Wednesday, January 1, 2014

the first day































hellooo! merry christmas happy new year! we started new years day doing 'dawn patrol' at the beach, getting a head start on the first day of the year always seems like a good way to begin, a blessing of good things to come :) we watched the sun rise, he from his surfboard, me from the shore. afterwards we warmed up with hot coffee and blueberry pancakes at esau's cafe. where to begin to share these last few weeks? did you see some of my kids in the photos? my baby celebrated her twenty third birthday in kentucky with her love. i sent her birthday present to matt's families home, where they were staying. because i lacked any birthday ~ christmas organizational skills of any kind this year, i had to send it express next day hurry! i received the best phone call ever when she said she'd been there one hour, the doorbell rang and there was the delivery man with her package. yay! really can't thank u.s.p.s. enough for incredible service, happy happy mama and girl!  my eldest son kyle spent some time with a friend in chicago. he said it was the coldest he's ever been, and sent photos to show his snow covered freezing self. the best thing that happened this christmas was the surprise my kids planned for me. my middle son erik, who lives in brooklyn, was not coming home for christmas, work commitments. and then, on the morning of the day, he walked in the door!! he and kyle had planned another surprise (how did they learn to do this?!) to do with my gift. even though i am not like the grinch, (i think) my heart swelled ten times that day. kimberly and hannah, my girls, gave me gifts that are so amazing i will have to take photos of. yes, have to. grown up children so thoughtful and sincere has touched me in a place i didn't know existed. i said i wouldn't cry, really, for everyone's sake, because you know when mama cries the whole of the family is affected. but i did. jacob, my youngest son could not come home, so joy mixed with pangs of wishful (wistful?) feelings on christmas. so many firsts this year for all of us. i woke to an empty house, except for my puppy owen, jacob was alone too, though he had his pup louie. his girlfriend was in ohio with her family and chuck was surfing (we talked and i wanted him to!). i think we have never been so grateful for our doggie best friends!

so sorry for such a long post, i tried to keep photos to a minimum since i knew words were going to come
*sigh* the holidays are like that. missing my kids (even while they are here because i know they are going to go again), missing my mom, loving them all so much. emotions swirling, electrified, amplified, like the twinkling lights of the season, the glowy feeling remains even after the plug is pulled and the house empties again.

the rest of the photos:  my sister came up! we went to loop and leaf for wool (thank you husband for gift card!) and we went to the santa barbara pier, we sat in the sun and ate clam chowder and drank wine, while watching tourists take photos of themselves to send to their cold relatives in chicago (eavesdropping, hee hee) i knit lindy a scarf in a sunset color.  for erik i made a hat, warm and soft for his cold nyc winter (he is taking a photo of a flying monkey clinging to a banana, santa brought shrieking flying slingshot monkeys to everyone, most fun part of the day, six monkeys were flying everywhere, find them here).  new buttons made in norway found here. sweet gifts sent from andi and deb, thank you!! and a giveaway won! the incredible shetland wrap (more on this later)!! more tree boxes found, LOVE these boxes. and kits from london and iceland, and books, new beautiful books. i think it's best to end this looong unorganized post now...going to work on that this year (being organized, i have begun with the books!), we are going to take owen for a walk on the beach, well, we walk, he runs willy nilly. we want his first day of twenty fourteen to be one to remember too. :)   happy new year lovely people.

44 comments:

  1. Those first pics of the beach are just lovely, completely different from our very cold New Years Day hike this morning :) What a lovely surprise your sons cooked up for you and I am happy you had your puppy on Christmas morning.

    Happy New Year Lori, wishing you many wonderful things in the year to come.

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  2. Beautiful and fresh images as always Lori- you live in a magical place.
    Happy New Year - I wish you have a wonderful & magical year ahead!
    xo

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  3. Christmas is always that way; the swirl of emotion; the love, the missing, the meeting. I am glad for all the good things in your life. Wishing you a blessed 2014!

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  4. me too Lori, I'm overhauling and working on a big redo here, but I like just the way your posts are and you too!
    Happy 14xx
    j

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  5. i love your disorganized, happy, love filled post. <3 much love and an awesome new year to you and yours. :)

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  6. Stunningly beautiful ocean/sunset/sunrise photos! And I always love seeing glimpses of your charming enchanted (well organized ;) home & sweet family. Happy blessed New Year to you & yours!
    ❤️����

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  7. I loved every word, Lori, and your gorgeous pictures, too. So glad that your holiday was filled with happy surprises and the companionship of a furry friend.♥ The holidays fill me with those same amped up, swirling feelings. Wishing you peace and blessings in 2014!

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  8. What a fun & full post, don't ever skimp on your photos or words. I've loved following along all year and look forward to more in 2014.Happy new year! xox

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  9. Wishing you a very happy healthy new year! I enjoy your words and photos so much and hope this new year continues to bring inspiration with the beauty and magic of nature.

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  10. Oh sweet Lori --- I wish you a happy new year and so many more. You are a shining light beaming love and happy all over bloggerland and beyond. Luv and hugs.

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  11. The tree boxes are fabulous! All the best for the new year.

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  12. Happy New Year Lori! Such a beautiful way to start off the year and a lovely Post all around. It made me teary actually, as I know this will be me down the track with kids all over the place, the coming and going, the missing...wishing you and chuck all the best for a wonderful 2014. Mel xxx

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  13. Dearest Lori,

    You? Disorganised? I would never, ever have guess that! Truly! You seem to be very theme and project oriented which surely requires a certain level of organisation?

    HAPPY, PEACEFUL, and MAGICAL New Year to you and all your loved ones. I am so looking forward to sharing your fabulous journey throughout this new year with you thanks to this AMAZING blog of yours.

    Stephanie

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  14. i so know what you mean..there are so many hard stages of being a mom, but i'm finding that 'letting go' (which, of course, is what we brought them into the world to do!!!!) is one of the hardest and most joyous. I think you have to ' be there' to get this dichotomy. I treated myself to some kettle yarn....what are you planning to do with yours? Right now, I'm simply fondling mine!!!
    Happiest of new years, Lori!!!

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  15. Lori, this post is so full of love and warmth (of temperature and spirit) and gives lots of inspiration for beginning a new year.

    Oh to be outdoors without even a sweater! We're promised a snowstorm's arrival by sundown in NYC. I will definitely be layering to the max, and watching my step on the way home from work.

    A very Happy 2014 to you and yours...and thanks for your kind comments over at my place, too. Snail mail can be fun. xo

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  16. Happy New Year sweet Lolo!
    What is there to say that hasn't been said before, you have such an amazing way of showing and sharing the love of your family with us.
    Yay to new yarn. There are some beauties there.

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  17. What a fantastic way to meet the new year - we too spent time on the beach - but none of us on a surfboard :-)
    You and your beautiful family seem to have had a fabulous Christmas - thank you for sharing it with us.

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  18. Happy New Year, dear Lori. Thank you so much for sharing your lovely life with us here. Each time I visit, I feel blessed. :)

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  19. Happy 2014 my dear friend. I am glad the holiday's were wonderful for you. Here it was quiet with only one baby still at home, but three of the others were able to stop by so it was nice, although I will confess to shedding a few tears....just wishing all were still home. Anyway, time marches on as they say and I have my chin up, knitting at my side and wonderful friends near and far to bring light into my world. Have a beautiful start to the brand new year.

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  20. Happy New Year Lori,
    Oh I know what you are talking about when you say you are sad even when your kids are there, My daughter came home six days before christmas and I was eternally happy, still am, but I know it is just for some time.. My son left for Argentina on the 28th, and I will not see him until June 28th… Thanks for sharing, It is good to know I am not the only mother feeling sad and happy at the same time, when I am with my kids! As always, I adore your pictures!

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  21. Oh, I do get it all.
    You and I are alike in ways, I think.
    And...haunting all the same places and beaches it's a wonder we don't bump into each other.
    XO
    C

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  22. Happy New Year Lori!
    Your post is so lovely, it made me smile as I was reading it, so filled with love and happiness. What a wonderful gift seeing your sons on Christmas day. That must have been amazing. Love the photo of you knitting on the back of the truck.
    Have a wonderful year dear friend.
    xx
    Linda

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  23. ohhh so simply lovely! All of it! I have missed reading blogs and I am determined to do so more often once again. And your pictures are so scrumptious! Especially the pink skies!
    Love to you Lori♥

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  24. beautiful start to the New Year ♥

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  25. Way cool! Some extremely valid points! I appreciate you writing this write-up plus the rest of the site is also really good.

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  26. Happy New Year dear Lori! I miss you a lot... I´ve been away the blogland for lots of reasons, lot of work but enjoying life with kids and family as always!! xoxo Mina

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  27. Hi Lori,

    A Happy, Healthy and Creative New Year to you and your family! It's good to see one of your posts. Your holiday period sounds lovely....just the way it should be :-) Happy birthday to your daughter!

    Good luck on your new projects!

    Madelief x

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  28. Welcome back Lori, you do realise that you look like a teenager sitting at the back of that car knitting? You seem to be someone who will never age? Enjoy the time with your children! Greetings from SA.

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  29. Happy New Year! It looks like such a beautiful place to start a new year and be around every easy too! I always start my New Year asleep :) maybe when my kids have gotten bigger and less tiring, I'll make it to midnight ;)

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  30. Lori, I am so behind, I have been so sick that the Holidays are a blur. On the mend, but it is slow. Beautiful photos as always and so much joy here. Happy New Year! xoxo

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  31. Dear Lori I loved this post filled with wonderful pictures and look forward to visiting you here in the coming year. Good luck with all your beautiful creative projects! Wishing you and your family a very Happy New Year!
    Helen xox

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  32. I love how you share your joys with all of us! Wishing you the happiest and healthiest new year, Lori. xo

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  33. Happy New Year to you, dear Lori! I love your photos and words. I can't wait for more, especially about that wrap!

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  34. Happy New Year to you. How beautifully and honestly you have expressed the tumult and intensity that is Christmas and New Year. Thanks especially for sharing your feelings as a mum at this time...I had a real glimpse into that bitter-sweet time of children grown that must come to all mothers. Best wishes.

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  35. A Happy New Year to you. Thank you for sharing the all the lovely photos. I really enjoyed scrolling down to see the next and the next...Thank you for the link to Kettle Yarn in London, looks lovely yarn and nice online shop. Winning a Shetland wrap! that sounds amazing will look forward to hearing more about it...Julia x

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  36. Hi Lori, Happy New Year! How does Chuck go out there surfing while you are all bundled up on the beach? Does the wet suit keep him warm? I can't imagine. So many lovely photos in this post. I've learned not to attach emotions to holidays. Lots of people do and then become depressed. Life is ever changing and that is the one thing we can count on. It's been nice having my 18 year old home for a while, but of course, most of his time has been spent with friends. He has an early, early morning Friday flight back to Colorado and I sure hope all the winter storms calm down and clear up by then. Love those tree boxes. You are always making such lovely things. Wishing you all the best for 2014. Tammy

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  37. Hi Lori! Wishing you a very happy New Year!! I've so enjoyed looking back at all the many, beautiful blogposts I have missed during 2013, with all your lovely photos and your family news, and pics of Owen, and all that incredible knitting!!! Travis and his brave struggles really touched my heart, and the walk that you all took part in was amazing.. I hope that your 2014 is going to be a truly wonderful one, and wishing you and Chuck all the very best, from over here x

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  38. Hey Lori! Happy new year to you! The number 2014 sounds really organised, I think! So good luck with that intention! I share it. Have been going through cupboards up on a ladder today: scary.
    I love your photos and your rambling account of what sounds like an emotional festive season peppered with lots of gratitude, always a great thing!!
    Your fair isle scarf looks INCREDIBLE, lady!! You are such a knitting inspiration.
    Wishing you much joy and peace and wonderful hours knitting and reading and walking ont he beach: pretty likely, I reckon.
    x Jo

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  39. Oh Happy New Year Lori. It all sounds a mixture of lovely happy moments mixed with a tinge of sadness. There is lot's to take in. I'm glad you managed to get the gift to your daughter in time. And the surprise visit of your son. My hannah did that one birthday for me. I was in bed at midnight when she came in and jumped on the bed...she'd got the late bus from London. like you I was in tears of joy.

    What a perfect start to the year I hope that it's a metaphor for the rest of 2014. I love your shoes...I think they're clogs and that book of simple Japanese style bags sounds really interesting.

    Please never apologise for posting too much. We love to see and read it all.
    Happy days to come...
    debx

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  40. I tried to comment on this post from my phone but it wouldn't go through. Your pictures are amazing! Looks like your 2014 is off to a great start.

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  41. What a lovely space this is. I seem to "bump" into you in different arenas - ravlery, other blogs... Scrolling through your photos, I squealed when I spotted the Aran stitches tea towel! Is it from Etsy? I had one favorite there for a while (a good year ago, at least), and when I went to purchase it, Poof! it was gone. To you, perhaps? :) Funny spotting it here!

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xoxo lori