Grief is so weird. Of that I am sure. The trick seems to be figuring out what to hold on to and what to let go. And, for me, learning how to honor a person’s place in your life — as challenging as that place was — and giving yourself permission to move on.
I put out “the scarecrows” on our porch this weekend. They’ve been part of our fall celebrations as long as my kids have been alive, sitting right there by the window with their same disproportionate smiles. And this year, there are only four.
“I’m so glad I live in a world where there are Octobers.” My favorite month is here! I have an October birthday, so this month always feels a lot like the start of a new year. That feeling of being on the cusp of something fresh gets an extra boost as we see the change of seasons from summer into fall. And, we are really ready this year! Cooler temperatures arriving right on time has been just the lift my crew has needed.
I hope you’ll download this month’s printable calendar and the cut-away mini 5 x 7″ print to enjoy or share. And, I hope it helps you mark a few special days with those you love. As we head into the autumn season in earnest, there’s no better time to stay close to home and celebrate time with family. My crew has already come up with a few plans for family birthdays, Halloween, and decorating parties that are on our calendar. We have started a list of new recipes to try, and are looking forward to completing a fire pit project in our backyard for s’mores making. Let the season of pumpkin spice and crunching leaves begin!
Out of the blue as we were driving to dance class the other day, my daughter sighed and said, “I miss trips.” What a concise reflection of our collective hearts over the last six months! Although we really love home and have enjoyed the nesting and strengthening time brought on by the pandemic, our spirits still miss the wandering trips and travels to favorite places we’ve canceled because of it. When the shutdowns and closures brought on by Covid-19 began in our state, we were actually on spring break from school and traveling in Tennessee. We were visiting the Great Smoky Mountains after spending several days on our Memphis “stomping grounds,” as my grandmother would say. So, naturally, talk of trips took us into a discussion of all the things about Bluff City we’ve claimed as our own. We consoled ourselves by remembering that, yes, they are the things we miss, but that’s because they’re the things we love.
That conversation with Baby Girl sent me into my photo archives for a quick glimpse of walking in changes of scenery, taking in sidewalks and experiences – familiar, but so distant from us right now. I know I’ve shared that some of the scenery we seem to always seek out is street art – the murals, graffiti, and public art installations that lend vibrance to even an already bustling scene. From driving through back roads to wandering down alleys, finding these works of art seems like a treasure hunt through even the most traveled sidewalks. And, whether it’s parked cars, moving transit, business folk, or the occasional three ring circus tagging along with their mom for photographs, we all become part of the story depicted.
Today, I’m taking a virtual field trip to the corner of Madison Avenue and B.B. King Boulevard in downtown Memphis, to find scenes of the city’s resilience set against the story of a gothic “queen”, a Bluff City matriarch, and hopes waiting to be fulfilled for a Memphis icon.
Welcome, September… and whatever teasing of Fall and cooler weather fun you might bring! I’m kicking off the month with a Maker’s Dozen saluting our family’s most eventful transition of the last few weeks — the start of school. Plus, as you scroll down, you’ll find a monthly printable calendar with some new artwork.
As you may be experiencing in your neck of the woods, the 2020-2021 school year has a unique set of challenges as we all navigate the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic. We are adjusting to a new schedule with my daughter in full-time virtual learning and my sons in a hybrid plan with in-person school two days each week and virtual learning for the other days. While, I’m so happy to have them with me for extra time, it’s quite a juggling feat with client projects, kid activities, and assignments and more school assignments. Still, we’re thankful for the creativity and commitment of our excellent teachers, and we haven’t let this weird year dampen our excitement for… school supplies!
I love dictionaries. And thesauruses. (Thesauri?) I looked up “folds,” and the favorite definition I found was “hollows made by folding” or “hollow places in undulating ground.” Also, “enclosures for sheep” or “groups sharing common beliefs and values.” There is protection in folds — in the hollows carved out by the things that overlap us. In the hollows we wear on our skin and our lives. I hope you find your hollow today.
Each POCKETS OF WONDERS post is a small capsule collection of photographs curated to provide a moment of inspiration.
Hello & welcome! I’m Haley Montgomery, and I’m the designer and owner of Small Pond Graphics. I sometimes fancy myself a frog kisser— a documentarian coaxing poignant moments from unexpected places. This blog has evolved from those moments.
The small Pond FIELD GUIDE is part diary, part sketchbook, and part wish list – an archive of ordinary wonders. For years, this space has housed my stories – creative ideas, vintage inspiration, our forays into curious places, and the simple artifacts of quiet of conscious living. Through watercolor, photography, and illustrated tales, these pages uncover the blessing of ordinary days and the wonder found in authentic places and pursuits.
I invite you to open the boxes.
Peek into the drawers.
Rustle through the pages. I’m honored to have you here.
Hello & welcome! I’m Haley Montgomery, and I’m the designer and owner of 
