Hello friends and hello July! I’m still processing last month, but a month that arrives on Friday (my favorite day of the week) is only going to get a wholehearted welcome through my favorite lens:
Thinking about … my people, our stuff, and place. I’ve spent much of the past four days helping Katie re-settle her people and stuff and into a new place. It’s so much work. physical. emotional. mental! My dad’s job moved us a lot (five moves when I was a kid plus three more) and my mom has moved four times since she was my age! Since I graduated college, I’ve moved twice. Marc and I know we have one more move to a house we can navigate without stairs … and it needs to happen soon!
Grateful for … finding new rhythms with Katie and her family being so close. I’m not at all sure what this closeness looks like long term, but having her call at 4pm and being able to be there at 5, with dinner!, feels like something special.
Inspired by … Katie’s books … to tackle my own.
and Katie says she’ll help. My goal is to get books into shelves. TBD what happens to the yarn that’s also taking up shelf space. and how I organize … if you have feelings, please share!
Fun … I’ve resisted Looking Forward for so long … and y’all – I bought a plane ticket!! August 1st I’m flying to Albuquerque to spend a few days with my dear friend Lauren in Santa Fe. It’s going to be weird to travel. and I haven’t been to Santa Fe. If you’ve been there and have suggestions for bookstores, yarn shops, or churches (my three favorite touristy things to do!) I should see, please leave your recommendations in a comment.
and that’s it … happy July!
mere-et-filles 
Congratulations to Katie and family on their move! It is exhausting but worthwhile. My favorite things in NM are a bit of a distance from Santa Fe, but I’ll mention them anyway. Bandelier National Park is about an hour away, and is a really impressive group of cliff dwellings. We spent a winter day there when we were just about the only people and it remains one of my favorite places. For churches, Santuario de Chimayo is about 30 minutes away. It’s a Catholic church with a beautiful altar. It’s also a big pilgrimage destination and people claim it has dirt with healing properties. The weavers in Chimayo are also quite impressive. Have fun!
Wow – Katie has a lot of cabinets in her kitchen. Lucky thing! It looks like she’s getting settled quickly – hurrah!
I can only keep my books in my bedroom so that really limits the amount I have. And I have to admit that it’s a really good thing. It forces me to use the library and to cull often. I love passing on books once I’ve finished them – either to a friend who I think will love it, a nearby Little Free Library, or in a big box to Goodwill. And I’m totally ruthless about what stays on my shelf. Good luck!
And yay for Santa Fe! I’ve been, but I was in the third grade so I won’t be at all helpful. But I can’t wait to experience the trip vicariously 🙂
Enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Hello July! Happy to see Katie and family getting settled. I think it’s going to be so terrific having them close. Yay to trips and Santa Fe…I’ve got nothing for you though! 🙂
Moving is so exhausting, so Katie and her family are very lucky to have you and Marc nearby to help out. I’m sure you’re just as happy to have them so close by. I hope you all get a chance to rest and relax this long holiday weekend.
I’m excited for your trip! I have never been to Santa Fe so can’t make any recommendations, but I’ll look forward to hearing about the trip when you get back!
Looks like the moving process is going well. And the books/bookshelves – so many thoughts. Maybe we all need to do a book shelf post so we can compare visually? I don’t hold on to many books these days but I have a dream idea of the perfect set up.
It’s been a very long time, but I loved Santa Fe! I would love to go back. I remember wonderful art galleries that had early Friday evening art strolls. The Georgia O’Keefe museum is a must see. I didn’t get to Abiqui, but I don’t think it’s far. Lots of crafts and art and wonderful food! We went on to Taos and I remember lots of weaving and fiber there. Have fun.
How nice to have your Katie and family close by. Moving is exhausting though. Santa Fe sounds like fun but I haven’t visited so have no recommendations. I have bookshelves in three different rooms, four if you count cookbooks in the kitchen. I try hard to only keep as many books as will fit on the shelves. Lately my other thought is to ask myself, “Will I ever want to read this again?” If that answer is no, then it is easier to find the book a new home.
Yay for Santa Fe! It’s my magnetic North…so I’ll send you off with wishes that you find a meaningful connection, of your own kind, to that magical land.
How far away was Katie’s family before? I hadn’t realized all those overnights + ‘camps’ required some drive time! What a delight for you all. And what a beautiful new home! Enjoy it all.
P.S. the church in Chimayo, between Taos + Santa Fe, is unique and worthwhile.
P.P.S. There used to be handspun yarn for sale at the Santa Fe Farmers’ Market–which has grown a lot(!!) over the years. Maybe it’s still there, maybe there’s even more?! So glad you and Lauren will have in-person ‘together time.’
What a wonderful thing to look forward to, but I’m no help. Not much to see when I was at the NM/Mexico border. Ah, the books, still a challenge for me. I did have to resort to storing my yarn, by weight, in storage containers in the basement. My office/sewing room is just too small to act as storage. I found some great containers on Amazon that are not overly large and they stack nicely. Glad the move went okay and is now done!
Yay for Katie and family being closer! What a lovely treat! 🙂
I have never been to Santa Fe… sorry! But I can’t wait to see what you find!
Yay for the move being complete and now y’all are close!! Gosh, we have books in every room (even batahrooms), and still have boxes of them here and there. I need to cull…soon… Santa Fe is a beautiful town. Lots of fun shops and restaurants. Also, the Georgia O’Keefe museum is supposed to be awesome…we didn’t have time to do that when we were there, but I’d love to go back some day. Plenty of great places to walk also.
Moving . . . is so much work. So. Much. I’m sure Katie appreciates your assistance (and will gladly pay you back when it’s your turn to move). And I’m thrilled that you’re looking forward again — with a trip to visit Lauren. How fun for you to explore a whole new place! (And I’ve never spent time in Santa Fe, so no suggestions from me.)
The back road from Santa Fe to Taos were you’ll find the Chimaya chapel and Mexican weavers is so picturesque. It’s been years since I was there so I hope it is still as it was. The Loretto Chapel is Santa Fe is a must see as is the George O’Keefe gallery.
I am so very happy for you and what this move brings to you and your husband. Such blessings!!