Uncommon Grace

Just a peek...

...from the new house this week.

Moving could be going better. ;)

But we're all so very happy to have a huge backyard.

With flowers and trees and swings and all the important things.

My little one spent the evening (normal bedtimes are suspended while all the grownups are working) making this tent with small branches the other night.

As we laid in it and looked up at the sky, the moon, and the trees swaying in the breeze, I was never so grateful. In the midst of chaos (maybe more on that later), I have been blessed with the gift of a child and her real sense of perspective.

From the Land

Last weekend we visited our CSA farm and picked asparagus. It was a sunny, warm (but not hot) morning.

It didn't take too long to finish our row, with a laundry basket nearly full of the long stalks.

Afterwards, we visited with some chickens, cows, a goat, and the cutest little piglets.

The piglets ate right out of my children's hands -- they were so gentle and playful. It was great fun!

When we got home with our 8 (or so) pounds of asparagus, determined not to let it go to waste, Elisabeth and I cleaned and trimmed all of it. We blanched it in batches -- 2 minutes each -- and then submerged it in ice water until it was cool.

Then we dried it and divided it (what you see above is not all of it, either!).

Elisabeth commented several times that this work reminded her of the olden days. I knew just what she meant: working to gather our food, and then spending time preparing it in large batches to be used over a long period of time. It's so important, I believe, for children to experience this. It can be so easy to assume that all food comes from the grocery store, and to become disconnected from the source. I'm so glad that we have these opportunities through our CSA.

So, now we have about 8 meals' worth of asparagus, which is wonderful, since we are an asparagus-loving family. {For many years, I declared that it was my least favorite food. I claimed that it looked appetizing, but tasted bad. Then one time, about 3 years ago or so, we were staying with some friends and were served a meal with asparagus in it. Not wanting to be the only person not eating it (all of the children were), I went ahead and tried it. And, to my surprise, I loved it.}

And in just a couple of weeks, it'll be time to pick (and preserve) strawberries!

suddenly summer

It kind of sneaks up on you, you know? Especially after a cooler-than-usual spring. But it's here, and we're oh-so glad around here.

Enjoying the first fruits of our little garden.

First flowers, too!

A bag constantly at the ready.

Feeling awe at the beauty of summer storms -- and knowing that they sometimes bring hail and cyclones with them.

Bits of green everywhere.

Fresh braids every morning before swimming lessons.

New joys discovered as our boy is big enough to play in the water on his own -- under his mama's hawk-like watch, of course.

Hoping that your season -- whether summer or winter -- is shaping up as beautifully as ours is!

from the weekend

Just a few photos from the weekend to share on this Monday.

Special treat: a trip to a 50's diner in the middle of a very long weekend without Daddy.

My girl. In my favorite dress on her. Wishing her face were more in focus, but it was pretty dark out when I took it. Wondering how I got so lucky to be the mama of this amazing child.

Other bits from my thoughts tonight:

~We've been doing some packing and lots and lots of looking at houses, so that's been occupying much of our time and energies. Looking for a rental can be kind of depressing, especially when you want to live here, which is of course not an option as it's some thousands of miles from here.

~In seven days I will be 30 years old! My husband, who turned 40 in December, thinks it's the teeniest bit amusing that I'm getting all excited about this. But I am. :)

~We had a pretty fantastic sunset tonight. I'll leave you with some photos of that.

A little taste of spring

Today (and yes, it's still today ... it's "only" 11pm as I type this!) we enjoyed a lovely little respite from the cold days of winter. It was 65 and sunny (tomorrow we're expecting a high of 25 and several inches of snow, though).

My children spent hours playing outdoors, while I finished piecing Jennifer's block for the Bee.

Ah, spring. I could get used to you.

Tracks in the Snow

I meant to post yesterday. But after awakening from a night filled with bad dreams (unusual for me) with a screaming headache (even more unusual), I ended up with a "nothing is going to happen today" sort of day.

We did get out of the house to make tracks in the falling snow for a while in the afternoon, though, and that really helped to turn the day around. I love James's little tracks, especially.

A fire in the fireplace, some hot chocolate, an early bedtime for Mama, and things were good again.

My weekend in photos

Friday: An evening out with two friends. Wonderful, and just what I needed!

Saturday: Pumpkin patch with my husband and wee ones. Perfect weather, perfect day! Later, some sewing and movie watching with another friend.

Sunday: Woke up to snow. Cozy day at home with those I love most.

I hope your weekend was just as sweet!

More photos of my weekend on flickr.

Look who's home!

I'm so, so very happy.

Yard Envy

My friend Laura has the most beautiful backyard. While she definitely has a talent for gardening, I love the small details in her yard even more. A little fairy peeking out here, some fun little stump mushrooms there.

As much as I moan and complain about not having a yard (we've only lived in a free-standing house with a yard for 10 months of our 8 year marriage), the one good thing is that when we finally do move to a place with a yard, no matter how big or small, I have a friend whose established yard greatly inspires me. Oh, and who has already agreed to help me plan and execute mine when the time comes. (Right, Laura?)

Oh, and look at the photo on the bottom right corner. It's one of Erin's twirly skirts, which Laura made beautifully for her daughter. Who is, might I add, in first grade this year. Where does the time go?

Wonders: Flame

We are all sitting
Legs crossed round a fire
My yellow flame, she dances

~from "Tripping Billies" by Dave Matthews Band

We are back from our camping trip! We had a lovely time, and I'll share more photos soon. First ... must wash a lot of laundry and get the dirt out from under our fingernails.

I realized that this week's posts had a "four elements" theme (sort of), so I thought I'd share some photos of our campfire.

Dancing flames have a way of evoking so many memories for me: of spending Thanksgivings in my grandparents' mountain condo, of my first camping trips with my husband (heavily influenced by Dave Matthews), of cozy evenings spent with Elisabeth before our fire at home -- and looking forward to many spent with both of my wee ones.

Who couldn't just sit and watch a fire? It's really endlessly entertaining, if you think about it. Plus, anything cooked over an open flame just tastes better, doesn't it?

Wonders: Sky

Sunrise by Elisabeth ~ July 2, 2007

"The top is where the spaceships go
The next is heaven
The next is the sky
The next is the clouds turning pink in the sun
The rest is the beauty of the Earth."

Wonders: Rain

How beautiful is the rain!
After the dust and heat,
In the broad and fiery street,
In the narrow lane,
How beautiful is the rain!

How it clatters along the roofs,
Like the tramp of hoofs!
How it gushes and struggles out
From the throat of the overflowing spout!

Across the window pane
It pours and pours;
And swift and wide,
With a muddy tide,
Like a river down the gutter roars
The rain, the welcome rain!

In the country, on every side,
Where far and wide,
Like a leopard's tawny and spotted hide,
Stretches the plain,
To the dry grass and the drier grain
How welcome is the rain!

~"Rain in Summer" by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Wonders: Wind

Elisabeth has long been terrified of wind. As we live in a part of the world that can be quite windy at times, this fear of hers can be a difficult thing to work with. This spring, she and my husband bought a kite and had some exciting first kite adventures, which helped with her fears a bit.

Then, on a recent breezy afternoon, Elisabeth had the idea to take her rainbow silk outside and play with the wind. The wind really became a playmate that afternoon, lifting, rippling, and dancing with the fabric. We were so delighted to see the great joy that the wind took in playing with us and our silk. It was so lovely, so tangible, and so sacred.

I'm certain that Elisabeth is not "cured" of her fear of the wind. But I think she has a different respect for its playfulness now, not just its perceived malevolence.

Wonders: Nest

{We are out in nature this week, enjoying a camping trip ~ just the four of us.  Since I didn't want to leave the blog with no activity for two weeks in a row (last week & this week), I'll have it on auto-pilot the next few days, sharing a few wonders we have witnessed around our home over the last week or so.}

We found this nest near our home last week. It had fallen from its tree some time before and was overturned and left behind, having served its purpose.

We have all been amazed by it, spending long, thoughtful times examining and talking about it. The care with which it is constructed, the softness of the whorls of grass to cradle the precious eggs ~ it is all so beautiful and humbling.

Welcome, busy April

It seems that April is one of the busiest months of the year for our family. Of course, Elisabeth's birthday on the 10th is huge. But Easter also falls in this month (most years), and there are a slew of other birthdays -- from my brother, to nieces & nephews, to two of our family's closest little friends -- to prepare for and celebrate.

So, I'm spending a lot of time looking over my "lists" (don't laugh -- I go completely crazy without them), planning & making gifts, cards, Easter goodies, and birthday party fun. There has been much knitting going on over the last week (the vest will be completed in time!), and there are still some sewing projects to complete before Elisabeth's birthday. And we'll dye eggs, of course, and probably do some other Easter crafties ...

Of course, during all of this busyness (yes, I know that is not the correct spelling of that word), spring is sneaking up on us, and my wee ones are getting off to bed before dark. After their bath the other night, this fact really seemed to feel "real" to all of us, and there was some impromptu frolicking on the grass in summery pajamas before going in and settling down to some poems.

And then it's back to work for Mama. But not without a treat.

{Edited: I so rudely neglected to share what this treat actually was. It was strawberry sorbet topped with vegan chocolate chips and some coconut that I toasted in my toaster oven. I don't know how many times I've mentioned our allergies on this blog already ~ maybe 70? ~ but, James and I are both allergic to milk. So, no real ice cream for me, and no milk chocolate, either. Although, honestly, I don't really mind about the chocolate bit, at least. Chocolate is neither here nor there for me. ;)}

Solstice

Winter

Blow, North Wind, blow,
All the leaves are falling;
Cold, frost and snow
Winter comes a-calling.

Mother Nature sleeps now,
All the earth is bare;
Deep in the ground
She guards her treasures rare.

~Margaret Morgan

We are Christian and we will celebrate Christmas in the traditional way next week, but I also love to follow the turning of the seasons and acknowledge the ancient mysteries held within them.

May this day be one of peace for all of you; a time of quiet in the midst of the hustle and bustle of Christmas preparation.

Blessings, Grace