(March 2005)
The Pool Shirt
Yay! The Pool Shirt is done. I used the fabulous Munki Munki Pool Party print--so adorable. The pattern was a bit more of a bear than I expected--particularly the collar. Originally, I had a plan to make one for Steve and Ezra too, but now I'm not so sure! Here's the shirt, almost done (click to enlarge), and a closeup of the cute fabric....I think I'm going to send the shirt off to Nana--the professional seamstress!--to do the buttonholes for me (my machine doesn't seem to like to do buttonholes, and neither do I. Hee Hee).
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That was ten years ago, almost to the day. Last week marked ten years of blogging for me. Ten years! Forever ago and yet it feels like yesterday all at the same time. Ten years ago, I was a twenty-eight year old stay at home mom of two young boys, ages 4 and 2, and pregnant with my third. Steve was working each day for an engineering firm, and my days were filled with the things that make up life at home with little ones. There were stories and games, blocks and puzzles, food and naps, and a little bit of Mister Rogers for good measure. We took trips to the beach and to the library, to playgroups and the museum. There was a lot of breastfeeding, babywearing and co sleeping and long and tiring days. Days, I remember, sometimes blurring one right into another. Also in those days, in whatever little pockets of time I could find, I was discovering my creative self, and nurturing it more than I ever had in my life before. I was sewing things for my children and my home, and knitting for friends and family both. And, in the late hours of the night when the kids were asleep....I was documenting those pursuits. A whole world and community was opening up in blog land, and we were all excited to connect with likeminded people all across the world. We shared stories and patterns, swaps and parenting tales. None of us, I do believe, had any idea where it was all going. I certainly didn't predict that not only would I stay real and true friends with so many of those women, but that the very thing that connected us all to begin with - these blogs - would, for some of us, take on a life of their own. Opening doors for us, and creating careers and amazing opportunities for more and more creativity to flourish. And more connection to happen. And more ways in which we could share - and spread - our love for motherhood, home and hearth.
Well, all of that did happen. And along the way it has been something incredibly special. Of course, it isn't all roses in this virtual world. There have been, I will confess, moments where I felt obligated to the blog. Moments where I doubted what I'm doing here, and questioned the effect it has. Moments in which my feelings were deeply hurt, moments in which my heart was healed. Moments where I thought about stopping all together. Times when I wanted to pull the curtains to give us more privacy. Moments I thought about turning this space into something else entirely - something wider and larger than just my words. Or even fancying things up (well, I still could do that a bit, couldn't I? Change isn't so bad). But all of those growing pains are normal for any ten year long relationship, even the healthiest. And at the end of the day, I always come back to my love for this space, and my deep gratitude for what it - and you - have given me. I still love the daily ritual of documenting a piece of my days. I love taking pictures and sharing words. I love hearing from you. I love that I am able to support businesses I believe in by hosting them here as sponsors, and that that relationship in turn supports my family. In short, this space - and connections made here - make me feel as though the world is small, that we share more in common than we do in difference, and that people are good hearted. What a gift that feeling is! And most importantly, I love that this space helps me to remember the small moments, to hold onto the things that matter in our days, and to celebrate family.
In ten years a lot of things in my life have changed. There are five children. A farm. A business and career that have changed the way my days are spent. There has been unexpected loss and heartbreak, joy and celebration. That little boy pictured above is taller than me, and about to embark on high school. And it's been many years since I've seen him wear barrettes in his hair! So much looks different now. But today, in just a few moments, I will usher my four oldest children out the door for their weekly trip to the mountain to ski with their Papa. My little girl will stay here with me, and as she declared at the breakfast table this morning, "we're gonna make dresses ALL DAY LONG! Hooray!!!". I will likely snap a photograph or two along the way, and surely I'll share it here. Just like I did ten years ago.
Ten years later....this blog, this space, and even some of you, are still here. And for that I am so grateful, as it has meant more to me than I can say. Thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for sharing this journey with me. It has been an honor, and a pleasure...
