happy birthday, PERP!

happy birthday to you

happy birthday to you

happy birthday dear eleanor,

happy birthday to you!!

well, the cutest puppy in the world is not so much a puppy anymore. today, princess eleanor rose turns 3. three!! in dog years, she's 21 - she can drink!! maybe i'll give her a teaspoon of beer later [she loves the stuff]. [don't worry, i know dogs shouldn't drink]

i know i talk about her a lot, and post more than tons of pictures of her, [well, let's be honest - you guys love the pictures!] but i just want to take a minute to say that this past year especially i've been so lucky to have e. cuddling with this little furball has helped cover a multitude of troubles. she gets me out of the house and into the neighborhood where i've meet so many nice people. she keeps me fit with her constant pleas of 'let's go for a walk!'. she keeps me grounded in reality [except when i have conversations with her - i'm pretty sure those aren't necessarily 'real' in the conventional sense]. and while she doesn't reach golden retriever status in the over the top bubbly unconditional love department, she does her fair share of cute and heart melty things [minus the slobber!]. for all these reasons and so many more, i am happy and blessed to be little e's mom. 

 my little dog - a heartbeat at my feet  

[edith wharton]

pretty leaves that have since gone

we do not grow absolutely, chronologically. we grow sometimes in one dimension, and not in another; unevenly. we grow partially. we are relative. we are mature in one realm, childish in another. the past, present, and future mingle and pull us backward, forward, or fix us in the present. we are made up of layers, cells, constellations.

[anais nin]

mm srry

hi friends. what's up? sorry about the lack of anything substantial lately. usually when i'm out walking about doing my things i compose potential blog posts in my head that sound ahhhwesome, but then when it's time to sit and tap it out, i think of better things i should be doing [sending emails! prepping for teaching! learning things! watching steven colbert and hoping that there will actually be a "south carolina serious, classy republican debate" on animal planet!] and/or i think all the ideas i previously thought up to chat about with you guys would sound LAME in print. this isn't an excuse. i just wanted you to know what is up, and have an excuse to post some more pictures. that's what you're interested in anyway, right?

k and e on the last beautiful day of 2011, watching the clouds roll in 

the things that are easier said than done and my motto for the week:

1. Out of clutter, find simplicity;

2. From discord make harmony; and finally

3. In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity.

[albert einstein] 

warning:

. . . only view this post if you are ready to be completely overwhelmed by cuteness.

love, love, love, says Percy. 

and hurry as fast as you can

along the shining beach, or the rubble, or the dust.

then, go to sleep.

give up your body heat, your beating heart.

then, trust.

[mary oliver]

sister thanksgiving

i'll be back soon, i promise!