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Sunday, August 31, 2014

35/52

NYC, USA

"A portrait of my daughter once a week, every week in 2014" 

Lottie Cakes: We have arrived in the homeland - well the homeland for 2/3 of us at least. I haven't realized how homesick I've been, how much I've missed these familiar shores, until we stepped off and I breathed a sigh of relief. We have a long labor day weekend in Manhattan before boarding an overnight bus to see our US family for 6 glorious, almost autumn weeks! In this photo we are enjoying a diner breakfast with stacks of pancakes, eggs, bacon and unlimited, much needed, drip coffee before hopping on a subway ride to Coney Island for an afternoon of fun in the sun!

Linking up with Practising Simplicity and Living Arrows.


Thursday, August 28, 2014

The Blue Lagoon

The Blue Lagoon, Iceland

After Driving 40 Minutes outside of Reykjavik (and 90 minutes outside of the farm we are staying on), through terrain that I can only describe as looking like what you would imagine had you stepped foot on the moon, we arrived. I had been to other Geothermal pools, even ones in Iceland itself, but they were nothing in comparison to this magical place. The milky blue water was like the perfect bath and some spots were quite hot which was lovely on the chilly, gray skied Mid-August afternoon on which we visited. We had purchased the most basic entry which was perfect for us since we had brought our own towels and there were buckets of natural silica mud masks to lather on your skin, so we gave ourselves a free spa treatment while floating in the peaceful water. When you get too thirsty or just fancy a treat you can swim up to the pool bar for smoothies, slushies and ice cold beers and no money is necessary you just swipe your wrist ban used for entry and settle up when you depart. Its the ultimate day of relaxing and rejuvenating and even our two year old loved it and chilled out for a couple of hours. Also being only 20 minutes from the international airport it's the perfect entrance or exit from this beautiful land.

Hours:
Jan 1 - May 31 / Sept 1 - Dec 31: 10am- 8pm
June 1 - June 30 / Aug 11 - Aug 31: 9am - 9pm
July 1 - Aug 10 : 9am - 9am - 11pm


Sunday, August 24, 2014

34/52

"A portrait of my daughter once a week, every week in 2014"

Lottie Cakes: This week we returned to London to see family and catch our flight to Iceland tomorrow, today the volcano exploded. What tomorrow brings is anyones guess.

In this photo we all decided to spend the day together out and about and take advantage of Londons numerous forms of public transportation. We loaded up our Oyster cards and boarded a boat on the Thames from Battersea to the 02 Centre. From there we jumped on a cable car (where this picture was taken) that took us high over the river to the other side where we jumped on an above ground train a few stops and then down to the underground. Finally a bus would take us the rest of the way home. There were of course many strolls, chats, coffees, snacks, laughs and detours between all of this and it was a truly lovely way to spend a sunny afternoon, exploring and hopping all over this amazing city. Goodbye London family, we miss you already and look forward to our next reunion!! 
xo

Linking up with Practising Simplicity and Living Arrows

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Stills: South of France

Nice to Mougins

1. Cheval
2. Bulle Homme
3. Vapeur
4. La viande
5. amuse-guele
6. Amore de maman
7. Cascade
8. Pause Jus
9. Ombres
10. Soleil bebe
11.Bateau
12. Douche avec papa
13. Le souper
14. Se raser
15. Soleil et bug bited
16. Fleur 
17. Bar a vin
18. Le soir

Monday, August 18, 2014

33/52

Mougins, cote de'azur,  France

"A portrait of my daughter once a week, every week in 2014"

Lottie Cakes: This week we are staying in the south of France in a little eco hut with an outdoor solar shower and drop toilet and most importantly, a lovely pool. After our few weeks traveling and visiting in England and Ireland we took a little time out for ultimate relaxation before our next venture. We spend our days sleeping in late, waking up to cuddles, fresh fruit for breakfast, the stinkiest cheeses we can find, baguettes and more fruit for lunch and then barbecuing meats on our little borrowed stove at dinnertime. We are reading books, coloring, you are playing with the dogs and children that come around and occasionally we take strolls through the winding cobblestone streets, checking out local artists and the views. Life is slow at the moment, we are happy and you are the sweetest you can be right now. two weeks until we get to see our American family but until then it's back to London, off to Iceland and then labor day weekend in NYC! 


Ireland


Eight years ago I ventured to the Emerald Isle for a brief 2 week stint Which lasted 4 years. At the end of my time there I found my Richard and left my love affair with Ireland for his land down under.  Almost 4 years later to the date we met, we return with our little red headed baby girl and revisited the loved ones that those first four years had brought, plus a few more that stemmed from the Southern Hemisphere. Our travels took us all over the country, from the North to the South, East to West each stopover too short,  each reunion so sweet. My dearest Ireland and all the beautiful friends that grace it's green grass, for you:

May the road rise to meet you,
May the wind be always at your back,
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
The rains fall soft upon your fields and,
Until we meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of His hand.

xo

Friday, August 15, 2014

Reading: Rules of Civility

Rules of Civility
Amor Towles

Upon entering Ireland I wanted to pick a book that was fun and kept my attention when I needed to tune out and relax. Well it turns out, as I should have suspected, it was Ireland that was too much fun and so Mr. Towles novel would have to wait until we were recovering from all that Celtic shenanigans and peacefully in the south of France. I couldn't have picked a better spot for indulging in this wonderfully written novel and a portion of this story takes place on this very soil. 

Rules of civility goes back to a time when the art of conversation was still in full swing, women were on the verge of equality in the male dominated world and the great depression in the US was just about to give way to the second world war. It takes you back, if you are not still there, to the freedom of a girl in her twenties with the world at her feet and a cocktail in her hand.  A wonderfully written story to get lost and found in. 

What are you reading?

Monday, August 11, 2014

32/52

West Cork, Ireland

"A Portrait of my daughter once a week, every week in 2014"

Lottie Cakes: Splashing in Muddy Puddles. A very special photo, I caught you mid air in the same spot of your parents very first kiss, almost four years later to the date. A kiss that would lead to a beautiful love that would lead to you. We have travelled around the country, introducing you to old friends and recreating paths taken years ago that have brought us to where we are today. The craics been mighty, the laughter has been plenty and its like a not a day in the last 4 years has passed!

More photos to come, for now we are boarding a plane to the South of France! 

Linking up with Practising Simplicity and Living Arrows

Sunday, August 3, 2014

31/52

Ireland

Lottie Cakes: We have arrived in the country where your parents met and fell in love. The rain is falling but we could care less because we're surrounded by Friends and Love and Guinness, of course!

This chilly swimming experience for you was a bit of a shock to the system after weeks in Thailand and the English heatwave but whats more fitting on this crazy Island than a pool in the middle of a cow paddock?!

Sláinte!


Linking up with Practising Simplicity and Living Arrows.

Stills: Scotland

Edinburgh to Glasgow

1. Welcome Van
2. Scottish Matrimony
3. Lovely Rainy Day
4. Watch This.
5. Mama Love
6. The Festival
7. Cone Head
8. Front Garden
9. Commonwealth Games
10. Crackling
11. Modern Art
12. Iron Bru

Saturday, August 2, 2014

The English Countryside


"I almost wish we were butterflies and lived but three summer days -- three such days with you I could fill with more delight than fifty common years could ever contain." 
-- John Keats