p.s. ... und tschuess...

Anna disappeared, Claudette blew over Florida etc. + Bill is heading north = in regards of tropical storms, right now, this very moment we're fine + worry free. And I promise, this will NOT turn into a storm blog entirely. But if it does, understand. It's a BIG part of who + what we are.
That's it, for today.
-rea

Anna + Bill

Here we go, welcome to the season..... Tropical storms Anna + Bill formed during the last couple of days (Anna), hours respectively (Bill). The five day forecast takes Anna kind of directly over the Caribbean Islands straight over Florida.Bill is supposed to head a bit further to the east. but at this point, who knows.... Well, wait and see is all we can so. The cars are both cleaned up + ready to go. Chuck + I briefly discussed where we would head to, in case. And that's that.
The prospect of the next month makes me a bit uncomfortable, a bit uneasy. I don't loose sleep over it quite yet though. And so we're just going to enjoy a long awaited and long over due date night tonight - our miracle summer nanny is staying with Jackson while Chuck + I head for an early John Boute Show at the dba + dinner after. We'll check on Anna + Bill tomorrow again.
so long,
-rea

...there's a storm...

...WAAAYYY out there in the Atlantic. At this point it is only a tropical depression, it doesnt even have a name yet. It can fall apart, it can go anywhere and do anything. Nothing to worry about right now. But is does remind me of the fact that we are entering the high season of hurricanes. From basically now on until the end of September, we have to be prepared and ready to roll, in case a storm threatens the region.
Lots of memories are tied to this 'state of awareness'. Now and then we talk at the office about how we 'feel' in regards of this hurrican season. And all I can be is optimistic that we're going to be fine. Call it denial, but I can not live otherwise. I can't be scared all the time that something bad could happen to my city again, my community, my friends, us.
What I will do though is clean out my car, stack up on water and 'non-cook-travel-well' snack food and update my phone list. And I think I'll do some 'talking to the above' in that matter as well. Never hurts to have good connections, right?!
so long,
-rea

Moday, Monday, lalaaa, laa lalalaaa...

No kitchen for JB yet.... This weekend went by so fast , we got caught up in errands, had to take really long naps and do some 'Hollygrove Market' cooking. We also went through some last boxes and bags moved off the boat. We went down memory lane quite a bit, with a lot of laughter, little heart aches, remembering the big dreams, aknowledging how they changed over time, appreciating what has been and what is today. Looking back to the very, very beginning of our life together, when I didn't even dare dreaming of Jackson, I see how far we came. We really did, each of us, seperate and together. We marched on quite oncharted land, it seems. Territory where falling on the nose is so part of the journey. As much as always getting up, keep walking.
Whenever I go through stuff from my past, I'm quick to do a 'tabula rasa' and get rif of everything in sight. Chuck made me keep a couple of things - Thank you, lover! Tea lights I brought across the ocean, some 6 years ago. A silk dress I got in Vietnam (10 years ago?), that I will never wear again, but always will admire the hand made piece of art. And I kept JB's first little bitty onesie we brought him home in. Together with that little pink and blue hat they put on every baby in the hospital, as soon as comes out, it seems.
We did unpack some other treasures as well: A box with little cars, that used to be Andrew's. Guess who is thrilled about that find??? We also unpacked some books that Chuck and big brother Andrew used to read together, and ended up reading some Dr. Seuss to JB right there in the back yard, between boxes and bags. Good times, even though spend different than planned.
Happy Monday to all.
-rea

favorite day of the week..

I truly never thought I'll be one of these people. Yet I have become one: I honestly admit, I LIVE for my weekends. On Thursdays, I can almost smell the end of the week and on Friday mornings, I'm already excited and it can not get 3ish pm fast enough... then I'm free. Free to play, to see friends, go to farmer's markets, cook, make art projects with JB, just putter around the house, being with the boys, chase the chickens, take long naps, have a beer in the afternoon.
This weekend, I want to build a little play kitchen for JB. Our neighbor Donald offered some fine old wooden boxes for this project and I have a rough idea of how I'm gonna put those together/saw 'em apart, etc. As Chuck just recently got me MY OWN tool kit (oooh yesss!!), I'll be hammering, glueing and painting away. Or so I hope. It mightt rain all weekend - which would be fine also. We got the shop in the back yard and JB loves hanging out there anyways. It'll be fun and JB is definitely ready to cook away. My plan is to make the kitchen big enough that he can stand on the "stove" just like any big person would, but alsom small enough that I can fit it under the kitchen sink, when it's not in use. We'll see how that goes.
Tomorrow morning though we're heading to the Hollygrove Farmer's market to get another $25 organic, seasonal goodie box!!
So long,
-rea

a new summer nanny

Jackson's school is out for another 5 weeks or so. But as our work lives can't just be put on hold for that time, we're lucky enough to have found yet another sweet lady, how is going to be Jb's nanny for two days a week. Alicia - who is originally from up North - has been volunteering at JB's school for the past year + decided to stay yet another year down here in the South - lucky us!
Today is Alicia's first day with JB and I just know, they are having a ball! Chuck checked in on them a moment ago + they were great. It's such a good thing to know your child is save + having fun, while you're doing what you have to.
love,
-rea

more summer pictures

'Gugus!' JB at the zoo

Favorite toys? 'Things that go 'vrooom'!

JB at friend Nico's 3rd B-Day party at the 'Monkey Room' (what an appropriate name it is...)

The boys...

Playing 'Banana hat fashion' in our yard