Durham.

I literally have sandstone in my veins. In 2004 while scaling a cliff in the San Rafel Swell to get into an alcove, the pillar I was clinging to broke and punctured my leg when I landed in the creek. The next day I got an X-ray in Moab and it looked someone dumped salt on the image. . . the impact had left a ring of sandstone in my left leg. I love the desert, the red rocks, the dry heat and cottonwood trees. I belong in wide open spaces as cheesy as it sounds. But, sometimes a girl just needs to go home. 

And go home I did. For two months. To my folks, the humidity, the people, the lightening bugs, the deafening bugs and frogs at night and the streets I navigated every day for 18 years. I loved it. My girls loved it. And I came home feeling new. Life at the Needles was feeling a little too heavy and I craved that lightness and freedom that I had enjoyed for Liesel and Hannah. I just didn't feel like I could let them loose at the Needles like I could in NC-- it's a softer place that is perfect for kids. Soft grass, soft air, soft sun, soft people, soft dirt. 

 Most mornings all i wanted to do was go running and then putter around the garden picking produce, pulling weeds and helping Liesel catch bugs and critters while Hannah napped. I love gardening. There is almost nothing as satisfying as eating a meal that you just harvested that morning. If Liesel sees a cucumber it's immediately followed with, "is this from your garden?" I love that she saw where her food came from and that she would fill her belly with cherry tomatoes, blackberries and blueberries at her leisure.  

one of my all-time favorite photos of Liesel. 

me and dad. Don't judge the duds-- my mom keeps a box of garden clothes next to the door and I completely converted to the idea. Mens dress shirt and all. 

Hannah eating dirt. 

my mama. 

Cosmic old school burrito. Yes please. Liesel is opting for a different lunch. 

We took Liesel and Hannah to Duke Chapel. She honestly ran down the isle dancing to the insanely loud gothic organ playing right during Catholic mass. 

We were regulars at the Museum of Life and Science-- especially the butterfly house. 

and the pool/// Hannah and Addie (my bestie from high school's girl )

 One of the biggest bonuses of my long stay in NC was reconnecting with Rachel. We never went to the same school, but we saw each other several times a week through church events-- and we were a force to be reckoned with. And we can still get together and talk for 8 hours in row no problem. Old friends are so unique and spending time with her made me grateful that we have each other. There is nothing that can compare to someone who has known you through every stage in your life. 

and watching our kids play together is like a monkey-bar-sleep-over-dream come true.