Week 12. Come the winter I'll be a mama. I can't wait.

Camping

We had a great time camping in upstate NY despite a late night thunderstorm. Ron and I aren't the best fire starters and we forgot to bring any of the "cheater" methods (charcoal or lighter fluid) so we were stuck with a measly fire each night, but just enough to make some smores.

on why my sister is my hero

This is Melissa (or Myssie) my sister, I'm sure I've talked about her before, some of you may even know her - she's pretty cool. She's having a baby in November sometime (or December). A few years ago we started a journey to uncover what is wrong with childbirth and how our lives have been or will be affected by the medicalization of it all.
I went the academic route and intellectualized birth - she helped me along the way by talking to me as a real woman, with real experiences, with real hurt, confusion and all the messy stuff that went into the birth of my nephew, her son. I tried my best to bring her voice and experiences into my work and I hope I did it justice (and the other women I interviewed). You should read her most recent post about the new path she is taking and why. Her birth manifesto if you will. She is pretty cool alright.

sew i do: Reversible bags giveaway!

sew i do: Reversible bags giveaway!

Appreication

I really love blogs about pregnancy and birth, particularly these two, there is always a forum for women to come together and have serious, political, theoritical or supportive and restorative "discussions" in a kind and productive way. So I want to take some time to appreciate the forum that women have found (in pregnancy, parenting, crafting etc) through blogs to share and connect with other women (and men too). It feels really great sometimes. Who ever said that technology is a bad thing?
Cheers to a happy weekend.

Happy Summer Solstice - if you were in the North East or New England it was most likely wet, rainy, and cloudy. But the sun set just a short time ago and summer is upon us.
I am ready for hot, hot weather, which for me equals loads of swimming.
I've been spending much of my free time taking care of myself, doing all of the healing that the school year doesn't permit. This includes extended observation of all of the little cotton tailed rabbits that grace our yard during the morning, noon, and night. Somehow our yard is so full of clover that they seem to leave the garden alone (at least our land lady hasn't complained about them or put up any rabbit defense systems, yet).If you notice, this one is munching right outside the raised garden bed - with scrumptious lettuce just a few feet away.
I have also been taking time to think about what is really a priority in my life and blogging sort of took the back seat. Although I am finding myself thinking in blog posts - weird - so I suppose I miss it a bit. But seriously - slowing down - observing what is around me, appreciating the people who live close by and keep Ron and I company - life has been good. So, as spring comes to a close and in hopes of keeping up with this "life is good" trend, my summer plans are as follows:

-go on more photo adventures
- get a job (or at least a few interviews)
- go to the beach a lot!
- swim a lot!
- go camping - to NY state parks and Cape Cod
- walk in the mornings
- get up early
- when our office is finally restored to it's previous arrangement (and/or new and improved) - sew and listen to pod casts of This American Life or Harry Potter on CD

Until next post friends - enjoy the start of summer!

Graduating leaves more time for leisurely sipping chai
without worrying about any reading or writing that I am neglecting.

I've been enjoying:
free time
teaching
the warm weather
our farm share
reading books for fun!

Daily Ritual

While riding the bus over the Connecticut River (over the Coolidge Bridge) I always take a long look at the small foothills of New England and the beautiful river. This being the first post of this Daily Ritual series is fitting as it was my last trip on this bus over the river to my university, I am graduating in two days.

Farmers Market

A leisurely post-semester Saturday morning. We went to breakfast, strolled around town, hitting the farmers market, and took our friends dogs for a loooong walk. It was especially enjoyable because there was no school work looming. The next photos will be of me and Ron in our fancy regalia on graduation - yes, he's finishing his bachelors after an almost ten year hiatus, and me I'll be a master! A big party and festivities will be under way next weekend.