a sweet day at home

Long ago, when the children were young,

I would try very hard to carve out a day to be at home.

Totally at home.

Not an errand

not a run to the store

no appointments.

As they got older,

I found it almost impossible to achieve a day at home.

This has turned into a busy week

and today was my only day at home for the whole week.

Mothers at home with tiny ones who nap and eat often

and so must stay home a lot

don't understand this

but they will someday.

Days at home, if rare, are so sweet and ... productive!

Introverts, I think, especially love to be at home. I do.

Today I finished writing an article that's due soon.

Watered the flowers.

Made granola. And part of tomorrow's dinner.

And did laundry. And read my Bible.

It's amazing what can be accomplished when you stay home all day.

Try it if you can.

Thurber House!

Yesterday Katie invited me to a "secret destination" in Columbus. I had no idea where we were going until we pulled off Broad Street in the heart of downtown. And then I knew: Thurber House! For years I've wanted to visit this home of James Thurber, born in Columbus in 1894.

"James Thurber was an American author, cartoonist and celebrated wit. Thurber was best known for his cartoons and short stories, published mainly in The New Yorker magazine then collected in his numerous books. One of the most popular humorists of his time, Thurber celebrated the comic frustrations and eccentricities of ordinary people." [Wikipedia]


We learned all sorts of interesting tidbits about Thurber while wandering through the house. His mother was a born comedian, thus Thurber's skillful wit. His father sometimes slept with the dogs in an alcove off the living room, presumably to escape his family. And Thurber lost an eye from his brother's mis-aimed bow and arrow. The Thurbers lived in this home during his years at Ohio State University ... they lived in a dozen other houses around Columbus over the years, too. The attic was made into an apartment for "writers in residence."



Posing pointlessly in an upstairs hallway.

Imagine writing on this ... Thurber's typewriter.
(I love how Katie, the photographer, simply pulled a curtain open so I'd have
enough light for this photo.)

Dozens of writers have visited here, and their photos hang on the stairway.

Then it was on to the North Market across town where we sampled some delicious Jeni's ice cream.

Best of all was an afternoon spent with my thoughtful daughter who planned the outing!

photo(s) of the day

Haller babies get bathed in the old kitchen sink at the cabin.

I know this is how babies were bathed before fancy baby bath tubs came around.

A kitchen sink works well and Lily loved it!

While on the topic of baby care, Jill brought Lily's cloth diapers for a

good "sunning." And, it turns out, is one of my favorite photos.



photo of the day

My oldest son, David, made his way to the cabin.

He throughly enjoyed the break from his job,

and we thoroughly enjoyed time with him!

photo of the day

Katie snapped this one ... I'm holding Lily at Besser Beach on Lake Huron.

I love how we're both looking out at the water.

What a treat it was to have Lily with us for a few days!

photo of the day

Our nightly ritual: putting kayaks in the boathouse.

I know this isn't the most amazing photo,

but Katie's smile captures how she adores being at the cabin.

photo of the day

My son Mark with his daughter Lily ...

during our hike near Lake Huron.

(photo taken on Lily's 5-month birthday)

photo-a-day this week

I caught the photography bug back in college,

in fact I changed my major to encompass it.

Then came all the kids and busy years

and while I kept shooting away,

I know I lost focus (ha, ha).

Digital photography zoomed ahead of me.

I've rediscovered photography

and my very able daughter is helping me get up to speed.

This week I'll share a photo a day from my two weeks in northern Michigan.

Nothing incredible, just some of my favorites.

Sunset over Grand Lake, Michigan



Dan and Jenny: 5 years

A lovely outdoor wedding was held five years ago today.

Under the trees of an old farm outside of town,

my son Dan married his beautiful college sweetheart Jenny.

Dan was the first of our children to marry

and it was a joyous day.

The newlyweds have had a very busy five years:

relocating to North Carolina, buying a home, a career change and two baby girls!

Dan and Jenny, I'm very proud of your hard work and commitment to each other, to family,

and to God's plans for you.

Happy 5th anniversary with love!

summer's cicadas signaled school

They begin their metallic, syncopated buzzing in summer's mid-afternoon heat. Seeming to join in chorus, the buzzing strengthens and rises, then dissipates. The cicadas of summer.

Just one week into July, I'm already hearing them regularly. But they seem to belong to mid-August, of summer gone stale and autumn approaching. I also think of back-to-school shopping as a girl: new leather shoes, new skirts and blouses and socks. Fresh pencils and clean paper. A lunchbox. For a time, I was excited about the start of school.

But as that first day drew near and the dry, crunchy grass poked my bare feet, a dread rose in my chest. I really disliked school with its monotonous structure and missing freedom and creativity. We walked the halls in lines, silence a must. Lunch at the appointed time and never on a blanket in the sunshine. Math. Science. It simply bored me to tears.

I hope my grandchildren like their schooling and can marvel, unhindered, at the cicadas' chorus.

Happy 4th!

I'm enjoying some time with family this week and next and taking a short break from blogging. (Though I might post a time or two.) I hope you're enjoying some family time as well, and will pause to realize the beauty of our awesome country. We are blessed to live in a land of freedom, democracy and liberty!

Happy and safe Independence Day, everyone!