My Family

Tim and I had a seemingly simple plan to celebrate our 5th wedding anniversary; head to the beach.  However, the universe had other ideas.  I got home from work at 4pm and noticed Alex looked a little flushed.  He was running a fever. Still we figured we could go (although I will say part of me knew, right then and there that we wouldn’t be getting to the beach).   [click to continue…]

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My childhood was spent trailing after my father, an outdoorsmen and naturalist (and novelist).  Depending on the season we were in search of good grouse cover or new trout streams, attending hunter safety classes or watching the sweet-peas grow in the backyard.  I was never much of an angler, but I did love to wade. Nothing felt as good as the sensation of cool current against my waders, standing in a caddis fly hatch at dusk.  I hadn’t thought about caddis flies in years and then, tonight, when I saw these photographs I had that thrill of recognition and memory that is truly one of the (only/few) rewards of growing older.  It turns out the caddis flies will make their homes with whatever materials they are surrounded with.  Hubert Duprat supplied them with precious metals and each caddis fly chose something different in the beautiful chaotic way that nature makes art.

Found via Even*Cleveland, Photos by Jean-Luc Fournier. Courtesy Art:concept, Paris, and Zero Gallery, Milan.

My father, Tim and I fishing in Montana, July 2008.

Wading, Montana, July 2008.

Dusk from the stream, Montana, July 2008.

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Friends started checking in last week since there hasn’t been a blog post in weeks… What can I say but the stomach bug has been visiting for the last two weeks. We’re all on the mend; my sister (who lives in Brooklyn) has been visiting the UWS a lot and helping out with Alex. She’s perfect. Tonight we’ve been up late tonight talking about everything and nothing while cleaning the apartment.  What is better than staying up late talking with your sister? A treat I didn’t understand the true value of when I was younger and without husband or baby.

Leigh sent me a great tumblr, Vineet Kaur, where I found the above gallery wall I thought you’d enjoy.  PS  you can still buy rush tickets ($35) to the Our Time Gala which is Monday night!

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Marvelous Kiddo is one of my all time favorite blogs so you can imagine how happy I was to write a guest post for Leigh last week all about the story of Alex’s birth (oh and a little about my own).  I hope you’ll enjoy!

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I still have a high from our trip to the lake.  Two days ago at this moment I was out on the water.  Amazing.  Here are two shoots from our weekend on the lake.  Alex spent hours playing with that hose and getting soaked. Our cousins (Aunt Ruth and Aunt Carol to Alex) have three adorable pugs (Lily, Rose and Charlie Charles).  It was a riotous few days with three pugs, three cousins under 10 and four adults in one small cabin.  As I looked through our haphazard photos I realized the importance of taking an establishing shot of a trip: the house where you’re staying, the view of the lake, the rental car all loaded up, whatever.  We have all these random photos, but none of the house we stayed at or the lake itself.  Those were both so beautiful that in the moment I think we thought “oh we’ll remember that forever” but looking back over our photos you see none of those things; just close ups of dogs and Alex (which are cute, don’t get me wrong!).  I just wish I had a photo of how beautiful the lake was to remember and share with all of you.

PS Don’t you love my day-glo white jeans!!!  And, notice my son in the background, getting into the trash.

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After six carless year in NYC, I am loving our wheels.  We agonized over the decision for a full year but, finally found a used Subaru coming off lease that was perfect for our little family.

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I love this clip of Alex in the sprinkler. Nothing says summer to me more than playing in the water.  I hate that summer goes by so fast: we’ve been cramming in picnics galore, grilled flank steak, watermelon and feta salads, homemade pesto, flea markets, road food.

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I thought I’d share two of my favorite wedding photographs.  My father and I boarding the steamboat to Church Island. (Yes, we were married on an island!). And, below, the moment the magic happened! Our amazing photographer was Sabin Gatz.

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Four years ago, on a beautiful clear day in New Hampshire, Tim and I got married. I remember how green landscape was, how white our tent looked against the hills.  But mostly I remember how happy I was to be marrying Tim.  Tim, I had no idea what an amazing father you’d be, but I did know you were the smartest, funniest guy I knew and that I’d never seen anyone dance the way you do. And, indeed, it has been your sense of humor and dance moves that have sustained me in our darkest days.   I look forward to our continuing adventures in this crazy life.  Love, Abbey

Image: Akihiko Tsukamoto. Man Kiss + Lady Kisses = Love. 1982. Silkscreen, 31 1/8 x 43 1/16″ (79 x 109.4 cm). Collection of MoMA.

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First, how cute are these two men? Second, my husband is unchanged by the past (grueling) year of parenthood. I do not hold up so well in these sorts of photos, let me tell you. Third, these were both taken on Father’s Day — Alex is three weeks old in the first one. Once again, amazing what a year does. We spent the weekend in Riverside Park.  Alex gave Tim this portable hammock (Thanks for the recommendation, Joanna!) and this rope.  Tim, you are an amazing father and I love how much you’ve taught me about parenting.

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