Bright Spot

Dear Jill,

Today I took this photo today with you in mind.  (I was practicing bokeh with marginal success...)  It made me miss you even more than usual.  I was out by the breakwater and the rocks and waves reminded me of both Bellingham and Thailand.  That got me thinking... Do you remember how we finally found our 'chalet' in Jordan?  Or of the time you beat me in Uno and I suffered the consequences by sleeping with the cockroaches?  When you were the model for a bedouin scarf lesson near Azraq?  How about the time we learned how to read cliff paintings in Azerbaijan?  No!  You are wrong! What about the mayhem on the flight to Chittagong? (Yeah--still not too sorry I missed out on that one.)  Or the time we tried to roast marshmallows but were robbed by racoons instead? Baby City--where the babies are the boss? Or our very first novelty snack pic? And please, please tell me you have not forgotten Bruno?!

Oh! I have such special memories with you!  Some good (happy days in the Homestead), some bad (chemo days), and some funny (Christmas in the Mideast)--but all very special. Ms. Jill--you are a once-in-a-lifetime kind of friend and we have had some once-in-a-lifetime types of adventures.

Thank you for being such a bright spot in my life!  You are so dear to me!

Wish I could be there to help you celebrate!
♥, Molly

In Your Face

Happy Golden Birthday!  Love you brother!

♥, Molly 

Christmas Greetings 2012!

Although Jill and I may be half-way around the world from each other (Hey there, Australia!) we still wanted to make our annual Christmas video.  (Hello 2009, 2010, and 2011.) Admittedly 8000 miles was a bit of a set back.  However, we dusted off some footage, added one of our very favorite holiday songs, tossed in a picture from our last trip together, and voila:  a wonderful Christmas time!

Wishing you a Simply Wonderful wherever you may be!

Christmas 2012 from Jill Cox on Vimeo.

Much much love,
Molly (& Jillie)

Flying Machine

a birthday video for my brother who used to make cool things. like robber traps and stuff.


originally found here  via cool hunting

♥, molly

Christmas Gretings 2011!

For the first time in two years I've been able to celebrate Christmas in Washington. So far the trip's been cold, rainy, and really cold.  When I haven't been freezing, it's also been all sorts of lovely. I have to agree--whoever said "there's no place like home for the holidays" kinda knew what they were talking about.

This year Jill and I are calling "Yoo-hoo!" by sending out our annual Christmas video card in super-speed style.  We hope it puts you in a ring-ting-tingaling mood.  Happy Holidays!

Merry Christmas 2011 from Jill Cox on Vimeo.  Music by The Ronettes.
I'd definitely like to thank Jill for being the mastermind behind the video.  Additional thanks go out to Mike for letting us use his camera and for helping us film.

If you're wanting to stretch out the season just a little bit longer, here are our silly videos from Christmas past.  Combined, they'll give you an extra 4 minutes and 23 seconds of holiday cheer.
Christmas 2010: 12 Days of Christmas
Christmas 2009: Christmas in the Mid-East

♥, Molly

P.S. Although at first glance you might think we filmed this in the US, everything of course was done right here in Abu Dhabi. A Christmas display in the mall might not seem like a very big deal, but the more I watch the video, the more I appreciate the open and accepting attitude of our Muslim country.  Thanks, UAE!

to you. from me.

sometimes people have to go through some pretty rotten yucky things. i have one dear friend in particular who could use a big huge hug right about now.

 xo!

♥, molly

found here

Happy Birthday Dad & Wendy!

If I had a 'family birthday month,' August would be it. There are special dates on the calendar for the step-mom, the mom, the grandma, and the dad. Today happens to be the birthday of the dad. Happy Birthday, Dad!!


"Working on the Farm" from the talented This Paper Ship

This print is a birthday gift for both the dad and the step-mom. (Sorry I wasn't home to frame it and deliver it in person! I hope it's arrived in the mail by now!) The instant I saw it, I thought of them--they both love to garden and they both love each other. Every time I glance at the illustration, I get these very same impressions. Plus, in real life they look extremely similar to the cute little cartoon couple--boots, basket, cowboy shirt, smirk and all.

Wishing you good things all year and especially on your birthday(s)!
♥, Molly

Day 17--Embroidery 101

30(ish) Days of Fun::Caitlin's Arrival to the First Day of School
inspired by Mighty Girl

Back in March, Sarah and I were treated to a little Carnival in honor of our birthdays. In addition to tons of homemade fair food, cheery decor, and specialty soda, the night included some lively midway games. (And prizes!) After a few turns at the dart board, I was the lucky recipient of a craft lesson from Jill. I decided to ask her to teach me a thing or two about embroidery and she happily obliged. (You can check out some of her needlework here.)

I liked embroidering well enough to order this kit from Sublime Stitching. Once it arrived, however, I never quite got around to starting any of my own projects. Until yesterday.

I decided my first project would be something for my sister's birthday. I washed and ironed a dishtowel, transferred the pattern, reacquainted myself with the basics, and then got started. Lo and behold, it really wasn't that hard. I chose a straightforward pattern (HB--my sister's nickname) and used some very simple stitches (back stitch on the H and stem stitch on the B). Several hours and several episodes of The Office later, I was finished!

Happy Birthday, Honeybunch!

Obviously, it doesn't take much to make me proud. :)

♥, Molly

5 years - July 1, 2006 to July 1, 2011

or Happy Five Years of Knowing You

Once, on a warm July evening, a girl went for a jog out on a trail by a lake in the great PNW.
Once, on a warm July evening, a boy and his dog went out for a walk on a trail by a lake in the great PNW.

After running a long time, the girl was hot and tired. She kept going because she'd heard there was a rope swing just ahead. Even though she had never tried the rope swing before, she'd always wanted to. And besides, she thought it sounded like a nice way to end her run.

The girl eventually found the rope swing. She climbed a tree, grabbed a hold of the rope, took a deep breath, and swung out over the lake in the great PNW. SPLASH! She tumbled, most ungracefully into the water.

Now, as it would be, the boy and his dog and the girl all happened to be walking along the same trail by a lake in the great PNW. When the boy and his dog were just a short way off, they heard a loud SPLASH! Being a curious pair, they decided to investigate.

So the boy and his dog scrambled up the bank of the trail by the lake in the great PNW just in time to see the girl SPLASH! as she crashed into the water yet again. The boy and his dog thought the girl looked like a hopeless rope-swinger.

Now the boy considered himself to be good at rope-swinging. So he decided to show the girl how it was done. The girl was a little annoyed, but only a little. So she decided to watch and see what would happen.

And then, the boy climbed a tree, grabbed a hold of the rope, took a deep breath, and swung out over the lake in the great PNW. SPLASH! The girl was impressed as the boy sailed smoothly into the water without all of his arms and legs flailing every which way. She wanted to know how he did that so easily. So she asked the boy to teach her. And that is exactly what the boy did.

And so it came to be, that once, on a warm July evening, a girl and a boy and his dog happened upon each other. And all because of a rope swing on a trail by a lake in the great PNW, they have been (more or less) good friends ever since.

Happy Five Years of Knowing You!


♥, Molly

P.S. At the risk of making this post even cheesier, I wanted to send you this song. It reminds me of you--especially lately. Thank you for being my friend!

Happy Father's Day

special thanks to wendy for this shot

dad--i hope you know just how much i love you.
wishing you a wonderful father's day!
-m.

Happy Birthday Walter!

sending lots of love and heaps of sugary treats to my littlest brother. hard to believe he's turning the big 5 today!




mwah!
-m.

Happy Birthday Caitlin!

photos from Facebook & from Almota Roses Photography
Hard to believe that the family Honey Bunch (aka H.B.) is turning 23!
Happy birthday, sweet sister! XO!!

For your virtual birthday present I decided to buy you. . .
this summer dress


this adorable suitcase


this fun camera


and a plane ticket to this destination.

photos from here and here

I think we'd* have a pretty grand time.

Love you!
-m.

*Oh yeah--forgot to mention that I'm coming on this trip too! Just what you wanted, I know. ♥

Happy Mother's Day, Part II

Mother's Day is a pretty fine time to acknowledge a few more 'moms' in my life.

I'm so grateful for the wonderful woman who raised my beautiful mother.


I'm so grateful for the wonderful woman who raised my dear father.


I'm so grateful for the wonderful woman who has become such a special part of my family.


And I'm so grateful for the wonderful woman who is like my second mom. I've always seen her as an example of optimism and courage, but in these last couple of months she's shown me just how strong her character really is. She has tremendous faith and a lot of pluck. I've never admired her more than I do now.


Happy Mother's Day!
-m.

Happy Mother's Day

Sending much love everyday, but especially today. ♥

To the moon & back,
-m.

Happy May Day!

Wishing I could leave one of these on your doorstep!
xo
-m.

P.S. I'm having a horrible time sourcing this photo. I don't remember where I found it. Sorry!!! :-(

♥Charlie's Birthday♥

Guess who's turning 21?!
Charlie! ♥

2009 was a pretty rough year for him, poor guy.
2010 on the other hand--umm--definitely the high life. 'Retirement' has been good: big green pastures, a warm stall, his own little herd of friends, the best of care, and months to recover and get strong. It's such a blessing to know that he is in good hands--the Millers are the most wonderful 'birthday' present I could ever hope to give him. Favorite horse treats, lip-twitching belly rubs, and long rides will have to wait until I get home.

This past summer, my step-mom was kind enough to take a few photos for us. She was able to capture an ordinary summer night at the barn through some extraordinarily special photos. (Thank you!) Here are a few of my favorites:








Click here to see the full photo shoot.


Looking forward to many wonderful years ahead!

♥Happy Birthday, Charlie!♥
-m.

Jill's Virtual Birthday Present--Homestead Style

from: molly and Benoit Vieubled
to: jill cox


isn't this amazing?!!

i think it's absolutely ingenious. it reminded me instantly of ms. jill and a magical little house we once shared.

it would have gone nicely in the living room. well, if the ceiling had been just a bit taller. . .

by jill

happy birthday dear friend!
-m.

p.s. to see more birthday action, head to jill's blog and read about it here and here!

galen's virtual birthday present

exactly one month ago, my pretty-much awesome brother, galen, turned 27. if i remember correctly, my sister, my mom, and i went together to get help get him some computer-thing. he probably liked it well enough. however, i know he would have REALLY liked this.

THE EARTHROAMER!

hope he doesn't mind a bit of good-natured, sisterly teasing. i can see it now . . .

galen's new favorite tow-behind vehicle:

perfect place to keep the cats when they're being too rowdy!

galen's new favorite thing to do with friends:

earthroamer rallies!

galen's new favorite place to go hunting:

anywhere! (click here to see some more 'roamer action shots.)

galen's new favorite feature:

big fridge for lots of bevvies!

and if anyone knows galen, his new, number one, can't-live-without favorite feature: a rig with a fresh water capacity of 117 gallons, including 13 gallons of 100 degree water. no need to worry--he can still take suuuuper long showers while he's on (or off) the road!

man--he really would have a lot of good fun with this get-up. too bad the price-tag is a bit hefty and i don't think any amount of perfectnessforgalenness is going to get me a sale. i'd probably have to work in abu dhabi for the next 50 years just to pay it off.
virtual gifting will have to do.

happy belated birthday!
love you!
-m.

Postcard from Sweden

Image from Winter Series II at Per Breiehagen Photography

Postcard from Montana