New Beginnings

1. A stack of beautiful cookbooks I picked out to decorate my desk--they're still there. 2. View to the north. I'm constantly looking out the windows around the office. From the conference room I can see the Golden Gate Bridge and the SF city skyline (on the days when the fog decides not to hide it all). 3. My desk! I sit near the front door, and act as a receptionist when authors and visitors stop by for meetings and such. I love this spot. My coworkers walk by often, I can see out the windows in the conference room, and the sun in the afternoon is wonderful. 4. Just random stacks of paper and scraps. Probably rough drafts of book designs, even trash is pretty around here. 5. Another stack of books, because let's be honest, they're everywhere around the office. At people's desks, on shelves, stacked on tables, perched next to plants and used as decorations, even used to raise computers to eye-level. It's like I'm in a dreamworld. 5. My building, our office is there on the sixth floor. These are the train tracks I'll walk over starting Monday, because over the weekend we'll move into a new apartment and I'll commute to work via Amtrak--Maxwell Perkins style.

This job is a dream come true.

That California Life

1. I'm thankful for citrus growing in backyards. I have plans to make boozy orange and lemon soaked vin de pampelmousse with all this California fruit. 2. The first weekend we were here--here being Northern California--James and I went to a cookbook signing in San Francisco. I'm thankful we went, more on that later. 3. I'm thankful for the Teaters family, their friendship is overwhelming. A weekend spent with them fills our hearts right up. 4. I baked madeleine cookies last week--yum. 5. The cookbook I got signed in San Francisco. Near and Far is a book I now open daily. I've made almost every recipe in Heidi's previous book, this one is all kinds of good. 6. Thankful to live in the Bay Area near my all time, forever, yes-I-crave-it, favorite coffee.

In Which We Drive 3000 Miles

We moved across the county. Bam. Done. 

I hardly had time to process Japan before we were driving away from fall in Massachusetts. My heart ached the whole way. Turns out it's hard to leave a place you love, people you love. They went all out during our last week, they blessed us and fed us incredible dinners. We laughed hard. 

First we drove to New York and Baltimore, and spent two days with Mulligans and Weckers. From there, we drove to Kentucky to Ian and Courtney's new and adorable house. It was great to spend time with them. Springfield, MO was our next stop, we drove a little out of the way to visit with our friends Mark and Jane. We had dinner with them and watched the moon, chatting until late. We spent a lot of time with them in San Antonio, where they taught us Settlers of Catan. Such a blessing to call them friends. 

From MO we drove to CO, where we got dinner--the most fantastic trout and vegetables I've ever eaten--and headed for the mountains. With the help of Nigel's headlights we set up our tent. 

In the dark.

For the first time. 

Boy is that a team building activity if there ever was one. 

That night it was about 35 degrees and rainy, but we were cozy in our tiny tent. In the morning we woke up in the Rocky Mountains, surrounded by the fall we thought we left in New England. After breakfast at a local diner--complete with a table full of local old guys drinking coffee and flirting with the waitress--we headed out toward Salt Lake City.

For those of you who don't know, there is nothing between Denver and Salt Lake, besides some rocks. But we made it, and were welcomed into the most wonderful Wildflowers Bed and Breakfast by Cill and her sweet pup. The bathtub, sheets, breakfast, company--all divine. Salt Lake to California we did in one day. It started raining as we passed over the California border. It doesn't feel real yet, that we live here. That time spent with people we love isn't short term, but just a short drive away.

Japanese Princesses at the Kamakura Temple

To Wander in Japan

1. Just outside the gate to the base in Yokosuka (pronounced Yokuska) where Laurel and Ethan live. 2. Laurel and Margaux on the train. 3. Sakuma, the fabric store in Laurel's neighborhood, in which I swooned and bought new projects. 4. Finding bugs on the steps up to a temple tucked behind storefronts. 5. All our adventures take place with a double stroller. 6. My feet in Japan, I can hardly believe it.

Japan

The food is delicious, the trains are an adventure, the days are long and full, there is all the sushi, the water is warm, I can't read anything but it's okay, possibilities are endless, Starbucks here is amazing,  we play, dance, laugh, and we're having a blast.

New Hampshire

Each year our church spends a weekend at a camp in the White Mountains of New Hampshire. We stay in these tiny old cabins and come together for meals in a big farmhouse. We hike, swim, canoe, kayak, walk, explore, play, make fires, cook s'mores, laugh, drink all the coffee, run, stargaze, read, hike a second mountain, run into the lake, snack, swing in hammocks, and have good long conversations. With all the transitions this year I was hesitant to drive up for the weekend, but goodness I'm glad I did. The cool night air helped me sleep, the exercise felt good, the adventure of canoeing seven miles down a river in Maine is one I won't soon forget. James joined in a huge capture the flag game and in order to get the other team's flag he crawled through a culvert pipe in the road and broke a fence jumping over it--I don't know why these things surprise me.

This is a special place. One of those places that seems to be set out of time and the daily drudge of life. Suddenly the things that don't matter, the trivial things I make priority in my life, fall away and I can see clearly again.

Flavors of Summer

1. A Boston lighthouse--our race was cancelled last week due to a lack of wind, so we went out of the harbor toward the cooler ocean air. The sea was glassy and calm that night. 2. Sunday night dinner was full of laughter and friends around the table. We're staying with the Olsen Family for the next few weeks--there are six of them--so plus guests is a party all the time. We occupy our time with projects, games, badminton, walks and hikes, tea, and good books. 3. Another green space that convinces me every children's book is inspired by New England. 4. My salad from dinner a few nights ago. Locally sourced produce and seasonal vegetables inspire me lately. 5. My feet and the Atlantic--summer sailing is everything.

Summer Living, New England Edition

1. We moved here three years ago and I put on my to-do list, swim in the Atlantic Ocean. I finally checked that one off last week. My friend Rhyan and I went up to Good Harbor beach early and frolicked in waves and soaked up sun. Maybe a little too much sun, but we had a blast. It even poured rain on our way home, so normal. 2. This is Rhyan. She has been a sweet friend and coworker here. Recently we've started going on adventures when we both have the same day off, I'm not sure why we didn't start sooner. Anyway, she came sailing with us and it was the most fun. 3. The Hudsons got Eno hammocks, I'd like one for Christmas. 4. Kristin and Jane at Walden Pond! Jane's first trip ever was a huge success. She loved to splash in the water and was fascinated by the sand.

We are in full summer mode. It feels we have plans, friends, outings almost every night of the week. Sailing bags at the ready, extra clothes with us always, bathing suits hang to dry--and the laundry is going constantly. The joys of summer are dinners outside, afternoons in hammocks, and diving under slow and gentle waves in the Atlantic. Rainstorms at the break of dawn, our bed on the living room floor under the air conditioner, pizza with summer veggies, softball games in Boston, and long sunny days. Summer in New England is magical.