Barn Living

Have I ever told you that we once lived in a barn? Isn't that funny? We actually did. When Jeffrey's family moved back home to Oregon in 1995, they invited us to go with them. We didn't have careers yet or even very good jobs. My parents had already moved away from Chattanooga, so we signed on for the adventure. We lived with Jeffrey's parents until we found jobs and got settled in Oregon. Our home was a finished shed that looked like a mini-barn on the property that my in-laws were renting. It was really just a room, about 18x22. No water, no plumbing, just a wall heater and windows that opened. We had to share the kitchen, bathroom, and laundry with my in-laws. Sounds horrible, doesn't it? It wasn't. It was heaven.


Jeffrey's parents, brother, and nephew lived in an old farmhouse that had been painted purple. The neighbor's goat gave birth under our porch and for months we could literally hear the pitter-patter of little feet running around on the wooden porch. Whenever any of us would come home, the baby goat would burst out from under the porch and gently head-butt us looking for a scratch between the ears. Next you would hear the slam of the screen door as my then-five-year-old nephew would come running out hollering, "Aunt Relyn. Aunt Relyn!"


We had a marvelous life in our little barn. We made new friends and a new life across the country from almost everyone we knew. We had a tin roof and snuggled for countless hours while we listened to the rain beating down. We hosted my family for Christmas and even threw parties, including a memorable Dirty Dozen birthday party for Jeffrey. We climbed trees, had pets, canned corn, picked blueberries, slept under the stars, and built a yellow swing that would only move from side to side. We laughed, we played, we had a marvelous time. It's funny how few things you need if your home is full of love. Living in a barn and sharing the purple farmhouse taught me exactly what I need to feel at home.

Home Essentials

~ books and shelves to put them on
~ a beautiful bed, full of pillows
~ a place for guests to sit
~ a table for games, puzzles, dinner
~ a cat or two
~ flowers on the window sill
~ homemade art on the wall
~ the sound of a slamming screen door and running feet
~ big windows and no curtains to block the light
~ wide windowsills for candles and collections of seashells, acorns, and posies from children
~ a place for nephews to sleep when they spend the night
~ a rod for hanging your clothes and a long bed skirt to hide the shoes
~ at least one wonderful tree in the yard and a pretty view from every window

You know, I still miss that little barn and the purple cottage.





The first photo isn't our barn at all. Simply a dreamy image of a barn that I would love to own. See more of M.J. Ticcino's images here. I took the rest of the photos (but one) in the days before digital cameras. I thought you might like a little peek into our tiny home. The people in the Christmas picture are my mom and my brother, circa 1995.

Kansas City Views

At first, as I thought about creating this post, I was a little bummed. I had hoped to be able to show you pictures like these and these. Here I sat, feeling slightly self-critical. Hearing echoes in my brain of You're no photographer!

HA! I shouted. Maybe not. But, I will be. I will be.

This is a start. My start.

shopping at Stuff in Brookside


Urban Arts + Crafts in Briarcliff Village


the most wonderful children's shop ever


an old-fashioned horsey ride at Reading Reptile


heaven on a fork, found here

textures and shadows

the view - red lanterns, the sound - live swing band, the people-watching - terrific

I just love public art!

I took twenty shots of this fountain. Here's my favorite. I just love that face.

for an artist, any canvas will do

loving on Coco

participating in a community painting

Sloane's contribution

"Momma, look! Now I'm an artist. See. I've got a tattoo that says so."

yes, that is a Mercedes Gull Wing

maybe it was cold that day

Well, you've seen my pictures. Here's my story. The moment was unphotographable.

The sun had set and we were headed back to the car. There was a very talented band playing. The lead singer's voice was sweet and smooth. The kind that makes you want to grab your man, curl up on the sofa, and kiss for an hour. Near the stage was an impromptu dance floor and we stopped for more people watching. We saw the usual gathering of people street dancing: mothers with toddlers, drunk women having a little fun, a small group line dancing and having a great time, and three real dancers. You know the ones I mean. The dancers who are so comfortable in their own skin that they move like water in a stream. The women are so beautiful and they couldn't care less. They are too busy dancing. The man knows they are beautiful, but cares more that they can really move. Makes your own heart swell to watch them.

When a new song began, the man asked one of the women to dance. She accepted, but made a "Save me quick!" face at her friend over his shoulder as she moved into his arms. And then he spun her. Two or three turns and he had her.

I just love it when the underdog wins.






I took all the pictures last weekend in Kansas City.

We had a most wonderful weekend, full of small pleasures and delighted senses. So wonderful, in fact, that I am purely exhausted. It's a little after 9:00 and I am headed to bed. I keep saying that to friends in quick emails, but this time I really am. Before I say goodnight, I want to leave a little beauty for you. Just to say thanks for all your lovely, loving thoughts. Happy birthday to me, indeed. What sweet, sweet friends fill my life. Good night. Sleep tight.





This amazing photo was taken by rubycrownedkinglette. Check out her Etsy shop here.

Cakes & Candles

If you know me even a little, you know that I love to celebrate life. Any reason will do and most of them are also a good enough reason to shed a happy tear: a new job, new baby, getting back in touch with an old friend, even Hallmark commercials. So, it won't come as a surprise that I really, really love birthdays. I believe in doing it up big. Why go simple when you can be outrageous? Why celebrate quietly when you can have a party? Thank God my husband understands.

Team Lawson celebrates birthdays for an entire week. Because, why celebrate once when seven celebrations will do? If you are wondering, I also love whoopee cushions, roller coasters, silly putty, cupcakes, balloons tied to mailboxes... I go for anything that brings a laugh or is a harbinger of joy. Balloons. I especially love balloons.

Sometimes my mind wanders off onto the most delightful tangents. Anyway.

This is officially my birthday weekend even though my actual birthday isn't till Tuesday. Jeffrey and Sloane have been busy cooking up some plans. I have been working like mad all week (hence, very little blogging) so that I wouldn't need to work this weekend. We are leaving early in the morning to drive to Kansas City, which is four hours away. The Plaza Art Show is going on and the shopping is always great. We're going to do everything I want to do. Shopping, browsing for hours in a bookstore, spending money I've set aside for Paper Source and Anthropologie, yummy bagel breakfasts, leisurely trips to the art museums, poking around all the delightful shops, taking pictures of the fountains. Whatever I want. We have a hotel room and all day Sunday, too. I can hardly wait! I do love my rural home, but I adore a city. I could drive in old neighborhoods for hours just looking at houses. Hey! I think I will. It's my party, after all.

I'll be back soon with pictures of my weekend. I hope that yours is filled with the things you love. For me that's good food, great dessert, presents, art museums, books, house gawking, and a little art shopping. What are the things you most love to do?





The wonderful art was created by Lisa Kaus. See more of her enchanting work here.

37 Years

Thirty seven years.

It has taken me 37 years to discover my thing. Dumb words, but what else do I call it? You know. My thing. That one special something that is all my own, but also connects me to others. The thing that comes easily, but is always challenging. The thing that provides endless opportunities for growth and change. More than a hobby, an avocation, a passion. The thing that allows me to express myself, take risks, explore, make connections, grow and change. My thing.

One of my good friends is a gifted pianist. She's also a teacher and a mother of two. She works hard all day long teaching children to read. She plays the piano at church every week. She is available, always, for anyone who needs her. Like most of us, she is busy. And. She spends a two or three hours four evenings a week giving piano lessons. Why? Because she loves it. Because it's her thing.

One of my favorite people is extremely artistic. I've seen amazing paintings she created when she was just playing around. She has the most gorgeous pale eggs with fern prints made from ferns in her garden and dye from her plants. Her backyard water garden is a work of art. My closet holds a gorgeous scarf knit just for me. This woman is an artist in every way. And then, she discovered her thing. She rug hooks now. Passionately. Quickly. Beautifully. In a style all her own. She creates her own patterns and combines the most fantastic colors. Her thing.

I have a friend who is an actor. He recently said to me, "Who knew that I would finally find myself, my gift - at forty?" He does it as much as he can now. He takes whatever part he can find in community theater, works hours for free, juggling schedules to meet the needs of five children and still have time to live his passion. His thing.

My husband is an amazing teacher. Gifted. Recognized and admired for his abilities. He loved every minute of it. Then, he decided to make a change and become a librarian. And now? He glows. I'm not kidding. His face, his self. He glows. He is happy, excited, eager, contented. Alive in a electrifying way. His thing.


And my thing? My passion?

It is this.

You are here, taking part in it. And I thank you more than you know.

Thank you for being here, sitting by my fire. I hope you are cozy. Here's a soft pillow for your head. Would you like a warm child to sit on your lap and snuggle? How about a blanket? A well-loved stuffed animal to squeeze? A cup of tea?

Thank you for spending a little time here. Listening to what I have to say. Giving me a place to be myself. To be heard. Sending me encouragement and love. Thank you for seeing me. Thank you for stopping by for a quick hello. Thank you for the longer chats, the comments, the emails, the packages, the give-aways, the friendship, the love. Thank you for being a true community.

Aren't we all so blessed?

Happy September, my friends.






This post was inspired specifically by these two lovely bloggers. The photographs come from two of my favorite photographers who have definitely found their thing. Kristybee and Samantha Lamb.

May your weekend include time for dreaming.
Take joy, my friends. Hold it tight.

The wonderful silhouette and many more were first spotted here. They originally come from the great Wilhelm Staehle.

the Pledge, Blue Yonder style

Today is a sad day.

It is triumphant, too.

This morning I found myself standing in front of a class full of tiny faces and crying as I held my hand over my heart and squeaked out the Pledge of Allegiance. Such sweet, smiling faces that carried no shadow of that sad day seven years ago. Children who were, at most, one year old on September 11, 2001. Children with no memory of towers and planes in flames while a nation's heart broke.

In my class of 17 second graders, only one even knew the significance of today. And she wore red, white, and blue. Our principal asked us to observe a moment of silence for all those affected by 9/11. We did. And then I turned to face my class full of curious and confused faces. Thinking... How do I explain something so important? So terrible? And to children so young? Children whose parents had not chosen to tell them?

This is what I said.

On this day seven years ago I was about 15 minutes into the fifth day of my first year of teaching. I had just dropped my students off at art class when I heard some terrible news. Our country had been attacked and people were suffering, scared, dying. A lot of sad, scary things happened that day. A lot of people died. But, you know what? A whole lot of really wonderful things happened that day, too. Men and women rushed into danger to help other people. Firemen ran into burning buildings they knew they might never escape, because they had a chance to help someone else. Policemen who had families they loved gave up their lives to help. Regular people like your mom or dad risked their own lives to help strangers. So, yes. The grownups around you are sad when they think about that day seven years ago. But, we also have a lot of reasons to be very, very proud. Reasons like bravery. Self-sacrifice. Love for our neighbors. Courage.

That's America.

The perfect photo above was taken by Stefani at Blue Yonder. If you don't know Stefani and the Blue Yonder Boys, please, go visit her right now.

Balancing Acts

I've been thinking about the way that most of the people I know seem to struggle with finding some sort of balance in their day to day lives. We all seem to be living a life that feels precariously balanced between joy and stress, work and family, obligations and abandon. How do we find the balance we crave?


I think I've been going about it all wrong. I've been thinking that balance is about my daily life. I've been trying to find ways each day to fit everything in. Work, managing a home, managing a family, making time for family fun, homework, shopping, errands, piano practice, lessons, reading to Sloane each day, listening to Sloane read each day, time talking to Jeffrey, time snuggling with Jeffrey, eating, cleaning, blogging, email, talking to my parents, connecting with friends... Holy cow! What about exercise? What about... you know? What about a hobby, a new skill, quiet time, writing in my journal, reading? There are not enough hours. It is physically impossible. No one can do everything they want or need to do.




Stick with me here. My revelation isn't the familiar, "choose your priorities because you can't have everything" thing. That's a good one, and true. But, I have something else. It feels big to me.

Life is cyclical, seasons change, fashions come back, everything is a circle. So. Why not my balancing act?

Yes. I can't do everything in one day.
Yes. There will be days when I work late and Sloane is stuck at school right along with me.
Yes. There will be times when the house is a wreck.
Yes. There will be entire weekends when we all play catch up and do nothing much but chores.
Yes. There will be friends I take a month to write back to.
Yes. My to do list will never be complete.
Yes.

So what?

That's it. That's my big revelation.

So what?

Yes. I can do everything I choose to. Just not all at once.
Yes. There will be entire months of summer where none of us work at all.
Yes. Most of the time the house is beautiful and full of laughter.
Yes. There are entire weekends when Team Lawson does nothing but play, laugh, eat, and enjoy each other.
Yes. There are friends who love me, no matter how long it takes me to write back.
Yes. My to do list will never be complete. What a dull life I would have otherwise.




Life is a cycle. So, I am going to shift my perspective. No more struggles with balancing my day to day life. It will never balance. But, my life is in balance. You may have to take the long view to see it. But, I have a long memory.

I can work, parent, play, laugh, blog, run errands, be a good citizen, teach, love. Love my husband, my daughter, my family, my friends, my neighbors, my students, my world. I can read, write, travel, learn, stretch, grow, be a friend, exercise, master a new skill, organize, decorate, connect. I can do it all. Just not all at once.

Here's to balance. One lifetime at a time.




Photographers: Michaela Rae, Pink Sherbert, Hickoree. Two of the images originally seen here.

Calgon, Take Me Away

Our world is amazing, startling, wonderful - and shrinking every day. I just looked at my visitor map from StatCounter.com. I've recently had visitors from Australia, Korea, Vietnam, Thailand, Singapore, Benin, Brazil, and Moldova. And, those are just the exotic locations. How amazing that being connected to people from all over Europe would feel normal. Most of us could hardly imagine such a thing even ten years ago.

I love technology. Email allows us to be in touch in seconds. Cell phones can make us always available. Cameras gives us the chance to capture every moment. Blogs connect us with individuals a world away.

And yet. Email can be like a ticking clock; counting all the days that have passed while I still haven't responded to a friend's email. Cell phones ring at unfortunate times. Whatever the ring tone, it always seems to say, "Me. Pay attention to me." My camera is one of my favorite possessions. It brings me great joy. But, sometimes I catch myself missing out on the moments of living because I am busy trying to capture those moments and save them for later. Blogs, as much as I love them, seem to carry with them their own sense of obligation. Comments to write. New friends to meet. Old friends to visit. Oh, shoot! I haven't posted for four days!

Please don't misunderstand me. I adore technology. I am a big, BIG fan. But access to all of this wonderful technology does carry a price. I would never dream of giving up my cell phone, email, or camera. And my blog? I think I'll be doing this many years from now. I don't want to give up technology any more than I want to give up my job. It's just that some days I want to yell, "Stop the world! I want to get off!" Just for an hour. Remember that old Calgon commercial? I get it now. I really do.

Some days, all a woman really needs is a nice, hot bath. Of course, there are other ways to escape for an hour. Here are some ideas for you.

take a long, hot soak

pile up in bed and read a terrific book

drive to the mall, head to the food court, people watch

browse an inspiring magazine

bake a pie

browse your favorite blogs, leave a comment

make a new playlist

buy a new pack of crayons and a coloring book, for yourself, use them

write a list about all the things you love about you, hang it in your closet or your bathroom

call an old friend, have a chat the old fashioned way

take yourself out on a date with an ice cream sundae

go to the park alone and swing

eat a salad for dinner, enjoy the last of the summer tomatoes

drive to your favorite old-fashioned neighborhood and take a walk

watch this, laugh and laugh

So, how do you spend your Calgon moments? What takes you away?

Happy weekend, my friends. I hope you will find at least one hour for yourself this weekend. And that you will use it for your own Calgon moment.






These images were borrowed from some wonderful photographers. You can find out more about them by clicking each name. They are listed in order of photograph from top of the post to the bottom. Wallpaper.net, jgcf, persisting stars, Selvedge magazine, moredoors blog, greekchickie, neonlike, mpx1979, and me.

I is for...

* imagination * iPod * integrity * iris * Independence Day * Indie film festivals * italics * infant * impromptu celebrations * Inkheart * inspiration in unexpected places * improvised plans * independent women * ivy * illuminated manuscripts * Invention of Hugo Cabret * idyllic scenery * insight * idealistic young people * Icarus by Matisse * instruments * ice: cubes, crystals, bergs * incognito * idioms * identical twins * IF * illusions * illustrious careers * imagery * igloos * Icee * inalienable rights: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness * impacting words * integers * immortality * island * impudence * idiosyncrasy * imported chocolates * India * ibis * impishness * implacability * I Love Lucy * ice cream cone * ions * inaugural address * ironing * Incan ruins * incandescent light bulbs * ice skating * interviews by Terry Gross * Irish accents * Indian summer * indigo * individuality * inertia * ink for a fountain pen * infinity * inquiry method of teaching * insatiable appetite for life * interior chuckles * intrepid females * ivory * inventors *

Don't you just love the alphabet?

To see more work from these excellent photographers, click the individual links. I by Piero Sierra . Ice skating by John Carleton. Ice crystals by Roddh. Indigo ink by Equusignis. To find out more about the Alphabetica project, see the sidebar. To see the entire project so far, click on the Alphabetica link at the end of this post.