{sisters reunion}

Today I went for a lovely country walk in the perfect English summer sunshine--the birds were singing and as I walked through some farmland and across a bridge over a stream, I came across children who were busy catching crayfish. It brought back memories of my childhood, reading of heroines walking through the English countryside in my favourite novels by Jane Austen, the Brontës, George Elliot...the list goes on. Growing up the youngest of five girls, it's no surprise we liked to think we were the Bennett sisters and would often get dressed up in bonnets & long dresses and pretend we were walking to Meryton.
So it was with great excitement that we decided to have our sisters reunion at my house here in England in April. We didn't receive a proposal from Mr Darcy, but we did enjoy country walks, stately homes, lots of tea, and a masked ball.
I realise these pics are very late--it has been a particularly hectic time with work, finishing up two books on top of lots else, but looking at these pictures brings a big smile to my face & I feel so very fortunate to call these amazing women my sisters!

{Woburn Abbey}

{having tea in the gardens at Woburn Abbey}

{& of course! matching pjs to drink our tea in!}

{& a Sunday roast dinner dressed in our finest!}

{masked ball}

{we are 5!}

So you can see we really had fun! Now I just can't wait for the next reunion!
xo
L

{quotable thursdays}

Happy Thursday!!
Well, once again I'm snowed under with work...but I just had to give a moment today to a quote (or two). As you might know, a few weeks ago we had our sisters reunion, which was fantastic. More on that later, but since then I have been feeling so inspired by my dear sisters and feeling so uplifted with love...I thought I'd post some inspirational quotes.
 If I've learned anything from the amazing women in my family, it is the knowledge that sometimes it's the silent 'do-ers' who can achieve the most:

{both from a greatsite}

Lots of pics to share, but here are a few of my favourite from the reunion:

{at Woburn Abbey}

xo,
L

{quotable thursdays}

{my four sisters & my cousin, before I was born, in Oona River}

Well today the big sisters reunion begins!
So today, some quotes dedicated to sisters:

{keepers}

{childhood}

So grateful for these amazing women in my life that inspire and are food for the soul...

{the 5 of us in the rigging of the Pacific Swift}

{the fab 5, Christmas 2012}

xo,
L

{quotable thursdays}

Hello Blogland! Thursday again, already?!
I spent my last weekend like a maniac--I painted the exterior of the house, the guest bedroom and the kitchen! phew! I was inspired because my middle sister is coming this weekend with her two kids!!!
I haven't seen her or them in over three years. Super super super excited!!!!
She is an amazing woman--a graduate of Oxford and Cambridge, she's often on the news because of her research on refugees and displaced youth, she is successful in her career but still manages to make homemade cookies for her children. I live in awe. But she's also super down to earth and I can't wait to just catch up!
So today, a quote about the people in our lives that make us feel good:

{feed your soul}

In case you're interested, a couple of pics of my painting transformations, but stay tuned for a proper blog dedicated to the renos!
The exterior:

The guest bedroom:

{BEFORE}

... & now that's the last of the dreaded wallpaper in the house-GONE!

{AFTER}

 et, la cuisine:

xo,
L

{quotable thursdays}

I've been missing my sisters recently... It's hard living apart from the people that you love. But this quote reminds me about something important: 

{friends}

It's true: the lovely women in my life--my friends, my sisters, my mum, my aunts, my cousins, my nieces--make my world, even if they're not in the same country or on the same continent. 

{sisters}

{cousins}

{best friends}

{friends since high school}

{crazy friends}

{sisterly love}

xo, 

L

{quotable thursdays}

{Comparison steals joy}

It is so easy to compare--we do it all the time. Even easier now with social media like facebook where we see the exploits, the joys, the achievements, the accomplishments, the weddings, the babies, the books published, the promotions, the degrees... (the list goes on) of our friends. If we are feeling particularly vulnerable or sensitive about a particular lack in our lives, comparison is the easiest temptation--but it sucks out joy...

I grew up with four sisters--while it could have been very easy to compare (& there were times we did, especially when one sister had a particularly coveted piece of clothing in her closet!) we have learned that to love each other, we should be proud of each other & be accepting of our weaknesses and congratulatory of our strengths.

{5 girls, circa 1985?}

When one of my sisters accomplishes something great, I feel a sense of accomplishment myself--because I love her, have encouraged her, and am happy for her.

{sisters!}

So leave comparison aside, bask in your strengths--& the strengths of others too! we can't all do everything, so be proud of what you can do!

{embrace your individuality rather than comparing yourself to others}

and remember, we all develop at different times in life--so age has little to do with it. We build up experiences at different times, and while we're not doing something (like having a baby or getting married) we're doing something else (like getting a PhD or working toward some other goal).
xoxo
L