Tiger, Sheep, Donkey, and Falcon

These are our friends.  We don't leave the house without bringing along at least two of them.  They eat red seeds, give piggyback rides, and take long walks to the river where they "splish and splash".  We've considered adopting more animals, but figured we should wait until our hands get bigger so that we can carry them all at once.

Splash of Pink

Gangnam Style Thanksgiving

We spent a lovely Thanksgiving with friends and family here in Charlottesville.   I think each person, except for one (for safety concerns), tried out the latest dance craze: Gangnam Stlye.  At one point Bill and I were giving mini-lessons to the teenage girls in the living room.  Even little Fray took a stab at the bouncing saddle steps and perhaps upstaged her mom a bit.  

Autumn Outings

Bye Bye Clothes

I've decided not to buy any clothes for a year as of August 1st.  For those of you who know me well, you know that I'll be in for some major withdrawals the next 12 months--the rehab kind with the sweats, shakes, and minor hallucinations.  To some, clothing is just an extra layer above their skin, a protection, a uniform.  For me, though I'm a bit embarrassed to admit this, it has become my identity.  Since I can remember I've put a lot (some might argue too much) thought into what I wear. When I was in Kindergarden at Catholic school, I loved my teacher, I loved my friends, I loved everything about my experience except the knowledge that once you became a first grader you were obligated to wear the Catholic uniform.  I told my parents "no way am I going to stay there if I can't wear my jam pants and op tee-shirt"-- I hadn't yet honed my fashion tastes. And so, I went to another school where I was allowed to "express myself".  Clothes have mattered to me for a long time. I've tried to intellectualize my preoccupation by reading history books about the influence of fashion on the French Revolution and the Russian Empire.  I've watched most fashion documentaries and fashion-inspired films because I find them to be aesthetically informative. One reason I love old movies is to see how people dressed at different times and how there are reoccurring cycles in fashion (i.e. high-waisted pants).  

So I've decided not to buy clothes for a year for a few reasons: one is that I don't want to keep spending money on things that I don't really need.  There is also an ethical component to my decision.  Buying a tee-shirt that was made seas away from where it's sold seems totally absurd and wasteful.  But mostly I want to see what will become of me if I'm no longer consumed by the thoughts of what to buy next.  I'm open to how this experience may or may not change me.

Above Ground

We've moved and are now living above ground.  Our backyard is so open it almost feels like piece of Colorado sky, despite the humidity, fireflies, and foliage crawling up all sides  of the fence.  

Daily Walks

My gal and I go on a walk every day, come rain or shine, heat and humidity, it's a part of our routine.  There's a trail right behind our house which makes our routine convenient.  She loves to pick up rocks, leaves, and any litter that she can find. 

Hotel Swimming

Some of my fondest memories of childhood are of swimming in hotel pools until my hands were wrinkly, my eyes blood shot, and my stomach full of heavily chlorinated water.  But it meant vacation, and that was always a treat!

Home for the Holidays

Friends with Efray at sweet cafe ardour

Grandpa Key and his new favorite girl

Uncle Vincent reading to Frances

There is one thing that I have learned from my trip back home, I don't take nearly as many pictures as I'd like. I've come to rely on Dave to take all of the pictures, but the problem with that is I don't have access to those images and my blog therefore seems a little disjointed.

I've captured some of our trip back to Colorado, but so many special moments and important people are absent from these images.