handsome, yes? yes....it's rare they pose and even rarer you get them both to smile. so, of course this is going to be printed for the mantle.
last night i had a pity party of one. then i picked myself up, rolled my hair and met my sister and the nephews at the opening fresh market at hampstead. hampstead is this gorgeous development where my sister is the property manager - it is a planned area with shops, houses, lofts, and yummy restaurants. the market has a good beginning with lots of fresh produce (you know how much i love fresh produce) and last night i snagged a lovely pint of homemade chicken salad. oh how i love well made chicken salad. it was a fun place with lots of cute dogs, peaches, great characters and sweet children. i love to see their little sweaty and red faces when they climb out of the bouncy jumping thing. too bad the nephews are too old now. (pout)
now, before any smart comments about the boys hair - i have this theory, plus i grew up in the 70s. as long as its clean and fresh, i don't really care how long it is. i also believe the more people fuss and razz them about their hair, the more the boys will want to exert control over the one thing they can control in their lives. the oldest talked about how people stare at it ... i told him to 'own' it. if it is his fashion statement, to embrace the stares. i think it may have taken too well as i noticed a little strut developing last night.
after, we had dinner in this cute new place that is termed 'country cooking' where i finally had chicken and waffles. now, many people think this sounds weird but let me tell you...it was so yummy. something about the salty and sweet together was heaven!! as we were leaving, the sun was setting a glorious peach that deepened to red.
life is not wonderful but, it is filled with wonderful parts ... like my nephews' smiles, a good dinnner, the company of love, a sunset painted with beautiful and glorious color, a home to return to and the safety of my bed. it isn't as much as some but it is plenty more than a majority of this world has. so i'm grateful and content with those facts. i know where my next meal comes from. i am warm, clothed and clean. i have friends and family who care. i have eyes to see and ears to listen.
***
my fab new blog banner was made by my friend, lecia. thanks girl - i love it!
love this post, thanks for sharing your evening
ReplyDeletesounds like you had a lovely day and recognized the many things you have to be thankful for.
ReplyDeletewhat a beautiful market photo - those peaches look delicious.
You have a good heart.
ReplyDeleteYou have a good soul.
This post really shows it. And that photo of the nephews? Shazaam!
(where the hell did that come from?)
It's awesome. And I was not going to say anything about the hair. At all! I love it. It's clean. Clean is good.
Love the nephews, love the sunset (actually adore it), and love the dog with the tongue.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun time! That sunset is spectacular!
ReplyDeleteawww, your nephews are so cute! my brother has a similar style going on right now ... hey, if they can rock that mop out, i say why not?!
ReplyDeletealso, what a gorgeous sunset you captured there ...
you know, you're very lucky.
your life is charming and beautiful.
and you get to eat a lot of fresh food.
;-)
I grew up in the 70s too, and now my college age kids say that I had the best era to grow up in. The best music, no technology, a certain real-ness and actually a maturity that they don't find today. Imagine?
ReplyDelete1) Love the new banner & your nephews' hair. Quite a few of my son's friends have their hair in that same style so it's not a big thing. Most of the boys I loved/stalked in high school wore their hair that way, too. ;) 2) You must be a lover of food. You are always writing about something delicious & it never fails to make me wish I could fall in love with the effort it takes to cook/bake. 3) I'm glad you enjoyed an afternoon/evening of delights with family. A market reads like a wonderful evening though I'm a bit unsure about the chicken/waffles combination. Goodnight from IA. :)
ReplyDeleteThat pic of your nephews is certainly mantle worthy! It is great and they are gorgeous...even the hair...I love kids that age, where everything is crazy and silly...
ReplyDeleteI love the peaches and veggies pic too...great colors!
Altho you have been disappointed recently you seem to know what is really important in life...
The photos are fab,
ReplyDeleteof course. I love
how you encouraged
your newphew. I
can totally picture
the "strut." :o)
What a wonderful day! I pic of the dog is precious (and the nephews too!). I missed the farmers market this week...but at least I got to see your pics. ;)
ReplyDeleteit would be difficult to be sad when you have access to peaches like that...
ReplyDeletelove the new banner.
:-)
/j
Yes, the simple things in life seem to make us the happiest - or alteast the most content. I love the long hair. My son has red hair and it looked great long, but his boss at the restaurant wants it short.
ReplyDeletei saw the photo first and my thought was "great hair" and then as i read along i see that you defended the hair. beautiful boys and just look what can happen when the pity party gets cancelled.
ReplyDeletei love to read your posts that are a mixture of sorrow and disappointment, but with huge doses of gratitude and positivity thrown in! this is real. and i completely relate.
ReplyDeletewonderful shot of your nephews. they are beautiful. {or handsome is the word they would probably prefer}. and the produce shot? GORGEOUS color!
i also LOVE you new banner. i love the simplicity.
not surprised by any of this—you're just one talented lady!
bonjour !
ReplyDeleteFirst time i come across your blog so im gonna visit it now :)
well if you wanna be inspired by my collages , or just dream, come and visit my blog :)
a bientot !
Boubouteatime xx
Great photos! Sounds like it was a wonderful time. And you're right to tell your nephews to own their hair. Too many people make fun of others or like to emphasize how people are different (and therefore weird in their eyes). Glad to see they are already showing their individuality!
ReplyDeleteI love the new banner and those boys are pure yumminess !
ReplyDeletemy son's hair used to look to just like that, so it doesn't bother me at all...and if it makes them happy that's all that matters !
and omg...the food/market photos...my mouth is watering !!
I love going to the market. I always feel cleaner afterwards. BEAUTIFUL shots, Char.
ReplyDeleteI love the photo of your boys. My favorite photos of my kids are always the ones I take spontaneously. Although, with seven of them, they are never all smiling, or someone's eyes are closed. We strive for most, but not all.
ReplyDeleteLove the photos. You have such a way of noticing things that the rest of us pass by. It reminds me to stop and take in my surroundings more often.
ReplyDeleteGreat shots! I absolutely love Farmer's Markets. And that sunset shot is simply stunning! I can totlly relate to the situation with you nephews hair. My little nephew had long hair with a little curl that I absolutely adored and I was so crushed when his mom practically shaved it all off last summer. Sigh.
ReplyDeletegotta love peaches
ReplyDeleteI was looking at the first picture thinking that I want to let my son's hair grow out a little more (he looks better with a mop like that) and then I read your comments. Haha! I think it looks great that way.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great day!
1) love the new banner!!!
ReplyDelete2) those boys have some luscious locks!
3) love your pictures, ALWAYS!!!
Love that sunset. I never seem to be able to capture one. You've got good instincts. And good sense. They don't always go together. I'm glad he developed a strut. If you're going to "own it" you might as well develop a strut to go with it!
ReplyDeleteBrenda
Where oh where did you find those fresh peaches? We don't get them here locally *in Knasas) until July or later. I need to eat mine up from last summer before the fresh ones are ready again!
ReplyDeletePeach cobbler here I come!
your writing is easy and flowing and stirs my heart along with the images clear and true...your obvious love for family and gratitude for what counts floats across the screen thru my misty eyes...blessings my friend.
ReplyDeleteYou are so right, and I suspect that most people's lives are the same -- certainly not perfect but filled with wonderful parts... And you are blessed with the wisdom to realize that. And I hope you realize, too, that your work gives joy to many -- and that is no small thing in itself. :)
ReplyDeleteCheer up hun. Your boys are adorable. What kind of camera do you use? Your photos are so clean and crisp.
ReplyDeleteCounting our blessings. That makes everything better, doesn't it?
ReplyDeleteAbout the hair thing. I've always felt that children should be able to control their own hairstyle. So much is dictated to them, so many choices are out of their hands. The least we can do is let them control their own hair.
Oh yes,...those are two junior hunks in training,... and I like the long hair. Cute boys. Re: pity party for one,.. we all do it the trick is to do it, and move on. sounds like you did. Hang in there!
ReplyDelete