what i love : end of day ordinary
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.
























I couldn't agree more.
I love shutting the door behind us and knowing that we are all safe and home until the morning.
Posted by: janet clare | September 05, 2007 at 07:07 AM
safe and snug at home at the end of the day. heaven. :)
Posted by: jean | September 05, 2007 at 07:42 AM
LOVE the new banner.
Posted by: jean | September 05, 2007 at 07:43 AM
Absolutely!
Posted by: Meredith | September 05, 2007 at 07:52 AM
Oh I want a rainy day so I can stay in my PJs all day! And bake, and eat.....
Posted by: kimberly | September 05, 2007 at 07:58 AM
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
Posted by: bigbucketgirl | September 05, 2007 at 08:20 AM
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
Posted by: Tere | September 05, 2007 at 08:31 AM
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.
Posted by: SOULEMAMA | September 05, 2007 at 08:33 AM
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
Posted by: bigbucketgirl | September 05, 2007 at 08:44 AM
Ah-- this post gave me a moment for a satisfied and happy sigh-- thank you!
Posted by: Missy K | September 05, 2007 at 08:45 AM
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!
Posted by: julia | September 05, 2007 at 08:46 AM
Love the ordinary days. (And ditto to bigbucketgirl's comment!)
Posted by: Gift of Green | September 05, 2007 at 09:07 AM
i just love the way you write and how you celebrate life each day!
thanks for the inspiratioN!
tara
Posted by: tara pollard pakosta | September 05, 2007 at 09:08 AM
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
Posted by: Maire Stafford | September 05, 2007 at 09:16 AM
it's how we perceive the ordinary and mundane that truly measures our capacity to find beauty in this life, but you know that. ;)
Posted by: heather | September 05, 2007 at 09:19 AM
you've captured a lovely moment amanda. thank you for sharing it. xx
Posted by: shari | September 05, 2007 at 09:52 AM
MMmmmm. I love this post, Amanda. So deep, down Soule-satisfyingly good. Thanks for that!
Posted by: Stefani | September 05, 2007 at 09:56 AM
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.
Posted by: kat nicholas | September 05, 2007 at 10:00 AM
Beautiful words. Those coasters are adorable and on my "to do" list.
Posted by: Bluebirdbaby | September 05, 2007 at 10:08 AM
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.
Posted by: Libby | September 05, 2007 at 10:18 AM
a beautiful moment, it sounds wonderful..and what I love are your coasters!! oh, and the striped rock collection?? awesome.
Posted by: laura | September 05, 2007 at 10:45 AM
I'm right there with you... I love those end of the day moments!
Posted by: Julie | September 05, 2007 at 10:59 AM
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!
Posted by: m | September 05, 2007 at 11:18 AM
so well put! Really, isn't that time of the day all moms' favorite?
Posted by: Rachel | September 05, 2007 at 11:33 AM
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. :)
Posted by: Heather | September 05, 2007 at 11:40 AM
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.
Posted by: brandie | September 05, 2007 at 12:11 PM
hmmm...lovely!
Posted by: shandy | September 05, 2007 at 12:26 PM
the best part about going out for me is coming home, ahhh.
Posted by: tamara | September 05, 2007 at 12:44 PM
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.
Posted by: nicole | September 05, 2007 at 12:45 PM
I just love to curl up in the nest as well. It's were we all find our comfort. Thanks for reminding us all.
Posted by: Beth H | September 05, 2007 at 01:33 PM
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!
Posted by: Melissa! | September 05, 2007 at 02:22 PM
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.
Posted by: Sarah Jackson | September 05, 2007 at 02:40 PM
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
Posted by: Pink Ric Rac | September 05, 2007 at 04:25 PM
How wonderful - the simple pleasures at the end of the day. Safe in the comfort of our own homes.
Posted by: Rhian Dennis | September 05, 2007 at 04:34 PM
thanks for reminding us to love it too! xo
Posted by: blair | September 05, 2007 at 05:15 PM
Here here!
Posted by: fiveflowers | September 05, 2007 at 06:11 PM
What I love — this post. Pure magic.
Posted by: Pam | September 05, 2007 at 07:55 PM
so beautifully said!
Posted by: Tess | September 05, 2007 at 08:10 PM
I agree. Nothing is better than the ordinary and mundane, sometimes. I miss those days... sigh.
Posted by: Amber | September 05, 2007 at 08:17 PM
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.
Posted by: Ahna | September 05, 2007 at 08:31 PM
yep, me too. me too :)
Posted by: Toni | September 05, 2007 at 08:32 PM
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.
Posted by: melissa | September 05, 2007 at 08:53 PM
loving the basket of rocks.
Posted by: Sarah | September 05, 2007 at 10:30 PM
Reading your blog makes me happy. And sometimes cry.
Posted by: Megan | September 05, 2007 at 10:39 PM
Sigh. Yep, agreed.
Posted by: geek+nerd | September 06, 2007 at 12:02 AM
Perfect.
Posted by: shula | September 06, 2007 at 01:59 AM
Joy and bliss!
Posted by: Lizz | September 06, 2007 at 03:13 AM
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
Posted by: Jennifer Howard | September 06, 2007 at 10:00 AM
Aaahh, for me, putting on pj pants at the end of the day is the greatest. A big exhale...
Posted by: hrsj | September 06, 2007 at 06:36 PM
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 :)
Posted by: tifanie | September 07, 2007 at 02:15 AM