The WoodLand School

I have been spending all my so-called blogging energy over on Instagram. (I'm woodland_school over there ... come visit me!)

Seems I don't have much to say these days, so Instagram feels just right for now. I'm able to capture what feels real in the moment ... without the (self-imposed) pressure that Constructing A Post entails.

Instagram has also brought on the unforeseen side effect of Discarded Fancy Camera Syndrome. Seems my precious Canon has been residing somewhere in a heap of unpacked boxes while my delightful (and ever-present!) iPhone has emerged as my go-to camera these days. Now that the leaves are turning and the air is crisp, I'm starting to feel that familiar tug to traipse about the woods with camera in hand. When that inspiration strikes, I'll be back.

In the meantime, here are a few recent pics from my ever-beloved Instagram.

... and patriotic music played by the community band ... a parade ... veggie dogs and a flag cake ... cozy decorations ... and fireworks seen from our deck.

We have been here, ever-so-cozy in our teensy apartment, for 3 weeks. We have learned our way to the grocery and the farmer's market without constant GPS guidance, and we have begun to identify some of our favorite spots in town.

This apartment will be our home for a few more weeks until we move to a longer-term space. Until we get our worldly possessions out of storage, we are living with only the temporary provisions we crammed into the van on our trip to Indiana ... augmented by some necessities borrowed from Jay's generous parents.

Yes, all of our needs and many of our wants are met. We have comfortable (if inflatable!) bedding, a table and chairs that we inherited with the apartment, and a few comfy spots from which we will indulge in Olympic viewing.

Nevertheless, I felt out of sorts this past week. One night during dinner, I realized the problem: I was missing a sense of "normal." This out-of-a-suitcase lifestyle was losing its novelty. As I wiped my hands on a paper towel, I knew exactly what would easy my mind. NAPKINS!

It's the little things that make a house feel like home. For our family, cloth napkins at mealtime are one of those delights that help us know we are ... well ... home. With all our napkins packed up in long-term storage -- along with every shred of fabric and all my sewing tools! -- I got creative. With some entertainingly dull scissors, a cozy flannel sheet from Goodwill, and straight lines measured along our laminate floor ... I got to work.



For the next few days, I always brought my stitching when we went exploring. Little by little, the stitches accumulated.



And now, just one week later, we are feeling more settled. The thrifting has resumed (check out that sweet hand-stitched Holly Hobbie!), the library provides abundant warm-weather diversions, and we now enjoy mealtime with a set of hand-stitched napkins.

Frankly, as long as I'm with my family I feel like I'm home. But you know what? These handmade and vintage comforts certainly help make our home a little bit cozier.

During the past 23 years of togetherness, Jay has shared legendary tales of childhood adventures at The Festival. Always spoken with reverence and always capitalized, The Festival was apparently one of the highest highlights of Jay's youth. I have learned that during most summer weekends in Cincinnati, the area's Catholic schools host fund-raising festivals. With games and rides and junk food and Chances To Win Big Money, those weekends were a young boy's dream.

One story in particular has been shared and shared and shared again, first with me and then with our children. You see, one day in the ever-so-distant past, Little Boy Jay spent a shiny quarter to purchase a peel-off ticket ... and he won $25! Although the money was quickly redeemed for rides and more peel-off tickets, the story of Jay's windfall lives on.

Imagine our joy when we realized that The Festival was scheduled for the exact weekend we were in Cincinnati! Finally, we would be able to join Jay as he returned to the site of his childhood victory!

These past 8 years spent in Texas have made the pleasures of Midwestern summer evenings just so much sweeter. The grass seems greener, the trees taller, and the clover sweeter.



Since Jay's dad was working at The Festival, we strolled up to the church with Jay's mom.



The excitement was palpable as the church came into view.



And then ... at long last ...



After all the years of stories, I immediately clamored to visit the peel-off booth. I smacked down my quarter, grabbed my ticket, and ...



... won! I WON!!! The prize* was so amazing that I remain caught up in the moment. The carney so generously offered to hold my prize-winning ticket so I could document (although I must confess I was concerned he would escape and claim my winnings as his own).

Meanwhile, Maya was busily ...



... winning her own prize!

I peeked over in the corner to see my sweet spouse, hands full of change and eyes full of determination, confidently working on his own tickets. Let me ask you: can you tell the difference between a man who wins a quarter:



... and a man who wins the big $25 prize?!?!



It's true! Jay was able to re-live his childhood conquest while in the company of his loving family! Oh glory, the jubilation that ensued will be passed down for years among festival-goers.

Lest you think Benja was absent during these adventures, I assure you that he was in fact an active participant. Notice, for example, his blur-of-a-hand as Maya posed for a funnel cake photo:



Under his Uncle Andy's expert tutelage, Benja learned the ways of the mighty roulette wheel.











In addition to his prowess with all things Vegas, Andy was kind enough to introduce the kids to his friend Jeff, otherwise known as The Candidate.



We plastered ourselves with stickers then engaged Andy for some more adventures.





He boldly went where Jay and I could not (for fear of embarrassing ourselves and sullying the ride). Despite some white-knuckled trepidation ...



... Benja joined Maya and Andy on the ride. Maya's pep talk certainly helped ...



... and by the end of the first ride, Benja was hooked.



Jay and I, along with Jay's mom, were content to enjoy the evening from a delightful earthbound spot, with the rides providing just enough breeze to keep us cool.




* The fact that I won completely overshadowed the fact that the prize was ... a quarter.