Cagney

A few weeks ago, I had the pleasure of meeting my co-worker's dog, Cagney.

 

He's a funny little dog. They suit each other well. 

Sunset at Vineyard Haven Yacht Club

I took this picture in July. It was a perfect evening, and I watched as the sky turned from daytime blue to pink to deep blue.

I'll be visiting the Vineyard again soon, but not this weekend. Even though I wish I was there, I'm looking forward to a weekend full of apple picking and applesauce making.

Happy Friday, everybody! What are your weekend plans? If you're looking for some eye candy, check out my boards on pinterest.

A note: So sorry for the long breaks between posts. I'm still figuring out work/life balance, and I'm working on getting this blog back into the routine. I miss writing here and I miss taking pictures regularly.

Hugh

Eric's grandfather, Hugh, passed away in March; on Saturday evening there was a beautiful memorial service in his honor. Several people shared stories and memories, many of which made me smile. They talked about his patience, his generosity and his intelligence, and I smiled the entire time. I'm so lucky to have know him. I will remember him fondly, and we're both so grateful that he was with us on our wedding day.

April, Eric + Hugh -- photo by Carolyn Beaudreau

Below, you'll find the thoughts Eric shared at the service.

Hugh Schwarz was a great man. He was polite, patient, humble, generous, and caring. To me he was Grandpa, and he was most of all consistent and reliable.

For my entire life he lived on the Vineyard, wore the same pair of Nantucket reds patched with duct tape, used the same set of trusty binoculars, and always kept a pocket day planner.

When I would be arriving or leaving the Vineyard, Grandpa would be sure to ask me which ferry I was taking and jot it down in that day planner. In all my years of coming and going, even as recently at this past February, he never failed to bring me to or from my chosen ferry. That little day planner was his way of telling me that I was important to him and he would be there for me.

He also had a blue bag. The blue bag was a small duffle bag that contained everything he needed to go on a boat. Charts, flares, oar locks, and keys. Grandpa would put the oar locks and keys in one end of the bag, and then zip it up so that the zipper pull was on that end. That way when he went to dig out the oar locks and keys on his next outing the zipper pull would tell him which end they were on.

Some of my favorite memories involve that blue bag. I remember being about six and driving down to the harbor to go sailing on his boat, Fox. We had to row out to the mooring, and I remember he was a very efficient rower. He had great rhythm and poise and didn’t appear to exert much effort, but Grandpa and I and the blue bag would cruise through the water.

I grew close to him in college when I spent entire summers on the Vineyard and wrote my senior thesis with his help. I had fascinating conversations with him about his career. He would mention, matter-of-factly, that he helped build a processing plant during World War II that was put on a railroad car and shipped to the Russians. I learned about his work on the Manhattan Project and the process which led to the launch of Minute Maid.

We also talked about his personal life. About his first date with Nana when he had laryngitis and couldn’t say a word. He told me about their first apartment in a basement in Brookline with an illegal electric stove that they hid in a closet when the landlord stopped by.

It was through these interactions and conversations that I learned not only had Grandpa done cutting edge engineering under incredible circumstances, but also what a great man he truly was. He was incredibly accomplished yet humble. He was the smartest person I knew, but he didn’t take himself too seriously and was always willing to help others. He also impressed me with his knowledge of current events and the latest technology.

The funny thing was that he never liked to use the latest technology, because he didn’t trust it. He preferred his old Nantucket reds, his trusty binoculars, and his pocket day planner. Those items were consistent and reliable, just like Grandpa.

And there is something remarkably comfortable about those qualities. There were things I didn’t have to worry about, because Grandpa would handle it. And things I didn’t have to know, because Grandpa would know. I can arrive on island and go back in time. I can go back to my childhood by walking over to the garage and finding that same blue bag, with the same oar locks which are always on the side with the zipper pull like they were when I was six.

That’s why is difficult for me to accept that he’s gone. Even at the age of ninety-two, I expected that Grandpa would always be there. And I had that expectation, because for my entire life he always was.

Oh Hello!

I've been neglecting this little blog for far too long. I can't make any promises, but I'd like to make it back here more frequently. I miss it, and I haven't been dedicating nearly enough time to my photography hobby of late! But today I do have something to share.

I was in my hometown for the weekend, and had a wonderful visit with Sara + Audrey. I can't believe how quickly Miss Audrey's growing; since I see her so sporadically she's really different with each visit. It's pretty amazing, actually, to see how quickly babies change.

Together, they're all smiles. It's really very sweet.

Also, I've been blogging regularly at Everything Little Miss, so be sure to check there for updates! Here are some things you may have missed (that I blogged about at ELM):

• a few wedding photos
• Eric's graduation
• our big move

Dyed Eggs

We dyed 24 eggs on Saturday, and we tried marbleizing.We had sort of a rocky start, but we figured it out by the end. And now our eggs are so much more exciting!

I think that we should dye eggs more than once a year. You know the saying: A colorful fridge is a happy fridge. Okay, I just made that up, but it's totally true!

One Month Tulips

Tuesday, April 19th, was one month since our wedding! Holy moly, folks. We've already been married for a month.

And how super sweet was it to come home to a vase full of these pretty orange tulips to celebrate the happy occasion? Answer: SUPER super sweet.

Government Center In The Morning

Hey you guys, it's spring! And since the time change on the 13th, my mornings have looked a little different. The sun's not as high in the sky, and I have to find a new sunny spot while waiting for the bus. I love these little changes; every morning's got a little surprise waiting for me.

Yesterday, when I got off the train, I walked outside to this pretty beam of sunlight. It was brisk and bright, which was totally refreshing after a jam-packed 40 minute train ride.

How have you been enjoying the combined season and time change?

Wedding Day Hair

Well, it happened! Our wedding happened. I can't really believe it, but it's true. The day was an absolute dream, and so much fun! 

I loved everything about it, including my hair. My sister took this photo just before I put the veil on. 

The hair dresser, Melissa, did exactly what I asked, and the style lasted all night long. It even survived my crazy dancing. 

Dollar Store Poppies

Hello! It's been a long time since I've written here, and I miss my blog so much. I'm getting a ride to work this morning, so I have a few minutes to spare. What great fortune!

I bought these flowers at the dollar store over the weekend. I got them for somebody in particular, but they don't know about it yet. It's a bit of a joke, and I hope they make her smile.

Anyway, they really did look quite lovely in the sunlight the other day. Goodness, orange is beautiful. That's all I'm sayin'.

Glittering Sunlight

For the past nine years, February 7th has been an emotional day for me, and it has become a day of reflection. 

I took this photo from the bus stop on the corner of 34th & Lexington in Manhattan, when I was there for work last week. The way the sun lit up the street and took center stage in the hustle and bustle was a little bit magical. That last part is why I'm including this photo in this post; it felt like somebody, somewhere, added a little glitter to the sun, just for me. If that's true, I know exactly who it was.

When I left for work this morning, the sun was again sparkling + shining brightly, so I took my cue from Mother Nature and smiled. Today was definitely a happy day, one filled with fond memories and lots of gratitude.