I don't get why I click on the 'add image' button and I can't add images anymore. This whole technology thing is teaching me something I don't have much of: patience! I bet if I go get my child, who is waking up in his crib and yelling 'OUT', go do some errands and come back, I just BET it will work, with no explanation.

Here is a text that Margie sent me the other day. It made me choke up a little: "Welcome to your new life! Shiny and new. Looks like a beautiful day in Richland."

Last Nashville Walk (for a while)

Ellen's Photo Shoot

Ellen, here you are, sporting your new J. Crew outfit, which also, along with the chair and my flowers, exemplifies the color palette for my new home. At least, I think it does. I change my mind a lot! I was wanting to go more neutral with small doses of my favorite colors, but then....there is that big red (nice) chair. I can't paint it, now can I? I know I told you I was going to post pictures of Richland, but I thought since I can't get my photos to upload that this would be a fun post. I am having ISSUES with getting the pictures arranged on the page how I like them. Any tips? Anyway, you look beautiful and I really like the colors. By the way, where did you find my pearls?

Speaking of More...

I posted more song lyrics (below) than I meant to. Ironic since the 'accidental' song I posted is called More. Also, I failed to mention (though I'm sure you can guess) that I am a bit reflective and melancholy as my 'Far Country' state of being has recently become a tangible reality. Sighhhhh. My next post is going to be about what I did before Sam's nap today and yesterday! Nap time has been reserved for myriad phone calls that must be made (and which I really do not relish) to set up house in Washington! Insurance, pooh! What are you to someone with a visceral need for beauty? But calls I must make...

Far Country

Okay, since you asked nicely, here are some song lyrics:

This is not the end her at this grave/This is just a hole that someone made/Every hole was made to fill/And every heart can feel it still-/Our nature hates a vacuum//This is not the hardest part of all/ This is just the seed that has to fall/All our lives we till the ground/Until we lay our sorrows down/ And watch the sky for rain// There is more-more than all this pain/ More than all the falling down/ and getting up again/ There is more/ More than we can see/ From our tiny vantage point/ In this vast eternity; There is more// A thing resounds when it rings true/ Ringing all the bells inside of you/ Like a golden sky on a summer eve/Your heart is tugging at your sleeve/ and you cannot say why/ There must be something more//There is more/ More than we can stand/Standing in the glory/of a love that never ends/there is more/ more than we can guess/morae and more, forever more/ and not a second less//There is more than what the naked eye can see/Clothing all our days with mystery/ Watching over everything/ Wilder than our wildest dreams/Could ever dream to be/There is more

Father Abraham/Do you remember when/you were called to a land and you didn't know the way// 'Cause we are wandering/ In a foreign land/ We are children of the promise of the faith//And I long to find it/Can you feel it, too?/ That the sun that's shining/ Is a shadow of the truth//This is a far country, a far country/Not my home//In the dark of the night/ I can feel the shadows all around me/ Cold shadows in the corners of my heart//But the heart of the fight/ is not the flesh but in the spirit/ And the spirit's got me shaking in the dark// And I long to go there/ I can feel the truth/ I can hear the promise/ Of the angles of the moon// I can see in the strip malls and the phone calls/ The flaming swords of Eden/ In the fast cash and the news flash/ and the horn blast of war/ In the sin-fraught cities of the dying and the dead like steel-wrought graveyards where the wicked never rest/ To the high and the lonely mountain in the groaning wilderness/ we ache for what is lost/ As we wait for the Holy God/ Of Father Abraham// I was made to go there/ Out of this far country/ To my home, my home.

Wow. I didn't think this was going to be a post today, or any day. And I know it may be kind of dramatic. These lyrics sung by Andrew Peterson are from the CD that sweet Frances gave me at our goodbye party--and is titled Far Country. I know we have different views on some things, and I know that these lyrics might harp on some of those differences a bit. But I also know that we both cling to the hope and belief that things will be better than they are, that good will overcome evil (of which you have seen plenty, working in the inner city), and that wounds will be healed. And I also happen to believe that believing this will help us to share love and healing in the here and now. Also, I like this song because Father Abraham is in 3 out of 5 world religions...tho't you'd like that too.

Last Day

Dear Hannah,

I can't believe this is your last day as a Nashvillian! You were the hostess with the mostess last night at your open house. That was the best idea for maximizing your goodbyes. Did you notice the light after the storm stopped? It was incredible - I got some pics on my mom's camera that I can post this weekend! The light on the wet pine needles was beautiful (not to mention the shots of your adorable boys). Well, I'm off to another day at school. I hope all the fish didn't die overnight in the students' Coke bottle aquariums... I hope today goes well. My prayer is that Sam naps, nothing breaks, the packing guys are understanding, you find time to eat, take some deep breaths, and soak in your view one last time. I love you, friend.

xoxo,
Ellen

Name Your Aesthetic.

Parsons Desk in the kitchen, and the nursery, just for fun... aw, heck, why not post the whole house? This is about as clean as it gets....


Ellen,
Do you think I should get a viking hat with horns? Funny story-- when I was an RA in college my room had a hat like that which was 'part' of the room--you were supposed to take goofy picture with it and then pass it on to the next RA. Sadly, it was plastic. I can't have a 'decorating' style like a Viking who was not a decorator! Ellen the history buff strikes again! But I know what you mean.
Here is the only pic I could find with my Parsons desk. We have been lucky to have it for a desk and a kitchen table. The little drawers are perfect for hiding my 'puter.
The last time we took a stab at naming my aesthetic I think it was Modern Romantic. I tried to use the work 'organic' but I think it made you think of patchouli. What it means to me is that I like natural things: the birchwood logs I have in the corner (that everyone makes fun of me for making my uncle haul from Washington--and now they are going back!), and things shaped like leaves, eggs, etc., usually in hues of white. There is a picture in the magchunk.com link you posted that matches one in my dream room file! It's the one that has the For Like Ever above the mantle. The pinks, tans, whites, pale blues...it's all perfect. The article was from Domino, and do you remember what it was called? Modern Romance. Ha!
And as for you, my dear....let's work with...Cheery Traditional with a Modern twist!

Name your style

Dear Hannah,

While I still haven't named my style yet, I'm getting pretty good at naming yours! I was revisiting an old issue of Domino Magazine (RIP - June/July 2007) and found the page explaining "English bohemian" style. I think it is almost you. I would throw in romantic, Viking, and Danish modern which makes you Queen Victoria meets Leif Eriksson meets Jean-Michel Frank and a pinch Kaffe Fassett for good measure.

Love,
Ellen

ps - I'm obsessing over this post from magchunck

Flowers and Shinies.

Dear Ellen,
Ho-kay. I am going to attempt to post a photo that is not from the 'photos for blog' file you created.

Well, lookit! I did it! Flowers and shinies, two of my favorite things. These babies are from Costco (see, I told you, there I go about Costco again), and they are even Rainforest Alliance Certified. So, it sounds like no rainforests were hurt in the growing of these flowers. I should really look this up. If there were no HUMANS hurt in the growing and selling of these flowers, then I am happy.

By the Way

Dear Ellen,

By the way, you forgot to mention that I made those Vanishing Oatmeal Cookies the other day with chocolate pomegranate pieces because I had no raisins in the house (Sam ate all his 'yee-yees.') The pomegranate pieces are from Costco, which, I must warn my readers (all two of them: hi moms!) that I will mention a LOT. "I'm sort of like Costco. I'm big, I'm not fancy, and I dare you not to like me." -Cameron from my new favorite TV show, Modern Family.

Gray Day


Another gray day--I am thinking of you at school, grading papers on your spring break....

"Almighty God, we bless and praise Thee that we have wakened to the light of another earthly day; and now we will think of what a day should be.... We pray Thee to shine on this day-the day which we may call our own. Lord, we go to our daily work; help us to take pleasure therein. Show us clearly what our duty is; help us be faithful in doing it. Let all we do be well done, fit for Thine eye to see. Give us strength to do, patience to bear; let our courage never fail. When we cannot love our work, let us think of it as Thy task; and by our true love to Thee, make unlovely things shine in the light of Thy great love. Amen." George Dawson, (1821-1876)

Light The Candle--Everything's All Right
Dear Ellen, I am lighting my candle again. Why is it so cold and gray in Nashville? I talked to my mom (OK, I'm on the phone with her now) and she says it is beautiful in Spokane. Sunny and 52 degrees. Balmy! Are we doing a countdown to when I leave? It is 13 days. I really have no mental or emotional file to put that in today.
Guess what! We have two followers now. My mom and your mom!

Nashville Family

Dear Ellen,
Thank you for your opening post, making me cry, making me feel loved, and encouraging me to grieve a little bit instead of just letting my saddness spill over with hurtful bubbling. (That is Modern Family reference). You just started a blog with my name on it. I have just gone from person-who-doesn't-even-know-how-to email pictures to someone-who-has-a-blog, so I guess I'm out of excuses. Better get learning.

Mrs. Mary Jane, (Ellen's mama) and our first blog follower, thank you thank you for the wonderful birthday party for Sammy. We are so lucky to have Nashville family who make much of Samuel Skye. We will miss you so much!

Gummy Bears

MeeMaw mailed us some candy for Valentine's Day. Yum! There is something special about this candy; I can't remember how, but it is supposed to be a little bit healthier for you. Maybe it has vitamins in it. Just kidding. I think.

Birthday Cake and Cookies

Dear Hannah,

Thank you for letting me help you make Sam's birthday cake, especially after I berated you for serving strawberry shortcake at his first birthday. I just believe in icing the way you believe in glitter.

My first birthday cake had a ridiculous amount of orange and yellow icing since I had a Bert and Ernie Cake (thank you mommy). Then, the same year I had a school bus cake, my mother's best friend made her son a fire engine cake. My mother still cringes over the calls made to inform the mothers not to be alarmed when they changed their children's diapers. Despite this story, I love the idea of babies covered in icing - it's sweet on sweet!

Sam's cake was perfect and I've been craving it ever since. It is a 1950s idyllic recipe, which I am happy to share on your behalf:

Sam's Second Birthday First Birthday Cake (also known as Poke Cake)

1 box white cake mix
2 packages Jello (flavor of your preference)
2 c. boiling water
1 tub cool whip

Prepare cake mix as directed on package. Pour batter into 2 round 8 inch pans or one 9 x 11 inch pan. Bake as directed then cool for 10 minutes. Remove from pans and cool completely. Return to pans. Poke all over with a fork.

Meanwhile, make Jello as directed. While still warm, pour over poked cake. Refrigerate cakes for 3-4 hours. (hint: dip pans in hot water to loosen before removal from pan) Ice cake with cool whip and decorate! Ta da!

At the moment, Hannah is baking cookies while I type. She is a cookie genius, with whom I humbly shared this recipe for Vanishing Oatmeal cookies (hers always turn out better than mine, though!). This is one of the things I will miss most...

love,
Ellen

mY Furst bloggg

oh. so this is how it works? look at me, i'm blogging! and crying a little bit.

Friendship

To Whom It May Concern,

Three and a half years ago we were strangers standing in line to vote for the presidential primaries and it went a little something like this:
Ellen: "Will you be my friend?"
Hannah: "Okay!"
Well, not quite. But, over the course of a few months, two neighbors developed a beautiful friendship that felt as easy and natural as it did in preschool. Long walks, spontaneous 8am coffee and pancakes, trips to Costco and Target, praying, laughing, playing, debating, home makeovers, birthday parties, cookouts, Thanksgiving dinners, 3pm cocktail hour, trading leftovers, pregnancy, motherhood, career changes, life changes: the shortlist of our exploits.

This blog is the beginning of a new adventure for our friendship. After three years together in Nashville, we will not be able to pop in to each other's houses to let the dogs out, clandestinely redecorate, hold on the the spare key, borrow a movie, or run over a jar of olive oil. Hannah will move to the Pacific Northwest while I will stay firmly planted in the Southeast. Yet, with some stubborn determination (which we have in droves), we will continue playing and praying together in this forum.

We invite you along to share in our quirky journey. With honesty and candor we will chronicle our lives, our likes and dislikes, events, and creations - big and small. We are friends who like stuff and love life. Please have patience with us, have fun with us, and pray that we can continue to grow in our friendship across the country.

With love,
Ellen