{a new year}

happy 2011!

we wish you a lovely year ahead...

we are moving onto other projects, thanks for being here!

xo *s & k

below are our first two posts that started it all...

{day two}

* * *
new mixed media painting by *s
* * *

Bliss.

sail on the forever floating

ship of dreams

find the horizon

pure grace unfolds

wake the dawning of a new day

let it shine

wait on the wintry shores

with beauty and hope

love to eternity

as creation sings

*k

{day one}

{k's letter to s that started it all}

S-

It is only appropriate that on our half birthdays, I present you with this gift of words. It has been a lifetime of instant friendships and acquaintances and yet only the true remain. The heart and soul of this letter is to provide an inspirational perspective- on "us", on our story, and most importantly how our friendship has truly shaped the events in our lives.

It all began on July 21 and 22 in 1977, when we were born a day apart. I was born merely hours after you and a connection was sparked. Our parallel paths until now have drawn a map on my soul and are continuously becoming clearer as I grow older and gain perspective. It is wonderful to imagine that we have moved through life in tandem- same hospital, town, and schools, then on as we became roommates, true old friends and now collaborators.

The interlocking connections have set us on a path to an infinite friendship that maintains its strength across the miles. How would we predict that as the calendar years have passed- we would be sailing, swimming, sinking, drifting, jumping and dancing our way to uncover the amazing journey of two women- worlds apart yet connected by one undeniable detail- two days in July.

We are kept alive by the notions and curves that the road of life has offered. You are my guiding light and a star on my horizon- somehow the sail in my forever floating ship of dreams. It is our fate to create a new reality from this short story of us that continues to be written.

Here is my hope- please take this letter and let it set your soul free. May it bring the key that unlocks the door to our creative future together. We've talked about collaborating for years, merging art with words in a way that screams to the world, "THIS IS WHAT LIFE IS ABOUT!" Let it be today that our streams cross (not to just merely meander for a while) but to create a new waterway of inspiration, hope and creativity.

It is with these lofty thoughts and idealistic goals that I write to you today.

May you always feel our connection- no matter the miles or time between.

Your collaborator, your support and your forever friend,

K

{see sarah's response to k's words tomorrow. s will be posting a painting inspired by this letter & a new poem by k. }

thanks to you for joining us on our journey.

see you tomorrow for day two-

s + k

{november}

a bit of my november}

posted by *s.

see you at the end of december!

{november}

{k's poem}

Us

Walking to the edge

Sunlight shines above

You see me for what is

I wonder if its fate

The gifts we share are

Boundless, yet moments

Seem forgotten

The time we spend together

Is merely just too small

Id rather walk this life

With you, than never walk

At all.

*k

{october}

our days have certainly been busy. and that, most likely, is an understatement.

both k & i are finding ourselves starting over in new-to-us places in our lives this fall.

we are, as always, on this journey side by side although we travel separate paths.

it never ceases to amaze me that we end up together, somehow managing though it all to meet in the middle.

the new amount of time and space we both have to dedicate to our creative endeavors has changed, and it seems a lot harder to keep up with the pace of things, yet we both find ourselves here, checking in with each other through our days.

we didn't want october to pass without being here, in our space.

see you in november. xo *s & k

here's a peek into our october days... before they fly right on by.

poem by k, photo by s

{day one}

Happy September! It is great to be back. Life certainly has taken me by surprise as I am constantly striving to find one moment to breathe, sleep, talk to those I love, and yet somehow lately, time just takes its toll on me. I am sitting here taking a break from grading essays (I teach 10th and 12th grade english) and I am just in dire need of an escape to two days in july. So, here I am. Sarah and I have had many changes happen recently (her beautiful baby and my move to a new place, new job, new house) and although we have not arrived at the same time this month, we are here!

With that said, welcome to fall 2010 with twodaysinjuly. ENJOY!

the poem

new beginnings

step out
eyes on you
there is no past
just tones of voices
you've never heard before

speak
to the ones
you've never seen
work for the silence
at the end of the day

tend
to the heart
you've missed so much
escape to the place
you call home

*k 9.26.10

{31 days in august}

k & s took a little

august vacation

from this

space.

*

we'll be back on the 21st & 22nd

of this month with a fresh start.

*

happy september!

{day two}

it's the journey...

a very happy birthday to my friend k

thanks for sharing this one with me

i wouldn't have it any other way

xo *s

{day one}

the poem


journeys

i spoke today a thousand words
and cried a hundred more.
you walked away without a why
as a bird who could not fly.
the mountains saved my waning spirit
then the river helped to clear it
softened by the washing tide
i held you, by my side
love lead me to the opened space
where quiet beauty, became my place
you helped to see the ways of time
through this long, lonely, journey of mine

*k 7.21.10

** happy birthday my friend, my collaborator, my soul sister! all my love, k

{day two}

yesterday, on her one month birthday

life sure has been full of changes for both k and me as of late... all good changes, but big ones nonetheless. time is flying by as our new lives are unfolding and surprising us with each and every new day.

we'll see you next month for two days in july & to celebrate our birthdays!

xo *s

{day one}

the poem

untitled

there is a place to go
to find solstice
among the turbulence
of the transient life

we ride the waves
and look for the calm waters
to only find at the other side
is another storm to ride

moving is like stepping
from an unknown rock
into the rough waters
of the clearest river

no matter how hard
the road may seem
that lies ahead
it is still a beautiful sight

*k 6.21.10

{day two: may}

{day one of her life}

ada maeve bellemare

born on may 21

xo *s

{day one}

{the poem}

an ode to a child

life so precious
taking me away
bringing new light
upon this special day

smaller than us
too beautiful to compare
a dream come true
something to share

of all the many things
to come to us in time
exceptionally beautiful
is this child of mine

*this small yet significant poem is dedicated to my partner in crime, sarah, who today with her loving husband welcomes a new baby girl into their life. and if you have followed our story, understood our connection, you will quickly see that her baby girl, was born on the 21st, the same day as her mom, sarah and the same day we (sarah & kate) have posted our words since january 2009. we are all blessed with the opportunities, the miracles, and the moments that take our breath away. congratulations to my friend, my soul sister, my "new mom"!

with lots of love, *k

{day two: april}

{thoughts in early spring}

more than one. (c) sarah ahearn.

spring's million(who

are

and do not wait)

buds imitate

upward each first flower

of two

{acrylic/mixed media painting inspired by ee cummings}

by *s. see you next month for {twodaysinmay}

{april}

{day one}

I have been contemplating my life from such strange views in the past few weeks. Time moved me from scene to scene, moment to moment. And, in my attempts to stay afloat, I have found that I turn inward and listen to the sound of my heart. It shows me the way. I turn to music, poetry, writing, silence and my dog for the inspiration to fight the fears of the unknown and look through the lens of curiosity. I seek simplicity and calm. So what better a time to share some of my favorite lines of poetry than now, amidst the moments of peace when all is still.

"I will arise and go now, for always night and day I hear lake water lapping low sounds by the shore; While I stand on the roadway, or on the pavements grey, I hear it in the deep heart's core"

William Butler Yeats

posted by kate. 4.21.10

{march}

{blur & bloom}

driving through virginia. photo by s.

this week has both of us very busy! we wanted to check in, wish you a happy (official) spring and let you know we'll be here next week with our march post.

wishing we could say we've come down with a case of spring fever, but we have not been out picking flowers and relaxing! instead we've both been traveling, running around like crazy and going through some (big & good!) life changes...

things are blossoming for both of us this month! we're always so amazed at how our lives seem to continue to parallel each other...

we're enjoying the busy blur of this month and we'll hope to see you before it's "out like a lamb"...

xo *s

{day two: february }

{time}

morning & noon

before & after

snippets of time. in the kitchen with a camera.

february seems to be flying by much too fast, i'm trying to appreciate and savor each quiet moment. remembering to deeply breathe in & out. each and every day taking the time to let these little bits stop me in my tracks.... just pause, look and really see what surrounds.

until next time in march~

*s

{day one: february}

{time}

There are moments in time when we feel as though someone has hit pause on the remote control of life. When we try hard to take the next step forward but something, anything, holds us in this place, in a perpetual "hurry up and wait" mode. In a life, as I've referenced in our blog many times, that flies by the seat of my pants - there are these glimpses that remind me constantly that I have no real control of my fate. We hold our breath, we pray, we believe, we lose hope, we get discouraged, we stop, we try to go, but essentially the moment- the one bit of life, the information that we lack, is what we wait to breathe for ... we just sit and wait. How hard is it to NOT think - will things be ok, can this be the chance, will it change my life, will everything stay the same, and will I survive? And the questions, for one second haunt us until someone or something provides us the solace to move, to know, to be able to prepare. How often do we physically race through our day multi-tasking everything down to when we use the bathroom (emailing while we do). Do we realize we are suspended in time by information that we need in order to make a decision or choice that meanders us down the path of experience. What we do in times when we know nothing but to just sit... and wait?


We trust and love and freak out and sigh and stress and fight and just when we least expects it... life happens...

“Perseverance and spirit have done wonders in all ages.”

― George Washington

*k 2.21.10

{ january: reflection by k & s }

{reflections}

*k's words:

As I sit reflecting on a year of my life, I realize this process has been neglected until now. How we as humans so quickly forget how to stop looking forward to the future…Ignoring the past, surpassing the present and ending up in a constant abyss of time lines, check lists, to dos, schedules and lets not forget…life. How often do we then, amongst the madness of these spiraling days, take a moment to be, just be, and god forbid, reflect. I know I avoid reflection because sometimes the past isn’t always rosy. Sometimes when we look back, memories flood in like infusions of darkness or rays of light. Either, in retrospect, can cause an emotional reaction and an innate response. A response that at times feels upsetting, awkward, and tragic… Yet, aren’t all of these moments actually pieces to the puzzle of life? The good and the bad, aren’t they all the essence of our being? And if yes, what are we rushing to see, to know, to do? When all the questions sometimes are better left unanswered, put off for another day. Reflecting upon life, being with oneself in the moment, provides a spiritual growth unattainable with a planner full of to do lists and future engagements. It comes from within, the heart and soul. Why do I apply such rigor to a day of reflection? Because today is more than merely remembering but it is an awakening to a certain way of life – a ritual, a gift of words and art, and friendship that without this project – would only be a “future plan”. It is a realistic to do list, one we have turned into a present moment, yearlong, project with limitless possibilities and overwhelmingly amazing outcomes. It has been what I look forward to every month on the same two days…

*k 1.22.10

* * *

above photo by *s. old picture that was the original inspiration for two days in july (see above in header)

the little sepia toned snapshot above (see detail of photograph in our header) was my visual inspiration for what two days in july was to be all about. there is magic in that photo, that story, and our story as well. i was given the photograph by my mother-in-law, just around the time when we were dreaming up our first posts for the blog. the snapshot is from the summer of 1934, when her relatives were vacationing on the new england seashore. the very first thing i noticed in the photo was how the two figures in the center had been circled in pencil... two friends, walking on a beach, together. for me, those two women came to represent our friendship, and how we've been circled together since those first two days in july.

we are two friends, born a day apart, a collaboration

until next month,

xo *s