Louise

windmill

Mont Saint-Michel

Will laughs loudly, a laugh of unbridled joy. and Sean laughs in return. and I chuckle too, I can't help it. it is infectious.

changes

some of you have emailed me and expressed concern about Finn (we are still waiting for lab results but she's doing better, thank you all so much) and asked me why I am not writing on my blog anymore.

a few weeks ago I was diagnosed with a chronic throat infection caused by stress and was faced with difficult decisions about my life. I also quit my job, and thought for a while about what to do with this little place of mine.

when my husband gave me my first Polaroid camera as a Christmas present last year, I had no idea that the little experiment would soon become a source of inspiration. an opportunity to see and express things differently. and that I would enjoy it so much.

I hope that the images that I will share with you here will remind you to take delight in the beauty that emerges from our every day life. I hope that you'll continue to visit me. I hope to become a better photographer, a better writer. I hope that you understand. that it was getting a bit too hard for me.

today I'm taking my writing out of the house, away from the desk, from the frustration. from this blog. in the park, on the bus. in a café while life is happening all around me. I sit musing, pen in hand. I walk, I read. I garden. I cook. I take better care of myself.

today I am able to look honestly into the eyes of the three men who love me and say "you know what? I think I'm happy". and it's the best feeling in the world.

makes the heart too big for the body

beach boys

we've returned home from a 3-day trip to Mont Saint-Michel and Saint-Malo saturated with fond memories. sitting on the beach looking at my boys running barefoot, making sand castles and laughing hysterically. watching the light that my happy face seemed to kindle in my husband's eyes. losing all sense of obligation and time. and being marveled, rested and grateful. truly grateful.

more pictures here and here.

Saint-Malo

5 questions

the witty and hilarious ChickenFlicken asked me 5 questions. and though I rarely do interviews because I'm always afraid to bore people to tears, I can hardly refuse anything to someone who calls me her "petit chou".

1. if I were to somehow manage to get to Paris, and you were to have a day to entertain me, what would we do?

we would have a nice brunch at Ladurée on Champs Elysées, then a walk in the Jardin des Tuileries and across the Pont des Arts, rent bicycles for a ride around Saint Germain des Prés and Quartier Latin. we would have lunch at La Petite Cour, visit the Marais and have tea at Mariage Frères or an ice cream on Ile Saint Louis (or both!). we would go shopping or spend some time on the Champs de Mars while looking up at the Eiffel Tower, and then go to a Korean restaurant for dinner.

2. if you were to come to the USA, what's the one thing you'd have to do while you were here (besides sit on my porch, sipping bourbon and coke with me and Mindy)?

have a cupcake. or spend a day at Old Navy, I can't decide.

3- do you plan to have more children, or have Sean and Will scared it out of you?

if you were sitting in my living-room right now, you wouldn't even ask me this question.

4. favorite singer/band/performer?

Jamie Cullum and Norah Jones.

5. imagine your life if you were unmarried and child-free right now... describe it to me.

I guess I would be renting a small apartment, designing websites or producing short movies and writing screenplays for a living. I would wear white more often, own a pair of heels. and probably dream of getting married and having a house filled with laughter, toys and loud conversation.

"hold tenderly that which you cherish"

7 years later

we're better parents to our sons, we're better friends than ever. we share a car and a common set of values. we know how to push the right buttons, but can hardly recall the last time we had a fight. even if it was just a week ago. 7 years later his snoring still keeps me awake most of the night, but no comfort could equal the look of his kind eyes, the grasp of his warm hand. 7 years later he's still the love of my life.

Happy Anniversary!