A leaf fluttered in through the window this morning, as if supported by the rays of the sun, a bird settled on the fire escape, joy in the task of coffee, joy accompanied me as I walked. ~Anais Nin

I keep my distance, as usual, camera as buffer and coping mechanism. The cast and crew of my friend’s film are called into the poolhouse in groups to watch behind-the-scenes clips on his laptop. The kids steer chunky white rafts around the water. I am called to bear witness to a ritual that is strange to me, but apparently is a very traditional part of this sort of celebration: the...

I designed a postcard for my husband’s real estate brokerage. Kind of wonky composition but I like to think that is part of the charm?

I push the broken storm door closed once, two, three times before it latches. I wave and blow kisses to my littles standing in the front window, turn, and make the short walk to my bus stop. I scan the headlines through the newspaper box glass and wait. The bus pulls up to the curb and I step through the open doors, climb the stairs, tap my commuter card to...

I catch sight of them in the store and stop in my tracks. I stand in front of the wooden bin for a long time and use the thick metal scoop to lift and pour pile after pile, watching the cream, mustard and burgundy spin down. I say over and over again in a soft voice (to no one in particular) that these beans, these beans right here are the...

She gets an unreal amount of attention when she rolls around in public wearing these skate/shoe thingies. Every comment she overhears from a little one (Mama, HOW is that girl skating on her SHOES??) makes her smile wide. The floors at IKEA are the bestest of all.

Been spending time in the kitchen, working on my fermentation chops. Haven’t you heard that fermentation is the new canning? Three half-pint jars of whey came from one container of organic yogurt, and now I am sneaking that stuff into all of my kids’ food. I made a batch of Carolina Slaw from the book Real Food Fermentation and it’s sitting quietly on the countertop, changing from one thing to...

I used blurb.com’s book creation software to prepare a gift for our host at Surfside Beach. I wrapped her book in the recycled paper with which I wrapped ceramic bowls at the checkout lane of my IKEA, and finished the wrapping with shells we gathered from the very beach shown in the book. She was thrilled with the gift, and it was passed around the dining room table from guest...

Sprouted buckwheat groats, chopped tomatoes, sliced cucumber tossed with lime juice, olive oil, salt, pepper, and chopped fresh mint and parsley. Recipe by the Gluten Free Hippie. I have begun sprouting grains and learning about lacto-fermentation, and have quit alcohol, caffeine and sugar (sigh), in a bid to prevent a recurrence of my disease. I’ve lost five pounds and so need to find new things to eat and pronto!

Taken while going a little stir-crazy during my recovery.