Wild Trillium & Grape Hyacinth in the Kitchen

Now, Isn't That a Nice Sight

My spring cleaning fervor hit a wall a couple weeks ago and the cupboards and drawers seem to have noticed. They apparently had a covert meeting and all agreed to become horribly cluttered and disastrous now that my attention had waned.

How it seems to happen overnight, I have no idea. I think the catalyst was in the grande trip to Costco that yielded boxes and bags of goods that no common shelf is really prepared to deal with. I've got soup and granola bars spilling out in happy abandon.

The food cupboards are still in atrocious form, but I did manage to do one productive thing today: the plastic container drawer. Gone are the containers and lids with no mates and proud sit the sets like little soldiers ready for leftover duty.

I'm hoping the sight of this cupboard (because you know I walk by and look in just be proud of myself) will spur on some other organizational efforts. Goodness knows, something must be done. I'd hate to find a loved family member buried under cereal or oatmeal when they least expect it.

A Quick Camp Together

Back from our little mountain camping excursion. Laundry is almost done, van cleaned out and the bins waiting to be reorganized ... we're getting there. So much involved in such a small trip, but the delight of the children make it so worth while.

While it rained most of the time, our first day there was perfection. Plenty of sun for hiking, campfires, and the beloved marshmallow roasting.

Jane would like to welcome all to her yurt. It's like a little circus tent in the woods!

Both of the girls shared the upper bunk. This, in distinct disobedience to the orange sign requiring individuals to be at least 7 years old to mount this upper bedding region. Shameful of us, I know.

Peter and Pops set to sharpening the hatchet. Wood doesn't chop itself, you know! Good thing we had a couple of men to take care of it for us.

Jane cuddles carefully with her Pops ... those whiskers are scratchy!

I asked Lucette if she liked camping, to which she replied: "Of course! What's not to like??"

We took a lovely hike along Salmon River. Beautiful setting, good rock skipping, and only one child managed to fall in.

Trips such as these aren't magnificent in their presentation but offer the treasure of being together without the busyness of everyday life.

Taking a rest on a tree stump, Jane and Pops sit and wonder about bears together. "Daddy, if you have to fight him, I want to pet his mane first. But then, I hope you win."

Jane and I watch out for "tree snakes" (exposed roots that are prone to tripping distracted hikers!) and enjoy each other's company.

We certainly didn't pack light, but Pops is a master at stuffing the van. Pops is a master at lots of things. We like to take him wherever we go.

A Day of Hustle, Bustle and Perspective

Sitting around the computer surrounded by bins and boxes of camping supplies. A list of tasks to be done, food to bake, items to pack. But the sun is shining and a little girl who loves flowers asked me to take her picture.

Everything else will manage to get done. But a little girl with a fistful of snowdrops, the breeze in her hair, and an impish little grin? A distraction I find to be nothing short of: worth-my-time.

Back after a bit, my friends. We're off to be happily distracted by one another.

Berries and Sweet Girls

Oh, spring is here! The flowers, the birds, the sunshine ... the return of fruit!

We were at the market today shopping for our upcoming camping trip and these red lovelies just insisted they come home with us. We acquiesced without much of a fight.

After putting the groceries away, the girls delighted in a heaping dish of strawberries and cream. Such an easy way to become the best mother in the world.

And then, off they go to prance about outside. Must check on the trillium plants we relocated from the woods to the backyard and give a little love to Clarence, the latest gardener snake who is currently living in a very plushly appointed 5 gallon bucket.

Church People & Cake

Time to party with the bible study group tonight. I've never known such a diverse group of people who could have so much fun, laugh so hard, and still manage to study the Word.

And then, the clock strikes 9 0'clock. Dessert time. Four layer chocolate cake with chocolate buttercream frosting tonight. Yep. Church People + Bible Study + Cake = Fun.

Well, Hello There

I can't quite tell if these sunglasses are sexy or hysterical. Either way, I love them. Jane and I had an hour to kill this afternoon and these lovelies were awaiting at the thrift store. For a dollar.

They are definitely circa 1980's, as evidenced by the gold Liz Claiborne triangle at the temple. Giant tortoise-shell Liz sunglasses? Most certainly a relic from my childhood years. But, hey. The 80's are back in, right?

I think I may be a bit of a spectacle (truly, no pun intended) while wearing them, but I will anyways, and with an aire of ignorant confidence. Besides, I've given up on actually being "cool." I drive a mini-van, I have three children, and young girls in their 20's refer to me as "ma'am" when I go out. The gig is up if it was ever really down in the first place.

Regardless of the facts that may indeed be begging me to steer clear of trendy fashionable efforts ... I love me some big ol' 80's sunglasses.

A Custard Cup of Honey Butter

She's Just Resting

I had heard muffled sounds of music and various thump, thumping. Not unusual for rest time to include some vigorous dancing. But then. The thumping stopped while the music continued. I set upstairs, following the the unmistakable sounds of the ever jovial "Wiggles," and discovered this scene.

Jane, stripped of appropriate cold-weather clothing, now wearing last-year's-but-definitely-way-too-small-for this-year swimming suit, shorts, and pink cardigan. And when you are all wiggled out, why not relax on a giraffe blanket and examine forgotten toys?

If We Discover

"If we discover a desire within us that nothing in this world can satisfy,

also we should begin to wonder
if perhaps we were created for another world."

-C.S. Lewis