Northwest mist.

“Already, Seattle is taking hold of her. 

She still holds Sedona in the dry tan of her skin and in her hair, 

but the fine mist of the Northwest 

is making its way to places she didn’t know were parched.”
― Susan Wiggs

 Just as the weather has swept my heart away here in Washington, DC...

I am headed to a Washington on the opposite coast. Seattle to be exact. Well...Bellevue to be certain.

I am planning to watch Sleepless in Seattle and read/write on the long plane ride over. 

But first, I am looking forward to a movie night with my Mr. 

and a breakfast date with said husband to follow.

Some mornings I lie awake before the alarm -

listening to husband breathe and watching the sun out our bedroom windows 

slowly begin to splash color on the swaying leaves -

in complete awe and joy that this is home.

I am looking forward to the trip ahead and its promised mist from the Northwest skies, 

but mainly I'm just incredibly excited and thankful to come back home.

when words become unclear...

"When words become unclear, I shall focus with photographs. 

When images become inadequate, I shall be content with silence." 
— Ansel Adams

On a whim, we decided to go to the National Gallery of Art

and within 5 minutes of driving, we were downtown and parked literally right in front of the Gallery.

As we meandered through the wooded walls and grand halls

I couldn't stop thinking how lucky we are to live where we do - 

and as we stared at the Capitoline Venus

(on loan to the United States for the first time)

I suddenly wanted to spend hours learning from and being inspired by

all of the great minds and artists whose work is literally moments from our doorstep.

Afterward, 

we walked a couple of blocks to meet up with some of our favorite DC friends 

and eventually we all ended up at Good Stuff Eatery where the peaches n'cream

milkshake swept my heart away. 

There are so many places to go when words become unclear...

this summer, I plan to make the most of being right here.

solstice

"And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees,

just as things grow in fast movies,

I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer."
— F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby 

 On Summer's Eve, we saw Sixteen Candles outside on a lawn with another couple we really love, 

it was the perfect way to kick off the Summer...

and then this morning...

I was met at work with an email that brought not only this Summer, 

 but life in general into perspective.

Just when life starts to seem crazy and I start to feel a little defeated, 

I am sent a gentle reminder of how lucky I am. 

Thankful to be here, now 

Happy to be married to Mr. D 

and feeling overwhelmingly blessed by those around.

Praying today for my family who has lost

and thankful for those who are near.

----------

I am looking so forward to this Summer and all that it holds, 

I want to make the most of every minute of it - taking not a single day for granted.

It is a Summer of beginnings, after all.

photograph by the amazing and wonderful Amber

the art of being present.

"Right now we are here, and nothing can mar our perfection,

or steal the joy of this perfect moment."
— Audrey Niffenegger, The Time Traveler's Wife

 Sometimes I get to feeling like I'm in need of something new...

A different skyline or job maybe, 

but almost immediately following that urge for displacement - 

I am made aware of the present. 

And as if an answer to prayer, I become so thankful for everything surrounding me. 

The huge front porch standing proud in front of our house 

and that safety and peaceful joy I feel when I walk in our home. 

The Potomac River floating alongside the road like a ribbon dancing carefree in the wind

and the Washington Monument unwavering and strong framed perfectly in my windshield 

on my drive home each day.

Singing in the kitchen with Lucy girl frolicking at my heels as we cook dinner for husband each night -

the breeze blowing through the open windows of our tree house --

I wouldn't trade it for anything in sight.

And Mr. D, who makes me laugh more than any other person

and feel like a winged bird soaring through the sky.

And I get the feeling that there is no such thing better than this -

to be here in the District, the luckiest girl married to the best guy.

So as long as we're here - wherever here may be - 

nothing can take away my joy of the present.

Photograph by the amazing Amber of LiveitOutPhotography