Uncommon Grace

Making me happy

We returned from our trip yesterday. It was a lot of fun. It was a lot of driving -- I think the grand total was 3700 miles. Whew!

I had the best of intentions for uploading to flickr and even posting here a few times while we were away -- and I did upload a few things from the first day's drive to flickr, but somehow they remained private all that time. But I really had less computer time than I expected (which is really a good thing). So, now we're home. We have lots of unpacking to do in the house (we took a trip only days after moving?! what were we thinking?!), my husband was out mowing the lawn first thing this morning, and we generally have lots of easy, unscheduled summer days to look forward to now that the rush of this crazy June has passed.

I have tons of photos from the trip, and I'll get many of them up in the next few days. But for today, while I'm still in recovery mode, I thought I'd share a few things that are making me happy right now.

1. Being home

2. A meal shared with old friends (who we hadn't seen in many years) on the last night of our trip

3. Paper dolls

4. Stopping to smell the flowers on a Kentucky backroad

5. The music of Ingrid Michaelson

6. Visiting the home of my daughter's -- and my own -- childhood superstar

7. Sunsets over water

8. A blessingway for one of my dearest friends tonight

9. A new nightgown made by another very good friend

10. An afternoon at the beach

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!

New York

Since my wee ones are sick and our routine is a bit on its head this week, I thought I should finally do my big New York post.

Whew. It's been a whole month since the trip, and I don't want to do too much description of it -- just share photos.

It was fantastic to spend the weekend in New York with my mom. The weather was glorious until the morning we left, when it became chilly and foggy.

We did some shopping -- mostly on Erin's recommendations.

We met up with an old friend (who I hadn't seen since her wedding almost 6 years ago) at a cute tea shop. Of course, I forgot to take a picture of my friend in the midst of all the catching up.

I had my first blog meet-up, with Kristin, who came into New York for the morning on one of the days we were there. She gave me a sweet birthday gift, which I just realized I haven't photographed yet. I'll fix that later today.

We ate at two great restaurants (both were Kristin's suggestions). La Paella was beautiful and yummy. Becco was just so delicious. And we ate at Sardi's for the tourist experience.

And we had lunch one day at Serendipity3, because I just had to go there -- for the touristy thing, too. (And my sandwich was so good that I'm still thinking about it.)

We went to see The Country Girl on Broadway starring Frances McDormand and Morgan Freeman. And we went to see The Phantom of the Opera -- which was an experience.

We stopped at Purl and Purl Patchwork. The girls in Purl noticed that my bag was made with Joelle's fabric, though the girls in Purl Patchwork did not! I got a little bit of Liberty of London fabric to make a little something for my girl.

We walked -- a lot. We rode the subway -- not quite as much. And we took some cabs, too.

We nearly saw the Pope, who was visiting at the same time, but just missed his motorcade.

Best of all, we saw Satyagraha at the Met (click that link and watch the 4-minute video! It's amazing!), which was one of the most inspiring experiences of my life. Really and truly. It was beautiful, and just esoteric enough for me. ;)

It was a great trip.

Green Week ~ 4

Yesterday we went swimming at our local rec center, and we had quite an adventure. The fire alarm went off and we had to evacuate the building, sopping wet, on a 30-degree day. The fire department came and hauled out some kind of tank. It was all quite exciting.

More about swimming next week.

A bit of R & R

Hmm ... is it really so late? I can't believe that it's taken me all day to get this post up. One of those days, I guess.

Last night I had the special privilege of spending the evening out at a pub with two awesome ladies. Both are so brilliant and funny, it's humbling to think that they're my real life friends. A night out with some girlfriends was just what I needed after a long weekend of nothing but coughing and dollmaking. Not that I'm complaining too much about the dollmaking! ;) Thanks for a fab night out, Meghan and Kim.

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.

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?

From the Fair

Though I don't consider myself to be a mama who keeps her wee ones out past their bedtime or overstimulated in general, there is that once-a-year excursion to "the fair" (really an amusement park). Once a year, none of the "rules" about bedtime or healthy food apply. And it's oh-so-fun!