Callum's rumpled bed is exactly how my life feels right now (And if you, your spouse, partner, child or beagle is an academic scientist who relies on grant funding for a living, you may not want to read on. This post might inspire flashbacks.). We have grant-fatigue around here. Poor Neel, he bears the brunt of it, I mean, of course, but we all live it. We have every year at this time for the last four years. It's been better this year, no question, but I'm beat. I know, excuses, excuses. But Callum started back to school, I started back to work, Neel's writing, writing, writing, barely stoping to sleep or eat or acknowledge our presence (love you, honey!). I miss my blogging juju. I miss my sweet house. I miss sewing. I miss cooking. I miss you guys. And my camera is acting funky, so I feel a little heistant to pull it out (I know, enough with the excuses already), and so often it's a photo that really kicks off a blog post for me. I'm pulling it together. I'm figuring out what to say "no" to. If I could just clear off some of the surfaces, even just in the kitchen, I'd feel better.

Okay. Off my chest. Bear with me just a little longer, can you? Neel crawls out from under his rock next week, but I fully intend to be out there already in the sunshine, waiting for him.