breathe

we breathe with the sea
inhaling as the water embraces the shore
a pause as the tide carves the sand
exhaling as the waves untangle from the land
until our sorrows are drowned in the sea
and then still

2017: A Photo Diary

Soundtrack of 104 Bayline

The gurgle and drip of the coffee maker, like steady breathing in the silence of early mornings

The discreet rustling of newspaper paired with the occasional slurp of coffee at the kitchen table

The satisfying double click of the lock on the glass door, clockwise once and then once again

The unmistakable jingle of the dog's collar, oddly comforting like background noise from the television

The scratchy sliding of the screen door as my dad brings in a plate of freshly roasted corn-on-the-cob

The rhythmic chopping and slicing of watermelon—thud, swish-swish-swish—the sweet melody of summer

The occasional flip of a page as my sister falls deeper and deeper into a paperback novel, oblivious to the passage of time

The muffled creaking of the second stair—always the second stair—like unintentionally cracking a knuckle

The quiet click of light switches, like saying goodnight before the words get a chance to escape

The swift rattle of the blinds being pulled up and windows sliding open on a hot summer night

The almost-silent hum of the ceiling fan, keeping us cool as we kick off our blankets

The soft strumming of my dad's guitar on a Saturday morning—a peaceful wake-up call as the sun dances over my face

The gentle patter of paws on the kitchen floor, curious and unhurried

The low rumble of the garage door, inevitably followed by keys being tossed on the counter

The shuffling of slippers on hardwood as my mom lifts a lid from a sizzling pan

The bubbling of hot water in the kettle—increasingly louder, then calming to a whisper as tea cups clink on the table

2016: A Photo Diary

Some of my favorite moments and snapshots from 2016. Each one of these photos takes me back to a specific time, a place, a person, a smell, a taste, a feeling, a story. Feelin' so grateful for the people in my life who have constantly made my heart feel like it's about to burst (in the best way possible), the adventures that awaken me and inspire me, and the irreplaceable memories I've been blessed with. Cheers to 2017! Let's make this the best year yet.

xx Kristin