Right Now

Right now, I'm loving a weekend that saw...

...a Friday at Mimmy and Pappy's house, a dinner in celebration of the last day of school, and a visit to a raw-milk dairy farm with the kiddos (pics tomorrow!).
...a few late nights, some games and friends, and waking up to painters still working on the house.
...my special girl back at her gymnastics class, and her coach telling us she's ready to move up to the next level!
...dinner out, then brunch the next morning, too, and the most patient Littles there ever were.
...lots of inside-outside-inside-outside traffic through the house, and the sand, leaves, and footprints throughout to prove it.
...a few night-time accidents, lots of extra laundry, and happy faces in the morning despite it all.
...an early hour alone in the morning after waking up to the sound of rain... twice in a row!... and having coffee on the porch to soak it up while it lasts.

Right now, I'm reveling in the sound of distant thunder and gentle rain falling all around... we had quite a squall line in the wee hours, but it seems to have passed without us being any worse for wear, and the rain has lingered. The dog isn't enjoying it as much as I am, but she'll be fine- weather like this doesn't last for very long in our neck of the woods, anyway.

So this morning I'm slowing down a little, setting aside the week's to-do lists, and keeping my phone on silent for just a little longer... This week will get going with my help or without it, and I'm going to sit here for just a little longer and enjoy this stillness that has come with this beautiful break in the heat and dryness.

May we all find a little break and a little stillness as this second week of June gets started. Happy Monday!

This Moment

Playing along with Amanda today... in her words: 

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

A Walk Through the Garden, June 4th

The "Heat Wilt" days are finally upon us. Every day in the garden as the sun comes up over the trees, the plants that so eagerly reach toward it soften and slump under it's intensity. It's a bummer to look out and see their limp forms by 10am, but we're noticing they'll perk right back up when the merciful shadows of the woods reach out to shade them in the evenings. That's usually when you'll find us out there, walking between the beds with a chick or three close by...

We've been able to harvest a bit every day for whatever meal we're making- some fresh dill and green onions for our scrambled eggs, some purple green beans and lemon basil in our pasta, some sauteed zucchini and yellow squash with rainbow chard and some thyme as a side at dinner. I love watching the slow and steady progress of our persistent plants, despite the climbing temperatures (see our garden last time).

I have high hopes for what still may come out of our green and growing space- the tomatoes, the pumpkins, the green beans!- as long as they stay strong and keep defying this almost-summertime heat! And speaking of defying the heat, I guess I better get out there and get our morning chores done before that sun climbs much higher!

Turtle

This pretty much says it all, doesn't it?

It sure is fun to sit back and watch them take it all in sometimes.

*sigh*

Right Now

Right now, I'm...

...looking around at all the ordinary things that define 'home' for us at any given time, and smiling happily... even if what I see is laundry, feet and feet of unrolled toilet paper re-wrapped around almost every roll in the house, or micro-machines that have all found the bottoms of someone's foot in the middle of the night.
...waiting on house painters to arrive! It's high time the outside of our place started looking as spiffy as the inside is getting to be.
...searching our area (online) for affordable swim lessons for the kiddos this summer.
...getting distracted with project ideas for the looming weeks ahead when it's too hot and humid to spend much time outside (like maybe some knit slippers or socks, a painting for over the formal living room fireplace, or maybe a rag rug...?)
...devouring The Art of Fermentation by Sandor Katz and planning a maiden batch of mead while simultaneously searching for vintage crocks at local thrift shops with the hopes that I can find one on the cheap!
...loving the anticipation in the kiddos as they wait for their Mimmy to get out of school for the summer, and all the plans they have between themselves for these hot months ahead (at least some of us are looking forward to them).

Right now, with the beginning of June fresh at our doorstep, the summer opening up wide all around us, and the inevitable heat burnout still far away, we're starting this week with gratitude, plans, and celebration.

May we all step into the week with the same. Happy Monday!

This Moment

Playing along with Amanda today... in her words: 

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

Happy (Belated) Birthday, Ladies!

Yesterday I got to invade my Mother-in-Law's kitchen, dig and poke around, make a huge mess, and produce a birthday dinner for her and her Mama (who happens to have the same birthday). It struck me while I was working that there probably aren't that many MILs that would be OK with just handing their kitchen over to their daughter-in-law and walking away. Seriously, the only time she'd pop in on me was to offer me more wine.

But don't worry, I totally did the dishes before we headed back home.

So happy birthday to the ladies that have so thoroughly enveloped me into their family, and thanks for letting me feel it every day!