Monday, January 23, 2012

roots

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

nest

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

I feel like I'm just starting to take it in, to really live here. It doesn't seem like a month, but a blur of boxes and lists. There are still boxes and windows without curtains and things to settle into, but it is starting to feel like home.

Thursday, January 19, 2012

silo

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

eye

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

I walked around the whole yard today just looking at the trees and plants.

Tuesday, January 17, 2012

dotty

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

Look who is getting very serious about her pull ups.

Saturday, January 07, 2012

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.