feeling glad no.12

sarah

G. We sold our #sssclovertudor project! Last year we listed it for sale or for rent while our other projects kept us busy and we rented it out. So when the tenants moved out we hopped back in to add a primary bathroom and renovate the other existing that we didn’t in the first round. I love how the bathroom turned out and am so grateful we accepted an offer two days after listing.

L. I found a couple sand dollars on the beach in LA today and that had me googling all things sand dollars. I had no idea they begin as free-swimming larvae, which are tiny and look nothing like adults. Over time, they settle to the seafloor and metamorphose into the familiar flat shape.

A. Ok this is a huge one for me! After years of “someday I will do a book” and then last year my idea of a book went to auction and then it became real when I signed a book deal with Abrams to publish my first monograph. Last week I sent the full manuscript in. I wrote the last paragraph and teared up. Part because I was stressing and relieved to be mostly done with the writing part and partly because when I wrote the last sentence the concept I’ve been tossing around for the book became fully solidified. I’m equal parts excited and nervous to be putting my work all together and out in the world in book form.

D. We have been living in our #sssitalianontheblvd project! We have been in the house for about a month and getting to live in a house that we’ve work and finished every single detail on like I would normally do for a client has been unreal. It feels very grown up. Haha We have and always had so many unfinished projects in our #samuelfamilyfixer, a mounting list of things that needs to be addressed (which is what we are now tackling while we are living in the #sssitalianontheblvd) that it is a true treat living in a house that is actually complete. Every little thing. Also we have been able to live closer to a lot of friends, able to walk to their houses and walk the kids to school 😭.

anastasia 

G. Warm evening walks to the playground and park with birdie and the dogs. We live next to a river and the tree frogs are starting to sing in the evening. Birdie loves to listen and look for them in the trees

L. Starfish can walk! Birdie and I were cracking up at this. She kept saying “can you believe this! Can you believe this!”

A. Up to running 7 miles! Feels so good and officially know I’m ready for my 10k next weekend.

D. The huge cherry blossom tree across the street from our house! It is delightful to get a peek of it out the window
all day and Birdie loves to run around it and pick “blossoms.”

janna

G. The last weeks i’ve been feeling grateful for the flowers and leaves popping. each morning i’ve been walking the yard with my coffee watching the progress of spring and feeling gratitude.

L. I’ve been learning and challenging myself that the new buzz is just being in the present.

A. Last week i finished an 8 week pottery class. while i’m still continuing to learn and approve, i finished the class with a good collection of pieces.  i can’t wait to see them after the final glaze firing next week!

D. A spontaneous dinner with 2 girlfriends from high school. afterward, i was reminded how good it is to be with old friends who have a deep understanding of your history, personality, and quirks.

grace

G. I’m so grateful for my little support system! Friends, neighbors, family… Going from the winter preschool illnesses right into the spring preschool illnesses has been ROUGH. Having people who just get it (and help) has kept me upright.

L. I’ve been reading A Poetry Handbook by Mary Oliver, and I’m fascinated by what she shares about the sound of words—how consonants and vowels carry feeling, weight, and rhythm. Like how the word “click” does exactly what it sounds like. Delicious!

A. I started including my daughter in my “art time,” and somehow it’s brought a rhythm back to my writing practice. I finished three poems in two weeks (!!), which is wildly above my usual output. Tiny miracles, right??

D. The bougainvillea is wild right now — like it doesn’t know how to be chill. Makes me smile every time I pass it.

sarah matthews

G. My friend harri started a new business this year, the daisy chain collective — designing, building & planting backyard gardens. he installed 2 new raised garden beds in our yard and tilled a new planting area for wildflowers and perennials. seeing his vision come to life has been such a joy to witness. spring in michigan is hope embodied.

L. The childlike wonder of hearing the ocean inside a seashell lights me up every time so i had to find out why — seashells filter and morph low frequency sounds around you, which mimics the sounds of the ocean.

A. Tile layouts at our miracle project in the palisades, an original post & beam stunner in the canyon. just surreal to see it standing and all the materials layering in. site meetings are always so satisfying for someone like me who is always holding a checklist in my brain, but this one had a whole new weight of significance and heart.

D. A new coffee shop opened on my walking route to the office. walking with a good cappuccino on a sunny spring day? okkkkk

sammy

G. Spring/warmer weather and gardening and lawn work with my 2 year old June is so fun and cute how much she enjoys it too.

L. Discovered a new protein cookie that’s actually a good texture and refined sugar free, minimal ingredients, and affordable. Soo good!

A. Have been painting and drawing more often lately!

D. The green, the little spring flowers everywhere, the flowering trees, especially the magnolia trees.

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