grace duVal

The other week our friends came to visit. We spent the afternoon...

Fri, 24 May 2013 17:02:00 -0400

The other week our friends came to visit. We spent the afternoon showing them our new apartment and playing with the boys.

IKEA all over the place.

Wed, 08 May 2013 12:51:02 -0400

IKEA all over the place.

Jim and I have been moving into his new apartment all weekend....

Sun, 05 May 2013 18:18:00 -0400

Jim and I have been moving into his new apartment all weekend. Today we had the pleasure of his brother and sister-in-law visiting with their eleven month old son. He’s an adorable little boy with big apple cheeks, who’s just learned that throwing toys makes amazing noises when they hit the floor. And that people pick them up just for you, so you can throw them again. It’s all so amazing!

We showed them around the new apartment, Jim and his brother compared tools and traded pool stories, and his sister-in-law, nephew and I had an amazing dance session in front of the big mirror in the hallway. It was great to spend some time with them all and get to play with the baby for a bit, and show them our new home.

This is what it was like moving a seven foot couch up four...

Sat, 04 May 2013 17:20:16 -0400

This is what it was like moving a seven foot couch up four flights of steps today. Luckily a random man on a motorcycle stopped and helped us!

When the shadows of this life have gone, I’ll fly away;...

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:28:00 -0400

When the shadows of this life have gone,
I’ll fly away;
Like a bird from prison bars has flown,
I’ll fly away (I’ll fly away)

Just a few more weary days and then,
I’ll fly away;
To a land where joy shall never end,
I’ll fly away (I’ll fly away)

I’ve been working on making myself a new coat for the past...

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:26:48 -0400

I’ve been working on making myself a new coat for the past month. I raided a thrift shop in Manchester and found a beautiful German wool coat from the 1950’s with a huge black cape sewn into it. I immediately saw the potential in it and I knew I had to make something beautiful from it.

In conjunction with a real leather coat that I found for £5, I created a motorcycle jacket-inspired wool coat. It has a beautiful deep green lining that came with it, and I’ve added zipper details to the sleeves, back pleat and front closure.

I wandered into a field this evening to get a few detail shots of the coat, but it digressed into me being ridiculous with a self-timer. I’ll have to get some better detail shots soon, it’s well worth seeing.

Yesterday my dad emailed me to tell me that a particularly long...

Thu, 25 Apr 2013 12:26:18 -0400

Yesterday my dad emailed me to tell me that a particularly long train was rolling past our house. We’re conditioned to know how long a train is, simply by sound, and it catches our attention when one come and the sound keeps rolling on and on. He said he eventually went outside just in time to catch the big, white train cars rolling by with the Ringling Bros. and Barnum and Bailey emblazoned in red across the side.

“I guess the circus animals get to ride in passenger cars. Elephants and lions and horses sitting back reading the paper.”

I only wish I could have been there to see it, and that they would have stopped and let the elephants out to stretch in our front yard.

Yesterday Jim, our friends and I went to Bottany Bay, a...

Mon, 22 Apr 2013 04:08:00 -0400

Yesterday Jim, our friends and I went to Bottany Bay, a converted mill that’s packed with vendors on every floor selling their wares. We spent the first hour in the soft play area with their older son while he dove through the ball pits and climbed through the tunnels.

It was a relaxed afternoon, just enjoying chatting and perusing the goods while we nibbled on sausage rolls.

"Being tender and open is beautiful. As a woman, I feel continually shhh’ed. Too sensitive. Too..."

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 03:33:58 -0400

““Being tender and open is beautiful. As a woman, I feel continually shhh’ed. Too sensitive....

At the end Easter Sunday Jim and I drove down to the actual...

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 03:30:41 -0400

At the end Easter Sunday Jim and I drove down to the actual beach at Southport, where you can drive out onto the sand and park. The beaches here are unlike anything I’ve ever seen; instead of having a distinct coastline where the water suddenly gets deep, the beach seems to go on for miles until it meets the water.

It took us about twenty minutes to walk from the car to the actual water line, the beach was that long. Granted, it was low tide, but it’s still unlike anything I’ve ever seen.

We were lucky enough to catch it right as the sun was setting, and we had a spectacular view as our Easter Sunday ended.

At the end of the boardwalk at Southport was an amazing little...

Mon, 15 Apr 2013 03:25:45 -0400

At the end of the boardwalk at Southport was an amazing little arcade full of old-school arcade games. Jim and I spent all of our change trying to win little prizes or get more coins to keep playing. The sunlight streamed in through the windows as it bounced off of the water, and in the distance you could see whirling carnival rides in the distance.

After leaving the arcade we walked into the town of Southport for a bit, admiring the once-grandiose houses that have fallen into slightly-decrepit ruin along the seashore.

More pictures from our beautiful Easter Sunday exploration to...

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 16:10:03 -0400

More pictures from our beautiful Easter Sunday exploration to Southport Beach boardwalk.

On Easter Sunday Jim and I went out to Southport along the Irish...

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 16:06:40 -0400

On Easter Sunday Jim and I went out to Southport along the Irish Sea, where they have a wonderful boardwalk that goes out into the water. We got some delicious, fresh-made donuts and walked out along to boardwalk to see the panoramic view from the edge. It was a beautiful afternoon full of sunshine and a chilly breeze. From the dock you could see all the way to Blackpool and you could watch as the birds swooped past in the afternoon light.

Here in England Easter weekend is a big deal, and the Friday...

Sun, 14 Apr 2013 15:57:00 -0400

Here in England Easter weekend is a big deal, and the Friday before and the Monday after this weekend are holidays as well. Jim and I spent the weekend trekking around the Northwest and began by going on a random adventure to find him armrests for his new van. We found ourselves down along the River Ribble at an old shipyard, driving slowly past piles of old boats covered in peeling paint.

While Jim had his armrests fitted by a guy who lives along the riverfront in a small mobile home, I wandered through the beached boats, taking pictures of the beautiful fading colors and exquisitely carved signs. The view looked out over the river to the beautiful, serene countryside. It was a lovely way to start off our weekend, in an undiscovered corner of the world.

"The first and final thing you have to do in this world is to last it and not be smashed by it."

Mon, 08 Apr 2013 06:11:43 -0400

“The first and final thing you have to do in this world is to last it and not be smashed by...

I’m a day late, but Happy Easter from 1990.

Mon, 01 Apr 2013 17:23:37 -0400

I’m a day late, but Happy Easter from 1990.

Woke up to an amazing Easter basket from Jim!

Sun, 31 Mar 2013 09:19:24 -0400

Woke up to an amazing Easter basket from Jim!

Passed OUT.

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 14:59:37 -0400

Passed OUT.

"It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door. You step into the road, and if you..."

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 18:17:41 -0400

““It’s a dangerous business, Frodo, going out of your door. You step into the...

Photo

Wed, 27 Mar 2013 12:14:42 -0400