I’ve been a little blocked about writing lately (in case you hadn’t noticed).
Frankly, I sort of feel like I set a bar for myself with the portrait series last month. I was proud of that work and I felt like there was substance to it. Each time since then that I’ve sat down to write, the minutia of my life emerged and it seemed, well, unimportant.
But I miss writing when I don’t write. And I feel adrift when I don’t carry my camera.
And really, it’s all about the minutia anyway.
The moments that make us smile in the midst of the laundry. The sweet things our children say to each other when they think we aren’t listening.
The first ripe tomato of the summer.
The neighborhood kids running outside in bare feet and pajamas when the ice cream truck drives by.
So minutia it is.
I’ll tell you about the braces that are being made for my toddler’s feet. And how I’m sad for him and happy that it’s not something worse all at the same time. I’ll tell you about the first girl that broke my son’s heart and how I was transported back to middle school, only this time it was worse because it was happening to someone I love.
I’ll tell you about dumpster day and how much I love it.
I’ll tell you about how last Sunday I planned out all our meals for the week, purchased all the ingredients and relieved about half the stress from my life in the process. I’ll tell you about a wonderful book I just finished and about a self-portrait project over on Flickr which is inspiring me daily. And about a baby quilt made by a group of women who have never met for a baby most of them have never held.
It’s these things that make up my life and honestly, I wouldn’t have it any other way.
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
It really is the simple things in life that are the most rewarding when you sit down at the end of the day and reflect on everything you’re thankful for! I also read “The Help” and thought it was one of the best books I’d read in quite some time– what a story! (Stories!)
I think your quilt is also absolutely lovely– so fresh, clean, and cheerful!
Cheers to a great weekend!
It really is all about the little stuff! I’m glad your taking some moments to reflect on them {and to write about them}…but I do know exactly how you feel about setting a bar and then not feeling like you had anything adequate to say afterward. But if it’s any consolation, I would listen to you speak about the weather everyday if it comes to that!
Beautiful words Amy, with the images to match.
Hope you and your family are enjoying the warmer weather x
Amy, isn’t it funny what we do to ourselves, trying to measure up to a bar that we set for ourselves. I really think we should let other people set our bars for us. Others are much kinder than we are to ourselves. Your month of the amazing women in your life was wonderful. I enjoyed reading about them everyday. I secretly wished I could have been one of them. I am to some I suppose. Actually I know. There are very few blogs that I care to read everyday, especially the minutia. It seems the blogs I really enjoy are written by women much younger than me. My life is so different now. My laundry is washed, dried, folded and put away in nothing flat these days. I usually only wash two plates, two glasses a night (or in the morning). So I smile when I read your blog. I remember and I smile. Sometimes I wish I could go back and then I remember I don’t have the energy anymore. I must say that I really loved where you are right now. I know you do too even though it’s seems like constant motion. I take that back, it is constant motion, you have boys. Take care and I’ll read what you have to say whenever you have time to say it.
Marty
Missed You!! Glad you are back with your everyday “stuff” and I have really got to try menu planning!
Your minutiae made me smile.
I often feel the same when I illustrate. Once in a while, very very rarely, there comes a moment of Grace. When beauty comes to me without my doing. And everything else I can draw after that seems devoid of meaning. But it’s not. Beauty and meaning don’t exist without the minutiae and the struggle of every-day-creating (sorry, I neede to make up that word because it’s late and my English is slipping away from me).
I had a feeling that’s why you were so quiet. It’s hard to live up to oneself sometimes!
But I’m glad you’re back and I for one look forward to reading about your minutia.
So there!
Beautiful minutia. The quilt is absolutely lovely.
very well written and lovely photos, as usual
i love that baby quilt! thanks for sharing,
claudia
Ripe tomato?! What’s this you say???
But you’re so right–it’s the little things that make up our lives and at the end of the day really matter the most. And The Help was one of my favorite books last year!
K x
Dont ever doubt yourself Amy. This post was as beautiful and thought provoking as all of your posts.
Loved the pictures too.
Your writing and your photographs, large or small, always make me think about the world around me in a different light. “In the perspective of every person lies a lens through which we may better understand ourselves.” (E. Langer) I really enjoy yours, so don’t worry about the ‘importance’, it’s all important in one way or another, even down to the smallest of things. Best of all, your pictures make it all look so beautiful!
Good to see you back in this space. The photos were lovely, the quilt was stunning, and I too loved reading that book! Life is made up of the simple things, and taking time to remember that is important!
So beautifully said…and so very true!
i’ve been thinking of you amy, the weeks after such a huge project…emotional journey can be so…calm…daunting…empty…full..different..all the things to be done that fell to the side all the thoughts all the life that can never be the same after such an endeavor…eating….laundry…sleep….and then the joy in the minutia, the joy that somehow seems greater then ever before because of the journey… you are so not alone and so very appreciated and thought about.
and kiki, i recently read “the help” too and i agree! great stories!
Wonderful post.