about me
I run Beneficial Design, a web design studio that specializes in simple websites.
But I do, think, and say a lot of other things too.
My simple treasures:
- hot chai in a my favorite mug on a fall day
- sunday dinners with family
- lingering hugs with special people
- taking my dogs to the dog park
- pausing
- taking naps in the sun
- cranking up my music and designing an idea that has been stuck in my head that just needs to come out
- visiting Portland and remembering growing up there
- being inspired at a museum
What are your favorite things?
5 Comments so far
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Hi Katie,
I am enjoying looking at you blog - you are so creative! I figured I’d leave you a message before my little one grows tired of his activity mat! He is so cute, by the way, and reminds me of some of your baby pictures (with a little bit of a widow’s peak and adorable chubby cheeks!).
Tell your mom and Anna that I said hi!!!
Your cousin,
Annette
Thanks Annette! What a pleasent surprise! You are my first comment.
Congrats on becoming a mother and to a healthy little boy.
That’s really funny, I would love to see more photos of him sometime. I do remember some very early photos that I my mom has and will have to take a look and check out the cheeks and hair.
I will tell everyone you said hi.
Hope your entire family has a wonderful holiday season and a happy new year
K
Kaytlyn,
My sister (your Aunt Marilyn) and I have been trying to explore our family history the last couple of years. One source of family history is a collection your Aunt Joyce has. The collection consists of photos, post cards, letters, and other things saved by your great grandmother (Bessie Williams Cramer). I have scanned about 15 letters and some photos. I have been fascinated by the personal stories and they should be shared. We will try to share them in the future.
In a related topic, your Aunt Marilyn has recently discovered advice given to your Aunt Roberta when your cousin David was young. This advice was given by my mother (Thalia Cramer Libb). Your cousin Stacy was recently quite touched by the advice as it relates to her own child.
Marilyn explains below:
This segment is copied from a letter that was written to Roberta when her son David was about 17 months old in January, 1972. This is Thalia Libb’s view on raising children.
“David is going to get along all right. The thing to do is to have a certain way to get him sleepy. Do the same thing the same way at the same time each day. Even if he doesn’t sleep he will get rest. You could put on a record. Very young children like and respond to repetition, eating at exact times and going to toilet the same times. Tell Ron to help you set up some limits, rules, behavior-wise. You don’t need to paddle him but don’t put up with breaking limits. At two years old he will be well formed character wise and habit wise. This is a most important job. 25 years from now you will see the excellent results as I now see in this beautiful family. Don’t be uncertain, mothers have a natural feeling or intuition about what treatment to give a child. I think sometimes we read too many books. Just be consistent.”
Uncle Bill,
Fascinating!
In fact on my mother’s side, my cousin Kevin, had their first daughter (Breann Dolan) a little over a year ago and are doing the exact same thing. Although is sounds a bit rigid, it has done wonders. They stick to the schedule diligently and don’t let her get away with anything. I had the joy of seeing her last month and she is the best 1-year-old ever. Not a deprived little girl in any way, she was a happy and curious toddler.
I commend you and Marilyn for all the research you are doing. I know my mom has a copy of some records you sent her years ago that I was able to look through. At times I regret not keeping up and fulling knowing both sides of my family tree.
Much love to you and your family!
K
These are some of my favorite things…
sunsets with my boy in my lap,
Taijiquan and Qigong at dawn or dusk, just when my vision shifts and the shadows unite,
my wife pressed against me.