Keeping It Real

For those of you who only imagine me with a pristine house of quiet, book-reading children (bwa-ha-ha-ha!!!!!!!!), I thought I should swallow my pride and show you where all of my lesson planning, photo editing, and blogging has been happening lately. I won’t even make excuses for why it looks like this.

I have a bunch of administrative/planning/organizational tasks to tackle this week, and this space wasn’t working for me. I put off the other tasks and tackled my office instead. Which led to book re-organization and all sorts of stuff. I still have some piles to deal with (and no-way-no-how am I showing you pictures of the rest of the house), but I’m able to breathe again.

I still have to deal with the box/green tote/basket pile, but not today. The stack of books on the chair needs to find a new home—not in this one. Anyone want some books? Oh, and I have a giraffe and Raggedy Anne that were left during the open house in April. Anyone want to claim them? My desk still needs some help.

I rearranged a bunch on this bookshelf:

And on this one:

I think I’m now ready to wrap up the end of this school year and get ready for the next!! Medieval and Early Renaissance, anyone?

Checking Out the Wildlife

Allen Say

Have you entered the spare, haunting, thoughtful, dream-like world of Allen Say? His picture books are on my must-read list. The Sign Painter, Grandfather's Journey, Tree of Cranes, The Bicycle Man… oh, they are all so lovely.

In his gorgeous new picture book biography, Drawing From Memory, Say gives an account of his childhood, growing up in WWII-era Japan, shunned by a father who didn’t understand his desire to draw. Full to the brim with illustrations and photographs, this book is stunning journey.

On the Water

I’m finally posting pictures from Mother’s Day weekend. Friends called on Saturday and asked if we were up for a spontaneous afternoon on their boat. Um, yes please! We were out for six glorious hours in what I’m certain is heaven on earth. The day was deliciously warm (though overcast), and the water was shockingly cold (so my husband tells me). That didn’t stop Lola. She kept begging, “Throw me in!” (Who is this child?!)

I love my life.

Can you see him?

How about now?