kitten little

 
                                                                         Mom and Finn today.

Not every single post from here on out will include an orange kitten, just some or most of 'em. 
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peek-a-boo

Two sweet cuddly fluffy kittens came home with Mom today.

She had been keeping an eye on them at the Humane Society for weeks and today they were finally ready
to be adopted!

She hasn't decided on names yet for these cutie pie brothers who we want to eat right up.
Suggestions would be lovely...

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mother of mine

The most important thing this weekend was celebrating Mom's birthday. Celebrating Mom...who takes care of all of us and doesn't ask for anything in return only to delight in seeing us happy. In her sixty two years so far she has finally let us look out for her a bit and doesn't seem to mind having three daughters who act like three mothers sometimes. This year she had quite a scare with her skin cancer and I'm so grateful I got to take her to her appointments and support her when she was frightened by what could go wrong. Luckily it all went right.

Mom is truly my best friend, having a uniquely special relationship with each one of her girls. I can share any secret with her. She knows if I have a headache or if something is wrong within two words of a conversation, this always amazes me. She encourages me to create and continue to grow. I am me because of her.

Mom lets me know every single day how much I am loved and that is a gift I hold tightly to my heart.
Happy Birthday Mom! xo


10.07 to 10.09

oh Ladybug

How do you say thank you when your Mom stopped by to do a quick errand and ended up cleaning up
celery puke from Ladybug who stole the celery top out of the compost bucket...?

You make Mom the best chocolate chip cookies ever and write a sweet note.

Thank you Mom! Ladybug says she's done with celery. xo
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steal my sunshine

When my mom was a little girl growing up in Pennsylvania she would spend many summers in Florida soaking in the sunshine, a lot of sun. As she grew up she didn't seek out the sun, but rather was wary of the harsh rays due to the terrible sunburns she got on her fair skin as a newlywed laying out on her apartment building rooftop watching airplanes fly into the San Diego Airport.

She raised her girls to wear sunscreen and hats. We do. We try. No suntanning around here.

A little while ago a tiny pearly white bump appeared beneath her right eye. The dermatologist identified it as basal cell carcinoma. This type of cancer can grow roots beneath the skin and cause much damage, being so close to her eye it was scary.

After several appointments, one to get the cancer completely removed and to see if it had spread (it had not!) and then to get it stitched up just right so that once the scar healed it wouldn't cause her lower lid to droop. 

I am happy to say that today we finally saw the eye that had been hidden beneath a half a potato sized patch and it is bruised from all it has been through, and I could only find one single lower lash left, but there isn't a droop and the doctor said it should continue to heal just fine.

Tears of happiness and relief from her perfectly fine tear duct, too.

She will have to be watchful for more, as will I for my fair skin, blue eyes and light hair.

Funny how much you learn and appreciate about the amazing human body when something like this comes along. How very grateful I was to see both of Mom's eyes looking at me today, I could see that she will rest much easier tonight, the whole family will...we just love her so much. xo

{8.15 to 8.16}
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sun + berries

Just yesterday Mom and I slipped away for a morning walk on the beach. Sunbathing squirrels squinted at the sunshine and rows of pelicans flew back and forth overhead. We found shells, breathed in the sky and waves and pondered the footprints that came before us.

Then we picked our very own gems in the strawberry fields, filling our buckets to the very tippy tops! Two pies later (to be shared, I have not eaten them all up myself) and there is a single sweet tart slice left...

♥ Thank you Mom, such a beautiful morning. I'd been looking forward to our strawberry pickin' day. xo ♥ 

{4.27 to 4.28}

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the very first bloom

Mom and I have been tending to a garden that was a bit forgotten over the last few seasons. In this garden is a rose bush for each one of us in the family, mine is white. Daffodils that remind us of Grampa grow happily throughout. Dad built the brick pathway that curves through the flowers leading down to Mom's lilac bush.

We were surprised to see a lavender bloom stretching high above the otherwise bare branches. We both leaned in to take in the scent. The scent of years that have passed and of a new season yet to come.

I'm secretly hoping the days in the garden take longer than expected, it is pure happiness to hear chirps all around, to pull weeds, find ladybugs and worms, smell the lilac, chat with Mom and have her all to myself, even if for just a moment. 

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vintage

goodies....a photoshoot for Mom's shop, she'll be updating throughout the next few days

mum

On Saturday we sang happy birthday to Mom... after a festive dinner of sweet potato fries, burgers made from veggies, more fries, and a single shared vanilla shake with sprinkles on top...between laughter, photos and stories...before delighting in cupcakes from Magnolia Bakery (carrot for Mom)... a surprise. 

She is quite special, too much so to even write here, that she really should be celebrated every single day.

About a week ago I was doing an interview for a volunteer position I'm interested in. As part of the interview I was asked about my childhood and parents. When I started talking about my Mom I got teary eyed and quiet, and simply had to explain to the interviewer how truly wonderful, dedicated and loving she is. How she genuinely cares and listens. How she calls just to see if I got through the rain okay. How she knows exactly what I need, even if I say I don't. How just trying to tell about her to someone who doesn't know her swells my heart up with joy, because I know how very lucky I am.

Happy Birthday Mom! xo!

{10.9 to 10.10}

there is... only one person in the whole world who... ...

...

♡ would pick the yucky beans out of the homemade chili she made for dinner

♡ knows how much sleep I need each night, even to this day

♡ puts ketchup on my mac and cheese

♡ loves me, despite the old sandwiches I hid under the couch

♡ knew me before everyone else did

♡ cut my white blond hair on windy days sitting on the electric box

♡ walked through my new home for the very first time with me

♡ flew us to Santa Monica for a weekend of our own

♡ calls me Breeze, sings it to me when it's time to wake up

...

Mom, I love you so very much. xo ...

....

{Two of my favorite photos...all of us huddled together at the beach, Dad behind the Pentax camera and all of Mom's girls dressing up and being silly, (that's me peeking from the way back in the red hood and then in overalls.)}

my mom ...is a lover of squirrels, her Wheetie boy, took me and my sisters to New York City for the first time, eloped with Dad to North Carolina, sings while she drives, is a pyrex collector, writer, lived on the corner of Front and Ivy in downtown San Diego, is a little sister, nicknamed "Pog" from her parents, was a cheerleader, loves a spice cake on her birthday, shares the very best old movies with me, grew up in Meadville PA, worked at Johnny's in high school, helps me at the farmers' market every week, has a special place in her heart for Niagara Falls, used to have slumber parties with her girlfriends, has always had kitties, makes the most delicious chili, loves and adores her three girls, is just a phone call or quick drive away, knows me much better than I know myself, and makes the most beautiful memories everyday, as I grow older-I see more and more clearly how hard she worked to raise us all up with grace and build wonderfully close, unique relationships with each one of us, thank you, Mom, I love you... happy birthday! xoxo

happy birthday to you!

 Happy birthday, dear Mom, happy birthday to you!