Enter August

The month of August is usually very photo-deficient around here. Everything is so hot and dry and the angles of light are so glaring and uninspiring. Life continues unabated, but is not very well documented. Thank goodness for my smart phone, which is now on my person wherever I go, because I'm afraid otherwise, there wouldn't be much to show for the passing of this month.

Speed-Dry :: Three Pears :: Purple Sky :: Best Friends :: Proud of her Mama :: Mighty Farmkids :: Adventuring :: She Loves Pink :: Summer Forest :: Starting Him Young :: Almost Ripe :: Cousins are the Best :: Greenhouse Window

Lately

I don't know what its like where you live, but the middle of Spring in the Pacific Northwest is so GREEN that sometimes it hurts the eyes. All the chartreuse shades of new growth against the older, more resilient greens of fern, moss, and conifer... the pops of rainbow-colored flowers are like confetti in a big bowl of leafy green salad with green goddess dressing. The constant on-again, off-again showers keep it all bright and fresh and abundant.

I find myself completely disgusted with my flower beds. All the hours of work and dozen wheelbarrows full of unwanted volunteers might as well have never occurred. This is the season of unchecked growth. Whyever do I think I can stay on top of all of these weeds, I'll never know. I keep threatening to turn them all into grass beds, but every year I buckle down and get back at it. The efforts we put out for a little extra beauty...

Chives :: Almost Strawberries :: Bacon :: Snail & Moss :: Purrrrrrr :: Poppy :: Single Malt :: Warm :: Favorite Jeans :: Feathers :: Sage :: Carefree :: Overgrown :: Move-in Ready :: Daddy's Home :: All the Way Through :: Belts :: Ready, Set, Grow!

Lately

Not much new around here these days. The season continues to swell with flowers and downpours. But the sun always manages to make an appearance or two each day, and I have to keep the woodstove at a low simmer or we get cooked out of the house.

We are all counting down school days until Summer vacation starts - 31 including today (can I hear a loud Hallelujah from the crowd!). I'm working extra hard with the kids I tutor at the school on sight words and counting money and working pages of subtraction... we're trying so very hard to get up to level before they move on to the next grade. But even if they don't quite make it this year, I know I'll get to jump back in and continue the journey next year.

Our Easter weekend celebrations were meaningful and happy, adding memories to our family album that will be cherished.

I now have at least 5 individual hummingbirds that visit my kitchen window feeder; I'm thinking of giving them names.

And that's about it. What's going on in your world?

Rainy Window :: Chocolate Buttercream :: Romeos :: Hidden :: Braided :: Flowering Currant and Kerria Japonica :: Orchard View :: Tire Swing :: Unmade Wishes :: Cream Cloud :: Laundry Day :: Water Pump :: The Old Birdbath :: Flowering Cherry :: Mrs. Rufous :: Drippy :: Easter Finery

The End of 2013

In which I flood you with the remaining notable pictures from last year so that I can move on to current happenings...

Christmas frippery, Birthday breakfast Crepes, Family LEGO time, New Appliances to replace the elderly units that all started to give up the ghost at the same time, walks in Winter Woods, Family Game Night, Mary's Sampler finished and framed, Cousins, pre-Christmas excitement, a Quilt finally finished after months and months of intention, mossy Bones of tree, the Farmboy and his Friend still boys, Sunlit Corner, Christmas Pajamas cuddling, Canning Jar Candlelight, post-Christmas building Projects, the Kids Sleeping by Dreamlite and Christmastree Light, the Farmboy loves his Jeep, tearing out a Beaver Dam to protect our Bridge over Bear Creek, Country Folk Ornaments, Studious Kindergartener, four days spent on a Feverish Couch with Laptop and Christmas tree and new Toys for company, ringing in the New Year with a 12 year Glenlivet and wool socks and roaring fire and Dickens on the Kindle.