A different look.

Artist Leslie Oschmann inspired me this morning with her different take on vintage items. I can usually find beauty in old things, but I often stop there. She finds the beauty and then takes it to a new level; a fresh take on re-purposing things to be more beautiful and more functional. She encourages yard sale and flee market finds with character to become something great.

LOVE

Tomorrow marks three years married to the love of my life. And what a journey these three years have been; not without hurdles--but honestly the best years yet. I am thankful God for the gift he has given me in Daniel.



Here's to us, and to many many more years.

We are back

from a wonderful week in Door County, Wisconsin. Some dear family friends let us use their cabin way up in Ellison Bay (for those of you who know Door County). It was a bit of a detox from normal life...no internet, or even phone service. No to-do's around the house or yard. No work for Dan, no painting for me. And as much land to roam as a boy and his dog could hope for. With only a few wow-a-week-is-a-long-time-to-go-with-out-being-connected-to-the-world-moments, we soaked up the fresh air and benefited from truly being away. The house is perched right on lake michigan and surrounded by woods. I read a book and cooked. We hiked in the national parks and swam everyday. It was beautiful and a bonding time for our little family.

inside Kate Spade's home

you find color well used.

I found these lovely pictures a The Selby. You should check out his work; he captures sneak peaks into the homes/lives of some interesting people and beautiful spaces.

Home bound.

Levi has been sick the last couple days and we have found ourselves stuck at home. I haven't minded; it's good to slow down together every now and again. A few things that have been fun: popsicles, sesame street and the front porch (good for people watching).

Goodbye, Cy.

One of the greats, and a favorite of mine, passed away July 5th. Cy Twombly. He was making art even in his last years and I saw some recent work (including the piece above) in the Modern Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago a few years back. It was then I fell in love with his Peony series. I am glad that are many more pieces of his work that I have yet to see, but sad that no new pieces will ever be made.

"The death of the American painter Cy Twombly, at the age of 83, has ended one of the most distinguished artistic careers of the past half-century. Like a latter-day Ingres, he was an expatriate who lived in Italy, fascinated by the country's cultural heritage. Twombly's response to this stimulus was, however, anything but academic, as he expressed himself with a radical language of highly coloured stains and energetic brushwork. His success resulted from the combination of this exciting style with a subtle, original intellect, great self-belief and a measure of charm and good fortune."

First fruit...

Hooray! Dan and I set out enjoy our first garden this year. It is really very minimal: tomatoes, basil, cilantro, thyme, parsley, green onions and strawberries. I have learned lots, especially since I knew nothing going in. :) And, even with limited attention, good things have been happening in our kitchen. A few favorites: pesto chicken (basil and cilantro from the garden), and basil mojitos (as delicious as they sound and our new favorite summertime drink). I hope to make an heirloom salad once these beauties finish ripening.

"if you build it they will come"

Tom Sachs, A Selby Film from the selby on Vimeo.


"There's this one spot and I don't think anyone in the whole world is going to notice but me, but it's really bugging me."

"I think you should just go with the regular eye."

Sarah Silverman on WhoSay

I have always felt this way about colored contacts.

Summer=

pool time, friends, family, and....boo boos.


Levi and his friend Ester at the pool.






Levi's new best friend and our latest addition to the family, Luther.


Playtime on the couch...a new favorite.


And Levi's 1395th boo boo, but FIRST stitches.