A few days ago- a few short days ago, I wrote an email to a friend titled "dead space," because I have been feeling unsettled, discontent... cold- literally... cold; the green growingness of spring is here, but not the warmth. And the grey coldness of it all has left me feeling like I'm in this holding pattern, this dead space. The reply was "live space." No Rachel, you are not living in dead space, you are living in LIVE space. It is a good season.
On
June 24th 2007 I posted a photo of a baltimore arabber... Today I was making some calls at work, looking for a good, cheap photographer who might be interested in shooting some events this summer in exchange for a class at BCW, or something of the like... Anyhow, I heard about this fellow, Colby Ware, and checked out his
site; he has a beautiful piece in his stories section on arabbers-- amazing photos that capture one of the beautiful, quiet traditions that makes Baltimore so special.
And today at long last it WAS warm again. We ate lunch outside... my arms are slightly burned... petals are dropping off trees and leaving in their place bright, fresh little green leaves. SHADE! Soon horses bells will jingle jangle in time with the clippity clop of hooves on pavement-- their arabbers calling out their wares, pimped out ice-cream trucks will be singing their wacky tunes (ode to joy and fur elise and hello!) through the neighborhoods, suntea will be abrewin' on the back porch, and the days will be gloriously long. The air smells alive and fresh. I feel my spirit awakening... and I am living again in alive space. Winter be GONE!
A couple of weeks ago it was a fun Sunday afternoon of reds, whites and BLUEGRASS at Boordy Vineyards just north of the city... such a good time! Good wine, Jackass Flats and a good friend Laura.
I can't tell if it looks like all that much in the photos, but it is. I spent the whole day Saturday raking and hoeing and hauling and planting in my wee little patch of a back yard... I feel quite satisfied with myself... it was a gloriously warm sunshiny day, free of commitments or travel plans... I went to the farmers market first thing and came back with a flat of herblets and tomatolets and pepperlets, and marigolds... all which seemed to have survived the night, and are just now getting soaked by a fantastic thunderstorm. NICE. I am excited to see how they do over the summer... My only concern is fending off the rats... Unfortunately baltimore allyrats know no boundaries... I'm not sure if they'll bother my plantlings or not... either way I'm not all that keen on sharing my space with them, but since I'm not entirely sure much can be done to keep them out, we might have to learn how to coexist. Anyone know any good tricks-- besides killing them-- that will encourage them to look for greener pastures elsewhere?? 
April 12: Karaduck- made it at long last to glorious 30!! 
This is what happens when there are seven people at home for the weekend:
Little bit o' sunshine cake (thanks Rita)
Nathaniel and his very thoughtful gifts to Kara...
The customary family foto.... 
And our fearless photographer... 
