Gallery of July, 2025

 I cannot comprehend that we are in August already! It is once again time for a month of photos. I did not take very many pictures this month; we were quite busy and I have been enjoying having few ties to my phone lately. But I did capture some lovely tidbits; here are my snippets from July!

^^^This is from Independence Day, at the Highfill house. We have: Riley, me, Tyler, Juliana, Luke and Chloe!

^^^We recently hung a dartboard in the apartment, and Bennett hit a bullseye (it was one of his first throws, I think. Whatever.)

^^^My handsome Mr. Branson, doing what he loves at his workbench. The way his mind works and so easily understands the complexities of a clock movement will never stop astounding me.

^^^One Sunday, I made cherry almond milkshakes (with my milkshake blender that my parents gave me for my 21st birthday! It was an especially thoughtful gift because I had been saying I missed making milkshakes, working at Woolworth's Diner when I was 17.) Anyway, these did not disappoint; they were quite light and refreshing, just sweet enough-- and cherry + almond is just a beautiful combination.

^^^Yet another of Bennett. He's a teenager now, you guys-- this little dork is thirteen. Not yet taller than me, but he is getting there. He makes me stand next to him every time I see him, just to see if he grew any. I'll let you know when he actually passes me up.

^^^Lastly, a little craft I did this month. I took an old jar lid, painted it pink, arranged beads inside of it, glued them in, and attached a magnet to the back. It is now on my fridge and looks quite cheerful against the black surface.

The end! I know it's halfway through August; this tiny post shouldn't have taken this long, but August happens to be the busiest and most mind-whirling month out of the whole year (back-to-school season at work) and my home life has also been quite busy. I've not been able to carve out much time for writing, which I am definitely feeling-- but this is where God has placed me, and I'm grateful for any time at all!

I do have multiple posts I am working on; no telling when I will actually finish and post them. Until then, my friends!

 

Gallery of June, 2025

 Now that it is July (!!!) it is also time for my monthly gallery. June was lovely, as all months are if we learn to realize that God has adorned every day with mercies and lessons and beauty. 

Here are my photographs!

A seashell full of pearls by candlelight. This is on our bathroom counter and it just looked so lovely one night I had to get a picture. 

Just a handsome lad. (My brother Bennett. This was sent to me by one of my sisters. Glad to know nothing has changed since I moved out:) )

My upward view during my lunch break one day. I use this time to quiet my mind and observe God's creation. It really turns my heart around for the rest of the day.

Me and my Riley at the Prairie Fire in the Padre Hotel where my dad's band, Bad Modem, played a fantastic set of glorious 90s covers.

Breakfast for dinner at my in-laws' house!

Me and my sister in law Emily

Bath time. Lately I have been slicing lemons and putting them in the water; it makes the steam smell fresh and bright. 

My husband at his home workbench, with a clock movement. He is teaching himself clock repair and is already astonishingly proficient for how little experience he has yet built up. I love to see and hear his passion for the trade.

A painting I spontaneously did one Saturday. I sat and painted in a freshly cleaned apartment, accompanied by a fresh cup of coffee from my Moka pot and the music of Garoto, a Brazilian guitarist from the 1930s whom I've recently discovered. It was a very mind-nourishing afternoon!

Me and Riley after I cut his hair BY MYSELF. It was a very scary process and for a minute I was petrified because he was starting to look like Dwight Schrute-- but then he washed and dried it, and it has looked wonderfully handsome ever since. Now we know I have the ability to cut his hair, and we can save $25 and a trip to Great Clips.

Lunch break with the trees! (Do you catch my silver hairs?? My grays are all growing in straight/wavy, by the way. Audrey pointed out one time that the curly hair might have only been a phase, and now I am wondering if I'll have straight or slightly wavy hair when I'm fully gray. I guess we'll see!)

The bathroom windowsill at night. We brush our teeth by candlelight every night and there's something whimsical about it that I adore.

So, June is over! It was a busy and marvelous month, full of sweetness and the ever beautiful settling and flourishing into our home together, every day becoming more in love with each other and with Christ. (That is something I always thought was an exaggerated fairytale myth, whenever I heard it: "every day in marriage is sweeter than the last". Well, I am now comfortable telling you it is wholly true. If you both love the Lord, you will love each other, and it actually does deepen every day. It is, like Paul said, a profound mystery. And I am almost in disbelief that I've been given the gift of this mystery to live through every day until death parts us. I think, "I am already so in love with him; how can this become any more beautiful?" And each day is proof that it can and it does. Thank you Jesus for my marriage.)

I look eagerly on to July. This weekend will be sweet: Independence Day on Friday, and the Westchester parade with family that morning-- celebrating with friends in the evening. Saturday, bright and early, Riley and I are off to Santa Barbara. We will return Sunday night and begin another week of work. 

Good day, friends!

Gallery of May, 2025

It's a week into June now, but I've had this idea for a long time; at the end of every month, I want to write a post dedicated to the past month and its photographs. (Someday I'd like to get into real physical scrapbooking, but I like the idea of doing it here too.)

Anyway, my hope is to do this on the first of every new month-- clearly I'm off to a great start on that:)

Without further ado, here is marvelous May!

~~~~~

-this is the coffee can clock on top of our microwave. I just thought it deserved a picture:)

-this is the broken grandfather clock on our patio! A sweet family friend wanted us to have it after learning of Riley's interest in clock repair. We now have the best-looking patio in our entire apartment complex.

-some rather radiant strawberries I couldn't help but photograph one Saturday in the middle of my meal prep. I love berry season

-the picture is sideways, but this is my wedding bouquet drying as it hangs on an old lamp my sweet grandma gave us.

-my view from the couch one day, to my left. Dried flowers in an old vase, an onyx ashtray Riley bought on the honeymoon, and his stack of clock repair books. 

-my new favorite way to drink coffee: a cortado with honey. Every Thursday we make dinner with our friends and two of them are especially proficient with an espresso machine. What a gift to have this little cup of love when I would be paying $7 for this in any coffee shop! And it wouldn't be nearly as delicious, I'm sure of that.

-me, my sisters, and dolls. This was taken at an estate sale one Saturday

-my lovely women, that same Saturday. This was in the greenhouse at Cricklewood Secret Garden.

-a moment during one of our regular Monday sibling nights when I decided Riley's big toe could use some color. (That stayed on all month until he decided enough was enough)

-some silly sisters (undeniably gorgeous and chic though)

-a frame from one of my lunch walks. Something about this looked almost eerie- liminal might be the right word, although everything is liminal to everyone nowadays and we might have watered down that word, haha 

-my new lunch spot. It's in the quiet bend of the commercial road by my building. Lots of businesses surrounding but almost no noise in this spot except for the birds. It smells like hot grass and it is wonderful. 

-the top of my beloved bookshelf. I love when there is so much to look at in such a small corner of your home. 

-one day after work I chose to spend 30 minutes eating stove top popcorn with my legs in the pool. I faced west, so the setting sun soaked my body in warmth and made me sweat-- but I went inside glowing, restored and definitely less hungry (therefore more calm.)

-the lunch I made with a dear friend who came over. (Quinoa with roasted sweet potatoes, pan fried chickpeas, sautéed kale, avocado and lemon garlic tahini sauce. We both perished on first bite)

It was a sweet afternoon; more people should cook one on one together.

~~~~~

That is May! It's getting late, so I've lost the ability to be very coherent or eloquent now, but I can't leave without saying I owe all the beauty in my life to Christ. His mercies are new and many every day.