1. I think I can't believe baseball is over for the year. Part of me is certainly relieved. But the bigger part of me will miss the rhythm of baseball days. We got into a good one, dealing with practices and games, laundry and quick & easy suppers. Being on a team is such a good thing for a kid. It's really good for my son. He didn't play as much as he wanted, but this was such a great group of boys and a terrific set of coaches. It was a pretty awesome season, all things being equal. So yeah, I like getting home two hours (or more) earlier each night, but I sure do miss what this experience did for my boy.

2. I think there are many more habits I'm trying to start and break. Here are a few: I would like to spend a day in the studio once a week. I would like to sweep the kitchen every night while Neel does the dishes. I would like to stop turning on the TV as soon as I get up in the morning (I like the news.). I would like to drink my coffee outside on the weekends. These are some of the little things. There are bigger ones, of course. Duh. But it's baby step time, people. Who is with me? Who wants to hold me accountable? Wink, wink.

3. I think it's been kind of a rough week, actually. There have been some definite highs. Dinner with some girlfriends I haven't seen in literally YEARS. Now that was nice. Sometimes your lives drift apart from each other and there's no real going back. You might "like" each other's posts on facebook here and there, but for the most part the connection is gone. With these guys, it felt just normal and right to be back in each other's company. I'm grateful. Another bright spot this week has been the internet, which I love. Where else can you have friends whose videos you cry over, friends who offer (out of the blue) to make things for you and friends who really get you... and can show how much through their talent with the pen. I really, really feel blessed and grateful. Our sweet Thea was back at the vet yesterday for a recheck and she faces a long road to recovery, I'm afraid. We're very worried about the dynamic among our dogs here at the house. My friend Jackie is facing a health crisis is one of her critters and every where I turn it seems that there's some fresh new sadness. And yet. It's important to remember that I'm blessed and grateful. Because I am.

4. I think that I have fallen truly, madly, deeply in love with my new lens. Truly. Madly. Deeply. I know, it's the photographer, not the gear, blah, blah, blah. But sometimes you get a piece of equipment that helps you see things in a new way, and I think this lens might be that for me. I played around in the studio some on Thursday, and while I still have a lot to learn, it felt like every photo was a revelation. I'm excited. It feels good.

5. I think we're low-keying it again for Mother's Day. We always have brunch, and I'm still trying to figure out what to do for the rest of the day. Not cook is one thing. Take pictures is another. I'd like a nice day and to have some fun, but I just haven't landed on what I want to do. Anybody have any fun plans? Any suggestions for me? What do you think I should do?

1. I think, one week in, that this new planner has been a success. So far. I thought I wouldn't like that it's even smaller than my old planner, but it's easier to write in somehow, and I really like the one page devoted to the week and the facing page devoted to notes. Because I'm sure you'll be dying to know how I get on, I'll let you know if we're still getting along a few weeks from now. ;)

2. I think we can feel the school year winding down. We can't feel it, as we shivered our way through yet another frigid baseball game, but it feels (and I hesitate to say it out loud in case, poof, next week the feeling is gone) as if the homework load is easing up, just a bit, and the days are easing up, just a bit, too. I'm ready. It's been a great year, but we're all tired. Bring on summer.

3. I think, however, that this week has been a doozy. If you follow me on Instagram, you'll have seen that we had some canine drama around here. As if one cancer-ridden (and milking it for all it's worth) hound wasn't enough. As Neel says of our beagle Lucy, "The dog ain't right." She and our corgi Thea have had occasional dust-ups but not in quite awhile. Wednesday night, while we were eating dinner, they got into a fight in the back yard. Neel was on it in an instant and got them apart before I could even unwind the hose to try to speay them apart. Still, Thea was hurt pretty badly. She spent the night at the Emergency Vet (Neel came home after several hours), and is home with us now in a Cone of Shame. Thea will be fine, but I hate like crazy that this has happened to her. I can't even tell you. There's a bigger worry here and that's our funny Lucy. She's always been a skittish creature (this is a dog who freaks out and runs away from a dryer sheet lying on the ground) but lately she seems more so. And yet, she is the dearest, leaning-est, sweetest beagle too. When Violet was diagnosed with cancer, and I sat on our stairs with tears pouring down my face and texted Neel to call me, it was Lucy who quite literally crawled into my lap and leaned on me with all her weight. She put her head on my shoulder. No one should feel as aggitated as she does, and no one especially should get hurt the way our sweet Thea Turbo McFatty has. As if we didn't have enough puppy-worry going on.

4. I think, on another note, that as I work on my river series of photos each week, I find stories like these particularly inspiring. My photogroup had an assignment this past week to bring in work or other photographers that inspired you. Only a couple of us completed the assignment (I'm looking at you, Jackie!), but I did (go me! I never complete things!). It felt really good to look out for work other than those that I normally have my eye out for and to start to dissect why I find certain photographers so compelling. Thank you to all of you who weighed in on my lens questions yesterday. Investing in gear is important, but investing in time and education is important too. I'm just as un-good at that as I am at spending money on myself! Everyone seems to be making goals for the month. Maybe I'll make some too and include some work related goals. Couldn't hurt, right?

5. I think we have another fun weekend coming up. It's Field Day at Callum's school, which, trust me when I say, is a Big Deal. Our reward for surviving the festivities will be dinner with some friends Saturday night. I hope they can handle a face-painted, hair spray-painted Callum. Sunday, well. Maybe we'll get a little caught up on Sunday! Groceries, laundry, mopping. I asked Neel, is there anything wrong with wanting to just sit around all day for Mother's Day?! So who else is going to Field Day? I kid! What fun stuff do you guys have going on? I haven't said this in awhile, but thank you, thank you for hanging in and listening. XO

five things, may 10 edition

five things, may 3