“A singing heart, no sadness knows…gloom cannot start where gladness glows.” Johnny Gruelle An American artist know as the creator of Raggedy Ann and Raggedy Andy When I was a little girl my great aunt Jenny made me a Raggedy Andy doll which at the time was life size. I loved to dress and undress […]

Miss Stella turned two at the beginning of this month. No matter the kiddo, mine or anothers, I can’t seem to grasp how quickly a year passes. I have been trying to soak in a few “moments” a day with my boys in an effort to slow time and freeze memories of each day in […]

Fall came weeks ago when school started and all the busyness which it brings with it but fall weather came abruptly this week. I am working feverishly to get through mountains of photos of beautiful people with beautiful lives and amazing families. I am so happy to be busy now and I look forward to getting […]

i didn’t know it was the end when I woke up yesterday. it seemed like any of a string of days we have had between last October and April. cold. wet. gray. sleep. repeat. but today the constants shifted. not in the weather. not in the people exactly but for the first time in over […]

February conjures up feelings and images of sweetness. From the conversation hearts and chocolate treats to everything dripping in pink and red decor. It is a relief from the dark winter days and the cold nipping at us to be wrapped in the hubbub that comes with Valentine’s Day. Even if it is a little […]

Some days were so right and some days were so wrong in 2010 and I want more to be on the right side. Every morning, I want to choose joy. To choose love. To choose learning. To choose communication. Somewhere, sometime, while trying to make a life, I have forgotten a little bit about living […]

Nathan was the first baby I loved. My brother is almost 9 years older than I am and he was married and starting a family before I was out of high school. Nathan was born when I was seventeen.  I can picture myself standing in my teenage bedroom bouncing, swaying and shushing him to sleep […]

It must be their Italian names. Vinny. CiCily. Gianna. Their family name, Orizotti. I love the energy of this family. They are fierce, loving and silly at times. I have been searching for something to liken them to. Trying to mold a description which would accurately portray them. Forgive me. The one thing I can’t […]

It was crumpled in a ball amongst a sea of carpet and toys, but I knew that it wasn’t trash. The cherry red color with white writing would take anyone back to the sweetness of childhood. I picked it up thinking I would throw it away, but stopped myself. I unfurled the waxy paper to […]

Tommy is my character. He is passionate about just about everything, for better or worse. A grumpy, little man on Mother’s day he proclaimed, “I wish it was Brother’s Day,” while we were getting loaded up to go celebrate the day with John’s mother and grandmother. It was love at first sound for me. I […]