good smells. good sounds. good things.

sometimes the days go by easy in the summertime.  like reading a good book over again real nice and slow.  there are highs and lows, but you just keep moving steady.

and then every once in a while there's a moment that makes you stop and breathe it all in deep and take a long look around.  it doesn't have to be anything special, really.  just something.

tonight i got out of the shower... it was one of those good summertime showers, after a long day, when your eyes are tired and your feet are dirty, and it feels so wonderful just to towel off and smell the sweet damp smell coming off of your hair... and i heard some soft familiar music drifting under the doorway.

my dressing room door connects to the bathroom, and the bedroom, but the door on the back wall connects to billy's music room.  he hasn't gone back there too often lately, but i always like it when he does.  tonight he did, and bob dylan was on the record player singing all scratchy and brilliant.  and i could hear billy plucking along.  that quiet, humble pluck of an electric guitar with no attachments but the flesh holding onto it. 

and then i smelled my favorite smell, swirling in the air and mixing all up in the air with my coconut hair conditioner.  sure enough, as i swung the heavy door open slowly, there he was with a pipe in his mouth and a guitar in his hand.
gosh i love the smell of plain old pipe tobacco.

the crickets are chirping in surround sound through the screen door and the air feels like magic, and bob.  just bob.

and of course, the man behind the curtain.  my billy.

buckets of rain
buckets of tears
got all them buckets coming out of my ears
buckets of moonbeams in my hand
you got all the love honey baby
i can stand.

it's good to stop and soak it all up sometimes.

summa summa time, and some pretty little pictures.

this summer has been a great one so far.  we've been spending tons of time outside, playing with sweet finn in the grass, watching the birds, doing plenty of gardening (and getting lots better at it!), and reading lots of books.  there hasn't been too much time for blogging, but that's ok with me.  i'll save those long winded blog posts for our long winded winters.

our little family loves to be outside. and finn has proven to be quite resilient to the heat, which is lucky, because we still just have our one trusty window a.c. unit upstairs in the hall. the rest of our square footage relies solely on the breeze- which is okay by us.  there are plenty of dutch doors to open up and screen doors to close, and the sounds of the creek and the smells of the trees come gliding in easy.  it's just like summer should be.

we've limited the vacations so far to weekend visits, day trips, and afternoons at the pool.  it's been so simple and stress free.  don't get me wrong, i love a good adventure.  but these days, there's not much that can put a bigger smile on my face than playing in the kitchen with my boys and kissing finn's feet until his sides split.  it's the little things.

without further ado, some pretty little pictures.

daddy's ride

tire shop in downtown silver spring

crisfields- the best damn crab salad sandwich you'll find

classic dive. and my daddy's old stompin' grounds.  most often this is sacred man ground, but billy took me this trip.  if you ever go, you won't regret it.  it's like walking into the 50's and coming out full and with a smile on your face.

a little woodpecker feather that happened upon on our picnic blanket in the yard

hiking in gretna

old playbills at the jigger shop

farm eggs at home

billy hung hooks on the entry wall for me.  i like em.

painted back room- originally the stables. no molding yet.  but the floors are pretty.

i hope your summer is a good one.  now go on outside.
<3