Photographs of Beautiful Camp Wilson

At the beginning of October I attended a women's church retreat at Bellefountaine, Ohio's Camp Wilson. I had heard a lot about the camp from my son who attended summer camp for a week there; he thought it was fantastic. I was excited to have a bit of time away from the homestead and a bit of time for contemplation and it turned out that this little patch of Ohio was the perfect spot for a mommy time out.

We had our teaching, social times, and camp activities (I learned that with a bit of practice I might be a pretty fair archer), but what I loved the most was the time that I found to walk and wander the property, which was gorgeous. The lake was one of the most peaceful places I have been in a long time. Usually when I attend a retreat I am itching to get home. This time, though, I could have used a bit more time to enjoy this slice of heaven here on earth.

When the milkman came

It's amazing, really, how different life is than 100 years ago (even 50 years!). There are reminders all around us, like this milkman's urn. Look around you. What do you see that reminds you of how different life is now?

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Sponsor Love and Thanks!

I'd like to thank my two new sponsors. Make sure you check out their wonderful blogs

Kendra Kantor is an art journalist who does amazing work. My favorite posts are the Color Inspirations, where she takes gorgeous photos and pulls the predominate colors out of them; great for artists, quilters, knitters, home decor, and the list goes on. When I saw her page initially, I told her that we have similar aesthetic tastes, so if you like this blog, you're going to find a new one to like in Like A Bird.

Kamika Krafts is one of the coolest fashion blogs I've run into in a long time (come on, look at her button - she's cool!). She is starting her own journal project (but it's a bit different than Sandra's!) and has many other art journal projects from the past, gives some great styling advice(love), features cool music (love), photography (which is great and fun), and tutorials (yes, tutorials!). She's also got a great Flickr photostream and fun Tweets, but to read those, you have to check out her cool page!

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Thanks, Jenna for including my Linus the Cat card in your newest etsy treasury, For Ohio, By Ohio, From Ohio! I've talked about Jenna's cool jewelry on here before - we actually own a guitar string bracelet that rotates between my daughter and teenage guitar playing son (it is really so beautiful!). You aren't going to have to sell a kidney to afford her pieces, so please, help out a friend of mine and check out her etsy store!

And that reminds me! I have some new cards in the store including a really cool snowman and snowy garden angel - Christmas is around the bend - think about it!

Collage and a Good Cry

I don't know what it is about collaging; the last time I was in IOP I decorated EVERYTHING. The art therapist actually said to me "I was excited to see you were coming because I missed your collages." This is what I did to my folder today.

I learned something about myself that really shook me. And I cried for a long time when I came home. The thing is, this thing that I learned is something that my husband has been bugging me about for a long time. I love him because he never said, "I told you so." He listened and talked and heard my pain and then repeated everything he had told me in the past as a solution to this issue. And I'm so exhausted from crying and so scared of the solution that I don't know if I can go through with it.

I didn't expect to be so shaken by something. Erin, you say, you are in an Intensive Program. They are gonna dig. I just hope I don't dehydrate myself tomorrow. And I hope I'm not bringing you down! It's just my life right now, and I feel stripped down to the bone at the end of my second day. To the bone.

And with that, I'm making dinner.

It is such a secret place, the land of tears. ~Antoine de Saint-Exupery, The Little Prince

I Love (ie. They make Me Happy a little early)

I have received such support in the last few days. I am here to say thank you from the bottom of my heart. I'm still a mush head, but it's not that difficult for me to put together these lists, so here's a new one. And the number one thing I love this week are my readers. I feel like I've known some of you forever. And you don't hesitate to share your support, wisdom, and love.


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:: When creativity hits (you will hear about this one in a few months - lots of work involved)
:: Colored pencils
:: Finding pieces of paper with my grandparent's handwriting on them


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:: The way my 3-year-old calls cartoons "toon toons."
:: Feather pillows and feather beds
:: Beignets - I think they are what heaven tastes like

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:: Musty book shops
:: When Will comes to me for magical kisses that "make it all better."
:: The Hermes Kelly Bag (my birthday is the 18th, so anyone who wants to get me one is more than welcome)


Beatrice, 1885, pastel over charcoal, private collection source

:: My grandfather's piano
:: Odilon Redon's pastels
:: St. Denis, mostly because after he was beheaded he picked up his head, walked six miles preaching a sermon the entire time, and then cleaned his head off in a fountain. And he's the patron saint of headaches (I think he more than earned that distinction).


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:: That fall chill in the air
:: Long naps holding my William
:: Um, did I ever mention that I love cats?


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Simple Things for Christina

Christina of Soul Aperture is having her birthday today. So in honor of her amazing writing, pictures, and insights, those of us that love her are making lists of Simple Things.

Hot biscuits and honey
Walls of family photos
Spontaneous summertime picnics
Lavender sachets



Bouquets of freshly cut wildflowers
The throaty chirp of bullfrogs at night
Black raspberries fresh from the bush, and red stained fingers
Watching William play with Hot Wheels
Huge stands of rambling roses and their heady old rose smell
Hardwood floors smelling of Murphy's Oil Soap



Fields of clover
Soft summertime showers
Old soft tee shirts
My grandfather's old "virgin acrylic" sweater
Laying your head down on a brand new pillow
Purple pink sunset skies



Happy birthday, Christina. I can't imagine the world without you.
One love.

Ah, The Good Life

I Love these vintage Pepsi ads. Not only are the graphics gorgeous, but it's a great look into the past; what was it, eactly, that people thought constituted "the good life." I also like the fact that Pepsi is described as a "Refreshing without filling". I'm not sure what beverage fills you up, but now we know that Pepsi doesn't!

On a totally different note, please notice the "Top Mommy Blog" button in my sidebar. I'd love it if, after you look at these great ads, you'd vote for me. It's just a click and takes a second! Thanks in advance.

I Love her hat! She looks so effortlessly cool!


I wish I looked this chic and amazing while wrapping presents!


Her outfit is amazing! Look at the bow at the bottom of her fitted shirt. And look at her come hither expression and that great flippy red hair! Hubba hubba!


Today's people ARE wonderful.


She reminds me of Grace Kelly. Oh, to be this gorgeous on your wedding day!


This one is maybe my favorite. Not only is her outfit To Die as she does her Japanese flower arranging, but back then, Pepsi was slimming!

The Feminine Ideal

After saying that I longed for the days of the put together man, I'm not sure that I could live up to these images. The doe-eyed love, the *ahem* cattiness, the "always stand by your man" and the perfectly put togetheredness of it all blows my mind. Course, my mom says housewives back then spent most of their days in house coats and rollers - that I could deal with.

All images from Flickr

Be a Real Man

Something in me yearns for the days when men wore perfectly pressed pants, fedoras, and starched white shirts. In the 50's and 60's, appearance was so integral to being a MAN. Oh, and smoking the perfect cigarette and drinking amazing scotch. Knowing how to grill the perfect kabob for your Polynesian themed party didn't hurt, either.

All images from Flickr.

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Ethereal

e·the·re·al - [ih-theer-ee-uhl] –adjective

1. light, airy, or tenuous: an ethereal world created through the poetic imagination.

2. extremely delicate or refined: ethereal beauty.

3. heavenly or celestial: gone to his ethereal home.

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