what i love : end of day ordinary

scene from the end of a day -

the favorite, softest summery cotton pajama pants - slipped on just as the sun sets :: a few more striped rocks added to the pile from the day's adventure :: the splashing, laughing, tired sound of 'three soules in a tub' :: late summer flowers from a visiting friends' garden :: earrings and hairbands removed with a deep sigh and sink into at-home end-of-day comfort :: all resting on my grandmother's linen.

What I love: The everyday, ordinary, mundane and beautiful moments at the end of the day.

Comments

[janet clare]

I couldn't agree more.

I love shutting the door behind us and knowing that we are all safe and home until the morning.

[jean]

safe and snug at home at the end of the day. heaven. :)

[jean]

LOVE the new banner.

[Meredith]

Absolutely!

[kimberly]

Oh I want a rainy day so I can stay in my PJs all day! And bake, and eat.....

[bigbucketgirl]

Whereas I agree wholeheartedly with your thinking here...you must have staged that shot??? You see, if I took a shot like that..there'd be a rogue dirty sock, a discarded ikea plastic bowl, dust, playmobil hair, snail shells(complete with mud), crumbs, pastel smears on the linen, only one earring because DS#2 keeps taking mine out and 'hiding' them, doodles saved for the bottle they still want to send to C and E! and flowerless stems with a pile of petals! DD is laughing here..."It works out that way sometimes, soulemama must have been given the tidy kids Mumma!" Perhaps I need the pyjamas to make it happen.....
xxx

[Tere]

What a great post! I've often thought this myself. I love the routine of doing the dishes while chatting about whatever, then getting the kettle boiling for tea while I put my jammies on and light a few candles and turn on some cozy lamps. It seems so mundane (especially at my age, I've only 25!), but I love it and it's a part of our life.
Thanks Amanda!
Tere

[SOULEMAMA]

No worries, bigbucketgirl - there are plenty of rogue sock corners around here too, and I love those corners equally well (most of the time). I just seek out and find great comfort in the other kind too.

[bigbucketgirl]

Don't let my kids here you say that..I've given the big two a 'Soule-mission'! As i type, they are picking up their stray bits! Schools back tomorrow so if the Soule- mission gets them moving then I'm again grateful to you and yours! x

[Missy K]

Ah-- this post gave me a moment for a satisfied and happy sigh-- thank you!

[julia]

i couldn't agree more. the nice quiet moments where nothing exciting or adventurous is happening. it gives a really nice balance against those exciting busy times. beautiful photo!

[Gift of Green]

Love the ordinary days. (And ditto to bigbucketgirl's comment!)

[tara pollard pakosta]

i just love the way you write and how you celebrate life each day!
thanks for the inspiratioN!
tara

[Maire Stafford]

My house is like bigbucket girls too although it is great big teenager shoes and endless glasses and cups along with the dolls and crayons, maybee that is why I love looking at pictures of your house! I don't often comment but I enjoy your blog.

Maire

[heather]

it's how we perceive the ordinary and mundane that truly measures our capacity to find beauty in this life, but you know that. ;)

[shari]

you've captured a lovely moment amanda. thank you for sharing it. xx

[Stefani]

MMmmmm. I love this post, Amanda. So deep, down Soule-satisfyingly good. Thanks for that!

[kat nicholas]

i completely and whole-heart-edly agree. Add a symphony of cicadas and perhaps a glass of red wine and I'm right there with you in my striped pajamas . . . such beauty in twilight.

[Bluebirdbaby]

Beautiful words. Those coasters are adorable and on my "to do" list.

[Libby]

I just love reading this blog because it seems that we truly are leading parallel lives. You on your side of the country and me on mine. A bit of comfort in that.

[laura]

a beautiful moment, it sounds wonderful..and what I love are your coasters!! oh, and the striped rock collection?? awesome.

[Julie]

I'm right there with you... I love those end of the day moments!

[m]

I love the beauty in the ordinary, too. There is something so satisfying about a day's familiar rhythm, especially because even though those days seem like a hundred others, they are just a fleeting and precious than big event days (even more so, because they aren't necessarily remembered to the same degree).

Oh how I love your blog!

[Rachel]

so well put! Really, isn't that time of the day all moms' favorite?

[Heather]

I just had to let you know how much I love your blog. When I read your words, they have such a calming effect, which was so nice for me this morning. :)

[brandie]

you know i want to say something snarky about your feet, right ;) but since i'm not a hater...
lovely photo. you have beautiful feet my dear.

[shandy]

hmmm...lovely!

[tamara]

the best part about going out for me is coming home, ahhh.

[nicole]

Life is SO about the little things isn't it? Those daily rituals that ground us and make us feel that there's something stable, comfortable, reassuring in this often hectic and scary world. Thank you for sharing your lovely comforts and making me think of my ordinary joys: Hot chocolate mornings wrapped in a shawl, putting music on while I make diner, my husband stealing a kiss when I'm busy running around the house, the coolness of my pillowcase once I finally lay my head down at night ... so lovely.

[Beth H]

I just love to curl up in the nest as well. It's were we all find our comfort. Thanks for reminding us all.

[Melissa!]

I have the house to myself right now - husband at work and children at school and what am I doing? I just put dinner in the crockpot and I'm baking so they have a treat for when they get home - nothing is better than when the family is all home ~ all safe & sound!

[Sarah Jackson]

We call those striped rocks "wish rocks." My mother-in-law swears that wishes come true when you throw them in the ocean because she threw many in wishing for a loving wife for her son, and then he found me. :) It's good to see that you have many stocked up for a Really Big Wish.

[Pink Ric Rac]

What an awesome entry! And a great idea for a carnival! An end of the day carnival! :) I may have to do this one over on my blog!

http://pinkricrac.blogspot.com/2007/09/crafty-tuesday.html

[Rhian Dennis]

How wonderful - the simple pleasures at the end of the day. Safe in the comfort of our own homes.

[blair]

thanks for reminding us to love it too! xo

[fiveflowers]

Here here!

[Pam]

What I love — this post. Pure magic.

[Tess]

so beautifully said!

[Amber]

I agree. Nothing is better than the ordinary and mundane, sometimes. I miss those days... sigh.

[Ahna]

Ahhhh. That is so lovely. My bureau looks very similar, and I love that familiar look of the collection of life's things. I also love the faint smell that I associate with the linen as if it still belonged to my great grandmother.

[Toni]

yep, me too. me too :)

[melissa]

you inspire me to see the life and joy of the day in the piles left behind.....my house is more along the lines of bigbucketgirl, though--- a good layer of dust on top of the table upon which sits the treasures of our day.

[Sarah]

loving the basket of rocks.

[Megan]

Reading your blog makes me happy. And sometimes cry.

[geek+nerd]

Sigh. Yep, agreed.

[shula]

Perfect.

[Lizz]

Joy and bliss!

[Jennifer Howard]

I absolutely LOVE the alter you create at the end of your day. Your photos are absolutely beautiful and your blog an inspiration! I hope it is okay I put you on my "Inspiring links" list on my blog Montessori Mama? Check it out when you get the chance. http://spiralmontessorimama.blogspot.com/ (but remember I'm new at this and it is a work in progress)
And thanks again for making me smile and sharing your days with all of us lucky enough to tune in. In PEACE. Jennifer

[hrsj]

Aaahh, for me, putting on pj pants at the end of the day is the greatest. A big exhale...

[tifanie]

Very clever post. Love that shoe site! Thanks for that. I hope your shoe dreams come true this birthday. I've given you the Nice Matters award. Details on my blog. www.noddyboom.typepad.com :)