summer flowers are nice

Lizzy must have picked up some kind of flower-arranging gene from my sister Betz, because she has a serious knack for it that didn't come from Richard or me. Give her free reign in the garden, and that girl will come up with something both gorgeous and inventive every single time. Tonight she streaked into the house hollering, "Mama! Mama! Come and see your surprise!" She'd carefully arranged marigolds, cosmos, dill, daisies, yarrow, and geraniums into a perfectly beautiful ring around the table, all ready for dinner.

The sunflowers are a happy reminder of last Friday, when I got a babysitter so I could go to my OB appointment solo, have lunch out at the inimitable Bombay Duck Pickle Cafe, and garner sideways glances (and some outright stares) while trundling out of the farmer's market, fully 9 months pregnant, with an enormous armload of sunflowers.

We're keeping busy. Trips to the beach, trips to the $1 kids' movies, endless kitchen experiments, playdates, OB appointments, on and on. Having fun plans makes me not mind waiting around for this kid a little longer. As in, he can't come today, I've got peaches to can! Thursday we're planning on visiting the farm where the Bombay Duck lady gets her produce, hoping to score some tasty grass-fed beef, so I really do hope baby boy can wait until after that.

green pond

This is my Father's world,

and to my listening ears

all nature sings, and round me rings

the music of the spheres.

This is my Father's world:

I rest me in the thought

of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;

His hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father's world,

the birds their carols raise,

the morning light, the lily white,

declare their maker's praise.

This is my Father's world:

He shines in all that's fair;

in the rustling grass I hear Him pass;

He speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father's world.

Oh let me ne'er forget

that though the wrong seems oft so strong,

God is the ruler yet.

This is my Father's world:

why should my heart be sad?

The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!

God reigns; let the earth be glad!

On Saturday we hoofed it back to Green Pond (near Lake Bonaparte... perfect for kids and preggy peeps). This song was in my heart the whole time. I've been so preoccupied with gardening lately and my heart surged with the realization that, while I've got my little 8x9 plot in the backyard, the whole earth is God's plot of land... He is the Master Gardener and has so tenderly created every tree, every flower, every spot of mossy rock, just because He loves us. 

Perfect. Day.

the prettiness overfloweth

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>>

>>>

Normally I am not a doggy sort of gal -- but in this case -- it could not be helped.

Are you on Pinterest? I think we should be friends.

pretties for monday

Kinda dark and stormy here today, how about you? Oh well, at least it's better than snowing. These pretties have been burning a hole in my pin boards.

I want this dress so bad...

Source: modcloth.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Drooool. I saw the complete aqua/white set at an antique store on Saturday but couldn't swallow the $40 price tag (fair though it may have been).

Source: flickr.com via Amanda on Pinterest

THANK YOU to La, who pointed me toward these (cheap!) shoes after my mustard-flat-coveting last week. Definitely looking for these on our next pilgrimage to Target.

Source: target.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Light + color. Yum.

Source: designalicious.typepad.com via Amanda on Pinterest

I love the shape of the skirt with the front crochet detail. Darn you for being so amazing, Free People.

Source: freepeople.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Can you believe this stack of happiness?

Source: attic24.typepad.com via Amanda on Pinterest

Happy Monday, everyone!

(ps. how 'bout that Osama?? R and I stayed up super late last night watching the coverage. you should have seen him when Obama announced that it was our guys that busted in and fired the shots. he was jumping around like a kid on Christmas. it's a big day in the Army community.)