shanna murray

what home means to me (pin it forward)

 

 

  

 

 

 

Hello friends! 

I'm so happy to share with you today my take on what home means to me, a project that Victoria of sfgirlbybay launched last week. 300 bloggers have pinned up their ideas and inspiration for what they call home over at pinterest. You can see my pinboard on the topic here.

There are ten groups of bloggers, and each day one person from each group will post about home. Such a lovely idea, and perfect for a time of year when there's lots of spring cleaning, open windows, flowers in the garden, and dinners with fresh produce on the table (at least in this neck of the woods) to linger over.

I'll leave you with a rambling list of what I think of when I think of home - but first i'd love to hear your thoughts on this happy topic, what does home mean to you? Some thoughts that come to my mind are: c & ollie, our hideaway, a safe place full of love and kindness, a spot to explore, a nest for keeping handmade treasures, a spot to fill with whimsy, twinkly lights, old furniture, fresh flowers and food, the perfect spot for tea breaks, a welcoming place for friends, a place to bring inspiration to life, the one tiny spec on the map of the world that is us.

I could go on and on...but that's what the pictures are for, right!?

Happy day to you, S

from top to bottom: landing, me & you show sign, austrian unique bentwood chairs, ollie, the cut path, untitled, magnolia garland decal.     

    
     

creating space

Hello!

Happy friday to you. I'm so happy for this long weekend. Even though I have no special plans, I am feeling nearly caught up with my to-do list, and consequently breathing a little easier and feeling a lot lighter. I have big plans to sort through all of my closets and the basement in preparation for a giant yard sale. I'm actually looking forward to this. It's always such an amazing feeling to downsize.

I took some time to set up a little downstairs work station for myself this week. My upstairs studio has just been too hot with our recent heat wave to be a very productive space - and it's only going to get warmer as the days go on. It feels so good to be where it's cool, and where I can look at all the gorgeous peonies outside and in! It's also the perfect spot for my new intern to work. Caitlin starts next week, and I can't wait! She's going to be a great help. 

Having some help will mean time for me to work on some things that have been on the list for awhile, but that I never manage to find time to get to - namely my website, a new business card, wrapping up the designs for a handful of new decals, organizing my mailing list, and last but not least writing here as often as I've wished I could. I'm just so excited to get started! First on the list will be a couple of tutorials that I've been wanting to share. 

I hope you've got a wonderful weekend planned, pals! Tell me what you'll be up to!

xo, S

adventures in wall building

Hello there!

Just popping in to share a few pictures with you from the weekend. It went so quickly! So quickly that I forgot to take any photos of the gorgeous chickens that lived where we stayed. I'm pretty sad about that. It was a great time, though. Ollie got 3 ticks (and lots and lots of scratches and kisses from new friends and old), I got three tins of unbelievable tea (what a long story that is), and found a vintage green milk glass creamer and sugar bowl at an amazing tag sale for $4.00. Score. There's lots more to tell, but I'm pinched for time.

Trying to play a bit of catch up after being away, but planning a legitimate post on Friday. Hope you've been well, and hope I'll see you then! In the mean time, if you'd like, have a look at some more photos from the dry stone wall workshop that C co-taught this weekend in Connecticut. There's a rather sweet one of Ollie in there!

Miss you! S

getting away

We're headed out of town for a much needed break from routine! The three of us love a good road-trip! I'm looking forward to time away from the computer, maybe a few new podcasts, my darling O on my lap, and some time re-reading a beautiful book, and then when we arrive at our destination; dear friends, gorgeous grounds to walk, and lots of relaxing. Ollie doesn't know it yet, but he's looking forward to surveying the gaggle of chickens wandering around the property, a good scratch here and there from anyone willing to give him one, being teased by Andrew and Dan, and lots of exploring. C is looking forward to time with good friends - visiting and teaching a stone walling workshop together.

I always look forward to these workshop trips. I love that there's time for us to catch up with one another on the drive, and lots of great tea and chats with some of the loveliest people I know when we arrive. 

C will also be hosting a workshop next month here in town. If you've been curious about how these magical walls come together this would be a wonderful way to learn a bit about them and how to build a wall all your own. You can find more information here, or feel free to email me. If Rochester isn't in your neck of the woods C will be teaching another workshop in Vermont in July again with his dear friends, perhaps that might be a bit closer to where you are... More information on the Vermont workshop here.

Thanks for listening to me chat a bit about my sweetheart! Have a lovely weekend, pals!

Hugs, S  

gift after gift

This has been the toughest Mother's Day so far since they've been gone, which caught me by surprise. I tried this afternoon to think of my favorite memories of them, the ones that I've tucked away far enough that I had to go looking. I had a hard time finding them for some reason. I know they are there but I think I might have been just sad enough that they were eluding me. I'll find them soon, I hope.

I went looking through boxes of old pictures as I always do on Mother's Day, or on their birthdays and I got to thinking about how I still feel like that small child with the mouse ears in so many ways- in mostly good ways, but in some that are not. I thought about how I wished I could tell my young self to not take so many days with my mom for granted. I thought about how the tears I always cried when I left my grandmother's house would be the same kind of tears I would cry when she left this world, and that I cried today. Tears of wishing I could have soaked up just a little more of how good it felt to be near her. I thought a lot about how much I look forward to becoming a mother myself, if I am lucky enough to - and wondered what it would feel like to be a mom without a mom, or a grandmother to share stories with. 

I thought about the last gift each of them gave me, one that took a year or so to see. With their passing, each of them gave me the gift of a closer relationship with and a much deeper love for my dad and grandfather - something I am almost certain could not have happened while they were still alive. I am so grateful for this gift, this chance to know them more, to love them more even though it came at such a price. Or really, because it did. 

Thinking about this gift was what turned the day around for me, I am thankful for that. Happy Mother's Day to all of you - to all the mothers and to all of you who have been mothered. Though it can be a silly holiday to some and a painful day for others, there is something in this day for us all, I think. 

Love, S

spring's bounty

Such a beautiful morning, here. It rained and thundered last night and I fell asleep to drops falling. Definitely at the top of my list of sounds to fall asleep to. I am feeling grateful for the sun and crisp, spring air today. Not so grateful for how quickly the week is slipping away. I need a little pause in the day somewhere, a walk or quick rest on a blanket in the grass to soak in all that's making me happy lately. When I find my way there I think I'll think about...

* amazing friends and friendships (both near and far)

* Wille and the Wheel

* my grandfather, who's writing his life story out and emailing it to me bit by bit

* lilacs, which are bursting with blooms

* my favorite pens

* cut off jeans and flip flops

* my dad, who reads my blog - i really love that

* quilts on the grass, and ollie always eager to join me

* rhubarb soda and strawberries

* phone messages from my brother and sister that i play over and over again 

* tea parties

* lavender - never thought i'd love you again - but you are one gorgeous color

* new designs i'm excited to share, but holding on to a bit longer because it feels good to take my time

* the love of my life, who brings a quality of joy to each day unlike anyone else

That feels better. I think I just slowed the week down a little bit...What are you feeling grateful for right this second? I'd love to read your thoughts, you always have such great gems of goodness to share!

Until tomorrow, dear friends. S