a twist of lime

[just like this train] | newburyport, ma.

2012-01-26T16:14:00.002-05:00

i'm always running behind the time

just like this train

shaking into town with the breaks complaining

{joni mitchell}

a sneak peek of the commercial project i am working on for the very talented urgent need handworks

[on the ice] | newburyport, ma

2012-01-21T11:29:00.000-05:00

in winter when the biting breezes

blow and the water freezes,

then it's time, it's time to go

skating on the ice.

choose a day that's bright and clear,

bundle up from toe to eear;

it's the time, the time of year

for skating on the ice

i perch upon the snowy rocks

and pull on both my woolen socks;

i lace my skates and tie them fast

and then i'm up and off at last.

i cannot make a figure eight

i still have trouble going straight

but just the same i love to skate,

to ice skate on the ice.

{mary ann hoberman}

{film:kodak bw400cn}

{hot chocolate. ice. and various knit wear courtesy of urgent need handworks}

[baby.baby] | newburyport, ma

2012-01-11T23:08:00.000-05:00

babies do such nice things

they rock on your knee

when i was a baby my rocking was something to see

{carly simon}

film. kodak bw400cn. baby central newburyport.

{hard to believe how much they've grown xo}

[grow] | exeter, nh

2012-01-09T10:30:00.000-05:00

flowers grow to the sun

shines on everyone.

{c. simon}

film. kodak bw400cn. cymbidium floral - exeter nh.

[us] | plum island, ma

2012-01-02T11:30:00.000-05:00

me. she. + he.

plum island. 1 january 2012

[only the ocean] | plum island, ma

2012-01-01T17:41:00.001-05:00

After all this time after all these seasons

After your one decision to go to the water for reason

Now it’s only the ocean and you

After all these lines will all be erased soon

They go out with the tide

Then come back with the waves

It’s only the ocean and you

{J. Johnson}

Bil + Kyle - Ocean Plunge - Plum Island 1 January 2012

Happy 2012 - may you jump in many oceans!! xo

[here is christmas] | boston, ma

2011-12-30T09:48:00.000-05:00

The night was black and velvet

The stars were all around

A stranger landed lightly on the frosty ground

His eyes were wide with wonder filled with stars and space

He'd searched the heavens over till he found this place

A sweet and snowy carol echoed in his ears

A song so faint and distant, so strong it drew him here

Here is Christmas come inside, here is Christmas far and wide

A thousand candles burning bright

Here is Christmas shining in our eyes

{a.wilson - n. wilson - r. zito}

we were sure we made the right decision to change up christmas this year by this reaction. the boston ballet's nutcracker on christmas eve in my beloved boston, dinner at teatro, a cozy room at the gorgeous nine zero, cookies and milk for st. nick, a bubble bath in a large tub, a christmas story on repeat, the beautiful boston roof tops, the sleepy city from our window, hot coffee and croissants delivered to your bed, the delight of santa presents in a hotel room, an early morning walk christmas day on the common, the calm cold air, pho in chinatown, the excitement of driving home to newburyport, did santa come while we were gone?!!!

what do you think?!!

best.christmas.ever. xoxo

[where you're meant to be] | newburyport, ma

2011-12-21T10:38:00.001-05:00

Nothing you can know that isn't known

Nothing you can see that isn't shown

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

It's easy

All you need is love

All you need is love, love

Love is all you need

{j. lennon}

[dreamboat annie] | newburyport ma

2011-12-15T09:56:00.000-05:00

Heading out this morning into the sun

Riding on the diamond waves, little darlin' one

Warm wind caress her

Her lover it seems

Oh, Annie

Dreamboat Annie my little ship of dreams

{a. wilson + n. wilson}

my girl is 6 today. 6 years of delighting me. 6 years of filling up my heart. 6 years of growing and discovering and laughing and reminding. reminding me how truly blessed i am to be her mother. reminding me that dreams do come true. somewhere in the cosmos she + i were meant to be. as much as i long to hold that sweet little baby she once was, i am so in love with this very moment in her life. it is truly magical. she is such an easy child. she breezes in every morning and twirls through the day and quietly calms the night. she reads books i never had in my hand at her age, she questions everything, loves to have conversations. sitting at her table with pencil in hand she writes, she draws, she counts. the sponge in her brain absorbing it all - beware, this child doesn't miss a trick. she remembers the details. she remembers being in her crib, she remembers her baby house and thankfully she remembers toddling in the yard at my parents house in connecticut. if only for a moment. that warms my heart. oh how i wish my mom was here to help her blow out her candles. if you asked her she would tell you she is here - forever in her heart. my girl has such a kindness about her.

my sweet annie, i am wishing you the happiest of birthdays. followed by the happiest days. always. i love you from the farthest corners of my heart to the deepest part of my soul. you. my dreamboat annie. are everything. xo

[three] newburyport, ma

2011-12-15T09:19:00.000-05:00

Three is a magic number,

Yes it is, it's a magic number.

Somewhere in the ancient, mystic trinity

You get three as a magic number.

The past and the present and the future.

Faith and Hope and Charity,

The heart and the brain and the body

Give you three as a magic number.

{b. dorough}

[the secret garden] | newburyport, ma

2011-12-13T09:27:00.002-05:00

the secret garden is always open now. open, and awake, and alive.

if you look the right way, you can see that the whole world is a garden.

(the secret garden - frances hodgson burnett)

[helicopter seeds] | newburyport, ma

2011-12-05T23:12:00.001-05:00

The alder trees are listening to songs been sung before

My friend and I collecting skeletons of leaves

Making tiny piles, and sifting through the weeds

Wind blows the tiny green

Tiny green

Wind blows the tiny green

Helicopter seeds

{alena diana}

[december] | newburyport, ma

2011-12-05T14:33:00.001-05:00

december, come to me

i hope i can see

you're not just in dreams

i will let you be

why can't you believe

how much you really mean?

december, won't you come

back with snow, even sun?

don't say that it's done

i will carry you home

take you from the loneliest place

you have known

i will carry you home

take me from the loneliest place

i have known

{n. jones}

{maudslay state park, newburyport}

[friendship] | newburyport, ma.

2011-12-04T00:18:00.001-05:00

“Friendship," said Christopher Robin, "is a very comforting thing to have.”

{A.A. Milne}

[after the storm] | newburyport, ma

2011-12-02T18:42:00.001-05:00

Heat's up, tea's brewed

Clothes strewn around the room

Looks like a wind swept through

{c. simon}

I walk Annie to school every morning. Right up until the moment we head out the door we are in full morning frenzy. A teeth brushing, hair brushing, backpack packing, lunch making, shoe finding, coat buttoning, hat hunting frenzy. Upon my return, when I close the door from the early morning chill, the house immediately feels so empty. I look around at the breakfast dishes, the crayons on the floor, the shoes in the middle of the room just waiting for me to trip over, the book opened to the page she was just a moment ago reading. I miss her. I know it’s silly; she’ll be back in 6 and a half hours. Still. The quiet is so loud. Everywhere I turn, there she is. Now don’t get me wrong, there is many a day I cherish this quiet. Many a day six and a half hours goes by in a flash. Many a day I get to breathe – just for me.

But there is many a day I miss that girl.

Like today.

In the calm. After the storm, that is Annie. xoxo.

[dapple the sun] | newburyport, ma

2011-11-29T13:42:00.001-05:00

Come into the garden

It's magical trees

Dapple the sun as they sway with each lazy breeze

They'll set your mind at ease

Pretend you're a child

With nothing to hide

Then we'll join hands and let the universe swing wide

We'll lay our fears aside

{j.brackman}

[time for dreaming] | newburyport, ma

2011-11-14T13:01:00.001-05:00

let the stars shine over you
don't grow up too fast, too soon
save some time for dreaming
{c.simon}

[heavy metal] | newburyport, ma

2011-11-09T20:28:00.000-05:00

it's a heavyweight, the camera.

now we have modern and lightweight, small plastic cameras,

but in the '70s they were heavy metal.

{annie liebovitz}

there was a photograph of my grandfather hanging on the wall of the "porch" in our family home. i remember the brilliant color of the film - the reds - the blues - the hum of dimension, slowly fading with time and sunshine. my grandfather is standing there holding a fish he caught - his khakis rolled up to avoid being wet. cigar in hand. the glimpse of a grin as he looks toward the camera. i never met this man. but that one image will always be the catalyst for me for loving photography. with this deep desire of wanting to know him but also wanting to know how to capture that feeling. the one i felt as i stared at the photograph. i was holding my nikon n90s in my hand last night - a lovely little camera that always felt good in my hands. nice weight. i alwyas liked the sound of the shutter. why did i ever abandon it. what did it ever do to me. i hope it forgives my absence and welcomes me back with open arms or with an open aperture.

{i dare speak of film with digital imagery. my apologies to the film gods. images processed with film shift from red leaf studios and finished with jessica drossin textures - from the illuminations 2 series - veiled}

my sweet model - my fabulous niece erin manion -

currently studying visual arts at western connecticut state university

[family] | newburyport, ma

2011-11-08T10:13:00.001-05:00

from the moment i first saw you

the second that you were born

i knew that you were the love of my life

quite simple the love of my life.

{carly simon}

[if i was 17] | newburyport, ma

2011-11-07T11:57:00.001-05:00

If I was 17 I could find it in-between

The cushions of somebody's couch

I could find it. I could find it

If I was 17 I could find it in a dream

A dime a dozen kind of love

I could find it. I could find it

But I'm not 17 and I lost it in-between

The birthday cakes and fast mistakes

That roll by

Ba da ba ba da ba ba, ba da ba ba da ba da dum

{ingrid michaelson}

wishing my beautiful niece leah diana an incredible 17th birthday - you are my little beauty and i love you.

xoxoxoxo

[colour my world] | newburyport, ma

2011-11-05T00:12:00.000-04:00

as time goes on, i realize

just what you mean to me.

and now, now that you're near

promise your love that i've waited to share

and dreams of our moments together.

colour my world with hopes of loving you.

{chicago}

[i think of you] | newburyport ma

2011-10-31T16:30:00.000-04:00

[together] | newburyport, ma

2011-10-30T17:52:00.001-04:00

“I think we dream so we don’t have to be apart for so long.
If we’re in each other’s dreams, we can be together all the time.”
{A.A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh}

{spencer peirce little farm . newbury massachusetts}

[punk rock girl] | newburyport, ma

2011-10-29T13:55:00.002-04:00

punk rock girl please look at me

punk rock girl what do you see?

let's travel round the world

just you and me punk rock girl.

{the dead milkmen}

when asked what a punk rocker is, annie replied:

"a punk rocker has bright colored hair and is kind of mean, you know, like a punk"

happy halloween 2011 xo

[wanderlust project] the creative day | newburyport, ma

2011-10-26T22:43:00.001-04:00

as she was singing her own special rendition of

"i did it my way."

an angel appeared to her

and threw finely chopped colored paper

about her head in celebration.

{no. 86 m. duval}

my wanderlust lead me to the very talented e.tobin eckian. when my husband and i owned our tea house, tobin brought art and friendship into our world. and we soon discovered it was a perfect accompaniment to a good cup of tea. recently, i had the pleasure of spending a delightful morning in tobin's newburyport studio. watching her create and being surrounded by her whimsical yet incredibly thoughtful artwork, made me want to break out some brushes. but alas, i am better with my nikon in hand. tobin greeted me with a delicious fresh brewed cup of coffee and a beautiful piece of oregon sage to bring home. her studio is filled with yummy natural light and was a very inviting place on a chilly october morning. tobin's unique artwork is displayed throughout her studio. every turn you find something wonderful to gaze at. alluring colors set me off on a journey of enchantments. from a seashell filled with colored glass beads and an old tomato can turned into a rainbow display of colored pencils to a plate of newly broken crockery. even a nearby hammer and harmonica feel right at home. tools of the trade. i didn't want to leave. tobin is such a lovely person and our visit was so meaningful to me. when she is not creating gorgeous mosaics or painting or composing such clever artwork with amazing mediums, she can be found with her fiddle in her hand or teaching young students the piano + art. so much talent. tobin divides her time in her newburyport studio with her beau and her new hampshire farm - perfectly named, singingland shared with her parrot, canaries and frida her icelandic sheepdog and zur-e the pug. to see more of tobin's gorgeous artwork please be sure to visit her etsy shop here and her website here - i proudly own three pieces of tobin's artwork and they are among my most prized possessions. xo

tobin's work can be seen locally at chameleon.

[the wild air] | newburyport, ma.

2011-10-24T13:01:00.000-04:00

live in the sunshine

swim the sea

drink the wild air

{ralph waldo emerson}

brothers.sisters.friends.two families.one big magnificent session

sandy point. plum island

[brother + sister] sweet | newburyport, ma

2011-10-20T21:27:00.001-04:00

“Sometimes,' said Pooh, 'the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.”

{a.a. milne}

[it's personal] ballerina. | newburyport, ma

2011-10-08T12:01:00.000-04:00

ballerina

you must have seen her

dancing in the sand

{e. john}

{annie viola. xo}

not a day goes by that i am not delighted by this little creature who drifted into my life almost six {6?!!} years ago. she has an amazing ability to embrace every little activity of her day and turn it into a big joyful pool of wonder. she wakes up happy. she goes to sleep happy. and i am convinced she has happy little dreams in between. i was staring at her legs this morning. i can't believe how long they are. she is a perfect ballerina. from hip to toe she has grown so much. the clothes in her closet that no longer fit are proof enough that my gal is thriving. so much has she grown this year, that soon she will be touching the stars. look up, you may just see her swinging her feet as she lounges on the tip of the crescent moon. if anyone can do it, annie viola can. xo

[it's personal] at the farm | newburyport, ma

2011-10-06T21:17:00.001-04:00

imagine me

flying around the world

or italy on a terraced hill

no matter where life’s taking me

i may still be up in your apple tree

{katie herzig - songbird}

{apple picking at cider hill farm . amesbury}

[knit you a sweater] | newburyport, ma

2011-10-03T22:44:00.000-04:00

I want to have fun. I want to shine like the sun. I want to be the one that you want to see. I want to knit you a sweater. I want to write you a love letter. I want to make you feel better. I want to make you feel free.

{joni mitchell}

A few images from a commercial shoot I have been working on. A local company specializing in unique and very special knit patterns. Urgent Need Handworks. So much fun. So much talent.

{stay tuned}

[fa-fa-fa-fa-fashion] turn to the left | newburyport, ma

2011-09-30T19:58:00.001-04:00

Oh, bop, do do do do do do do do

Fa-fa-fa-fa-fashion

Oh, bop, do do do do do do do do

Fa-fa-fa-fa-fashion

La-la la la la la la-la

{d. bowie}

annie's rocking outfits this week. fashionista mai oui. xo

[inspiring me now] | newburyport, ma

2011-09-30T09:46:00.001-04:00

never mind, i'll find someone like you

i wish nothing but the best for you too

don't forget me, i begged,

i remember you said

sometimes it lasts in love

but sometimes it hurts instead

{adele}

filmed in the early hours of the morning in paris. this is possibly the most visually beautiful piece of black and white film i've seen in a long time - stunning. directed by jake nava, the video is both somber and romantic, sad and emotional. truly heartfelt as we are mesmerized by both adele's stunning vocals, her beauty,and the lonely streets of paris. the lyrics are haunting. it's goes very deep. i adore her talent. xo

[like a daughter] | newburyport, ma

2011-09-28T14:14:00.000-04:00

Last night I swear I could feel you

Moving through my room

And I thought you touched my feet

I so wanted it to be true

And in my theater there is a stage

And a footlight you can always step into

I'll wait no more for you like a daughter

That part of our life together is over

But I will wait for you, forever

Like a river...

{c. simon}

Happy Birthday My Beautiful Mother.

I hope you are blowing out your candles surrounded by beautiful people and swinging on a swing.

Not a day goes by that you are not close in my thoughts.

You would be so proud of your little granddaughter and namesake Annie Viola, she's thriving.

I miss you Mom. I love you.

{i posted this photo back in May - but i just love it so much it had to be revisisted - 1946ish}

[wanderlust project] the vintage bazaar | newburyport, ma

2011-09-27T22:11:00.001-04:00

I've seen the sidewalks

And I've been aware

Of all the lamps and tables

And the paperback books

That you've thrown out there

All your artifacts

In disrepair

Make up a pile so high

It could tie up traffic in the thoroughfare

{c.simon}

i adore vintage. and i adore beautiful finds for the home - it feeds my inner interior design goddess. my wanderlust lead me to the vintage bazaar held at pettingill farm in salisbury this past weekend. a sea of delights and a feast for the eyes. from beautiful architectural elements to mid century furniture, handmade jewelry to delicate linens and silks and everything in between. pettingill farm is a unique flower farm with beautiful display gardens nestled among their many greenhouses growing an array of annuals and perennials. many classes and workshops are available so be sure to check out their website.

[ in the sand] - plum island | newburyport, ma

2011-09-25T12:00:00.000-04:00

"sometimes,' said pooh, 'the smallest things take up the most room in your heart. xo

[like the weather]. | newburyport, ma

2011-09-20T14:04:00.000-04:00

i used to think that we would wind up together

our destinies always entwined

oh but your heart kept changing like the weather

and you wound up leaving me behind.

{c. simon}

[wanderlust project] cymbidium floral | exeter, nh

2011-09-19T18:12:00.000-04:00

Arranging a bowl of flowers in the morning can give a sense of quiet in a crowded day -
like writing a poem or saying a prayer

{anne morrow lindbergh}

wan.der.lust - strong longing for or impulse toward

as dorothy once said, "if i ever go looking for my heart's desire again, i won't look any further then my own backyard." in this spirit, my new project, wanderlust, is born. it is this wish i have to explore the delights around me, that has allowed me to feature some amazing talent through my lens. my wanderlust lead me right to cymbidium floral in the incredibly hip town of exeter, new hampshire. i had such fun getting a glimpse into a day in the life of the delightful floral designers of cymbidium floral - stacey and theresa. let me tell you, these gals are artists in every sense of the word. and busy artists too. they didn't stop moving for one second.lead by owner-designer jessica christofersen,{new mom to the amazing cooper} cymbidium provides unique designed arrangements in their signature lush and low style. gorgeous flowers greet you upon entering this charming shop. artfully displayed, it is an enchantment for your senses. on the day of my visit, the designers were very busy preparing for a weekend of weddings and i was immediately drawn to the different flowers and mosses and grasses they were using to create gorgeous wreaths and bouquets and boutonnieres and centerpieces. just beautiful and radiating the season. and so different. that's what i love about this shop. something new every time.

along with the beautiful array of flowers and fauna, cymbidium offers unique accompaniments. from soy based candles to hand-crafted jewelry by local artists, letter press cards and beautiful emersonmade flower pins. gorgeous custom lamps and middle kingdom vases.

if you find yourself strolling down water street in exeter, stop in and say hello. bring a bloom home. tell them meg sent you. xo

[pure privilege] | woodbury, ct.

2011-09-18T16:28:00.000-04:00

come into the garden

it's magical trees

dapple the sun as they sway with each lazy breeze

they'll set your mind at ease

pretend you're a child

with nothing to hide

then we'll join hands and let the universe swing wide

we'll lay our fears aside

{c. simon - the garden}

{erin + leah . august 2011 . woodbury. ct.}

i've often written about the pure privilege and honor i have of being annie's mother. well i have another pure privilege. aunt. these two beauties are my little connecticut treasures, erin + leah - my brother's gal and my sister's gal. i in no way want to leave out my darling girl emily - she's my california treasure {and my other sister's gal} and i hate that she is so far away, but i include her in this sentiment. these young ladies bring such joy to my life. all three of them. i have watched them grow since the moment they were born into these amazing young women who make us all happy just to know them. how thrilled my mother would be to see how her little grandgirls have blossomed. i know she shines down on them each and every day.

and to my sweeties - as you continue to make your way in this world. i want you to know that i am always here for you. i am always proud of you. and i always love you. xo aunt meg

[snippets from nyc] | newburyport, ma

2011-09-16T07:35:00.002-04:00

"listen to the waves," you said.

"what waves?" i asked. we were sitting in one of

those outdoor cafes in a city with no sea. lots of traffic and smog.

you had this way of hearing and seeing things as if from some secret realm.

i think of you often. well, today - right in the middle of central park,

far away from you - i heard the waves.

and i knew...

{no. 191 m. duval}

{snippets from nyc with annie.leah.+ kerry. xo}

[mermaids] | newburyport, ma

2011-09-14T11:54:00.000-04:00

one cannot collect all the beautiful shells on the beach.

one can collect only a few,

and they are more beautiful if they are few.

{anne morrow lindbergh - gift from the sea}

the beautiful mermaids - annie + marley

marley's first visit to the ocean. plum island.

august 2011. xo

[beauty x 2] | newburyport, ma

2011-09-12T15:13:00.000-04:00

the woman who follows the crowd

will usually go no further than the crowd.

the woman who walks alone is likely

to find herself in places no one

has ever been before.

{albert einstein}

[miss annie goes to kindy] | newburyport, ma.

2011-09-09T01:25:00.000-04:00

"Promise me you'll always remember: You're braver than you believe, and stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think.

{Christopher Robin to Pooh}

it was a very slow entrance into kindergarten this week. day one was only an hour - yep, an hour open house in the classroom with parents. bil and i took her out for an early lunch afterwards. day two was a half day and day three, today, was finally a full day. and it's been raining all week here so the perfect planned outfits were put on hold. i didn't cry by the way, no kleenex were necessary as warned. perhaps because annie has been in pre-school since she was two and a half. we're old pros and she loves school. she is entering kindergarten having accomplished a great deal. she is a fantastic reader, loves to write and draw, is obsessed with whistling, is always announcing what time it is - {her new nickname is "little big ben"} and can be heard singing either miranda cosgrove, big time rush, victoria justice or any song from mama mia! she has such a big heart and an eagerness to learn and we know her year will be filled with many more accomplishments and experiences that will continue to mold and shape her growth and potential. she's shining and forever blooming. our sweet gal. xo

day one. one hour.

day two - half day

day three finally a full day!

[annie + marley] piggies and cuties - part trois | newburyport, ma.

2011-09-06T15:03:00.003-04:00

Wilbur blushed. "But I'm not terrific, Charlotte. I'm just an average for a pig."
"You're terrific as far as I'm concerned," replied Charlotte, sweetly, "and that's what counts. You're my best friend, and I think you're sensational. Now stop arguing and go get some sleep."

{e.b.white}

{colby farm, newburyport}

[private coach]. | woodbury, ct.

2011-09-06T13:16:00.000-04:00

thousand mile stare.

endless. with it's own rhythm.

makes you want to pull off the side of the road and sit on the hood

and let that feeling rain back, into the earth.

{m. duval #233}

a country road, an abandoned tour bus and these two beauties. i'd say it was a perfect day. xo

[we just got here] | connecticut

2011-09-04T10:57:00.001-04:00

There are a few new freckles on your shoulders

The hammock swings lower and touches the grass

The apples are ripe and the corn is past

Everyone says summer goes by so fast

And we just got here

I can hardly believe it but it's ended

The beach is a haze and old love's a ghost

Hugo is twisting his way up the coast

If you blew out to sea I'd love you most

And we just got here

Nostalgia you fake, you bitter sweet ache

The time that you take could make another heart whole

Could the truth be I won't really see

How much I love you

'Til it's over

The two of us left here alone in the house

You bleed the pipes while I bring in the plants

Put our faces in place for September's dance

If you're willing, I'm willing to take one more chance

And we just got here

{c. simon}

{part of a great summer - connecticut. xo}

[it's personal] .leah | connecticut

2011-09-03T14:09:00.000-04:00

well i've just gotten older

and i've just gotten taller

and the little ones

call me a grownup.

{c. simon}

{leah o'neil - beauty at 16/17 - training it to nyc}

[La belle soeurs] the beautiful sisters. | Connecticut

2011-09-01T14:08:00.000-04:00

We stand shoulder to shoulder

We stand side to side

When one of us gets a tiny bit tired

One gives the other a ride

{c. simon}

these beautiful sisters i have known and loved since birth. and yet, i haven't aged a day - go figure! it was a pleasure to spend time with these beauties for a quick connecticut mini sesh at the beautiful keeler tavern garden [sadly under construction while we were there]in ridgefield. home sweet home. xo

[beauty runs in their family - here's momma.]

[august break no. 8] - the edge of the sea. | newburyport, ma

2011-08-29T22:11:00.001-04:00

whatcha gonna do when winter calls

and your flowers fall from the garden walls

i'll come hoome to you

you'll come home to me

my love will be your remedy

i'll choose you and you'll choose me

we'll be two daughters

dancing by the edge of the sea....

{c. simon}

Megan + Marley

part deux of the darling marley and her new found friend annie. we were determined to get down to sandy point on plum island. such a lovely place where the sky meets the sea at what seems like lands end. perhaps because of the long slow drive out to the point. but oh so well worth it. i love the light out there. i love the tide pools and the bits of drift wood teepees scattered down the beach. this is the place we love to come during the winter and also our thanksgiving walk while the turkey cooks. it was high tide so we didn't get to the tide pools but still......so perfect. these shots were actually done on megan and marley's last day before returning home to kansas later that evening. so it officially was marley's third time at the ocean and i'm happy to report her first look at the sea was on plum island on her first day here. i love that. and clearly the joy on her face shows - she's a perfect beach baby. xo

to see more from our visit click here.

[august break no. 7] - it's a cinch. | newburyport, ma

2011-08-29T13:01:00.000-04:00

once you get over the fear, then it's a cinch, she said.

and then she leaped into a mountainous and unexplored region of her heart.

{no. 115 - m. duval}

she's been asking for awhile now and we finally decided it was okay. i guess i thought she'd have to wait until the age i was to get her ears pierced. but really...... why? it's funny the way my mind thinks sometimes. she was very brave indeed and each frame shows exactly how she was feeling from moment to moment. from excitement to scared to pain to elation. she chose beautiful blue zircon studs - her december birthstone. i think she looks beautiful. my sweet little girl. xo

she held it in until the very end so brave. i gave her a big hug and i could feel her body sinking into mine and the tears came. she really is happy to have earrings now. truly. xo

[august break no. 6] - what hurricane? | newburyport, ma

2011-08-28T22:40:00.001-04:00

you do not have to be a hurricane to turn things around.

{loesje}

thankfully irene seemed to fizzle when she arrived in our neck of the woods. those that are struggling with her effects are in my thoughts. the ocean was incredible. on plum island - annie and i lasted about 30 seconds when we got out of the car because the wind was so intense and the sand. yikes. annie and i couldn't see but bil braved it and went down to the beach. the waves were very powerful. we wanted to experience a bit of mother nature so we stopped by the seawall at joppa and did our own frolicking there. i danced my camera through the raindrops. here are a few quick snippets. xo

[august break no. 5] - i spy. | newburyport, ma

2011-08-26T09:33:00.001-04:00

Marie-Antoinette: [referring to her hair] It isn't too much is it?

Leonard: Oh, no!

[august break no. 4] cotton candy and twirls | newburyport, ma

2011-08-21T09:42:00.001-04:00

"We'll be friends forever, won't we, Pooh?" asked Piglet.

Even longer,' Pooh answered."

{a.a.milne}

After 5 years of chatting and sharing and dreaming and building a friendship, I finally met Megan of Trees and Bees Photography and one of my The Maternal Lens partner. Proof that the internet is a powerful place. The very moment our eyes met at the airport I felt like I was meeting my very dear friend who has experienced a lot of my life with me. It was that easy, that comfortable. And our little girls, together finally, a dream come true. We knew they would immediately be friends. And just like that, a new friendship was born. Giggling, being silly, twirling and sharing secrets. This is part one of about 4 parts of wonderful shoots - shot at Salisbury Beach with sticky cotton candy, photo booths, and leap frog. {annie sporting her special dorothy shoes - a gift from marley from kansas. so special.} xo

[august break no. 3] chasing butterflies. | newburyport, ma

2011-08-11T17:46:00.000-04:00

I only ask to be free. The butterflies are free.
{C. Dickens}

A delightful butterfly and blossoms inspired program at the Mass Audubon Joppa Flat's Education Center - chasing butterflies, stories, crafts and beautiful art as presented by Janet Youkeles - a wonderful way to spend the day.

[positive works studio] | newburyport, ma.

2011-08-09T23:27:00.000-04:00

The mind, when houses within a healthful body, possesses a glorious sense of power

{Joseph Pilates, letter to clients, 1939}

It was a pleasure to visit Positive Works Studio located at 10 Prince Place in Newburyport. This new studio run by the very lovely Karen Ortiz offers pilates, gyrotonics and massage. Individual and group sessions as well as duo and trio training are available. Karen reminds us, "It is a necessity that we attend to our physical health and well being. A healthy body improves energy levels, cognitive functioning, stress management, enhances posture, flexibility, strength and tone". With that in mind, I am looking forward to the possibilities and the world of pilates. As should we all.

Positive Works Website

Join Positive Works on Facebook

[august break no. 2] - apple green | newburyport, ma

2011-08-09T15:22:00.001-04:00

Livre vert apple

[august break no. 1] - into white. | newburyport, ma

2011-08-04T15:33:00.002-04:00

I built my house from barley rice
Green pepper walls and water ice
Tables of paper wood
Windows of light
And everything emptying into white

{c.stevens}

once upon a time there was a beautiful blue wall that i would pass daily on my way to my tea house. the perfect hue with touches of rust and peeling paint. i pushed annie by in her stroller - my sweet sleeping infant. ultimately, this blue wall became the inspiration for my business name - having decided that the name "blue wall" sounded like a surf shop - my favorite citrus, lime was introduced. as annie grew bigger - i loved shooting her in front of this abandoned building because her little body would be framed perfectly by the blue instead of the upper white portion of the wall. i had not photographed her there in three years, until yesterday, when we walked down that street again with camera in hand. her head now reaches above the blue lingering towards the white. as i get all sad and sentimental that my little girl will soon begin kindergarten, i can't help but think there will come a day when she will be well into the white and the blue will be no longer. she - a tall and beautiful young woman. i can definitely wait for that. xo

some older images of annie at the blue wall nov2007-aug2008.

[a family] | newburyport, ma

2011-08-02T08:13:00.001-04:00

Location: Spencer Peirce Little Farm - Newbury, Ma.

[the status of my status]. | newburyport, ma

2011-07-25T11:55:00.000-04:00

It’s been recently pointed out that perhaps I shouldn’t be so “honest” when I put a facebook status out there because it makes me look like a jerk if I don’t follow through.

Well, what could I possibly say to that – it’s MY status I can say what I want, when I want, blah.blah.blah.

It makes me wonder too, why people even care what i say, or if I say for example that I am “breaking up with sugar” and I only last a week – it’s the truth and something I struggle with. I guess I wasn’t aware that there are some people that are emotionally affected by my status updates. But here’s the thing, I have spent a good portion of my life caring what others think about me and I’m exhausted by it. Down right could crawl up in a ball and go to sleep exhausted by it.

I’m a work in progress. I’m 99.9% sure I will always be a work in progress. You can’t please them all. I wasn’t put on this earth to please them all – now don’t get me wrong, I do agree that I say I’m going to do something and I don’t stick with it. Not all the time, but a lot of the time – and it’s usually based on things pertaining to moi. But that truly is my struggle – the follow through. Maybe I don’t think enough about myself to relish in the victory of success. But for whatever reason I guess it’s a part of me. Death and taxes will always be - here are some other things too:

v Change is good

v One day at a time only works one day at a time

v Keep it to yourself

v I love my girl more than anything else in the world

v Photography feeds my soul

v I live for books that you can’t put down

v Carly Simon will always be my fav

v I struggle with my weight, with exercise, with putting one foot in front of the other

v I’m never happy with my hair

v I regret not continuing my college education

v I regret quitting piano

v And while we’re on the regret path – I regret quitting ballet

v I love Boston and had the best time of my life living there, but I wish I chose NYC instead

v Mean people suck

v I’m addicted to sugar

v I miss my house

v I love the ocean but I hate going to the beach

v My mother told me “I could do whatever the hell I want to do” and I will

v I will no longer care what you think about me

v I love meeting new people

v My closet is very unorganized, so are my drawers and so is my filing cabinet, ok… my entire house is unorganized

v I have a hard time following through on anything for me

v I give good advice. I don’t listen to my own.

v I miss my mom. I will always miss my mom and if you don’t like it. Tough.

v I watch reality tv. There I said it.

v I mean well

v I genuinely care about a lot of people and I genuinely dislike a lot of people too

v I never finish my to do list

v I still can’t fit into my jeans

v I complain a lot about not fitting into my jeans

v I’ll keep you posted on not fitting into my jeans

v I have an incredibly generous family

v I love to laugh

v I’m pretty much stuck in the 80’s when it comes to music

v I hate my couch

v I don’t have a green thumb

v I have a stack of domino magazines that I will never throw out

v I have a lot of changes that I need to make

v Oh and I’m breaking up with sugar again. You better alert the media, stop the presses, put it on your facebook status – judge me when I fail because it makes me feel so good.

v I don’t care

[until you dreamed]. | newburyport, ma

2011-07-22T00:18:00.000-04:00

and that song you used to sing to me.

the one about the little pigs and the frog who live under my bed.

you sang until i dreamed.

yesterday, i sang the song to you.

you remembered the words and sang along.

we laughed.

and i stayed until you dreamed.

{no. 156 m. duval}

i love the moment right before she sleeps. i can feel her little body relaxing. finally coming down from her busy day of twirling and flitting and singing and reading and dancing and giggling. she likes me to rub her back. this is a new thing. i can feel her breathing in and breathing out. the covers moving ever so slightly with each breath. slowly drifting. i can always tell when sleep has arrived. there's a calmness - a stillness. it's such a precious moment. one minute she could be chatting away with me and the next silent. dreaming. i stare at her beauty. the tiny freckles marching across her cheeks. her beautiful dainty hands. i know behind her eyelids, those blue eyes are sparkling. where do her dreams take her? i'm sure she is dancing and twirling. does she know how loved she is? how cherished? she's the moon and stars and sun for me. she delights me in so many ways. when she calls me momma i melt. i melt right into a puddle on the floor. music to my ears. she catches me staring at her from across the room and she'll stop and give me a cheshire cat grin. i adore her so. my amazing beautiful child. sweet dreams. xo

[the august break]. | newburyport, ma.

2011-07-21T12:25:00.000-04:00

One of my very favorite people in the world happens to be on the other side of the ocean - which of course makes her even more charming to me. I honestly cannot recall how I happened upon what was then known as the blog - Ink on my Fingers (brilliant name I might add) but I knew my life in cyberspace would never be the same. Susannah Conway is amazing in so many ways. Her journey has mesmerized me for years now and her strength to keep putting one foot in front of the other regardless of what life has thrown at her is more than an inspiration. And her polaroids, seriously, gorgeous imagery through her lens is a gift and one I drink in as often as possible. I'll be first in line when her long awaited book is published. If I was asked who would I like most to share a pot of tea with, Susannah is on the top of that list. We haven't met, but we've chatted a few times in the blogosphere and it's like she has always been there. Kind and warm, the friend who would always be there for you in the middle of the night - for a chat and a laugh and who wouldn't let you leave the house wearing THOSE pants! I enjoyed beyond words her Unravelling course and look forward to taking part deux.

The August Break. I told myself that this year I would participate, and participate I shall. Nothing stressful, just my photography - monday thru friday{if I can - no stress it's the summer after all!} - with words, without words. A sort of holiday for me and my cam. Great photos or not so great photos, personal or perfect strangers - this will give me the opportunity {and a place to showcase it} to get down to the nitty gritty of what my photography is all about. The good, the bad, the perhaps slightly out of focus. I won't hold back. And that includes my N90s - Meg and her camera{s} will take August by storm and even when I'm on my little vacay I will hunt down an internet connection,{insert fingers crossed here}.

Looking at August - one photo memory at a time!

[vintage alice birthday]. | newburyport,ma.

2011-07-20T22:19:00.000-04:00

"I had a strange dream," said Alice. She told her sister about the White Rabbit, the mad tea party, the Queen of Hearts and the trial. But her sister wasn't paying attention. "You're reading again," mumbled Alice. As she stretched, Alice saw a little White Rabbit with pink eyes scurry behind a tree.

Happy Birthday Miss Bailley - no. 10 Double Digit Girl.

event planner. pipsqueak parties
venue. the old salt. hampton falls.nh
alice in wonderland accessories. auntie's jammies on etsy
cake + cupcakes. eat cake. newburyport.ma
teapots. teacups. private collection

[spin through the stars] | boston, ma

2011-07-18T15:03:00.000-04:00

want to pack your bags something small
take what you need & we disappear
without a trace, we'll be gone, gone
The moon & the stars follow the car
& then when we get to the ocean,
we're going to take a boat to the end of the world...
all the way to the end of the world
oh and when the kids are old enough
we gonna teach them to flyyyyyyy

you & me together we can do anything, baby
you & me together yes, yes
you & me together we can do anything, baby
You & me together yes, yes

You & I we're not tied to the ground,
not falling but rising like, rolling around
eyes closed above the roof tops
eyes closed we're gonna spin through the stars
our arms wide as the sky, we gonna ride the blue
all the way to the end of the world,
to the end of the world

oh and when the kids are old enough
we gonna teach them to flyyyyyyy

you & me together could do anything, baby
you & me together yes, yes
you & me together we can do anything baby
You & me toghter yes, yes

we can always look back at what we did
always remembering you & me baby
But right now it's you and me forever girl
you know we could do better than anything that we did
you know that you and me we could do anything

you & me together c' do anything, baby
you & me together yeah, yeah

two of us together we c' do anything, baby
you and me together, yeah yeah
the two of us together yeah, yeah
the two of us together, we can do anything baby

{d. matthews}

i got the call monday morning and was there monday evening to witness this love. this wonderful love. kate and nick it was an honor to be present for you, i wish you a lifetime of happiness and of course continued fun with all your beautiful babies. {combined - no. 7 coming to a cradle soon!} xo

this beautiful elopement

happened on: 7.11.2011

at: approximately 7:40pm

why 7:40? because the bride realized she left the marriage license at home so the wonderful groom fought commuter traffic and raced home - about an hour each way - now that's love!

where: christopher columbus park, boston

witnessed by: jasmine macdonald and yours truly

privately celebrated: the bride and groom dined at mama maria in the yummy north end

flowers by: exotic flowers

jp: thomas welch

toasted by: jasmine and yours truly at joe's american bar and grill - hey any excuse to get out. and now that the secret's out everybody raise their glasses too - let's all celebrate kate and nick!! xo

this was an incredibly romantic evening. kate and nick have their wedding planned for next july - but sometimes love can't wait and besides it's good practice. perfect! xo

[inspiring me] now | newburyport ma

2011-07-13T11:47:00.000-04:00

Vacation
All I ever wanted
Vacation
Had to get away
Vacation
Meant to be spent alone

{the go-go's}

in my mind, i am currently enjoying a cafe au lait sitting at marble topped table in a quiet little bistro along the champs d'elysees - having just left my amazingly quaint off the beaten path guest house. well that's about as far as my travels will take me this summer. i'm not complaining, the beautiful atlantic is less than two miles from my door and there is beauty in every direction i can twirl. i believe the buzz word is staycation. yes, i am on a staycation - enjoying the delights in my own backyard and my laptop. recently i stumbled upon a brilliant website that has been feeding not only my love of interior design, but my love and desire to travel. the wonderful french photographer alex profit has put together a website called tasty hotels. and boy what a great labor of love. the quintessential address book of some wonderful guest houses, cottages and hotels from around the world. and if nothing else, it's some pretty eye candy while i sip my own freshly made lemonade. oh happy summer to me. xo

{mauro mansion - amsterdam}

{high road house - london}

{montesaraz - portugal}

{masseria don cirillo - italy}

{la classe - belgium}

[the middle of the road] | newburyport, ma

2011-07-10T20:06:00.000-04:00

"The things that make me different are the things that make me."
{Winnie the Pooh}

[Q + D] baby sweet | newburyport, ma

2011-07-04T00:24:00.000-04:00

"How do you spell 'love'?" - Piglet
"You don't spell it...you feel it." - Pooh"
— A.A. Milne

When a client becomes a friend and that friend includes you in the most important times of their life, well sometimes I just don't have words. Jasmine, Ian and big sister Bailley - how amazing your two little beauties are. Let's shout it from the rooftops - Quinn + Devynn are here!! xo

{annie was wishing to hold a newborn baby - thank you for making her wish come true}

{i love these two images.....kate sept will be here soon! you're next!}

[it's personal] - pretty twirls | newburyport, ma

2011-06-24T23:45:00.000-04:00

"What day is it?"
It's today," squeaked Piglet.
My favorite day," said Pooh."

A.A. Milne

{it's always a good day when you have a pretty new dress to twirl around in}

sent from Aunt Grass - you can tell she loves it!! thank you again. xo

[it's personal] - in honor of you dad | newburyport, ma

2011-06-19T10:47:00.001-04:00

Embrace me you child
You're a child of mine

{c. simon}

Watching Annie perform in her acting class today I drifted off into my past. Her exercise as directed by her teacher Andy, was to become a statue in a museum that he was the night watchman in. The statues were allowed to move about and change but only when his back was turned. I watched her become a ballerina (natch,) a bear, a scary witch, a dinosaur all while flitting about to the delight of her fellow actors and teacher. And then the flashback hit me. 1970something, the anticipation of hearing my Dad’s car pull into the driveway was always exciting to me. Dad was and still is an incredibly hard worker – he would leave early in the morning and arrive home sometimes at 7 – exhausted, hungry and needing some time to be alone or a well deserved cocktail. But being the father of five children the alone time was very hard to come by. I knew I had a short window of getting my father’s attention before he really needed to decompress. At the time I was dancing ballet and for whatever reason dragged along my Mom and my sister, we would become statues. We would freeze in position in our family room waiting for Dad to open the door. No matter how tired he was, or how bad of a day he had, he never ever showed it, he would smile and say “Oooooooh Statuuuuuuuuueee!!!! I would try not to giggle as he sashayed over to us, observing our positions. Out loud he would choose one of us and say, “Hmmm, I wonder what this one does?” And then he would press an imaginary button on our backs and we would come alive. I was always the ballerina statue and I would pirouette and leap around the room. It was always a thrill to me and I loved watching his reaction.

Annie gets excited when she hears her Dad pull his car in the driveway. I think it’s something all children feel when their Dads get home from work. Sometimes Annie will hide and Bil, being one who definitely likes to play along, will take the time to go in search of her, ignoring the little toes sticking out from under the drapes. When at long last the discovery is made, the squeals of delight can be heard throughout the house.

To all of us, our Dads are our hero’s. The bar is always set high for the approval rating. My Dad never complained when he was dragged to my ballet recitals, or piano recitals, or school plays. He taught me how to ride my bike, how to take a singers breath, he became the “giant clam” when we went swimming in the ocean at the jersey shore. He planted and culled the perfect vegetable garden, he grilled the best eye round. He took me to Paris. He hummed the Wedding March as he walked me towards my husband. He entertained us with his piano playing, his joke telling, his barbershop singing. He was the first person I called after Annie was born. He drilled math into my head – {I admit it remains my worse subject}. He always told me I was beautiful and talented and clever and continues to encourage my path in life. With open arms he accepts me with all my faults and shortcomings.

Not a day goes by that he isn’t in my thoughts. And while I miss his face, I know I am in his thoughts too. He is no longer a car ride away, instead he is an airplane ride away – but still, I know he is there. Whenever I need a little encouragement, or advice or even a laugh he is on the other end of the phone and with a press of a button on my laptop via email. I will always seek his approval, whether that’s good or bad, it’s the truth. My Dad was the first man I ever loved. He gave me an incredible childhood with an incredible family in an incredible home and I will always be grateful for that.

I am still that little girl standing there in the family room, frozen, waiting for my Dad to discover me with a touch of a button. Seeking his approval, love and support.

Happy Father’s Day Dad – I hope I tell you enough how much I truly love you. You mean everything. everything. xo

{prepping me and my sisters to sing a little barbershop at my wedding}

{the manion quartet - yes i was 5 mos preggers!}

{surrounded by love - 7 of his 11 grandchildren - avalon, nj}

[it's personal] - dancing queen | newburyport, ma

2011-06-17T12:52:00.001-04:00

you are the dancing queen

young and sweet

{abba}

annie's dress rehearsal june 2011 - first time. first stage experience. delightful.

{here's Annie as the Sugar Plum Fairy from her school show last december - she's a ballerina in waiting. xo}

[beauty my camera finds] petite ballerinas | newburyport ma

2011-06-15T12:54:00.002-04:00

Dance till the stars come down from the rafters Dance, Dance, Dance till you drop.
{W.H. Auden}

{pre-ballet class peek week March 2011 @ The Dance Place - Newburyport, MA}

[it's personal] - like a rainbow | newburyport ma

2011-06-11T22:53:00.000-04:00

But I see your true colors
shining through
I see your true colors
and that's why I love you
so don't be afraid to let them show
your true colors
true colors are beautiful
like a rainbow
{c. lauper}