Miss These Kiddos

Full of giggles!

 I miss being silly with these two.

 Perfect.

 Levi's dinosaur face!

Special friends! Love you Alina!

With Ellen

I went with a friend to look for wedding flowers. Her wedding. We jumped on a bus and wandered through the city, looking for flowers yes, but I think mostly enjoying one another's company. This little bakery she had visited before, and we slipped in to get some coffee. I fell in love instantly. Tins of fancy little cookies and cakes oozing with cinnamon filling. Peonies, Larkspur and Thistles were found that day, but it turns out Trader Joe's is a less expansive and better option.

TJ's for the win.

I'm thrilled with the new people we have met here. It is truly good to live in community. I'm a firm believer that coffee is better shared. Especially when there is cake!

Tatte Fine Cookies & Cakes

Caught in the Rain

This is the third time. 

First we were touring downtown Boston with a friend and he, being far more local than we are, saw it coming and ducked under a bridge before we even noticed the cloud. Yesterday walking home it started to rain but not too bad. By the time I got home it began to thunder, but by then I was cozy and safe.

Today is another story.

I had about three minutes after I walked out of the library before the thunder began to crack and torrential downpour overtook me. I saw it coming, a wall of water. I jumped under an overhang with a family of four and we watched the city common turn from peaceful to chaos. I'm soaked.

 I did make it to my destination however. A coffee and ice cream shop on Main Street is my current shelter and the rain has pretty much subsided. James and I relaxed today, looked at wedding pictures and made burritos with spinach, black beans, yams and salsa for lunch.

Apparently in Massachusetts an umbrella is a good investment.

Our New Home

 Welcome to our home!!

In the front door and up the stairs, shoes go on the landing.  

When you open our door you arrive in the study/book room/ office. Living room on the left, hi James! 

 This is the living room, it looks out over the street. That door leads to a balcony.

These doors close of the living room, I love them. 

This is where you guys will sleep when you come stay!

Our kitchen! More than I could have ever dreamed for. 

We're going to hang mugs under these amazing cupboards. I'm obsessed with them. 

The oven!

Things I love about this place, the old hardware for sure.

Through the kitchen and past the bathroom is our bedroom. 

Thanks Kristin for lending us an air matress! 

Details, details. This is a tiny cupboard in one of the closets, a small shelf between the kitchen cupboards and the window, and these beautiful trees outside all of our windows. 

Kitchen table. 

We are blessed.

We had seven people over last night. James and Bri, and some friends of theirs they have introduced to us since we arrived. What a blessing to have them all over. We ordered out chinese food, celebrated with a beautiful bottle of champagne gifted to us for our wedding, and had tea and dessert later on, because we were still hanging out at 10pm. I'm so thankful for this home.

We Keep Ourselves Busy

Yesterday morning James and I got up early and took the T downtown for a tour of Emerson College, the graduate school I will attend in the fall. The school is located in the heart of downtown Boston. My classes will meet in two huge ten-story buildings and I really can hardly wait to start. The girl who gave us the tour was a fellow Publishing and Writing student and gave me some peace about beginning the program.

After the tour, we jumped on the T and met our friend James for lunch and a tour through the Sam Adams Brewery. So great! We had sandwiches for lunch (mine was Black Forest Ham with herbed cream cheese, cucumbers, lettuce and mango chutney) at Ula Cafe. It was probably the best sandwich I've ever had. 

After we arrived home I rode along to a local farm where a friend purchases her produce called Waltham Fields Community Farm. It's a community farm, many people go to volunteer in the gardens there and one can buy "shares" and go pick up the produce harvested there once a week. Strawberries, herbs, lettuce, garlic, spinach, tomatoes, peas...I could go on. I'll have to go take pictures sometime to show you. 

Lastly, James and I went to purchase some needed essentials for our new home after dinner. It's expensive to move! But we are absolutely excited to finish the process and start getting settled there. 

Happy Moving Day!

P.s. I'm going to start carrying my camera again, get excited!

Our Day: by Briana Moore

She was our first choice. I could not have done it without her. 

Here is her blog of our wedding. I must say she captured it perfectly. 

These pictures help me to relive the day, which I would do every day for the rest of my life if I could. 

Briana Moore Photography: Pierce Wedding

Elizabeth and Thomas Pfenson, Wedding!

James and I had the honor of attending this wedding on our way to Massachusetts last week. I studied abroad with Elizabeth and because we share a love for the same beautiful things, we kept in touch. She met Thomas in Oxford and I am completely thrilled for their new life together. Their wedding was held near Annapolis, and after their liturgical service we all went to this beautiful historical home nearby. A lovely afternoon was had, relaxing with lawn games and a terrific lunch. I believe my sandwich had apples, brie cheese, turkey and dijon mustard. Yum! Loved the summer decorations, and isn't her dress just fantastic?

Congratulations friends!

Boston, MA-- The Beginning

We made it to Boston, as most of you know. James and I are staying with our wonderful friends James and Briana (groomsman and photographer for our wedding, respectively) in their little apartment in Waltham, MA. The Boston metropolitan area is urban for sure and everywhere feels like the "downtown" atmosphere where I grew up. Most of the housing consists of typical New England style homes, bay windows, brick, hardwood floors and crown molding. Little streets and sidewalks crowded with people walking and waiting for public transportation. Hole in the wall restaurants, bookstores, independent coffee shops, parks and free things to do on the weekends.

So far we're loving it.

James worked hard to find an apartment and the Lord truly blessed us with a fantastic place to live. We were prepared to live in a tiny little place here, but He gave us a home beyond what we imagined. James also applied for and received a great job this week. Its encouraging when things fall into place. Definitely feels strange that we will live here for two whole years. That we are not simply here for a visit.

But we move in on Friday and maybe it will feel more real then.

Here's to Boston. Here's to adventure.

Maryland Crab Feast!

We had a blast with the Weckers last weekend. As usual they treated us to some special moments. We had a traditional crab feast the night we arrived-- newspaper rolled out, friends and family home for dinner and lots of laughter. Steven gave us a tutorial before we started, and James learned how to pull, crack, pick and break a crab apart. Delicious!

East Coast Road Trip-- Salem, VA

We went for walks, explored downtown, had Indian food, made coffee, watched movies, wandered, drove to favorite places, BBQd with friends, laughed, put put golf, ate the best donuts ever, and truly enjoyed our time with family!

Ian and Courtney we love you guys.

On the road again, next stop-- Elkridge, MD.