a school friend birthday party, and a certain special tree to find, cut down, bring home and decorate.
xo!

the little things

2011-12-07T22:24:00.005-05:00

the little things, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

a box full of perfect little surprises arrived just for them. (complete with candy cane pop rocks! how cool is that?)
snail mail rules.
especially when it is sent with such love.

she is the best.
i just wish she could mail herself in the box too.

just this morning i read this post here, and thought yes this is exactly it... brooke says just what i was feeling yesterday for my faraway friend.

joy

2011-12-07T14:15:00.002-05:00

joy, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

i am back up and running today.
big thanks and love to my tech savvy hubby for ordering the part and fixing it for me.

if you'd like to join me, i am at shutter sisters today celebrating the good words out in the universe right now.

wish, peace, joy, love, give...
what words can you find?

off line.

2011-12-02T11:37:00.001-05:00

laptop is making gurgle noises at me. :(
i am taking that as a sign to let it rest til we can get it fixed up...
have a wonderful weekend.
hope to be back here soon.
xo!

savoring

2011-12-01T08:34:00.004-05:00

savor, a photo by kristin on Flickr.

savor ~ to appreciate fully; enjoy or relish

yesterday i was savoring this slice of light as it slanted through my window...

what are you savoring these days?

please join me at Shutter Sisters today where we usher in December with a brand new necklace celebrating the sisterhood and enter for a chance to win one of your very own!

everydayness

2011-11-30T11:34:00.002-05:00

everyday darkness, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

yesterday i woke with a headache that persisted all day. on a day that there was no time to tend to it. school volunteering, family visit, yummy dinner to cook, kids to tend to... so i plugged on trying to ignore the pain in my head and eyes... by the end of the evening i was fully spent. my eyes felt so swollen but still i could not get sleep to come. i knew it held my relief.

today i woke after kids and hubby graciously let me sleep in but then i woke in a fog realizing i had another appt to help at school this morning. had to jump up hit the ground running literally.

so now i am home. my eyes are still a bit sore. it is the last day of november. the last day of open habit. how i have loved contributing there this month. there is still no snow outside my window. today the sun shines for the first time in days, it is a balmy 57 degrees. i rode home from school with my windows open , no winter coat on, i stopped for a minute to see the ocean. got out and walked the sand in my bare feet. the sand was cold.
tomorrow we welcome in a new month. december already. seems impossible to me, but here it is.
goodbye november... xo

smile

2011-11-27T21:40:00.004-05:00

smile, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

our littlest one is growing up. no denying it. she is tiny in size, so her age and her abilities can surprise you some days.. this holiday break she crossed 2 big firsts off her growing up to-do list. on thanksgiving day she lost her very first wiggly tooth. exciting! (now yes you can clearly see she has 2 missing teeth, but that top one we don't really count since it did not come out the "normal way". she fell at age one and broke that tooth in half, and later had to have the broken part pulled by a dentist. worst.day.ever.) so this was the first one to get wiggly all on its own. of course the tooth fairy came to call that night and left her 2 shiny quarters. she woke the next day and forgot to even look under her pillow. she came out bleary eyed and kellen asked her if the tooth fairy came. the look on her face was priceless as she spun around and ran back to her bed and lifted her pillow to reveal the treasures. (so fun!) then on Saturday she attended her very first school friend birthday party. there were cupcakes with pink frosting, a pinata which she got to take a swing at, and a goody bag full of lollies and bubblegum. score!

being the "baby", or the last to do everything, can really be difficult on her some days. she has waited to do so many of these things she sees her brother do before her. it is fun to see her having her time now. she is soaking it all up. as are we.. but it did occur to me she is the last.. and these are the last of the firsts... i know we still have many more firsts to come, but just realizing this fact is a little bit sad on my momma heart. plus 5 and 7 are really fun. i am really loving the stages they are both in right now. i want to slow it down and savor it.

gift

2011-11-25T19:20:00.001-05:00

25 november, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

tonight we took the kids to see a movie.
as we exited the theater this is what we saw... the most amazing sunset. within 5 minutes it was over.
what a gift.

happy friday everyone.

sunrise

2011-11-25T08:26:00.003-05:00

sunrise, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

cold morning.
empty beach.
coffee to warm my hands more than any thing else.
more about my quiet morning gratitude at everyday storytellers today.

2011-11-24T10:53:00.002-05:00

"There are things you do because they feel right & they may make no sense & they may make no money & it may be the real reason we are here: to love each other & to eat each other's cooking & say it was good." ~ story people

happiest of days from my family to all of yours.

may you find yourselves with full bellies and full hearts however you spend you day.

much love and gratitude.
~kristin

what you makin'?!

2011-11-21T23:47:00.005-05:00

therapy, a photo by kristin on Flickr.

it is almost time... turkey time!
went grocery shopping today feeling giddy about what i was filling my cart with. i love thanksgiving. i love the meaning. i love the gathering. i love the simple. i love the meal.
my menu never changes. you can count on it. death, taxes and my thanksgiving menu... like that. for reals. cooking it is a 2 day event for me. i remember when it became my responsibility to make our thanksgiving meal, the timing of it scared me the most. over the years i have learned what works for me is splitting it into 2 days. wed i will do most of the prep and cooking. all the sides, the pie, the bread.. they will all be cooked and portioned and placed in the fridge overnight. when i wake thanksgiving day 2 things always happen. #1 i turn on the macy's thanksgiving day parade. (just remember we no longer have cable tv... can't cue up the parade this year... ok now i am a little sad.... moving on.) #2 the turkey is bathed, greased, stuffed and in the oven... the menu looks like this.

turkey stuffed with my homemade stuffing...
homemade stuffing and i make it like the song, "parsley sage rosemary and thyme..." (yes i am all sorts of cheesy like that.)
mashed potatoes. (mostly for the next step, but also for my bland food preferring teenager she only likes the plain mashed. silly silly girl. who raised her? oh yeah never mind...)
potato filling this is the BOMB people. i grew up pennsylvania dutch and let me tell you they know how to make a good potato filling. some people i meet have never heard of it (so sad) so here it is... take half of your mashed potatoes you already made, take half your stuffing that is not being stuffed into your bird, and blend the 2 together along with a stick of butter (yes i said stick) and bake that together in the oven til golden brown on top. o.m.g. seriously, THE BOMB. crowd pleaser.
we like the french's friend onion & green bean casserole here.
the kids all ask for corn. (my mom used to make corn pudding when i was a kid.. i have not carried that on for some reason. maybe next year i will try that.)
if i had anyone who liked this but me, i would make roasted brussel sprouts with garlic and bacon.... but alas that would only be me eating it and well our table and my oven is already stuffed to the gills. so i don't, but i know a lot of you do and i will drool over the evidence on flickr in a few days, no doubt.
applesauce. i love to make my own.
cranberry sauce (kellen can eat a whole can all by himself. he LOVES that stuff) i know, i need to make it fresh one year... not this year, but one year....
homemade/from the drippings/GRAVY!!!! pour it on my whole plate. i love gravy.
fresh baked bread. my hubby is the baker man. (i have my nanny's potato roll recipe. need to try that one)
and of course pie.... i love pecan, kellen loves coconut cream... both are my mom's specialty and she will not be with us this year (sadly) so apple it will be. i know pumpkin is the tradition, but none of us LOVE pumpkin so why bother? apple will do just fine.

what are you making this year? or every year?
what is your go to, must have, the bomb, o.m.g. recipe?
i'd love to hear what is on your table...
i am getting hungry already!
someone watch the parade for me ok??? please!

hello weekend.

2011-11-19T19:45:00.001-05:00

hello weekend., a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

may yours be sweet.
xo

the beauty in wishing....

2011-11-17T18:52:00.001-05:00

tilt~ the beauty in wishing...., a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

some wished hard.
some wished silly.
some in the light,
and some right before bed.
most look so very at peace.

all are beautiful.

wish

2011-11-16T08:50:00.002-05:00

my wish, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

i am at shutter sisters today, celebrating everything beautiful about wishing...

and making a few of my very own...

please join me.
xo

last bits

2011-11-14T23:42:00.001-05:00

last bits, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

autumn is coming to a close. everything appears brown and most branches are now bare. today i woke with a horrible back/neck ache. when i re awoke after some meds and heat, jason said it was warm outside. warm to him and warm to me tend to vary greatly. i had a few errands to run, got dressed and headed to the door unsure of which coat to grab, when to my utter surprise the air really was warm. i threw on a scarf and headed out. no coat. wow. the air almost had a balmy feel to it. felt so good on my skin. i even cracked my sun roof a little on my drive. thank you warmth.

11.11.11

2011-11-11T21:55:00.001-05:00

day 11, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

we watched.
i will watch again.
it just felt so good to anticipate something beautiful and collective and to be with ones i love, comfy on our couch with a bowl of popcorn between us.

hope you all had a lovely day.

one more day!

2011-11-10T08:18:00.005-05:00

one more day!, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

tomorrow is the BIG day!

"The Beckoning of Lovely
11-11-11
We Are All One"
(the movie)

will be released via the world wide web!
I cannot wait to see what goodness came of this project since its inception way back on 08-08-08... (if you have no idea what i speak of do yourself 1 favor today and DO watch this.)

Thank you Amy Krouse Rosenthal for your vision and trust that the universe would deliver on your request to make "an 18th cool thing", which then born what is now the movement, The Beckoning of Lovely. Amy writes of tomorrow's movie, "it is an interactive love letter to the universe, this film is rooted in human connection and best shared in the company of others… be it with friends, family, co-workers, classmates, neighbors, strangers or any combination thereof." (I love that!)

Please join me today at Shutter Sisters as we celebrate all things 'lovely' together in anticipation of this very big, lovely, day.

xo!

the paper kites

2011-11-07T21:41:00.004-05:00

a friend shared this sweet video with me today.
she said she thought of me as soon as she saw it.
that makes it even more special.
i love every bit of it.
the wild things, the woods, their favorite pillows, and the magical end...
thanks barb.
happy day everyone.
xo

a good weekend

2011-11-06T21:36:00.004-05:00

kristin~mainemomma">
two, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr

Saturday we spent in hibernation mode. L A Z Y. we ate a lot too.
we made up for that today and went out for a walk.
we are super lucky, we can walk from the woods to the ocean. the kids had no idea where the trail went... when they figured it out they were pretty stoked. we walked the beach and i found a heart shaped rock. i was excited, it had been awhile since i had found one... not 1 minute later jason hands me another heart. a SEAGLASS one! he wins.
we came home, had lunch, and then hit the yard for round 2 of leaf raking gathering dumping session... i do love our big trees. such beautiful shade in the summer, such gorgeous color in the fall... but when they let go and come down it is weeks til we get done with the clean up. ugh. but again, saturday was our lazy day, today was our fresh air, sunshine and hard work day... kellen and casey are the best helpers ever. those 2 lug leaves like no body's business. they are hard workers.
i think i will sleep good tonight.
what did you do with your weekend?

stories

2011-11-04T22:35:00.004-05:00

day 4, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

i walk by, i can't help but stop. i smile. i know them. not them exactly, but the people who rattle the walls inside restaurants. the ones that wake at the crack of dawn to start bread, place orders and meet delivery trucks. the ones that do the line checks, the floor sweeps, and the restocks. they sweat real sweat, some days they even cry real tears, they laugh a lot, get mad a lot, swear A LOT. they can be the strangest, the funniest, and the craziest people you may ever meet. add to that the most loyal, fiercely loyal. shirt of their back type. see, when you are in those walls, behind the line, or out front,you become family. i can't explain the phenom or reasons behind it all, but i know it to be true. my very best friends are my restaurant friends. perhaps it is because of the insane hours, the never having a holiday or weekend off ever, the fact that you DO wind up seeing those people way more than your actual family.. that could be a huge part of it. either way, i do know we may not see or speak to each other for years some times, but when we do happen to run into each other, it's like no time passed at all. we share all the same crazy stories, we still talk about the regulars, the time we ran out of eggs on the mother's day brunch, the time the power went out... we know each others secrets. we kissed a few. dated a few. heck i even married one. ;) i have not worked that life for 2 years now. i still miss some of it. (not all of it. it is hard work. and well i am a lot older than i was.) i miss the socialness of it. the exhilaration of banging out a great night. the commiserating over the god awful ones. the satisfaction one gets from being completely buried and then getting out of "the weeds". the family.
tonight as i walked a dark street and saw the familiar glow of the kitchen window and the life humming along behind the glass, i stopped and smiled and clicked this shot. i hope tonight is one of those good nights for them. i imagine them all sitting at the bar after the last guest leaves, pouring a round of beers and sharing the stories of the day. those are good times.... really good times.

love thursday

2011-11-03T09:26:00.004-05:00

tilt ~late autumn color... pumpkin spice., a favorites mosaic by kristin on Flickr.

is there anything prettier than the color of late autumn?
these make me want to cuddle up under an old blanket, with a cup of hot frothy chai tea, by a woodstove, with a pie in my oven and a pot roast simmering away on my stovetop, by candlelight, with a book and my family nearby... yes autumn, she is romantic isn't she?

happy love thursday everyone.

this week i had so many, i had to make 2 mosaics.. the 2nd one here.

a really good day

2011-11-02T18:32:00.004-05:00

day 2, a photo by kristin on Flickr.

things that are good for my soul:

goodwill
headcovers
the gratitude project
.99 cent vinyl
sunshine
skype to london
melting snow
laughing
1 orange coat of happiness
cheap pizza
being silly
an open month of habit
huggable bread
a walk in the woods
my silly sliders with muddy knees and wet bums
her (and the fact that she now lives near)

beYOUtiful

2011-11-01T08:11:00.003-05:00

affirmation, a photo by kristin on Flickr.

Please join me at Shutter Sisters today celebrating October's One Word, YOU, one last day...

(p.s.~there are some winners over there too... sweet!)

got candy????

2011-10-31T20:53:00.002-05:00

got candy????, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

happy halloween from my scary little crew.
may your night be full of treats.

california dreams

2011-10-28T20:53:00.007-05:00

camp/california and all its delicious bits....
palm trees~butterflies~taquerias~sisters~intention~love~beauty~permission~
campfire~ fog ~ surfers~ pacific~sand~marshmallows toasted so brown laughter~community~sharing~authentic~light~tears~surprises~sendoffs~graffiti (oh my the graffiti!)~dreams~flight~stories~ magic~poems~letting go~being silly
'christmas miracles'~chai tea~late nights~beach walks~seeing~being seen...

if i type it all out i fear it may lose a bit of its magic, so some i am keeping just for me. sacred. that is how it all is and all was.
one thing i am certain of is i came home with so much more than i arrived with.
i went with.. hopefulness, fears, insecurities, love, excitement, and uncertainty.
i left with...LOVE, hopefulness, excitement, exhilaration, surprises, friends, sisters, wonder, beauty (so much beauty), grace, permission, magic, fun, sparkle...
and a full heart... a very full heart.

xo california and all its natural beauty.
xo camper sisters. nothing but love.
xo friends who bookended my journey and delivered me safe and happy.
xo family who gave me the wings to fly.

thank you

love thursday

2011-10-27T10:29:00.001-05:00

tilt ~ a taste of camp, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

a taste of camp...
oh these beautiful memories.
all captured in our lenses.

friends sisters women
thank you.
xo

day 1. magic.

2011-10-25T19:16:00.013-05:00

my first day in cali was a beautiful one.
one i will remember forever.
i was super nervous about flying, and i had to take 2 planes to get to cali. i also had to wake my poor family up at 4 am so i could get to the airport to fly out at 6am. (so sorry family. such troopers they all were) after many hours and 2 planes, i arrived in san francisco airport where my friend picked me up. how do i have a friend in cali? oh the beauty of the internet people! i have friends all over the world now thanks to photography, flickr and blogging. we connect online and then some days, like this one, we get to connect in the flesh. sarah was so lovely, i on the other hand was a bit grubby and tired, but she was so gracious. (not to mention completely adorable!)

we scooted to an authentic taqueria (her sweet family's favorite little place) and shared a delicious plate of fish tacos, and fajitas. so yummy. then we had a choice to make, redwood trees (those glorious giants of the earth) or possible butterfly migration. (masses of monarch butterflies gather and make their journey to mexico stopping for a brief time in this spot in california to rest a bit along the way.) i had heard of the monarch migration, i am pretty sure i have even seen video of this phenom on youtube... to think that we may have the possibility to see this in person was just too great a possibility to pass up. so monarchs it was. we drove to the park. there were many cars, a good sign, if the butterflies were there, then people would be there too. we walked down the wooden walkway through some tall eucalyptus trees. at first you don't really see the butterflies, their wings are closed so the underside of them, which is far more dull and less obvious, makes them appear as if they are leaves. then suddenly what you thought was bunches of leaves, starts to move and pulsate and the orange appears and you begin to realize those are NOT leaves at all, those are ALL butterflies!!! (omg)

there are a few times in one's life when you know you are witnessing something truly amazing.
this was one of those times.
i was awestruck.
what a gift.

thanks to those magical butterflies and the ease and warmth of sarah, i knew i was in safe hands and setting forth on this big journey with the very best of beginnings. we had to leave the butterfly sanctuary and head to my destination, Pacific Grove where i would step out of sarah's car and into the arms and lives of the other shutter sisters that were gathering there. did i mention that except for 1, i had never met any of them in person before?!?!? (eep!) but just as i knew they would be, they were all beautiful amazing inspirational funny women, and just like me, all a bit nervous and a whole lot excited. we, like those butterflies were gathering and then setting out on a very big journey together the very next morning.... camp! little did i now that the magic of this first day would spill over into that beautiful night and into each day that followed...

thank you sarah. you were the perfect way to begin my big journey on the west coast...

re entry

2011-10-22T00:09:00.007-05:00

thursday i think i may have just blacked out.
so.tired.
flying a red eye... in horrible turbulence for 6 hours...major thumbs down.
today woke to sunshine, got kids off to school and shared breakfast with friends.
i am so happy to be here safe in my little bubble of home. my husband is so encouraging with questions and open ears for my stories from camp. my kids are more than generous with great hugs and "i missed you mommy", but something has shifted since camp. seriously feeling like i was cracked open there and now i am unsure how to put it all back together, or if i even want to. lucky for me my hubby "gets it". he listens and nods to the powerful stories i have shared with him. (thank god he gets it) but now i feel strange. unbalanced. in between.

like i mentioned before, camp was so not about the photography for me, but the coming together, the connecting, the stripping away of layers, exposing fears, getting real, seeing and being seen. there were beautiful words shared each day. poems, soulfully selected for our eager ears and read to us by the beautiful Myriam. (i wish she were here to read me a poem today. and tomorrow. and the day after that. you get the picture. i am missing that soul food she gave us so freely) so while i float a bit in this in between space i will share one of those beautiful poems here with all of you. perhaps you need these words too.

Sweet Darkness
by David Whyte

When your eyes are tired
the world is tired also.

When your vision has gone
no part of the world can find you.

Time to go into the dark
where the night has eyes
to recognize its own.

There you can be sure
you are not beyond love.

The dark will be your womb
tonight.

The night will give you a horizon
further than you can see.

You must learn one thing:
the world was made to be free in.

Give up all the other worlds
except the one to which you belong.

Sometimes it takes darkness and the sweet
confinement of your aloneness
to learn

anything or anyone
that does not bring you alive

is too small for you.

exhale

2011-10-19T11:29:00.002-05:00

exhale, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

i am sitting here, on what was my bed for the past few days here in california, wondering how it all went by so fast. how none of this will all truly sink in til i have time alone back home. there was so much laughter, some sweat, a lot more tears than i even knew i needed to spill, so much inspiration, new friends, old friends in the flesh for the first time ever, just plain awesomeness. my heart truly feels at this moment like it is so full it can do nothing but spill over into more tears. this was powerful. this shook things up. this was important. this is a gift. i feel like i am holding my breath a bit today. i admit i am never ever good at goodbyes. i say them FAR too often in my life. now i have 70 plus goodbyes to say today. some are going to ache deep, but that means that it truly meant something to be here, to SEE them, to really SEE them. and for them to see me back. when it comes down to it, this was not about the photography, though damn it was good, no this is so much more than that. breathe kristin...breathe.

(thank you sister campers)

embracing the changes

2011-10-14T09:04:00.007-05:00

letting go., a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

musing about fall today over at Everyday Storytellers.

What do you love to do in this season of comfort?

so far fall is all about the food here in our house. we sure do LOVE to cook and eat comfort food.

seriously chicken in milk, chicken and dumplings, chili (leftovers in my fridge as i type) and apple pie, just had another piece for breakfast. (yes i said "another". it was breakfast yesterday too.) that's healthy right? it's fruit... ;)

ok i am signing off. on my way to camp.

see you next friday!

leaping once more

2011-10-12T22:42:00.005-05:00

leap of faith, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

i took this photo above on Oct 21, 2009 for my very first post as a Shutter Sister. i clearly remember how excited i was then. now, almost exactly 2 years to the very day, i am taking another leap on my journey as a shutter sister. Saturday i fly to California (!!!!!!!!) where i will gather with the sisters in person to prepare for the very first Shutter Sister Camp, a photography retreat on the coast of Monterrey. to say i feel like the luckiest girl ever is an understatement. i am filled with nerves of all sorts. my mind spins when i try to concentrate on what the next week will hold. i want to embrace it all, put all my fears aside, and leap into the unknown.

so i say goodbye for now as there is so much to do to get ready, and once i am ready i want to just be with my little family and soak up all i can in hugs and love to tide me over for when i am away. (i will miss them terribly. this is the longest we have ever been apart.)

i guess my message is this, never forget to dream big. find your passion and follow it. you never know where it may lead you. i am living breathing leaping proof of this. 5 years ago i started taking a lot of pictures. 2 years ago i became a shutter sister. 2 days from now that journey is taking me a coast i have never ever been, to meet women who inspire so many. i am blessed.

have a wonderful week, i SO look forward to coming back home and sharing this crazy amazing adventure with everyone.

xo!

11/11/11 we are all one

2011-10-11T09:44:00.012-05:00

11/11/11, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

what began as a bit of an unknown on 08/08/08 @ 8:08 PM when author Amy Krouse Rosenthal walked into Millennium Park in Chicago to The Bean with her yellow umbrella has grown to the movement, and now upcoming online movie, The Beckoning of Lovely.
Since then Amy has returned each year to the same spot, always with her yellow umbrella, each time gathering more people and more "loveliness".
09/09/09
10/10/10

On that day long ago (8/8/08) Amy put out the call to the universe asking for anything lovely. There were no guidelines, just the word lovely. I was moved by Amy's videos, so much so that I sent in a few entries. I can't explain why, I just really wanted to support that simple video that touched my heart... moved me to tears actually, again and again. Isn't that what we all want to believe in so badly? that the world IS lovely, people ARE lovely... that we truly are all one. I was delighted when Amy herself emailed me back! me, a stay at home mom in maine, who likes to take pictures... i was so happy. Recently Amy released the movie poster and one of my images is on that very poster! so excited & honored, beyond really. I have no idea what the final movie will be, but I am certain it will move me again, and you as well.

today is 10/11/11, the movie will be released worldwide in one month via the world wide web on 11/11/11.
The Beckoning of Lovely, We Are All One, The Movie.

Mark your calendars and pull up your desk chairs, maybe a box of tissues.
i will be watching, and probably crying, i hope you will watch too.

at the end of the that first video on 08/08/08
Amy's says these words...
"make the most of your time here."
yes. indeed.

3 day weekend

2011-10-10T10:15:00.002-05:00

epic, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

if you need me i will be outdoors soaking up every last bit of this indian summer we have been gifted. and on a 3 day weekend, woot!

apple season

2011-10-06T07:33:00.005-05:00

my favorite bit of fall are the apples.
each fall we pick a day and head to the orchard. the one we love to frequent has a bit of everything, apples of all varieties, hay ride to the pumpkin patch, a few animals to feed, gorgeous barn, warm cider and apple cider donut wholes by the bag. we have not yet made the trek this year, but this weekend looks to be a beautiful one weather wise, perfect for a day at the orchard.

my mom was just here for a few days, her first visit since moving south to sunny florida. we miss having her here, but i am so very grateful she is willing and able to pick up and fly up to visit when she can. the whole 4 days she was here it did nothing but rain. it did not seem to bother anyone too much. it would have been nice to get outside a little bit more, but we enjoyed the togetherness inside playing games, drawing, and cooking. I remembered to ask my mom if she could recall her apple dumpling recipe while she was here. i am good at baking an apple pie, but apple dumplings are the memory of my childhood. for anyone who has never had one, it is simply 1 apple cut in half, stuffed with butter and sugar, then wrapped in pastry dough and baked with a brown sugar syrup til golden brown. a mini pie in itself, but made even easier since you are not slicing up those apples... the syrup thickens and gets sticky as it cools, giving the dough a crunchy outside layer. we serve them warm in a bowl with milk poured right on top. pure comfort, perfect for these colder,wetter fall days. my mom went out and dug up her 1967 cookbook from a box she had stored in our garage and found the exact recipe she has always used. i loved the cookbook. the pages all turning a bit yellow from age, the feel of the paper (not the glassy stuff a lot of cookbooks are nowadays) and the simple hand drawn illustrations with each recipe.

so vintage, and well i love vintage.

apple dumpling recipe, by kristin on Flickr.

so on tuesday, while the little ones were at school (picture day!), my mom and i got a chance to bake together. i made my favorite crust recipe for the dough, she prepped the apples, and together we made a batch apple dumplings. they were so simple, and so good. just as i remembered them to be, but even more special with my mom here helping me make them. i scanned the page from her cookbook, to forever have the exact recipe from my childhood. perhaps one day taylor, kellen or casey will ask for it, and i will be ready.

apple season, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

if you have never tried these, i cannot recommend them enough.
my mom flew back yesterday, but we have the memory of her visit and look forward to the next one. thanks mom. we love you.
happy apple season everyone. xo.

signs

2011-10-05T06:53:00.003-05:00

signs, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

"Not all who wander are lost." -J.R.R. Tolkien

on saturday i got to wander with a friend and our cameras.
the walk seemed ripe with words.
i love when that happens.

please join me at shutter sisters today.

connections

2011-10-03T08:23:00.004-05:00

connections, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

"...I hope they remember how I let them draw in the flour as the dough rests. The weight of my hands on theirs as we roll out a circle. How small tears are easily mended with a little water and a gentle touch. That no pie is perfect, but all are perfectly imperfect. That slowing down, taking time, and creating something homemade together brings us closer...."

you can read more at everyday storytellers today.

my momma is here visiting us.
maybe i will go get some apples and she and i can make her apple dumpling recipe today. a perfect example of connecting through food and traditions, and yummy too.
happy monday
xo.

YOU.

2011-10-02T08:27:00.002-05:00

YOU., a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

YOU are enough.
YOU are loved.
YOU are ________.....
celebrating a new One Word for October at shutter sisters, "you".
click on over and share with us the beauty of you. All the lovely, quirky, silly, fragile, fierce, complicated, amazing pieces of you.

loves

2011-09-29T10:18:00.002-05:00

loves, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

love thursday.
gorgeous flickr inspirations.

rainy day. hot coffee & carrot cake morning. when i step out into the heavy damp air i can smell the ocean... i am wanting to layer up with long sleeves, a soft scarf and my favorite jeans. crock pot meal for dinner to make our home smell and feel cozier as it simmers the day away.

happy thursday.

creating a story

2011-09-28T08:00:00.003-05:00

a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

"she carries a lot of suitcases but all of them are empty because she's expecting to completely fill them with life by the end of this trip & then she'll come home & sort everything out & do it all again" - story people

i am over at shutter sisters today sharing the funny story behind this old shot.

*don't forget to click on over to shutter sisters and leave a comment there to be entered in today's $100.00 giveaway from Paper Coterie. Only 3 days left in our everyday giveaways!
good luck!

14 years

2011-09-27T07:26:00.007-05:00

14 years, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

today is our 14th anniversary.
crazy!
time flies, and then anniversaries or birthdays come around and the numbers do not lie.
14 years ago we got all fancy and made those special promises and then had one heck of a great party to celebrate. (seriously, we threw a great shindig!)
14 years, and we still hold hands, make each other laugh, and realize that marriage is work that requires a team effort. we make a good team, or as the kids say, "teamers". this past year has been pretty great. we have had some struggles but we persevere, and i think we are closer this year than the one before that. i think that says a lot.
jason thank you for being my partner, my friend, my love.
you bake one mean loaf of bread, you crack my back on demand, you are supportive and funny and yeah, damn sexy.
i love you.
happy 14!
xo,
your mrs. ;)

simply good

2011-09-25T19:08:00.010-05:00

i love food. ( i am sure you already knew that about me) i love all aspects of food. i love the gathering, prepping, and then enjoying what you made. my hubby and i love cookbooks. i probably love them more for the photos, where hubby loves the science behind them. the mixing of ingredients to create a bit of magic. me, i tend to have the short attention span when it comes to steps in a recipe. too long, i lose interest. so when a recipe comes together that is short and sweet and down right good, i LOVE it! of course then i want to share it with everyone . you have to do that with a good recipe yes? my best girlfriend shared this one with me and now i want to pass it along. a 1 pot meal to boot, bonus! i love anything that you can throw in a pot and simmer into sublime submission. it is true, i have a not so small love affair with our cast iron dutch oven. last fall and winter it saw lots of love, chicken and dumplings, potato chowder, and chili, mmmm yes. comfort in a pot. i like that.
this is a sure to become a staple for my family this fall and winter. relatively inexpensive, simple fresh ingredients, 1 pot, all you need is time....
oh and it's a Jamie Oliver recipe... who doesn't love Jamie?
(i am a sucker for boys with accents... it's ok, my hubby knows.)
(and boys with accents who love to grow food and cook? oh.my. ;) )

Chicken in Milk
1 4lb chicken
1 stick of butter (everything is better with butter)
TBS olive oil
10 cloves of garlic in their skins
handful of fresh sage leaves
zest of 2 lemons
2 cups of whole milk
* 1/2 cinnamon stick (*i would say this is optional... i put it in the first time making this recipe and was put off by the intensity of the cinnamon. this time around i omitted the cinnamon and like it SO much more.)

kristin~mainemomma">
chicken in milk, a photo by kristin on Flickr.

Preheat the oven to 375F, and find a snug-fitting pot for the chicken.
salt and pepper the skin if you like.
melt stick of butter and TBS olive oil in your pot on the stove top. brown your chicken all over rotating to brown evenly. remove the chicken for a moment to dump off the melted butter, leave the brown bits on the bottom of the pot (adds flavor). return chicken to the pot, pour in all ingredients (milk, lemon zest, garlic cloves in skin, sage leaves) cover and place in your preheated oven. cook for 60 mins covered (basting occasionally) then remove lid and cook an additional 30 mins. remove from oven and rest. the chicken will fall off the bones.
drizzle the tender pieces of meat with some of that lemony broth from the pot. don't forget to scoop out the garlic cloves, they will be soft and perfectly spreadable. just squeeze their skins to reveal the soft garlic.(great eaten alone or spread on a crusty bread.) I served the chicken with some homemade mashed potatoes and sauteed spinach. the meat is just so tender.

kristin~mainemomma">
so.good., a photo by kristin on Flickr.

so there ya have it.
super simple, all you have to do is remember to time it.
comfort food. just the kind of thing fall calls for don't you agree?
oh and your home will smell wonderful while this cooks.

what meals do you love to cook when the weather cools off?
now i want an apple pie to wash this down with....

a gift of words.

2011-09-24T20:36:00.003-05:00

wishes, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

Believe

by Maya Stein

Maybe the camera crew is at someone else’s house,
a spotlight haloing over another’s fleshy story.
Maybe the mailman is delivering the good news
to your neighbor, or a different city entirely,
and you come home to a rash of catalogues,
the second notice for a doctor’s bill, a plea
from the do-gooders for whatever you can spare.

Maybe you haven’t cleaned your kitchen floor in weeks,
forgotten to nourish the front garden, spilled too much
coffee in your car, weaving through traffic.

Maybe you are 10 pounds heavier than last year.
Maybe your skin is betraying your age.
Maybe winter is ravaging your heart.
Maybe you are afraid, or lonely, or furious, or wanting out
of every commitment you entered with such vigor and trust.

Maybe you’ve bitten your nails down to the quick,
chosen your meals badly, ignored the advice of those
who know you best. Maybe you are stubborn as a toddler.

Maybe you are clumsy or foolish or hasty or reckless.
Maybe you haven’t read all the books you’re supposed to.
Maybe your handwriting is still illegible after all these years.
Maybe you spent too much on a pair of shoes you didn’t need.
Maybe you left the window open and the rain ruined the cake.
Maybe you’ve destroyed everything you’ve ever wanted to save.

Still.

If anything, believe in your own strange loveliness.
How your body, even as it stumbles, angles for light.

The way you hold a dandelion with such yearning and tenderness,
the whole world stops spinning.

simple truths

2011-09-22T08:56:00.004-05:00

"hold hands and stick together", a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten

"Most of what I really need
To know about how to live
And what to do and how to be
I learned in kindergarten.
Wisdom was not at the top
Of the graduate school mountain,
But there in the sandpile at school.
These are the things I learned:
Share everything.
Play fair.
Don't hit people.
Put things back where you found them.
Clean up your own mess.
Don't take things that aren't yours.
Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
Wash your hands before you eat.
Flush.
Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
Live a balanced life -
Learn some and think some
And draw and paint and sing and dance
And play and work everyday some.
Take a nap every afternoon.
When you go out into the world,
Watch out for traffic,
Hold hands and stick together.
Be aware of wonder."

~by Robert Fulghum

Share an image that rings true in your heart with me over at Shutter Sisters today, and don't forget to hold hands. :)

breaking out of funkytown and a special sale....

2011-09-21T19:13:00.008-05:00

Thanks for all your good words yesterday. Today I woke determined to break my funk. The sun was shining (thank you sun), hubby and I took ourselves for a pretty good walk around our hood. It was much warmer outside than it felt in our house. I forget how little sun exposure we get with all our big trees, dark cold rooms make me want to curl back up in bed, going out and feeling the warm sun today was perfect therapy. We walked at a good pace (we are both trying to lose some weight here... trying to be more active...) When we reached the beach the tide was all the way out making the sand easy to walk on. I found a scallop shell (unusual treasure for our beach) and a large broken spiral shell and happily tucked them both in my pocket. Instead of carrot cake I made carrot and apple juice which is one of my favorite juices to drink. i snuck in some kale for good measure, but not too much. So a good day. Just a little extra effort made a world of difference. Some self care, always good.

On a totally different note, I have some fun shopping news to share with anyone in my area.

PO. P, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

Polarn O. Pyret , which actually means "Buddy and the Little Guy", has been the leading children's wear brand from Sweden since 1976. They have been in the US for 2 years now, and you may have seen them featured in Real Simple, Parenting, Cool Mom Picks, Daily Candy and Instyle Magazine. Their brand is beautifully design driven. Vivid colors, prints and patterns adorn the entire line of clothing. Individual pieces stand out on their own, are made even more fun by mixing and matching. The brand's philosophy emphasizes outdoor play, Eco clothing and production processes, as well as unisex choices in clothing for children. I have a few pieces for both Kellen and Casey. They really are fabulous. Quality fabrics, beautifully constructed, and the colors, oh the colors! I had the kids do a little fashion show for me so I could take some pictures to share here with you.

PO. P, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

Seriously, I wish they were in my size, I would be borrowing that green check dress from Casey in a heartbeat! (oh so cute) They even have a sweet line of clothes for mamas to be (which i am not, but oh if i was....)

This Friday and Saturday (Sept 23 & 24) Polarn O. Pyret is coming to Maine!
A 2 day Sample Sale will be held at Simply Scandinavian, 75 Market Street, Portland, from 10AM to 6PM both days. If you are in the area, head on up and take advantage of this very special sale. Items from all collections and sizes (newborn - age 12 and don't forget mama) will be available. Items priced at up to 75% off. (sweet!) See you there.

howdy

2011-09-20T19:50:00.002-05:00

howdy, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

(a shot from a few weeks back now when i was in a swimsuit on the beach(sniffle, sob!) having fun with my reflection in my favorite towny vw bus. for mere's prompt today on shutter sisters)

i am here. just feeling quiet still. so unlike me. so helloooooo out there. i seriously want to bake a carrot cake right now at 8:42 PM and then sit on the couch and drone out in front of the tv... trouble is, we no longer have cable and the one show i stream (Parenthood. love it.) through hulu doesn't play until tomorrow. so that ends that grand plan for tonight. (oh and grating a whole pound of carrots right now for that cake i want to eat would take forever.) i just feel off today, and i know i feel off which makes it almost worse in some way, like i can't shake myself out of the my own funk.
i did find a cute mug today at goodwill that reads "believe in people". i like that.. i am drinking my tea out of it right now and well that makes me happy. maybe i need to find some fun youtube videos to watch... any suggestions???
ok signing off from funkville usa. i hope to return tomorrow in a better mood. xo friends.

growing up

2011-09-17T23:18:00.002-05:00

toothless!, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

his teeth have been slow to loosen and let go. most of his second grade friends have long lost those 2 front teeth and grown new big kid teeth already. i know he has been anxious for the same to happen to him. these rights of passage into big kid-dom. he worked and worked on that tooth relentlessly for the past week. honestly it was grossing me out. i can deal with pain and blood but the tooth thing goes right through me. his gums were getting so irritated and sore i just wanted that tooth to come out, or for him to give it a rest, one or the other please. today he was playing with it again when his daddy took a look at it and gave it a little tug and voila it came out! phew. so tonight it rests under his pillow in his little treasure box from the dentist... time to put on my tooth fairy wings and go get it.... he is growing up. moments like these are big. soon he will have a mouth full of big teeth as the baby in him fades away.

love thursday

2011-09-15T08:02:00.003-05:00

tilt, a flickr favorites mosaic by kristin~mainemomma .

yesterday hubby and i took ourselves to Portland for a walk. we stumbled upon the outdoor market which was full of beauty. we tried our very first five guys burger "all the way", oh yum! now we both see what all the hype is about. that burger was packed full of good stuff and big too! we bought fries but barely touched them we were so full. then we hit the record store. my mom handed down her old record player to me when she moved away. we have been having lots of fun scouring little thrift stores and goodwill racks for some new to us vinyl. i have always loved a treasure hunt of sorts. yesterday we scored some good ones. Bruce Springsteen's "Nebraska", "Born to Run", AND "Asbury Park" albums! the soundtrack to Star Wars original 1975 album in mint condition. (my kids LOVE old school star wars) when we got home and opened it up to play it, i pulled out what i thought was an insert of possible movie photos, but no it is an original movie poster also in mint condition!!! my hubby is one very happy boy. that is a total score.

we did all that, got a great walk, and made it home in plenty of time to pick up the kids who were full of their own fun stories and adventures from school. casey even had her first official boo-boo yesterday at school. gotta have those happen. she bumped her head on the playground equipment, went to the nurse and got an ice pack for her bump. so a full day for all of us it seems. she survived, said she didn't cry, and now has her very first "battle wound" story for school. all good.

happy love thursday everyone.

new days

2011-09-13T20:39:00.003-05:00

yes, the first day home with no little ones (and minus one big one) at all, the first time in years for me, i cried. i did. like a baby. i am stressed out. these big changes are not easy to adjust to overnight. i am a girl who likes to count on routines. perhaps too much so. now, quite honestly, i feel a bit lost. so maybe a little wish list of things to spread my own wings a bit would be good to see in print. some self motivation on for my low days.
so here goes.
i'd like to...
stretch my legs and take morning walks
get back to drinking tea and honey
sew a queen size quilt. maybe a king. (we do need a new bed one day soon)
write some letters and mail them.
make some brothy soups.
clean out our basement. for real. PURGE.
simplify simplify simplify
buy some new wool socks for fall and winter. (my seasonal splurge each year)
catch up writing in the kids's journals! (so behind on this. so very behind.)
find a book of mary oliver's poetry and devour every.beautiful.word.
knit a hat. a real hat this year, even if it hurts.
sew some new prayer flags for my soon to be bare trees. winter trees are prettier with prayer flags.
figure out a better system to organize my massive amounts of photos..
make homemade apple cider doughnuts.
go to a movie.

ok that's a good start.

there she goes...

2011-09-12T20:42:00.003-05:00

there she goes..., a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

the morning could not move fast enough for her. not today. we woke her up and as soon as she remembered what day it was she sprang out of her bed and into her clothes that she had already picked out the night before. within minutes she was ready to go. go now! that has always been her way, out front. confident. social. fearless. i often joked that she could have started kindergarten 2 years ago and been totally fine at age 3. they are so opposite. he reserved, shy, & quiet. she not. :)
i like to think they balance each other out. his peacefulness to her fierceness. yin and yang. he was very proud to walk her all the way to her class today. she got his old kindergarten teacher and that was all the sweeter to both of them. hand in hand they went down the hall as we watched them go. she turned and looked back only once and gave us a quick wave and a smile. for him, a big kiss as she grabbed his face and pulled it to hers.
she was on her way to big fun stuff today. she was ready.
casey we love you so. you can take on anything, there was never any doubt.
have fun big girl!
xoxo

love,"mummah"

(now maybe if the earth could please just spin just a little bit slower. time is moving so fast these days, too fast and i am feeling more than unbalanced.)

love letter....

2011-09-11T12:58:00.004-05:00

i , a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

"In those days,
we finally chose
to walk like giants
& hold the world
in arms grown strong with love
& there may be many things we forget
in the days to come,
but this will not be one of them."

~story people

remembering September 11th.

adjustment period

2011-09-08T22:32:00.006-05:00

this week has been quite an adjustment. the first days of school always are. i also had a few writing assignments due this week and it has left me feeling a little depleted here on the blog. add to that all that rain (not summer rain, close the windows, cold grey rain) and all i want to do is to retreat to my bed and lie under the covers with my favorite pillow for more than a few hours if ya know what i mean...i guess i have a bit of the blues. end of summer, school daze, blues. next week our very last little one at home begins kindergarten. the final piece to this past month of SO much change. i am sure it will bring another week (or more) of even more adjusting for all of us. perhaps then we can all exhale a bit. the build up to each and every thing these past 2 months is taking its toll on me now. i know this too shall pass. the sun will shine again, autumn colors will begin to show, now rocky routines will settle into rhythms once more. soon it will be apple picking time, maybe i will knit something, or start a new quilt. what i'd really love to do is smuggle an entire loaf of fresh baked crusty bread under my covers, slather it in illegal amounts of butter and eat the whole darn thing... all will be well. all will be well.

first day.

2011-09-06T08:59:00.001-05:00

first day., a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

today.
today he is officially a second grader.
i know this is true, but it never fails to surprise me. didn't summer just start? (sigh) he sat eating his cereal, dressed for his first day, he looked up at me and says, "my heart is beating so fast momma!" (little did he know so was mine.)
so much anticipation and nerves on that first day. my hope is he comes home all smiles and FULL of stories to share.
2:40 cannot come soon enough today for this momma.

happy first day kellen. so proud of the boy you are. xo, mom

monday news and a winner!

2011-09-05T06:00:00.001-05:00

Happy Monday everyone.
I love that I get to announce a winner here first thing Monday morning. This is fun!
The random winner of the $50.00 gift voucher to be used for a product of their choosing at Paper Coterie is.....(drumroll please)...... Adrienne!
congrats to Adrienne. and thanks to everyone who commented and entered. I appreciate and value all your well wishes so very much. Becoming this writer/photographer is so very exciting, humbling, and honestly seems like someone else's life sometimes. So thank you for your encouraging words. They mean so much.

....but wait there is more... yes i have even more good news to share today. the generous team at Paper Coterie is now offering $40 off to ALL READERS! I am so serious. So if you had your eye on one of their beautiful products, now you have $40.00 free "bucks" in your pocket. So GO! Get on over type in the code: STORYTELLERS at checkout now through September 30th and use that free money. ($40 is off your purchase, you will need to pay for shipping)
how fun is that? I can't wait to hear back from anyone who takes advantage of this sweet deal.
I'd love to know (and see) what you create.

first friday

2011-09-03T10:33:00.005-05:00

pie, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

Hubby and I have made it to 2 First Friday Art Walks in a row now... (woot!) So glad we are making a point of getting there. It is truly the bomb. We FINALLY got to try some of the infamous Otto's pizza. the place is tiny and the line was out the door (always a good sign). We ordered just a plain cheese for us all to share. It was perfectly thin, crisp and greasy. Delicious! Next time I am SO getting the mashed potato pizza I keep hearing everyone rave about. Potatoes and pizza? Can you say comfort food?
We met up (and then lost) our flickr friends. It was great to see them. There were the usual faves of fire jugglers, hula hoopers, bike parade, and so many street musicians. Banjos, violins, accordions, guitars, one musical saw, (yes a real saw)and a rock band at the tattoo shop. lead singer and guitar player was a woman. Science teacher by day ~ super cool rock star by night. The tattoo shop (Peek-a-boo Tattoo) had a drawing for $150.00 in ink!!!! hubby entered me.. oh I hope I win!!!! There was this group of wood xylophone players down one of the side streets. You could almost hear them through the whole art walk. The music coming from that street was BEAUTIFUL. we saw the roller derby girls on their skates. note to self: must catch a match soon.. 1 Pizza,1 piece of whoopee pie cake (for kellen) and 1 red velvet cupcake (for casey) were consumed. We ended the night down by the Dark Follies before heading home. I hate to admit it, or even type this, but i do think it is that dreaded time of year... the top needs to go back on the jeep. :( that is truly a sign that summer is over. The ride home (even under a blanket) was quite a chilly one.

happy weekend everyone.

*** don't forget to enter my giveaway for $50.00 to spend @ Paper Coterie!!!

Contest ends midnight Sunday.

September is FULL of awesome!

2011-09-02T10:42:00.003-05:00

September is FULL of awesome!, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

Paper Coterie is FULL of sweet gifts ALL MONTH LONG at Shutter Sisters.
You just GOTTA see this!
click on over and read the really exciting news for September. $100.00 gift certs every.single.day. really!
The new One Word to celebrate all month long is "story". how perfect is that word? Isn't it what we all essentially do naturally? blogging, writing, photographing, we are all capturing and sharing the story of our own lives. each special and unique.

So join the fun every day this month at Shutter Sisters, it is going be such a party!

a very special launch and a giveaway

2011-09-01T06:00:00.000-05:00

Today is a very special day.
I have been keeping a bit of a secret, and trust me that is no easy task for me. I get so excited I just want to blurt things out. Today I can finally share my big news. I was asked to be part of a brand new project, Everyday Storytellers at Paper Coterie. I am honored to be one of six inspiring women "storytellers". We will be celebrating the beauty in the everyday, the extra in the ordinary, through our own photos and words, and sharing it all there in hopes of inspiring others.

So much is to be said about photographing your everyday. Documenting the imperfections, the hard days, the sick days, the celebrations and defeats, the "little big things" as I like to call them. Life can be crazy, a whole lot messy, but assuredly beautiful. I believe there is grace and beauty in it all. It is why I choose to pick up my camera everyday, it is why I write here. To be fully present, to document and celebrate life, all of it.

"Above all else, it is about leaving a mark that I existed.
I was here... I was hungry. I was defeated. I was happy. I was sad.
I had an idea and I had a good purpose and that is why I made works of art."
- Felix Gonzalez-Torres

Two beautiful ladies, Maegan of MadelineBea Photography and Tammy of Bliss and Folly, kick off the site as today's storytellers. Continue to click on over for new stories from different storytellers each week. I am honored to be part of this project. It is so very kindred to why I fell in love with photography and why I continue to shoot, write and share everyday.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As part of this exciting launch I am thrilled to be offering a very special giveaway to one lucky commenter here.You will win $50.00 (!!!!!) to use on a product of your choosing at Paper Coterie. Personalized pieces such as memory books, calendars, and recipe books, are just a few of the items you can create. To enter, click on over to their shop and take a look around. Come back here and tell me what beauty you find in your everyday and which item you would love to create. I will announce the winner here on Monday morning. Good luck! xo.

adventure

2011-08-31T10:25:00.003-05:00

"grabd adventures", a mosaic by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

"Art flourishes where there is a sense of adventure." ~ Alfred North Whiethead

please join me at Shutter Sisters today as we recap this month's One Word, ADVENTURE!

countdown

2011-08-30T10:08:00.000-05:00

i just now realized that i turn FORTY in 6 months.
40.
what??????!!!!!!
and yet somehow it feels just about right. so many changes, shifts and awakenings have been happening this past year, i now feel like it is all meant to be just as it is. a preparation of sorts. closure to this decade of my life and the beginning of a new one. in my 20's i took so much for granted, worked hard and had fun. my 30's was full of many ups and downs, i am ready to send them off. i am hopeful my 40's will bring me closer to a place of inner peace and balance. A new chapter for my family as all our kids will now be school age. A time when my creative life takes flight in ways i have not even dreamed yet. i am not feeling panic at the thought of this new number, instead i feel a bit excited as i type out these words.
my hubby and i have been embarking on much healthier eating habits lately. we bought a juicer, i love it. i have a mini goal to try and reach by my 40th birthday. if i come close i will be so very pleased. my husband also turns 40, 2 weeks before i do. we have dreams of a mini adult getaway to celebrate properly. i hope we can make that happen. he and i have only had 1 kidless vaca in 15 years together, and though i love my children, i also relished that vacation he and i took solo so long ago.

so let the countdown commence. the clock waits for no one. 6 months and counting...
40 here i come.

all is well

2011-08-29T09:32:00.005-05:00

irene by kristin~mainemomma">
waiting on irene, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

well we followed the warnings.
pulled in all the outdoor furniture and plants and anything that might be a "projectile". we bought more batteries for lamps and flashlights. we woke yesterday to rain and winds. we headed to the beach to see the waves before the real fury was to arrive. we were SOAKED through our clothes in about 2 minutes! it was so much more windy at the beach (only 1 mile from home) than it was at home. the rain was almost sideways. kellen thought it was cool. casey was not impressed by the soaking we were all volunteering for. we came home and hunkered down for the day and waited. 3 sides of our little home are surrounded by giant beautiful trees. normally i love those trees, beautiful shade, gorgeous color in autumn, lovely sounds when the leaves rustle in the wind... but when a big storm comes i worry. i worry about snapping limbs or worse, whole trees toppling over and into the house. they are BIG and old and some lean quite a bit. so we waited and watched. the rains stopped by dinnertime and the winds never amounted to what they had been predicting. (thankfully).

i have lived through a devastating storm once in florida. i have witnessed the power of mother nature at her worst. her fury is like no other. it left me quite fearful of weather, a fear i never had before that fateful storm. i survived unharmed when many did not. i was blessed then, and we are blessed today. no damage. the storm has given way to beautiful clear blue sunny skies. you really do appreciate that kind of beauty after a storm. the wind is cool and fresh. a beautiful morning.

thoughts of peace and healing to all who suffered in irene's path. so many were not spared. and the heartbreak and feelings of hopelessness that comes after can be devastating. sending love and strength to all...

first days

2011-08-26T22:39:00.005-05:00

looking back. WAY back., a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

the same little blonde girl i put on a bus to kindergarten, just yesterday i swear, is now packing her room and moving to college. tomorrow.
looking at this photo it really does not at all seem possible that that is really happening.
but it is. and how strange it is. and of course i am already worrying. a lot.
but see this is the deal we signed on for as mommas. they grow up and they leave. and we watch, and hope, and worry, and wish them well, and wrap them in imaginary bubble wrap so they don't get hurt. but of course they will. they will stumble and fall and all we can hope is that they have the tools to get back up and brush themselves off and keep going. onward. upward. growing. learning. living. loving. exploring.
be good little one. be kind. be happy. be curious. be silly. be smart. be safe. please. please. please.
have fun. don't eat too many twizzlers. make new friends. LOTS of them. do your best. be on time. have adventures. work hard. be amazed. be open. find your passion. make YOURSELF proud (and of course i will be proud with you).wish BIG.
clean you room! ;)
the world is big and waiting.
know that i love you....
even when i nag....(especially then)
xo taylor.

ps. call your mother ;)

say something nice

2011-08-25T03:00:00.005-05:00

i love you tube for this very reason.
every town should have one of these.
happy love thursday everyone.
what would you say into the megaphone if you could???

soul mantras

2011-08-23T05:00:00.003-05:00

a locket, a keeper of treasures and sacred things. worn near your heart. beautifully smooth, with an antique finish, inside a whisper to my soul...
"stand in your light"

what words echo in your ears? what message does your heart long to hear?
please join me at shutter sisters today to shine the light on you, yes YOU.

if you get on over and leave a comment there by midnight PST tonight, you will be entered in a very special giveaway for a soul mantra of your very own.

xo Liz
it was just what my heart needed.

the sound of the wind

2011-08-22T20:48:00.002-05:00

a video by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

"my favorite thing is the wind, she said, and my second favorite is chocolate, but i just do that so i don't get too skinny and blow away." ~story people

summer rain

2011-08-21T21:00:00.002-05:00

"Last night
the rain
spoke to me
slowly, saying,

what joy
to come falling
out of the brisk cloud,
to be happy again

in a new way
on the earth!
That’s what it said
as it dropped,

smelling of iron,
and vanished
like a dream of the ocean
into the branches

and the grass below.
Then it was over.
The sky cleared.
I was standing

under a tree.
The tree was a tree
with happy leaves,
and I was myself,

and there were stars in the sky
that were also themselves
at the moment
at which moment

my right hand
was holding my left hand
which was holding the tree
which was filled with stars

and the soft rain—
imagine! imagine!
the long and wondrous journeys
still to be ours."
~mary oliver

it rained today. a great summer storm. i had just finished mowing the lawn as the thunder began to roll. i went inside to shower off my mix of sweat and grass. the kids and j were all content and occupied, so i took a few moments to myself. freshly showered and powdered summer skin, i laid on the bed under the hum of our ceiling fan, the window wide open to the sounds of distant thunder and rain drops falling. little moments of perfect contentment.

happy peaceful sunday everyone.

more eye candy

2011-08-19T20:43:00.002-05:00

tilt, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

because i am seriously addicted to flickr.

there could be worse things.... ;)

ticket to ride

2011-08-17T09:34:00.002-05:00

ticket to ride, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

please join me at shutter sisters today.
we are celebrating the little adventures of summer.

letter to my momma

2011-08-16T07:54:00.001-05:00

today is the day...
and there is so much left unsaid, not that i do not want to say it, just that i can't, not right now. for i know if i open my mouth and try i will just break into tiny pieces and fall apart, and i am trying oh so hard to hold it together, so instead i come here to say what i can't voice, but want you to know.
thank you.
thank you for coming, for staying(almost 5 whole years), for being oh so very cold and snow bound when you dislike both. for playing, for coloring, for kicking ball, for hunting beach treasures, for swinging little ones over waves, for getting down and being their friend, their love, their nanny. thank you for your unwavering support and encouragement on all the days, good and bad and back again. thanks for the help on the sick days and your cheer leading in the big moments. for the date nights and the pizza "hunts". for the chocolate cakes and coconut cream pies. for letting us lean on you, never complaining once.
thank you.
love love love love love love love you.
with all my heart
and with all of theirs.
travel safe and steady.
and may you land with your feet in warm sands and warmer surf. find new beach treasures.
until we see you again, soon.
thank you mom.
i love you,
me

love thursday

2011-08-11T08:09:00.003-05:00

tilt, a favorites mosaic by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

(my flickr faves this week.)

eye candy is good for my soul.

august break

2011-08-08T07:47:00.003-05:00

Untitled, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

as i figured, my words are failing me right now. just so much going on.

this is the last full week my mom is here with us. today is her last day of work. congrats mom! i know it was not easy there for you. you did it! xoxo

instead of forcing words to come that won't, i think i will take a little august break from my space here. i have said that before and then i pop in the very next day with something that touched or inspired me. that is the beauty of a space like this, it waits for you, no matter how long, and is happy to see you when you return.

so i am off to soak up the last bits of summer.

see you soon.

xo,
k

smiles

2011-08-05T22:33:00.001-05:00

nana with j, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

we took a quick trip to see family in vermont. the kids got to ride pa's tractor and spilt wood and sit on merry grace (the horse). they gathered eggs for our breakfast, and had a fun time romping around with the dogs.
today we drove to see big nana.
i think her smile says it all.
she is such a beauty and a light.
i wish we could see her more often.
home now, kids are fast asleep. i think that vermont air wore them out.

once a summer.

2011-08-03T23:13:00.004-05:00

playland, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

we live in a state coined "vacationland" and in a town with a palace playland... this comes with all the trappings a playland should have. that can make living just over a mile from one quite a temptation for little ones. i have to say my kids are pretty great at resisting and not whining about going. every week we head right into the thick of all of it to watch the fireworks on the beach and they do not beg for stuff. they know we are going for the fireworks only. they really do make me proud, they certainly could be those kids pitching a fit right there in the sand yelling and screaming for stuff. i am so glad that is not the case. so though we usually avoid the playland and all that craziness, once a summer we do it up. today was that day.

there was:

all day ride passes. we went after lunch and then back again after dinner.
some firsts... kellen's first roller coaster ride, bumper car ride and log flume ride. ( i got wet. it was SO worth it)
bag of pink cotton candy
one caramel apple with rainbow sprinkles
a photobooth strip
a ride on our new ferris wheel. note to playland: that thing goes WAY too fast people!!! i like to enjoy the view from up top. it is beautiful, but kind of hard to see at the speed they have that thing moving.
more rides... casey loved the cars and motorcycles... kellen loved the giant slide. he rode it 7 times in a row.
and then a night swim in the complete darkness. my fearless boy went swimming in the ocean at night! who knew he would turn out to be such a water lover?!?!

it was an epic summer day and night.

"the sky broke like an egg into full sunset and the water caught fire." -pamela johnson

2011-08-03T09:03:00.002-05:00

"the sky broke like an egg into full sunset and the water caught fire." a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

join me at shutter sisters today. lingering in the late golden light of summer.

changes & shifts... hello august

2011-08-02T11:16:00.005-05:00

casey foot in my hand, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

august.
oh august.
i am not sure my words will come this month. it is going to be a month packed full of many big changes and shifts for my little family. bittersweet in many ways, so i may be absent from this space a lot this month, taking time to process and accept all august brings.

for starters my mom will soon be on her way on her new journey. she has sold her place here and will be moving far south to sunny fl. the climate will be so very good for her. winters in maine are harsh. economy in maine is tough. i am happy knowing she will be in a good place for her, but saying goodbye is never ever easy. not for me, or her, or the kids. we will just look forward to the visits and a warm sunny place to escape to come february when we have all had our fill of winter here. we have been blessed to have her here with us for 5 years. that was a gift. dwelling on the goodbye is just hard, so instead i prefer, "see you soon"...

then 2 short weeks after that, our eldest daughter departs on the beginning of her new journey, college life. she will be moving into a dorm, her first move away from home. oh i remember the excitement and freedom and joy of being 18 and going away to college, i know she is feeling all this and waiting the next few weeks will probably feel like an eternity for her. one leaving the nest, my first born. big stuff. big changes not just for me, but her much younger siblings. her little brother and sister adjusting to "sissy" no longer being here in our every day to day life.

then to add to all this change, (as if those first 2 weren't enough) our youngest is now 5 years old and will be embarking into kindergarten. she is so very ready. she has been ready since her big brother began school 2 years ago. seeing them walk in to school together, big backpacks on tiny tiny shoulders, my heart might just burst. yes i do believe it will. and after they walk away into school i will return to an empty home for the very first time in 5 years. that is huge.

so you see there is a lot of spreading of wings, taking flight and leaving happening around here this month. my heart is in my throat already. emotions are right there just under the surface of my smile. tears fall at unexpected times as i catch my breath... taking each new day as it comes and trying to savor each moment of beauty in those days. like that tiny foot above in my small hand; moments of painting tiny toes, jumping waves and building sand castles as we savor these final days of summer vacation, and preparing for these transitions ahead..

as august comes and goes and summer ends, it will not be just the season changing for us here. no, it is so much more than that.

life.

market day

2011-07-30T14:53:00.011-05:00

market flowers, a photo by kristin

well my boys are off on their adventure.
and what a gorgeous day for it.
sunny and 80's, i have the house wide open letting it all breathe.

my momma, casey and i did make it to the market this morning.

it was all kinds of beautiful. i seriously could have come home with 1 of everything...

i restrained. we did share one BIG blueberry muffin while we were there, and brought home a mixed bag of wax & green beans. (i love wax beans) casey was exhausted when we got home and did something she never does, took a nap! (in her brother's bed. i think she misses him already.)
a quiet saturday so far.

tonight my mom and i are going greek. 2 gyros with extra sauce please! yum.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

*update: back from gyros. o.m.g. my breath might reek of garlic for a week now! seriously. but so worth it.

silly

2011-07-29T13:08:00.007-05:00

kristin~mainemomma">
moustache, a photo by kristin~mainemomma on Flickr.

yes we play with our food here. :)
melon slices lead to silly sweet sticky fun.
our first watermelon this summer.

kellen and my hubby leave for their very first boy scout camping adventure in the morning. i wish i could be a fly on the wall of their tent. i know they are going to have a blast together! just the "guys". yes i am a tad jealous... but also so very proud of both my boys and happy they get this weekend fun just the 2 of them. one on one time is SO rare in our home, and SO very special when it happens. i am sure there will be many smiles and stories when they return home.
me? i plan on finally getting myself to the farmers market in town tomorrow morning. hoping to bring home some yummy fruits and veggies. casey will love seeing all the flowers and there are usually fun jugglers to watch as well. i have to remember to put our swim suits on under our clothes, we may as well hit the fountains in the park while we are there for some summer splash time.

in news of the silly and completely unimportant, my hair is almost long enough for a ponytail!(exciting news yes i know... lol) it has been approximately 10 whole years since i have had hair anywhere near long enough to pull up in a ponytail. see i have a set of clippers and i am not afraid to use them. the story never changes. i get tired of my short hair, i try to grow it out, it starts to get in my eyes, i chop it all off, repeat. i have not had it THIS long in what feels like forever. the other night i managed to pull it up in 2 pigtails. yes i said pigtails... hubby thought i was "adorable". adorable is good. before i used to think my long hair made me look dowdy, but lately i am feeling like it is making me look and feel a bit younger. who knows, maybe this new found love for longer locks will not last, but i am more determined than ever to just let it grow. i would love braids... a girl has to have a goal right? :) (oh my best girlfriend is gonna kill me when she reads that.. she is a short hair girl and my hair inspiration when i went so short years ago. xo jen!)

happy friday everyone.
are you still soaking up summertime?
can you believe August is upon us?!?! eeep!

maine momma

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