We are not in April yet, but the showers are definitely here arm in arm with March winds. When I first moved here I let the weather dictate my day, and that meant I stayed in A LOT. A year on and I have adapted a more local approach, which is to just get on with it, rain or shine. I am not sure my little guy appreciates this attitude as the wind and rain whip at his face on the back of the bike…but he does know the words rain, raining, wind, windy, sleet, raincoats, rains pants, rain boots, wet, puddles etc..etc.. so I guess it’s good for his vocabulary.
Yesterday, as he woke form his nap, I heard him shouting form the top of the stairs “Sun, come out!” in a very firm voice. The voice you mother might use when you were really in trouble… you know, when she called you by your full first name, all your middle names and your last name. He ran into my bedroom pulled the curtains open and again yelled at the sky ” Sun, come out”. I of course used this as an opportunity to sing “the sun will come out tomorrow” but he looked at me shook his head and said ” nee singing” so that was the end of that.
Down the stairs, two peanut butter toasts and a cup of tea later and guess who made a grand entrance and then lingered around to make everything more beautiful? There is something about the sun here and the way it cracks open the sky. It reminds me of the Leanard Cohen lyric, “there is a crack in everything, that’s how the light gets in”.
Maybe we should all start shouting what we want from the top of the stairs.
Written by Riley Salyards.
Photographs by Riley Salyards.
such a lovely post….the photos follow perfectly the narration of your morning, really beautiful
take care xx
March 28th, 2009 | #
nice to meet you riley! what a familiar story (i have a very precocious 4 year old). and as i sit here in day number 3 of continuous rain i appreciate a little sunshine…so thanks! and pia, thanks for the wonderful blog. you are now a part of my blog roll. come and visit me sometime!
March 28th, 2009 | #
if i had stairs i would stand at the top and yell THESE PHOTOS ARE WONDERFUL! lovely post.
March 28th, 2009 | #
Is it at all possible to your clothes in The Netherlands? I LOVE them so much.
Thank you, I love this blog too.
March 28th, 2009 | #
breathtaking, honestly i am blown away! i have looked at them a dozen times already….
March 28th, 2009 | #
Hi Riley,
It’s so great to see you here, and to be able to take part of some lovely pieces of your life! Your posts make me miss Amsterdam so much, I hope to be able to return soon…
hugs,
emma
March 28th, 2009 | #
These photos caught my breath this morning – what wonder! I have no other choice but to go out in search of tomatoes and tulips half as satisfying. Jen
March 28th, 2009 | #
oh riley, that was such a beautiful and tender little vignette that made me tear up a bit. i miss you and atreya but those photos and that little story put me right where you are. you just know how to make the world a more lovely place.
March 29th, 2009 | #
with you being so far…..with missing you so much, this blog makes us feel a little better. better to have glimpse into your world, your art, and your sun. We love you!
March 29th, 2009 | #
Great post, glad you eventually saw your slip of sunlight across the table top. I miss those still lives of yours . I love the melding of English Dutch that Atreya is picking up. watch out, hes gonna be a native dutchie soon and eat appleflappens and Oliebollen!!!
March 29th, 2009 | #
Beautiful post! So happy the sun came out so you could take such nice photos. It’s raining here at the moment, and I would dearly appreciate a little bit of sun. Perhaps I’ll yell 🙂
March 30th, 2009 | #
what breath-takingly beautiful photos…and such a lovely story…it almost makes me want to ride my bike in the rain.
March 30th, 2009 | #
Jesus!!! Who are you, my beautiful friend Riley!??? SO DELIGHTFUL…I am happy to know you will be coming to visit and take some glorious pictures at my house in California!!! the tulip look like they are off the hook-I adore you, Abby
March 30th, 2009 | #
That’s a classic – “Maybe we should all start shouting what we want from the top of the stairs” – thanks for the reminder!
March 31st, 2009 | #
I am blown away by all of your heartfelt, wonderful comments!!!!Thank you so much for the support, it really means the world to me and thank you again Pia for allowing me to show my work in this space.
Renata – We don’t currently sell our clothes in The Netherlands, I suggest you contact jacksonjohnstonandroe@gmail.com about any garments you are interested in and we can direct you from there.
March 31st, 2009 | #
Oh I loved the blog…little one calling for the sun and you singing to him. The photos are incredible…thanks for the view of your days!!!!
March 31st, 2009 | #
sigh. it’s all sublime. from start to finish.
April 2nd, 2009 | #
Oh Riley, thanks for these beautiful snapshots of Spring in Amsterdam. And your girl (I assume it’s your girl 😉 in front of the house on the “stoep”. Makes me all homesick (though Munich is beautiful too).
April 4th, 2009 | #
your little guy of course…I got too enthousiastic about the fotos to carefully READ before I typed away…
April 4th, 2009 | #
It is the inbetween seasons where yearning lives isn’t it??
A harsh summer/winter and then the months of the next kick in and we demand what we barely remember from many months ago….Here in Southern Australia our scortched soil aches for rain, but we are without a memory of it…It did not fall last winter with the intensity needed, or the winder before. Here our turning seasons inticate the hope of rain.
May the sun kiss your faces you cuties in Amsterdam, and may we be blessed with water from the gods….
Beautiful entry Riley, may you be warmed soon!!!
x
April 5th, 2009 | #
Pia this is stunning, including the way the site is laid out.
April 7th, 2009 | #
Riley-
These photos are unreal. Remember that dream you had of me living with you in Amsterdam? It’s almost coming true. I LOVE the slub piece hanging on the wall in the first photo.
truly inspiring.
April 23rd, 2009 | #
Riley, The photos were just beautiful and your little guy is SOOO cute. Thanks for sharing.
June 4th, 2009 | #