amongst the wreckage

These gorgeous, richly hued flowers come from two thriving gardens: the top, from my mama's garden at my childhood home and the bottom, from my temporary home here in Bellingham. Both handfuls were picked on days I desperately needed some encouragement; some pieces of God's promise that the world is an inherently good place if we just look for it. Both handfuls brought glimmers of peace to my soul and slivers of joy to my eyes, my nose, my mind. Today, as I sit with sorrowful news, I am thankful for the bits of colorful life that grow amongst the wreckage. different gardens, same peace. xo, Charity

from garden to tummy

My mother's garden is currently over-flowing with plump, vibrantly pink raspberries just begging to be picked. This is how my morning went: wake slowly, lazily pick a full bowl of berries with my pup beside me (and eating several along the way), bake them into this yummy buttermilk cake, make coffee, eat it while still warm on the back deck with my sister. From garden to tummy in under an hour: tasted just like summer. 

quick trip home

I got a chance to run home for a quick trip last weekend & I jumped at it! Unfortunately my mom was away volunteering at a retreat in Oregon, but I had some quality time with my siblings, dad, and puppy, and got to see a few friends from high school as well as my favorite kids in the world, who I used to babysit and who are now growing up too fast! Every time I go home, my mom's garden looks more beautiful and vibrant. How beautiful are the sunflowers and nasturtiums? I love the Autumn colors of those against the bright green leaves. My dad also made his famous chili, which we always have with cinnamon rolls--it's tradition. I got to eat at my favorite local brewery AND did not a speck of homework, so I would say it was a lovely weekend!

Huckleberry Finn wouldn't leave my side while I was trying to take a shoes shot, but I wasn't complaining. Nothing like some real puppy love to fill up a weekend, am I right?

blouse: Old Navy, skirt: Forever 21 (as seen here), boots: borrowed from my mom

la fleur et le chien

I cannot help but to photograph my mother's garden when I go home, as you may know from this post or this post. I have hundreds of wonderful memories in my parents' yard growing up, from BBQs to running in the sprinkler to picking bouquets to surprise my mama with, and everything in between. Their yard is currently bursting with color and was just begging me to capture it.





My parents entertain quite often, especially on warm summer nights, and have put a lot of work into their patio, which is called "Simpler Times". It's a place where they forget the worries of the outside world, of bills and work and sadness and stress, and just laugh, drink, eat, even play music. I love how cozy they have made it in the last year, from things like adding a whole new flight of stairs to the small details of tucking a birdhouse into some delicate tree branches. We have had many good times in Simpler Times, from bonfires to graduation parties to celebrating my brother being cancer-free for 20 years. So much love floating around.







I love how there are pieces on the patio that are usually confined to the indoors: dressers, mirrors, beds, etc.

And Huckleberry Finn, of course, kept me company as I snapped away. He is, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the very best fixture in my mother's garden.