{getting a grip}

It's the day before Halloween.  And, yet my mind keeps coming back to this place. This photograph is well served in the art of reminiscence.  The water was smooth. The paddle was productive. My feet were steady. My balance held accord with my being.  Simply put, I was present in motion.  I spoke little; I concentrated lots.  This image conjures up the deep importance of rest and introspection.  Gently, it nudges me to find the paddle once again in my hands. Metaphorically, I need to make the sequential movements of stroking the collective ripples from side to side.  My balance and breaths have to be unified; my heart mindful of upright.  

Life is fast.  Faster than ever before.  Peering out into this world of schedules and deadlines, I find myself looking inward for a haven of relief.  For it is in that peaceful place that my creativity connects with my heart.  I want time to slow itself.  I want space for dreaming to be a little bigger.  I am quite certain that is why homeschooling the boys happens for us.  As I scurry about my days inside our 4 walls of home, I find the boys blissfully in harmony with their balance & breaths.  Curled up reading, stacking and measuring, defending our country in backyard battles and authoring stories of grandeur with detailed pictures to match.  Their learning is in progress and peace is present.  

{peace & progress}

{balance & breaths}

{present in motion}

I must be reminded that we all fight the current of confusion and constant commotion.  With the tugs of now and the concept of hurry, it's easy to lose ourselves only to miss out on those moments of protected peace if we're not careful. Today I remind myself that my motions can be in peace; I set the tone of my progress too.  My mind must make time for my heart to settle as that's when my creativity rests.  I am thankful for 2 little boys who teach me this on a daily basis.  I am thankful for a God who so keenly keeps my compass when I just let Him soak into me.  The grip on my paddle never felt more perfectly pleasant than it does today.  

.mac :)

Hiatus

We all need a break sometimes.

From school.
From mediocrity.
From routine.

Spontaneity so soothes the soul.

{photos by mama, eli, and casey}
Location:  our favorite place

.mac :)

I Go A Walkin'

After midnight.
Out in the moonlight.
Just like we used to do...
Ahhh, gotta love some Patsy Cline.

It's me again, Margaret!

Me forget the summer adventures I have yet to tell you about?

NEVER.

If you will remember last, we were in Elicottville, NY.

{the 1st picture posted is the print designated for Elicottville, NY crosswalks.}

Love it.

I admire simple twists in common everyday details that make a space unique and in it's own right handmade.

Eliicottville is known as a wonderful snow skiing haven. Matter of fact, the resort we stayed in had ski lifts that actually picked you up at your room's door. This resort was built into the side of one massive mountain. On my run that morning, this mountain was just part of my eye candy. Rockin' the IPOD loud, I marveled at what its magnificent beauty and stellar sites might look like during the winter months when white blankets of icy fun were abundant.

I ran 2 miles through this quaint little town and was overcome with inspiration.

You see, I am easily inspired. Easily motivated. Just ask my partner in crime, Kristi. She can attest to all my lofty hopes and handfuls of howboutwedothises. In fact, just last week I had my trip to Dream for my latest style upkeep and my hairdresser, Ashleigh, told me: "I can see how you played Barbies until you were like 13. You are a dreamer."

And I took it as a compliment and smiled.

I was awestruck with the Ellicottville's small town atmosphere. Tiny, curvy sidewalks shuffled my feet on a 2 mile track as I passed so much history and time.

I was impressively moved by the intricate and detailed architecture of the houses. Moldings, elaborate trim work, eccentric color choices for the exterior of homes. Off handed blues and charcoal greens, slight lavenders paired with greys, razzy reds with creme and yellows.

And the porches were oversized.

Oversized and used better yet.

I passed by more than one house where families were gathered on the front porch enjoying breakfast together. At another porch, there was a lady reading the morning newspaper with her feet propped just so and her steaming coffee cup at her side. Yet at another I spotted, the busyness of a man tending to yardwork and flowers with the sounds of Van Morrison serenading him from his front porch {I actually was in IPOD mid-song change to hear "Moondance"} At another there was an elderly woman sweeping her front porch. It struck me eery how closely the broom resembled her feeble, petite stature. It was as big as she was and it could be easily deducted that this was one of her daily rituals. Her porch needed no sweeping as it was spotless.

I kept thinking to myself: "I wanna live in one of these houses. I wanna wake up with my cup-a-joe in a quaint and colorful cottage and see life living all around me."

And with one perpendicular twisty turn, my run had me passing a black rot iron fence with 3 tall tiers of detailed welding and a gate that was simple yet classic in design. Bruce Springsteen's "My Hometown" was playing on my IPOD.

This gate represented so much more than just a boundary line to me. The Boss's song really said it all. Inside this gate was ornate stone work: the building foundation of Ellicottville. Truly, the hometown heroes, harlots, hopefuls, villains, vagabonds, and victors of this sweet little city.

I was moved almost to tears as I passed this resting place. Lineage lines were easily read as many stones jumbled together sharing the same last name inscribed. Some even stated, "daughter", "son", or "mother."

I ran with respect in my heart and hope in my head. In each of us there is a season to count: a limited time where our lifespan lives in action. Once our time moves from present to past, we are but a memory to remind others. What we will remind them of is up to us in our now for we get only one present.

Tears, I tell you.

Needless to say, once my run was finished, I was spent and full of spirit. Love it when those 2 get together in my life: spent and spirit.

And I just had to go get my best partner-in-crime and take her for a little more laid back stroll of this town I had become so smitten with.

And this laid back stroll only made me fall deeper in love.

Now what did I tell you about taking the everyday normals and putting your own splash of you in them? A-DOR-A-BLE. Who can beat that slogan? They even ship their products. Check them out here!

STOP IT! A semi-circle balcony with cascading ivy and flowers. A gigantic purple doorknob to sell the name. Their products: a mix of antiques, junky finds, art, and interesting stuff. I was bouncing in my pink Nikes. Just ask Kristi!

This was the detail outside of an autobody shop. I kid you not. Purple pansies and ivy out of paint cans. Ridiculously cute.

And this is where I completely lost it. For reals, people.

This establishment was a home complete with a shop off the side full of handmade goodies, home and garden decor, and housewarming tender viddles. YUM. Check out the simple immaculate-ness of this place.

The owner is a master gardener who also runs a flower delivery service out of this shop. Her landscaping was to-die-for. This flower looks only half as good as it smelled. I have no clue what it this species is, but am dying to know. I would love to plant these in and about my home. Dear heavens, the goodness.

See? I told you.

Hold on. I need a moment to gather myself.

Okay, I'm back.

Double blooming begonias: coral orange and sunshine yellow.

These were my wedding colors. I say no more.

Her front porch welcoming committee: sweet potato vine and yellow double blooming begonias.

Welcoming you to...are you ready?

I don't think you are.

I am totally holding my breathe as I type this. It's that divine.

Can you say Martha?

These pretties were all tucked away on the street side of her corner home.

Tucked away in these...

I need just a minute more to regain my composure.

EEEK!

Tangled Twigs is the name of this designer's shop. Again, in true Ellicotville form, details always on the maxim. Yes, I had to buy a little something from here. Check out her packaging. A real freakin' twig...BRILLANT.

These lovies came home with me. I fell straight in love with their chubby snuggles. Kristi laughed at me and said, "You are just like my Mamaw. She would have bought something like this."

And like the Barbie comment from Ashleigh, I took it as a compliment and smiled.

These lovebirds found their home on my kitchen window sill.

I think they look happy, don't you?

On our way down the sidewalk from the Tangled Twig, I spotted even more detail to turn up the corners of my mouth. Simple sweetness in the corner of a store front window. Clever and quaint just like Ellicotville.

A clothing store storefront that was one of MANY that caught my eye.

Red detailed trim work infused with grey and white.

Stellar window boxes. I was so intrigued, I had to take a closer look.

And lookie what I found? A little ceramic handbag peeking out at me.

{My dreams of designing in the details right before me.}

And I took it as compliment and smiled.

Wanna hint why I was in Ellicotville?

Perhaps the orange letters in this post might help.

Until we meet for our next adventure,

.mac :)
a.k.a. Jackie O.

{ROAD}

You diggin' my shirt?
Kenny wasn't.

Matter of fact, I bought it speee-ashial at my favorite establishment for the bit of traveling we had planned for the earlier part of this summer.

{ROAD}
Always like to keep things thematic if you will.

Remember that big gap in posts? I am sure all of my 5 regular readers do. I escaped the everyday life for a time and went into hiding. It was fun pretending to be Kate Gosselin in seclusion from the paparazzi. The paparazzi being my SIL Kristi, but still. Who am I kidding? I just wanted a chance to wear the JackieO's and the J-LO hatz. yeah-yeah.
These 3 and myself loaded up in a car and made the trek to New York back in early June. Little boys off to my dad and step-mom, rental car packed to the gills, we drove.
Kenneth (my father-in-law) here sharing a celebratory beer with his younger brother Eddie that we made it safe and sound and our 14 hours in the car was finito.

Me gazing up at Kristi with great thankfulness that I no longer have to be in a car with 3 Cobble men and I that I now have my favorite girl in company!
Ellicottville, New York.

A super charming little place. The town was so petitely packed with huge helpings of quaintness. Well, we had to do a little spelunking and it seems our taste buds and rumbling bellies landed us here.

Shiney coppers, glistening chromes, a pumpin' and a churnin'...

Mama likey.

A rustic environment this place had. Kinda low lit barzy, for-real locals feel, I was hooked. And apparently so was the fish. 4 of the 6 of us ordered their fried fish platter.

I was not one of the 4. I had my eyes set on a Reuben. Can I just say holy cow. The best Reuben I have ever snuggled up to in my life. YUM.

The menu was well versed in variety. I tend to like that in a restaurant. My brother-in-law, Tony, chose the homemade ravioli to offset the other 4 as well. Let's just say, there was no need for a dishwasher when we left this fine establishment.
Kristi and her dad. Those smiles are proof of happy bellies.

And what about our thirst buds?

Well, I like beer. I like wine too.

Not in massive drunken quantities. But I do enjoy their flavors on occasion.

And this place makes the best BLUEBERRY BEER I have ever tasted! Check those blueberries out just floatin' at the top all flirty like.
Tony decided upon a sampler as they all looked so tasty.

This place was amazing. We loved sitting around the table catching up and enjoying great food and brew. Brothers Kenny and Kevin would agree. Go here to find out more about this fine establishment. Cause little they may be, but they have a website!

Small town America: you can't beat that.

And you also can't beat BLUEBERRY BEER! Some wanted to come back to the inn with us and well, being nice southerners in a northern town, we kindly obliged.
Could this father-in-law of mine get any cuter in that hat?

And how bout these hunks in the hot tub?
(I am especially partial to the one in the middle.)

A late night of chatting, laughing, relaxing, and just being family in this little town for there was much to celebrate. And we Cobbles make the most of any reason to celebrate. Who can forget this annual happy or this every year gathering for celebratory proof.

What are we celebrating, you ask?
Well, just keep on the hunt for Kate in the JackieO's and perhaps you'll soon find out!

.mac :)