The Past Few Days in Stills

The soothing droplets of this evening's summer rain.  It was really coming down too.  One of my favorite sounds in the world.

Day Twenty-One :: Where I Slept (In the morning, the boys and dogs jumped right in to wake us.  Oh, alright, we'll get up...)

Day Twenty-Two :: From a High Angle (A fun Girls Night In with some of my best girlfriends, complete with karaoke!)

Day Twenty-Three :: Movement (A warm bubble bath for the boys after a sleepy Saturday)

Day Twenty-Four :: On My Mind (A perfect Sunday of reading, writing, planning, relaxing...)

Mateo and Tomas surprised us with Sunday breakfast :)

Day Twenty-Five :: Something Cute (I love our bedtime reading ritual; the boys like to have a sleepover on the big couch when there's no school)

The 'Nostalgia Fridays' Chronicles

My good friend Mel gave this sign to me:)

Milk is Quiet is mostly about living in the present moment by using our senses and being mindful; enjoying what's right in front of us.

Yet, since I'm such a romantic about nostalgia, I want to create a little library called Nostalgia Fridays, which invites us to reminisce about the good old days with family, friends, and coming-of-age discoveries.  I am a proud representative of the 70's and 80's generation, and things were much different from the fast-paced digital age that we live in today today.

These days, we are all searching for ways to be like George Jetson on the speeding treadmill screaming, "Jane!  Stop this crazy thing!"  Well, maybe we're not in flying cars by now, but we might as well be with correspondence and media traveling at the speed of light.


My hope with this project is to recapture some vignettes of slower and simpler days.    


Prepare to fasten your seat belt (or, in my childhood, seat belts weren't even legally required!), and join me on this historical ride like Marty McFly in Back to the Future.  Perhaps you will remember and share some sweet memories of your own.

As inspired by the amazing writer Natalie Goldberg, let's begin with I remember...

I remember one sticky summer when we saved an injured bird that we found in our front yard.  Maybe it was a mother bird who had babies waiting for her?  Maybe it was a baby bird who still couldn't figure out how to fly?  Who knows.  What we did know was that we had to help this poor bird in some way.  My older sister Michelle gathered some leaves and twigs into an old tin Folgers coffee can.  We poked breathing holes on the lid.  The smell of coffee and wormy soil remains strong in my memory.  My sister, ever the animal lover, nurtured this little bird back to health, and it eventually fluttered about the bedroom.  We screamed with excitement--but I think we were also a little scared.  It's not every day that we had a bird crazily flying in our room.  We decided that it was time to release the bird outside.  I can't recall how we let it go or how long it took for the bird to heal.  All I remember is that we felt this sense of responsibility towards an innocent creature that trusted us and relied on us.  

As children, we aren't always given such a great responsibility.  We felt very empowered that summer.  As if we could start our own little hospital if we could.  My boys always love hearing stories of when the kids "ruled."  I have a great story about one snow day, but I'll save that for another Nostalgia Fridays hour.

Was there a memory from your childhood that made you feel like you could take on a challenge without a grownup?  Grab your journal and just start with I remember...

Summer To-Do List

p.s. you can create your own lists or journal entries with this sweet vintage memo notepad courtesy of Calsidyrose at http://flic.kr/p/7hSJL8

I am hoping to keep the boys from having the video game and T.V. autopilot syndrome over the summer.  We are set for swimming lessons, a writer's workshop, and soccer camp, but I thought I would gather an easy-going list of activities that my guys and I can do together.  I want some opportunities to enjoy some simple, lazy days.  


A chance to breathe in the gauzy air.  Unplugged, but tuned into the world around us.

Please feel free to grab this list for your own summer fun.  What ideas do you have?  I would love to hear about them.

Happy Summer!

Some June Days and Captures

Day Fourteen :: Time (Tomas was learning how to tell time in 1st grade this year; the easy things we take for granted when little ones are just learning)

Day Fifteen :: Yellow (nothing like golden tulips to bring the sunshine indoors)

Day Sixteen :: Out and About (my boys and I love our library escapes and the magic of books and quiet neighbors)

Day Seventeen :: What's in Your Bag (ok, so this wasn't actually taken on the same day, but I happened to have this shot from a couple of days prior--with Father's Day activities, I got sidetracked--sigh...)

Day Eighteen :: What You Don't Know About Me (my vision/inspiration board in my reading corner; recently turning 40 has been such a good chapter for me so far; I am definitely wanting to keep this positive journey going)

Day Nineteen :: Imperfect (I tried to take a picture of another "imperfect" image while the Hawaiian rolls toasted with butter in the pan.  Oops, they burned!  Well, we ate them anyway, and the boys actually liked them!)

Day Twenty :: Favorite Photo I've Ever Taken (this was on New York City's Brooklyn Bridge just a few weeks after the Twin Towers were tragically hit; you could still see the smoke and smell the burning metal at that time; the mood around the city was somber, yet friendly among the people; my husband was my tripod, I shot this with film, available light, bulb exposure, and held my breath...)

Ushering in the Summer Season

Lavender :: a sign that summer is around the corner

My Photo-a-Day...

Day Twelve :: From a Low Angle (this is the boys' art gallery wall)

Day Thirteen :: Art (with school out in a few days, we intend on using these a lot)

With my boys ending the school year in a couple of days, I've got summer movies on my mind--even though we live in the Pacific Northwest and the heat of summer is not even on our radar yet.  

Anyway, my brother, sisters, and I have certain movies that we like to watch to welcome a new season.  Maybe you have some movies that you turn to each season?

Here are a few of my summer favorites--although, I'm probably forgetting some...

1. Roxanne: I love the sweet little town and the excellent script with Steve Martin

2. Meatballs: the classic 1970's summer camp movie with Bill Murray

3. Dazed and Confused: has excellent 70's tunes.

4. The Goonies: full of adventure (a great movie for kids)

5. Karate Kid: with Ralph Macchio, and they play Bananarama's Cruel Summer

6. National Lampoon's Vacation: it kicks off the family road trip in style

7. Grease: nothing like Summer Lovin' and You're the One that I Want

Bonus: while we're talking about music, one of my favorite summer songs is Everybody Wants to Rule the World by Tears for Fears because it reminds me of hopping on the neighborhood bus with my brother down to Kirkland Parkplace to watch The Goonies matinee.

So, maybe this weekend you can crank up your favorite summer songs, then plan a movie night with a good movie classic.  Don't forget the popcorn!

Well, I can't close this post without noting a few senses so far this week...

Sight: screaming at the clock as I realize we're running late for school!

Smell: lavender picked from our backyard.  I'm so happy that it survived the bitter winter that we had.

Sound: Katy Perry's Fireworks song (never thought I'd be into her, but my guys and I really like that Fireworks song and its positive message on self image--what's not to like about that?  Plus, she is a very talented artist)

Taste: my espresso which I heated in the microwave for the third time.  I know, blasphème café!

Touch: the softness of my little boys' fleshy cheeks when I smooth lotion on them after their bath.

What are some of your senses you've noticed this week?  It's ok if you can only recall one or two.  I know that I can't remember all of them, but I try:)

Photo-a-day Catchup :: June

Hello.  Not much to report in this post, but just wanted to catch up on sharing my photos-a-day. More thoughts and photos on their way.  I hope you are enjoying your week!

Day Seven :: Drink

Day Eight :: Six O'Clock (Pioneer Square, Seattle, WA)

Day Nine :: My View Today (getting my hair cut at Seven Salon by the beautiful Erich; Downtown, Seattle view)

Day Ten :: Best Bit of My Weekend (walking and biking to the market for eggs to bake brownies) 

Day Eleven :: Door (these little houses are a collection of an old 2010 calendar that I saved from Anthropologie)

A Quick List

Day Five :: Sign (this is DeLancey's on 3rd; a banquet hall in Renton, WA since 1917)

Day Six :: Hat (my brother got a couple of hats for my little cowboys during a stop in Dallas, Texas--authentic!)

I will try to keep this brief because it's been a long day.  There's more that I want to say about the sign theme (Day 5's photo-a-day) and just "signs" in general, especially relating to the current journey that I'm on.  I've been meaning to write more about mindfulness and the senses, but I've been having trouble with focusing and staying in the moment.  Though, many signs are pointing me in the direction to slow down, stop, and settle in.  I'll talk more about these signs when I can give them more justice because I really want to share them.

In the meantime, I will jot a quick list a few of my senses today.  I miss doing this, and I think I've suffered the "what's next on the to-do list" syndrome.  So, let's see if I've been paying attention, shall we?  I was reading a great article from Leo Babauta's Zen Habits about journaling in bullet points, and I think that tonight will be one of those times: 

Sight: A huge heron quietly standing at the edge of the river by our library.

Sound: Mateo (my 9 y.o) telling me that seeing the heron was a special moment for us. 

Smell: My mom's home cooking of rice and bistek with potatoes.

Taste: A crisp glass of sauvignon blanc with dinner.

Touch: A monkey hug with Tomas (my 7 y.o) after a reset from scolding him for wanting to play video games before finishing his homework assignment.

I hope you had a good day.  Take some time to note your senses too.  What did you pay attention to today?  If it's hard to remember, just quiet your mind and see if they gently come to you.

To Market

Day Four :: Up-Close (business card from marigold and mint | Seattle, WA)

Sitka & Spruce | Seattle, WA

The fabulous Melrose Market off Capitol Hill in Seattle is home to Katherine Anderson's Marigold and Mint organic flower shop.  It's a really exquisite corner with well thought out collections of stationery, soap, and coffee table books as well.  If you ever get a chance to visit Seattle, don't forget to stop by there.  Or, if you're already in the area, grab some lunch at Sitka & Spruce (we went there for Easter brunch, and it was a divine feast), after that, wander upstairs to Butter Home for more delights.  I found a weathered robin's egg blue chest which I use for a photo prop sometimes.

Every city or neighborhood has a great little spot to wander through.  If you haven't found one yet, keep looking.  Little shops with good people and good things are where you least expect it.

p.s. here are the pop-up cards from my boys

Teo's dog theme for his Godmother - my awesome big sister (she loves animals, especially dogs)

Mas's space theme also for my sister (not sure how much she likes space, but Mas thought it was a cool idea)

Goodnight, Weekend

Day Two :: Empty

Day Three :: On Your Plate

Saturday :: Making Pop-Up Cards

Sunday in the Park and Eating Laffy Taffy Ropes

What a good weekend.

Saturday:

The boys and I made some pop-up cards.  They were fun to make!  Sorry, I'll have to share a picture of our finished creations tomorrow.  We had to let the glue dry, so we headed off to the library before it closed.  Then, I forgot to take a picture of the cards, and I lost some good light by the time I remembered.  

Sunday: 

We walked to the corner market to pick up some sides to go with the salmon for dinner.  Carrots, spinach, pasta... Laffy Taffy ropes for the walk home.  A stopover at the park was in order.  Battling flying monkeys with candy swords while soaring on dragon swings to save the injured unicorn.  Then back home we strolled to have Sunday family dinner.  Berry cobbler and lavender ice cream for dessert.  Delicious!  We needed to walk it all off, so the entire family took the dogs out for a walk, then played H-O-R-S-E with the basketball.  What a day!

Boys are in bed now.  They were beat.  Cozy movie date night with Al.  We don't always get to have weekends like this.  It's nice when we do.

Have a beautiful evening...

A New Day

Day One :: Morning

Just getting back into the swing of things.  Thank, you May.  Welcome, June.  Hello, rain.

The photo above is of my boys eating breakfast before rushing off to school.  Free dress.  Canned food donation.  Math party.  It's part of the Fat Mum Slim photo-a-day challenge that I'm participating in this month.  Today's theme is Morning.  It's a great list!  It's not too late to join if you would like to.

Yes, I'm working on various projects these days.  I recently left my office job--hooray... and, yikes!  Now I'll be revisiting my photography and writing business.  More on this later.  Milk is Quiet will continue to be my personal blog, but you will also be able to find me at my other site, Note & Picture, soon.  I want to keep my professional site and my personal photojournaling separate.  Please stay tuned!  Planning behind the scenes.  It's a new, creative journey that I've always wanted to nurture.

Also, I have been waiting for over a year to join Holly Becker's decor8 Blogging Your Way e-course since I missed it the last couple of offerings.  I was on top of it this year, and I signed up before it filled up.  Looking forward to some inspiration and tips to help me get motivated.  Can't wait!