Camp Create

I'm spending most of this week photographing a summer arts camp, and Claire and Jack are having a great time joining in the plaster of paris mask making, the drum circle sessions, tie-dye shirt decorating, and creating mosiacs with things found at hand. But the best part for them seems to be all the wonderful new friends they've made. No one could ever call my kids wall flowers!

La Meute (The Pack)

It's Saturday night, my last night in Paris, and my trip abroad is going out with a bang. It's a miracle, really, to reunite all the members of the original "Pack," the group of friends that often dined and vacationed together back when I lived in Paris. Everyone who wasn't married then is married now, and that makes for a lot of kids, too.

We eat pizza (the thin-crusted French kind that often has a egg on it, yum), drink wine, and catch up on the last eight years, which is how long it's been since I last saw these friends. And as it turns out, the last time they all saw each other, all together. You can show me all the masterpieces and wonders of the world, but nothing beats the moments spent with friends. It doesn't get better than this, and I savor every second...

Forks and Knives

One of the benefits of travelling in a group is making new friends. The very first day in Graz drew together a group of talented, creative and intelligent mothers (and a dad or two), and I've really enjoyed getting to know these people. Mostly this revolved around meal times, as we peered at maps, searching for the ubiquitous symbol of the crossed fork and knife. Dining is still an adventure, as we try to guess different dishes by their placement on the printed menu. Apparently, big brown beans drenched in pumpkin seed oil are a specialty of the region...

Auld Lang Syne

We were privileged to be surrounded by a fine group of folks as we rang in the new year; with 12 adults and 14 kids, the grownups were clearly outnumbered (and loving almost every minute of it). As the ball dropped in Times Square, hoots and hollers went up in our jam-packed kitchen and a single word came to my mind: gratitude. I'm thankful that we have such wonderful people in our lives, delighted that they joined in this special occasion with us, and hopeful that we'll share many more celebrations as the years go by.

For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne,
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne.

We wish you many great things in the year to come, not the least of which is the company of good friends. Happy 2008!