In the Spring

The first fresh and tender flowers start to show their faces in the middle of Spring. Bleeding Heart, Trillium, Grape Hyacinth, Flowering Currant. Brand new leaves on trees are my favorite Chartreuse; so vibrantly green it hurts my eyes. It is still so, so, wet and chilly, but when the sun peeks through the clouds, there is warmth and even... sometimes... heat (gasp!).

Migrating birds return and the slugs and bunnies are everywhere, evening and morning, nibbling away at the edges of the yard. Our resident part-albino doe visits the yard, still with her Mama. She doesn't look like she will ever be full-sized, which we read is common with albinism in deer. She's very shy, so pictures are never possible without shrubbery partially obscuring her bright coat. 

In the greenhouse, seeds are planted in anticipation of warmer and dryer days ahead. 

And my new second-favorite pollinator is discovered hovering over the Forget-Me-Not patch. What is it? A little ball of fuzz with long legs and wings. Like an oversized mosquito in a fur coat. Its not exactly a bee, and doesn't really look like a fly, but is so darn cute! Give up? Its a Bee Fly!

You learned something new today. You're welcome.

(everything!)

As I edited these photos, I had the Curious George theme song stuck in my head (if you've had children in the past dozen years, you just started singing it too, didn't you?)...

"When everyday (everyday!) is so glorious (glorious!)
then everything (everything!) is so wonderous (wonderous!)
There's more to explore when you open your door
and meet friends like this, you just can't miss (whooooa)
Get curious (curious!) that's marvelous (marvelous!) 
And that's your reward 
You'll never be bored 
If you ask yourself, what is this? 
Like curious, like curious, like Curious George"

I think this should be my theme song for the rest of my life, don't you?

Don't Ask, Because I Don't Know :: Sweet Columbine :: Here, Kitty, Kitty :: One Poppy on Memorial Day :: Coming Soon :: First Homegrown Salad of the Season :: Flowering Currant :: Ready to Start :: Wild Rose :: Home Sweet Home :: I Want to Wear These in My Hair :: Rain = Green :: Waiting for Laundry Day :: Upward Climb :: Last Blaze of Glory

Late July

I know these are rather late, but my month of July went by in such a flash of memories that it was all I could do to just hold on as tightly as possible. I don't want to think about the imminent end of our Summer break. These days at home with my kids are absolute perfection to me. We don't go out much, or do many exciting things. Its just the pace of life without interruption from outside demands that I adore. Time to slow down and enjoy each other in this life we share.

A few days after our camping trip, I was struck with a harsh case of food poisoning that knocked me out for a few days. The pace of my recovery was so much slower than it should have been, and then I realized that the symptoms I was feeling were all-too familiar. My body is apparently still compromised, and I am once again feeling the effects of the adrenal fatigue that I've battled for nearly two years now. It has been seven months of full strength leading up to this relapse, and the symptoms aren't nearly as debilitating as they have been before, so I'm thankful. I'm reminded once again that I'm not invincible, and am slowing the pace down as much as I can, taking my reserved supplements to help boost me back to normal again. I can't even begin to tell you what a comfort is is to know now what is wrong with me, and what steps I can take to get my system balanced. I wouldn't wish this on anyone, but if I had to choose this over all of the other maladies and diseases I could contract, I'll take what I know, thank you very much.

Here's to a few more weeks of sleepy Summer days with a legitimate excuse to take it slow...

Windflower (Anemone) :: First Tomatoes :: Rain on the Sunroof :: Honey Bee on Gooseneck :: Playing Games :: Mountain Ash :: Popcorn :: Waiting for Patterns :: Wildflowers :: Buttermilk Zucchini and Blueberry Pancakes :: Make a Wish :: Through the Screen :: Black Eyed Susan :: At Day's End :: Still in Velvet :: Blueberries :: Sunset Reflection :: Bean Vines