1. I think I must be the luckiest person in the world when I get to take pictures of beautiful things like this. It came from Simply Selma's, a wonderful local shop which is owned (in part) by a friend of mine. I have no idea how much this necklace cost (nor the earrings or bracelets which I also photographed), and that's probably a good thing considering the fact that it sat casually in my lightbox for two weeks waiting for the perfect combination of light and time. I got to spend the day taking photos in the shop yesterday, and you can expect to see some of those here real soon.
2. I think Callum's teachers are inspired with their idea of full-moon homework. Last night all the kids in fifth grade got to research a topic of their choice. This was their only homework for the evening. The guidelines were that it be age-appropriate, that they include an illustration, an illustrative paragraph about their topic and an explaination for why they chose their topic. Even coming home tired from lacrosse practice, Callum was captivated all evening. He chose the hydrogen bomb.
3. I think I am so grateful that Neel finally got some good news at work this week. It was about damn time.
4. I think I had a bit of a photographic breakthrough on Valentine's Day, thanks to my dear friend Rebecca and her lovely daughter. If she's willing, you'll see some of those photos here soon too. For the first time during the whole shoot, I felt confident. Like I was getting the images I wanted, and making her feel comfortable while I was doing so. It paid off in some of my favorite pictures ever.
5. I think it's important to have gratitude for this creative spurt I'm in right now. I know that it won't last. I don't mean that in a doom-and-gloomy way. I'm pretty pragmatic, actually, and I know that the fire I feel now will be replaced by days when I feel less than inspired and not like picking up my camera. I know there will be. It's okay. My mom said to me the other day that creativity needs constraint (she was referring to me bemoaning my lack of technical skill), and sometimes that constraint comes in the form of those days of dim down-time. When you're charging on all cylinders like I am now, moving from writing to photographing to editing (at lightening speed!)...well, I'll have to recharge at some point, won't I? Someone, please remind me of this when that day comes! But what I want to say, is that I am grateful. I am so grateful for this moment right now. For the writing I'm doing. For the work I have. For the pictures I'm taking and the ones I'm planning. For each and every day and how I'm able to move within it. I am so grateful.

1. I think I needed that little break, but I still have a lot to say. We had snow day yesterday, and our photography class was canceled, giving me time to catch my breath. I'll have some more photos of early-morning snow at the bottom of this post.
2. I think that there has been a lot of stress around here in the last month or so, and for me the antidote to that has been to immerse myself in this creative process. It's been quite thrilling actually. And humbling. I'm learning new stuff everyday. That part is thrilling. I'm bumping into my limitations everyday too. That's the humbling part.
3. I think for this week's assignment, I'm going to give myself a little break and work with my favorite models, Neel and Callum! Our assignment is to model the work of a favorite photographer (so! many!), and I actually had two very different folks in mind for this project. With Neel and Callum, I really want to work on posing. I'm so not good at that. Since I'm not afraid of bossing them around, I figure they'll be good practice.
4. I think I've been craving a bloody mary.
5. I think I need to pay better attention to gratitude. Yesterday morning (our snow day), as Neel was leaving for work he asked me (as we often do) what I was going to be up to that day.  Editing photos in the morning, I told him, when I'd have been in class. And work...writing this afternoon. Sounds good, he said. Wow. I had to smile after that. Pretty much a dream come true for me. Who'd have thunk it?

  1. I think I am grateful for a child who is not only patient with all the photographing I do of him but who claims to enjoy it.
2. I think I am in a wild photo-taking craze right now.
3. I think if I don't get a handle on how to organize these photos, craze might turn into crazy.
4. I think I had a really nice day yesterday.
5. I think you are going to see a lot of pictures of a lot of different things in the next few weeks. (Sorry.)

1. I think sometimes "done" is better than "good," and in this particular case, "done" feels really, really good.
2. I think this photography class is going to stretch me in some really good ways. More on that next week.
3. I think I never dreamed I'd be celebrating Australia Day two years running now. Happy Australia Day (a couple of days late)!
4. I think maybe I need to get out more. I went into my class yesterday feeling rather blue and came out feeling quite good.
5. I think maybe I should schedule an appointment with my therapist!

1. I think (hope) Neel had the kind of birthday he wanted.
2. I think I'm starting to figure my work life out. Maybe.
3. I think watching Callum doing something he loves is one of my all-time favorite things to do. Ever.
4. I think my day shopping with my girlfriends last Saturday was just the thing I needed. I'm already ready for more!
5. I think that I hope that things might be looking up.

1. I think that the last seven days have dispensed some crazy lousy news, and I do NOT want the rest of the year to follow suit.
2. I think that the only way to deal with crazy lousy news is to go make-up shopping and for lunch with some girlfriends.
3. I think that this week I've done a better job of walking the line between trust when Callum tells me that he doesn't feel great and reason about how sick he really is.
4. I think that the best part of the weekend ahead is NO PLANS.
5. I think that I must remember to hold things lightly and that everything will be okay in the end. The Quakers have it right, if I'm patient, the way will open.

1. I think this week felt pretty good, all things considered.
2. I think I'm really going to like this cookbook, if the Chicken and Dumplings recipe is any indication. And the carbonara.
3. I think I should take better advantage of our fledgling and growing farmer's market.
4. I think that I am too quick to be suspicious when my son tells me that he is injured or sick, and that I shouldn't be so. This is something I'll need to work on in the new year.
5. I think I'm really intrigued by the response to what is so far such a tiny change to this place. The changes in me and the others I'm planning feel good.

1. I think I may need to forego black boots for snow boots, but I am still thinking about black boots.
2. I think I can't imagine a life without dogs. Even ones who have to be carried outside when it snows.
3. I think I have a lot of blog work to catch myself up on.
4. I think I'm already ready for another snowfall.
5. I think I'm ready to ring in the new year.

I'll be back tomorrow with my annual New Year's to-do list. Happy New Year everybody, and be safe tonight.

  1. I think that two sick people and one person recovering from minor surgery is quite enough for the week before Christmas.
2. I think I am glad to have picked up my knitting again.
3.I think I can live with a green Christmas, if it means there's a white day-after Christmas close in the works. Spoons under pillows and fingers crossed!
4. I think that for such a secular family, we really, really enjoy this whirl of excitement as well as the deep sense of gratitude that this time of year brings.
5. I ask this every year, and I'll ask it again. What's better? Presents or expecting presents? I think presents.

1. I think I will never outgrow the excitement of a snow day.
2. I think my least favorite thing about the holidays is the wrapping and packing of presents.
3. Many years ago, when talking about Christmas, a friend of mine said, "Belief is a choice." I think it's okay to still believe in Santa Clause.
4. I think I shouldn't have started looking at macro lenses.
5. I think I'm excited about the prospect of a new photography class in the new year. I'm ready to step it up.

1. I think I could spend days (and lots of money) blowing up photos and hanging them on my walls.
2. I think I have Christmas pretty much figured out (expect a detailed e-mail in your inbox soon, Neel).
3. I think I can't quite believe I have plans for practically every waking minute this weekend starting with tonight last night.
4. I think I love the time of year between November 1st and January 5th.
5. I think Callum had a migraine this week, and I know that has me very worried.

1. I think I can't wait to see this young man on the stage again tonight.
2. I think it's finally time I admitted to my husband that I don't like smoked salmon. He already knew about the capers.
3. I haven't downloaded all those photos yet. I think I need a rainy day.
4. I think it's easier to accept disappointment (a little, at least) when you know you're doing the right thing.
5. I think break's over. Back to blogging next week.

1. I think I need to commit an entire day to organizing my photos. And emails.
2. I think "hectic" has begun and will probably last through the New Year.
3. I think I need some cookbooks by Nigella and this one too.
4. I think the NFL has more drama than any Real Housewives on Bravo.
5. I think I need to get out this weekend and take some pictures...STAT.

1. I think I couldn't have spent a better anniversary.
    A. I got to watch Neel in "action" as he lectured a medical student class.
    B. Callum got to go to a birthday party at MotorWorld (!).
    C. We went to Callum's first parent-teacher conference, which was great.
    D. And then Neel shared his hoagie with me at lunch at a place called Philadelphia Cold Cuts.
2. I think I'm a pretty lucky wife. Clearly. (Fortunately we're going out to dinner tonight.)
3. I think I'm really looking forward to brunch with some friends on Sunday.
4. I've started a project I'm excited about, and I think I'll be ready to unveil it soon.
5. I think if I told Mark that it was a blog about woodpiles, he'd spit his coffee out at the computer screen.

1. I think I can't eat soup without something crunchy (like chips).
2. I think it's sweet how Neel can't watch a nerve-wracking baseball game without eating something crunchy (like chips).
3. I think I actually might like brussels sprouts (although cooking them with bacon and cream doesn't hurt a bit.)
4. I think I'm very glad Neel's grant is done, and we get to spend the weekend together.
5. I think I've been thinking about New York City a lot.

1. I think I'm really glad I painted our bedroom.
2. I think I think 80% of what we worry about doesn't come true.
3. I think I'm tired of waiting for the rest of my Tracy Porter dishes to full-out break (most of them are chipped), and that I should just add these to my Christmas List.
4. I think I'm seeing lots of squirrels in my backyard so far this fall. Does that mean snow this winter? The dogs are going crazy.
5. Alfie's here. I think that means we're going to have a great weekend.

1. I think I'm not very good at trying to be beautiful. Not that I claim to be beautiful or even pretty, but I think I could try harder.
2. I think I use too many exclamation points. Especially! In! Emails! And! Texts!
3. (This one's for Mark) I think I started to creep even myself out a little this week. On Monday when I was coming home from the morning school run, I switched over to Mike & Mike in the Morning (that's on ESPN Radio, Marky, check it out sometime) to hear the tail end of a trivia question about Peyton Manning. I didn't hear the whole thing, but it was something about "...a teammate Manning passed a milestone with this weekend. Not Clarke, not Wayne. Someone else. We'll tell you who it is after the break." Well right away I went with Jeff Saturday, the center for the Colts. Those two have been together a long time. I bet it's how many times Saturday has snapped the ball to Manning. Or how many games they've played together or something. The only hiccup was I couldn't remember if Saturday had been hurt recently. So after the break, guess what! Jeff Saturday and Peyton Manning started their 158th game together last Sunday! I was right! Annnnnd, at the same time that Mark's (and a whole host of other folks, I'll bet) turning away in disgust, my dad is wiping away a tear of pride.
4. I think trying to be more beautiful should probably involve some more products.
5. I think, as I enter the month of my fifteenth wedding anniversary, that being married is the best thing that has ever happened to me.

1. I think that this week has been a particularly good meal-making week. Especially for using cuts of meat several times and ways.
    Football Sunday: Fondue
    Monday: Chicken chili
    Tuesday: Roast a pork shoulder for a pork ragu pasta
    Wednesday: Chicken & squash soup and grilled cheese with homemade bread
    Thursday: Leftover pork for nachos
    Friday...well, it's Friday! That remains to be seen.
2. Speaking of cooking, I think I use sherry a lot more in the fall than I do in the summer.
3. I think I am really itching to paint some rooms in the house.
4. I think I would not like to have the job of deciding to close schools in a storm. However, I do think I would take into consideration the heavy rain and number of tornado warnings in the area before deciding to keep schools open. As soon as we turned the car on yesterday the EAS went off (have I mentioned to you that I love weather?) announcing a Tornado Warning for our neighborhood, the neighborhood Neel was headed into, a neighborhood near Callum's school and a neighborhood we drive through to get to Callum's school. At the end of the EAS it said, "Take Cover Immediately!" But it was picture day so we soldiered on. Callum wore a tie and a blazer.
5. In the past month I have seen two rats successfully cross a busy freeway and arrive at the other side unscathed. A coincidence? I think not.

Water themed and a thank you too.
1. I think I love living where I can hear sea gulls every day.
2. I think it's great that I can hop on my bike and ride down the block to a river that rises and falls with the ocean's tides.
3. I think I love that the fall air is tinged with the smell of salt water.
4. I think I'm checking the hurricane report every day.
5. I think I still long for rain.

Thank you all so much for your sweet, sweet notes to me yesterday. I am so tired of myself. I want to live my life, not just muddle through it, and now that the days are inching cooler, I want nothing more than to embrace each moment. Someday soon. It's coming; I just know it. The fact that I want to organize Callum's fall clothes and take down the fort in his room gives me a glimmer of hope.

1. I think I could have used just a little more excitement out of Hurricane Earl. Just a little.
2. I think Callum has inherited my fascination with hurricanes.
3. I think I hate it that Tiffany went home on Top Chef DC.
4. I think it's great that teachers still get excited about a day off from school...even in the first week!
5. I think I can't believe he's going to be eleven.