Apparently, now, she bashes dunes

photo by Ann Jones

Worlds away is my baby sister.  She's experiencing things like camel racing, public prayer chanting, exotic spice markets, dune bashing, and heat even more intense than we have here.  Pretty much her world was turned upside down and then shaken for good measure.  I know it must be hard.  Little Mary Deane and her cystic fibrosis treatments, though it's their normal now, are still hard.  Being away from family, immersed in a culture so bewilderingly different and caring for two small, sweet souls is hard.  But I haven't heard a single complaint from Ann.  I'm sure there are many she could spell out on a scroll reaching miles long, but Ann presses forward with the grace and beauty she has always possessed.  How I miss her.  She told me the other day she has started creating for the first time since being there.  She's making a quilt.  I wish I could sit by her side on the couch with that quilt on our lap, needle and thread rising and falling the ocean waves, laughing and crying about motherhood, about change and the beauty of it all.  Happy Birthday, Ann.  You amaze me.

ps i love you

A Picture Worth a Thousand...

I love a lot of things about this photo.  First of all, I love how Ashley is dressed head to toe.  She's always ready to go and do.  I love how ridiculously happy we all look, probably laughing at something my dad said or did.  I love the paperwhites on each side--always flowers in our home (and slightly jealous because ours didn't bloom this year.) I love the carpet.  Okay, not really, but it's amusing, at least.  What I love most about it is how Jacob and I are touching our little bare feet together.

Ashley, Jordan, me, Jacob

That's one of the things I love about him.  He doesn't need drama and the grandiose.  He's fine and better with the little, simple details (and good at them too), which are usually the ones that make the most difference anyway.

Mom, Dad, Ryan, Jacob

Happy birthday, Jake.  Love your orange tie and your guts, too.

Divergent but Parallel

This is my second oldest sister, Jordan.  We were each married within a year of each other.  Most of our kids were born within a year of each other.  They're like a stack of cards you shuffle, each falling neatly in order, back and forth.  

We both like hats.  We both love fashion and good food.  Yet somehow, we've never managed to live by each other once we went our separate ways after working as Bed & Breakfast maids on Nantucket Island.  Such a shame.

check out her: pappardelle with creamed chard

We do differ.  Jordan's the more outgoing one.  She'll choose an evening snuggled down with a book over a sewing machine, hands down.  She can use words like Monet used a brush.  We teasingly call her the romantic of the family.  She loves to throw a good dinner party.  Plus, she speaks Russian.  Our children adore each other, mine still pray for Lucy's leg every single day.  We vow one day we'll live closer to each other.  Happy Birthday, Jord.  Love your guts.

or her fried green tomatoes with basil green goddess

Double the Birthdays Double the Digits

Whew.  

Two birthdays were celebrated this week.  Our very first double digit dill daughter, Divine, turned 10!

She asked to skip the breakfast-in-bed tradition…she didn't want to be late for school.  Divine likes routine and punctuality.  

And her birthday cake request was chocolate chocolate chip mint cookies.  No cake this round.

She asked for a pogo stick for her gift.  Ever since Divine was little, she hasn't cared too much for toys.  We thought buying toys was just a waste of money until we had more kids who actually played with them.  Divine prefers to do and make.  Hmm.  Like someone else I know.

She was thrilled.  And yes, those giant calendar pages come in handy for over-sized gift wrapping ;)

Olive put in her breakfast request the night before, and we got to school on time.

Her only birthday dinner requests were artichokes, Ferrero Rochet Chocolates and then crème brûlée for dessert.  My little gourmand.

I found this sweet little necklace for her here.  She's our little baker.

One of Olive's endearing qualities is that she gets absolutely ecstatic about anything given to her.  Pearl made her a fabric snake and Divine gave her a clay turtle she made at school.  Loved them both.

We named Olive with the symbolism of the Olive tree, or peace.  She truly is a happy soul which brings peace to our family.

We are blessed to have her part of this Dill stew chaos.

By the end of the second birthday celebration I thought this baby was going to come.  I was tired, the baby was low, and I was having lots of abdominal cramping.  But then I awoke the next morning…still pregnant.  Again.  And again.  Of course having a September baby after all these August birthdays wouldn't be such a bad thing.  In a few years.

Cucumber, Cool As

Jacob.

Today you turn the big three oh, no?

You never say too much.

Like me.

I think it might be because you don't let things get under your skin.

You're a cool cat like that.

I've always liked cucumbers.

Love you.

Happy Birthday "little" brother.

Katy.

What I've Learned

*afm photography

33 years today, this sister of mine, just 18 months my senior.  See the resemblance?  Our kids sometimes confuse us, which is one of the funniest things on this earth to me.   Jordan makes things happen, good things happen, like the time she had the notion to go to Ireland one summer pre-goochkins.  She didn't know anyone, what she was going to do, or where she was going to stay [but at least she kind of knew the language.]  But, she figured it out and now has a tale to tell.  I include a photo of the whole family, because, while they don't define her, they certainly add to who she is.  She has these souls, all so unique, and she helps them make good things happen.  One day we will have apiaries next to each other and we will compare our honeys and queens.  One day we will be close enough to swap threads.  One day I will help mend her children's clothes while she helps my children with their essays for school.  Because making good things happen is what she's taught me.  Love you so, Jo.

Katy IS a Big Deal

Disclaimer: This post was hi-jacked by Katy's most adoring admirer.

She has a birthday coming up and is quickly catching up to her husband's age.
And he A D O R E S her.

I met her 10 years ago; it was a fantastic Summer.
She would bring my roommates bakery bread after her work.

I observed her for months, and I often would picture her as the ONE.

One day, I learned she can play the Harmonica.

On another, I found her under the family car changing the oil.

Then there was the time, I mentioned that I really liked Katy and 3 guys in the group told me that they planned to date her.

I proposed in the Ward garden. More of a query; A gauge in her interest in me.

She responded she was interested, but would not be able to marry until after 18 months.

Yes, it broke my heart. But she has mended it many times. She knows everything about me. And keeps it interesting as I keep discovering her.

Did you know she is skilled as a Ninja? AND is the one who catches the lizards.

When I tell the story, I always include what transpired--she proposed to me--as we rode the escalator one floor up. From me, stunned silence. Huge smile. I said yes, and it was sealed 1 month later. 

We know we were meant for each other--its true--we are a better than a satisfactory match, we are perfect compliments.

And I have been lucky ever after and forever to come.

KATY: you are beautiful. I love you.

H A P P Y B I R T H D A Y