This week has been all about prepping and packing for my upcoming trip to England and Italy.  It’s sort of wild to me that I’ve never been to England, given that I lived in Germany as a child.  We traveled all over the place, but never made it across the English Channel.  I know this will be the first of many visits, because there are so many places I want to see for their beauty and/or historical significance.  A branch of my family is from England (I’m a great-granddaughter of Edward I), so it would be fun to visit some of our family homes and gravesites.  I would also like to go on a “Kitchin sketchbook tour” to see and paint some of the homes captured in the sketchbooks I purchased a few years ago.   However, as we planned this trip, we knew we would have to choose one general

I’ve mentioned before that sometimes, around the dinner table, our family shares our highs and lows for the day or week.  It’s a good way to get kids talking beyond the typical one-word answer.  “Fine.”  This week, we have a big high.  Calvin, our youngest, got his driver’s license.  He was the last person in the house we had to chauffeur.  While it’s terrifying and our car insurance is mindbogglingly high, I am so proud of him and excited that my days sitting in the school drop-off line are behind me!  That’s a pretty big high for the week.     Here are my four things – Watercolor techniques, laughter as medicine, a romance with used books, and trip preparations.         what I’m reading I am traveling to the UK and Italy in just a little over a week (I can’t believe it’s almost here), and I will be

  My four things post typically goes live on a Thursday, but with a lot happening in the world, it felt appropriate to press pause on posting content online.  I hope that this blog will be a source of encouragement and inspiration to those who read it; that it will be a reprieve from the brokenness of this world in a small way.   Here are my four things for the week – A year of travel, tiny perfect things, being an artist, and book covers.   what I’m reading I followed along as Ashley of @underthesycamore shared her family’s year-long adventure to 20 countries.  It was so fun to see where they were, to watch her children blossom in foreign environments, and to read her stories of people and places.  While I prefer to stay in nice accommodations over youth hostels, I take a very similar approach to travel as Ashley

First of all, thank you so much to everyone who shopped my original art sale earlier this week.  No matter how many times I have a sale, whether it’s antiques and furniture or art, I get nervous that nothing will sell.  I appreciate that I don’t take a successful sale in the past for granted, and assume it will automatically lead to a sell-out in the future.  I hope I always approach my sales with that balance of confidence and nerves, even if it stresses me out on some level! The sale and packing/shipping paintings took a lot of my time earlier this week, and now I’m turning to what’s next. Here are my four things for the week – English style, learning gives me chills, playtime, and restocking. what I’m reading This week, I have been hovering over the pages of A New English Style: Timeless Interiors by Salvensen

This week has been jam-packed!  It was the first week of school for the boys, which always feels jarring after the relaxed pace of summer.  This year is very different, though, as we essentially have two college students and we’re trying to juggle cars and rides to classes that start and end at different times.  I must admit, though, I am happy to be past the ages of school supply shopping hauls and packing lunches.  That was never my favorite part of motherhood! But I am relishing in the weather that’s transitioning from summer to fall.  I love the cooler mornings in the 50s and the drier air.  Every time I step outside, I can’t help but proclaim how perfect it is. Here are my four things for this week – Alchemy, dreaming, wildflowers, and the final week of photography… what I’m reading I’ve been listening to The Book of

Today is a travel day for me.  I’m heading to Minnesota, back to our old hometown.  Marshall has been able to make a couple of trips to visit friends, and now it’s Calvin’s turn, so I’m taking him for a few days.  I’m planning to meet up with a friend or two, but I’ll use this downtime as a mini creative retreat.  It will be nice to step away from home projects and my studio to spend some time on enrichment.  I’m bringing my paints and a book or two.  While I don’t love flying, I do enjoy time at an airport.  I don’t want to sleep on the floor overnight because of a delay (done that), but I like having a couple of hours to sit, just be, people watch, read, and sometimes write. Here are my four things for this week: Home Again, a new season of my

The summer is just flying by.  I can’t believe the start of school is just around the corner.  I always look forward to the return of routine, but I also miss the slower mornings and more relaxed schedule.  This year will be different, though, because Marshall is officially in college and Calvin will be taking all of his classes at the local community college for his senior year, except for one.  Marshall is already driving, and Calvin will be within a few weeks.  There will be no more pick-up lines and making lunches for me, and their schedules are not typical 8-3 school days.  It’s a whole new season of life. Despite the fact that we won’t have the return of the school year routine, I intend to bring back some of my routines, like getting out of bed early, going on walks, and having a bit more structure to

Despite another allergic reaction happening on one of my arms (what in the world is happening), I spent time working on the side garden bed again this week.  The weather has just been too much of a gift not to be outside.  I also did some mowing, trimming, cleaning up along the curb, and helping Marshall with power washing.  I’m starting to enjoy keeping up with the little things that make a house look sharp, especially when the weather is nice. I’ve also been working on my usual daily to-dos…  writing, painting, and photography.  Sometimes running my own business can be stressful, and I wistfully remember the days when I showed up, did my job, went home, and collected a regular paycheck.  But then I remember that I get to earn a living writing, painting, and taking pictures, and I’m happy with my choices! So, here are my four things