The Summer Diaries #12- A String Around Your Finger

"The best and safest thing is to keep a balance in your life, acknowledge the great powers around us and in us. If you can do that, and live that way, you are really a wise man."

~Euripides

Every so often, one finds herself reminded of delicate balance. A balance so extremely fragile, yet unbelievably strong.

Today, I soaked up life.

The Summer Diaries #11- A Wonderful Kind of Busy

"The universe is transformation; our life is what our thoughts make it."

~Marcus Aurelius

Dinner bakes in the oven, the sun sets behind the church steeple, my wet hair continually falls into my face, and the symphony of evening creatures has gradually become louder and louder. Soon the lightening bugs will glow and a damp mist will cover the lush grass. This is summer. This is sweetness.

Ninja is bowling tonight, so when he arrives home, we'll dine outside, in the dark, with Little Peep at our feet. She'll probably want a morsel or two of our meals, and because she's so gosh-darn adorable, she'll probably luck out.

But, what a day! A good run in the heat of the afternoon, a little shopping adventure that turned up some 50% off sales, some digging in the dirt, a finished knitting project, and a new experiment with popcorn. (I'll fill you in on that later). How will I ever deal with serious structure again? How? Someone, please tell me.

The Summer Diaries #10- Pockets of Sunshine

"We must not allow the clock and the calendar to blind us to the fact that each moment of life is a miracle and mystery."

~H.G. Wells

The sun came in pockets today, and as clouds blew across that great ball of fire, little moments of pretty dotted the afternoon.

Interestingly, each time the sun landed upon these orange daisies, I found myself getting lost in their perfection...and perhaps my mind drifted to the Fibonacci Sequence...but I'll spare you, lucky reader, of hearing about my nerdish tendencies. wink.

Thank me later. Ha!

And, now, as my dad would say, "It's time for the eye-lid special."

Nighty night.

The Summer Diaries #9- Bye Bye Carbon Footprint, Hello Awesome Find

"Continue to surprise those who would put you in a neat demographic. Be insistently curious."

~Gordon Gee

One never knows what the day will hold. As Ollie (the new bike) and I set out on our morning errands, we never expected to see a gumball machine wave at us from the shinny window of the antique store.

After doing a double take, almost crashing, and quickly looking around to make sure that no one had spotted us, we continued to frolic about the town, stopping at the bank, post office, health food store, and pharmacy.

"A real, vintage, old-fashioned gumball machine...could it really be?" I continued to wonder.

With all of our errands done, we stopped, Ollie and I, and made that nifty gumball machine ours. It's also worth noting that rather than toss my broken bicycle basket, I fixed it this morning with some strong binder's twine. Yay for making-do and saving myself $20.

The Summer Diaries #8- Sweet, Sweet Sunday

"A man is a success if he gets up in the morning and gets to bed at night, and in between he does what he wants to do."

~Bob Dylan

Sunshine, breakfast, coffee and conversation on the patio combined to form the most perfect start to a fun Sunday. In fact, it was so fun that we sat there for quite some time, refusing to acknowledge that time was ticking by.

CT enjoyed some quality time with her Papa Bear, and although it looks as through she may attack at any moment, she was finishing up a yawn. It’s a “ruff” life that little one has.

Later on, it was a spur-of-the-moment happy hour with the neighbors, followed by walking to a local restaurant for dinner. Does it really get any better?

The Summer Diaries #7- Stylin'

"My life is my message."

~Mahatma Gandhi

I surprised myself today by making a pink pompom. If you ask me, it makes the perfect topper for this sweet baby hat. Now, I’m rather afraid. I’m envisioning late nights with large cups of coffee…. making millions of pompoms in gazillions of different colors. This could be the start of something crazy fun.

The Summer Diaries #5- Creative Play

"When I can no longer create anything, I’ll be done for."
~Coco Chanel

Time with my yarn remains one of my very favorite things in life. I spent the day outside; knitting a few booties, putting the finishing touches on this wreath, and beginning a baby hat. Oh yes, those creative juices were a flowing.

The Summer Diaries #4- Old Glory

"Liberty is the right to choose. Freedom is the result of the right choice."
~Unknown

This miniature flag has a rather funny story behind it. One day, you see, it magically appeared outside of our house, placed just so, in the flowerpot. I thought "The Flag Committee" was out and about. Ninja thought the same thing.

As it turns out, there isn't any such organization. The "Flag Committee" emerged as my mama, and of course, Mamoo's lovely spirit.

The Summer Diaries #3- Night and Day

"Freedom is nothing but the chance to be better."

~Ablert Camus

The previous day culminated with a little fire and the family on the patio. Once everyone left, we talked well into the night, that Chad-o and I.

And, happily, we started the next day with sunshine, blue skies, and a deathly hot run.

Holiday weekends, simply put, emerge as one of life's saving graces.

The Summer Diaries #2- Fireworks Night

"Everything is created from moment to moment, always new. Like fireworks, this universe is a celebration and you are the spectator contemplating the eternal Fourth of July of your absolute splendor."

~Francis Lucille

The day started perfectly, with breakfast at my favorite little diner. Now, it's fireworks night and time for patriotic garb.

We'll be picnicking with friends while Little Peep hides under the bed. Sadly, tonight is not her favorite.

The Summer Diaries #1- To The House of Books

"No matter how little money and how few possessions you own, having a dog makes you rich."
~Louis Sabin

Little Peep decided to take me for a walk this morning. Together, we headed to the library—her choice. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.

She proudly returned three books, and we headed home…stopping, per her request, every now and then to check out the yard sales.