The Rest of February

I didn't take very many pictures in February.

I guess my nose was too close to the grindstone, getting ready for Market, to stop and document the world around me. It could also be that February is the most difficult month for me to take pictures of. Here in the Oregon foothills, it is so dark and damp and not much outside my window shows signs of life until the very last few weeks, when most of the following photos were taken.

We get excited about the smallest things in February, like a big display of hot cocoa, produced by our very own Boyd's Coffee Company, or a rare peek of sunbeams. Forced blooms, baby sheep, Valentine bouquets, and smiles hidden in the bubbles of a freshly brewed mug of coffee. It really is the simple things, that can make this life transcend ordinary, as long as we aren't too busy to notice.

Our December

Winter skies and healing bodies; decorating, music lessons, and a birthday; cozy fires; fog and rain and snow; Christmas shows and lights; a candlelight service and celebrating with cousins... it has been a lovely, full month.

We are now almost giddy at the end of every day as we notice the lengthening hours of sunlight.

I'm caught up now on the long backlog of photos to share with you. December is a dark month, so it wasn't too hard to narrow down the photos that were the least grainy, and get them all fit into one post. I hope you have all had a wonderful holiday season... now breathe deeply and take a day or two to rest.

Winter Sky :: Healing :: Rainbow :: Trimming the Tree :: Not Quite a Duet Yet :: Nine Years Old :: Hi I'm Olaf and I Like Warm Hugs :: Warming Our Toes :: Crabapple :: A Smile at the End of a Busy Day :: When the Christmas Tree Stands in my Stitching Lamp Spot :: Raindrops :: Festive :: Foggy :: Mossy :: Apparently I wasn't Supposed to Take This Picture :: Out Seeing the Lights :: Love Has Come :: Shining Through the Snow :: Outside Inside :: Candlelit Christmas Eve :: Ready :: Joy :: My New Bass-Guitar-String Necklace :: Afterward :: Cousins :: Remembering :: Cold :: Sparkly

Lately

It finally feels like Summer is here. Nearly four weeks into the school break, and we are catching up on all of the pressing tasks that were on my list. Going through toy collections and piles of to-be-sorted-later. There has been a wedding, a few picnics, doctor's appointments and haircuts. Now, after just a few more to-dos, I might be able to tackle my mending and sewing list. And start planning that 15th anniversary party and the 40th birthday party too (big year for this girl!). But first, a glimpse of some of the things that have caught my attention in past days...

Phlox :: Three Cousins and an Uncle :: Daisies :: Tiny Trio :: Multnomah Falls :: Columbine :: Feast for Mimi :: Chives :: Sword Fern :: Triple Chocolate Cake :: the Garden Grows :: Mowing the Orchard :: Stick Play :: Mama School :: Huckleberries :: Lone Daisy :: Finding Faces :: On the Back of Her Head :: Robin :: Reflection :: Looking for Handouts :: Watering the Dahlias :: The Allowance Game (circa 1978) :: Bunny in Clover :: Herb Garden :: Sparklers :: the Moon with Mars on the Right :: Fun with Eyeballs