Sunday, December 25, 2011

merry christmas

music littles by ellajohn
music littles, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

three

three by ellajohn
three, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

ella

ella by ellajohn
ella, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

miss

miss by ellajohn
miss, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

just john

just john by ellajohn
just john, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

Friday, December 16, 2011

Our house

sunset by ellajohn
sunset, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

Saturday, December 10, 2011

on the ninth day of christmas

We baked cookies and ate them warm with milk.

nature table

nature table by ellajohn
nature table, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

light

candles by ellajohn
candles, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

The first light of Advent is the light of stones.
Stones that live in crystals, seashells, and bones.

The second light of Advent is the light of plants.
Roots, stem, leaf, flower, and fruit by whom we live and grow.

The third light of Advent is the light of beasts.
Animals of farm, field, forest, air, and seas.
All await the birth in greatest and in least.

The fourth light of Advent is the light of humankind.
The light of love, the light of thought, to give and to understand.


Steiner

Saturday, December 03, 2011

on the third day of christmas

The children say that we have to take our candles with us when we go to Granny's house because we have to do this every night.

I am making an effort to be simple in our celebrations this year, but I've been wanting an advent spiral for years. We can use the candles throughout the year, but spiraled on our dining room table with some pine boughs it is just right for counting the days.

Friday, December 02, 2011

sit by ellajohn
sit, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

Today, I sat. Not like this but next to a feverish three year old watching PBS and crocheting for hours.

I have boxes for packing, a shower curtain for each new bath and a clean one to leave behind. I have finally panicked about buying a new house.

I'm working on my hundred dollar christmas. It feels strange. I think I'll go over budget soon, but not by much. Today I bought twenty five votive candles and holders to make an advent spiral and a box of candy canes. Each child will get one or two small gifts, and we'll get a christmas tree and that will be all.

All in our new house.

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Saturday, November 19, 2011

looking for the sun

november sunset by ellajohn
november sunset, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

I took the kids out to Clover Hollow today to make wreaths for a fundraiser for our school. They had a great afternoon playing in the woods, feeding goats, feeding a llama, and playing in a small creek.

On the way home the sun was about to set and I took a detour to drive by the new house. I'd been wondering where the sun would set, and, as you can see, it goes right down in the backyard. Perfect for back porch sitting or sitting in the garden with a glass of wine.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

visit

porch sitter by ellajohn
porch sitter, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

Ruby and I went over to the house today for about an hour. The home inspector was working, and we poked about and took in the lay of the land. I found two closets I didn't even know existed. Essentially, we can each have a closet. One of the downstairs rooms doesn't have one, but that room could use the closet under the stairs.

The owners have all of their things out, and it looks beautiful. I love all the different woods on the floors. I love the plainness of it.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

we bought the house

Untitled by ellajohn
Untitled, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

We may be eating beans until our house sells, but we like beans. I can't wait to tell the children in the morning. John was going to ask Santa Claus for this house, specifically for the tree house and playset in the yard.

Saturday, November 05, 2011

Friday, November 04, 2011

Monday, October 31, 2011

Wednesday, October 26, 2011

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

fly, john, fly by ellajohn
fly, john, fly, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

I'm feeling pretty much in mid air today. Our prospective buyers have said that they will make an offer on our house by the end of the week, and although I'm pretty thrilled about that, I'm still acutely aware of how far we have to go to actually buy the farmhouse. Far financially, far in terms of no one buying it tomorrow, far in terms of putting it all in a box and hauling it down the road.

Then there is that part of me that can't stop thinking about grape vines, the apple and pear trees, and the garden.

The kids are already pretty invested in it. My fault, of course. I've been practicing every little bit of karma yoga I can fathom.

Friday, October 21, 2011

nest

nest by ellajohn
nest, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

The potential buyers wanted to see the survey of the property today.

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

throw my hands up

throw my hands up by ellajohn
throw my hands up, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

No house news today.

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Saturday, October 15, 2011

blue october

big pumpkins by ellajohn
big pumpkins, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

This has to be one of the prettiest places on earth, this top of the hill panoramic pumpkin patch of glowing golden light. We were right up here last December to saw down our Christmas tree.

three

three by ellajohn
three, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

lumina

lumina by ellajohn
lumina, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

john and the big pumpkin

john and the big pumpkin by ellajohn
john and the big pumpkin, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

john drives

john drives by ellajohn
john drives, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

Friday, October 14, 2011

maybe a few steps closer

nikel lane by ellajohn
nikel lane, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

keeping calm
carrying on

Wednesday, October 12, 2011

root cellar

root cellar by ellajohn
root cellar, a photo by ellajohn on Flickr.

Cross your fingers. Ruby and I went to look at that old farmhouse today, and I feel a little giddy.

When I was pretty young I started reading the Foxfire books, and I have always wanted a root cellar. This one still has the shelves and big wooden bins. Across the way is a spring house.

There is room for a dog, chickens, and four bedrooms.

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

shakori hills grassroots festival

We camped for four days in Silk Hope, North Carolina at the Shakori Hills Festival of Music and Dance. It was sunny and golden during the day, and the moon was shining at night. Ruby loved fast fiddles, the sandbox, being a goldfinch in the Paperhand Puppet parade, the arts and crafts tent, and the moon. The campsites were full of hanging jack-o-lanterns, campfires, and candles, and our hair still smells faintly of woodsmoke.