For Jammer

Happy {belated} birthday, Jamie. Sure do miss you. When I have children, my greatest happiness would be that they think of me in the adoring way that yours love you. May all your birthday wishes come true. Every one.

The Secret of Life

I saw a couple of reminders this week to remember the small things. Like a weekend morning latte for us . . .

. . . with chicory . . .

. . . and breakfast in bed for the smallest Hopper. When dandelion greens are in season, and you happen to be a rabbit, and your parents serve you breakfast on 400 thread count sheets, life is good.

Oklahoma is OK

But California is spectacular. Can our journey down the Pacific Coast Highway sustain my spirit for another year? I hope. Quaint B&Bs, cool coastal air, single span bridges, a petit syrah or two (or three - hey, you have to taste several to compare the complexities - I just wish they'd find you a chair after you start to get wobbly and feed the winery dog your crackers), a stroll through a redwood grove . . . it was a dream vacation. When we were there, we were inspired. Inspired to hike for the best view, to eat the freshest foods (California cuisine - now I get it), to search the sea foam for the cutest otter, to watch the sunset, to breathe deep and enjoy our life.

Because I won't get to edit enough images for a bloggy slideshow until at least Sunday, I opened a random image folder from our vacation and grabbed these two. I'm certainly no landscape photographer, but Northern California did most of the work for me. If you like these, I have great things in store for you.

For My Husband

i carry your heart with me

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)
i fear
no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than the soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

ee cummings

Happy 2nd anniversary, sweetheart. Thank you for every day
of our incredible love story. XOXO.

Carmel-By-The-Sea

I wish I could give someone credit for this beautiful image, but I don't know who created it. No worries, though ... when we get back from a glorious week of R&R on the Pacific Coast Highway and in Napa Valley, I'll interrupt this little blog with a slideshow or two to stave off the post-vacation blues. My feet may be in Oklahoma, but I'm pretty sure I'll have left my heart in San Francisco. (Cue Tony Bennett.) Have a great week!

I Promised You Magic

Our time here is magic! It's the only space you have to realize whatever it is that is beautiful, whatever is true, whatever is great, whatever is potential, whatever is rare, whatever is unique, in. It's the only space.

Ben Okri

Our day was beautiful. Thank you, Charlotte, for letting me transform your magic into art. My wish for you is that all of your days will be sunshine and peaches.