indiana vacay

This is one of those picture-happy posts that's more for the grandmas than anybody else. I, of course, think my kids are outrageously cute and couldn't possibly pare it down to any less than this. We had a great time in Indiana; there were cousins, water fights, lake-swimming, board games, and tire swing rides. Our drive out (12 hours straight through) was miraculous and I only had to make one threat to the back seat crowd the whole time. The way back was a little different; somewhere in Pennsylvania I told R that I now understand why it is that some species eat their young. We also listened to some Mercy Watson stories (over. and over. and over) in the car, which convinced both girls that their new favorite food is, like Mercy's, hot toast with a great deal of butter on it. Lucky for them, Grandma was an unfalteringly willing hot-toast-with-a-great-deal-of-butter-on-it-maker. Thanks, Grandma.

strawberries

Strawberries! The girls and I had the best time (c'mon, how can you beat a tractor ride and limitless strawberries in your tummy?). So far I have made some strawberry-lemon preserves, strawberry frozen yogurt, and also some jam that turned out to be, uhh, dessert sauce instead. Still on the list: fruit leather and some actual jam, if I can keep enough strawberries around for the purpose. Any favorite strawberry recipes I need to know about?

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.

away

My amazing, sweet, generous, understanding man sent me on a little mini-vacation for part of the weekend. I left in the middle of a giant snowstorm, got lost a couple of times, but settled into my {amazing} room at the Sarah Beth guest house with nary a qualm about being, well, cooped up. You know, by myself. 

It was my first time ever way from my little ones overnight. I thought of them -- I called them to hear their little voices and to say goodnight -- and I was so happy to see them the next day -- but let's just say that I wasn't shedding any tears. I painted, wrote, watched HGTV/Food Network {we don't have tv at home so that was, like, epic}, listened to old favorite tunes, wandered the house with camera in hand, drank tea, and ate pastries.

It was perfect.

last call for swappers!

We're baa-ack! 

Contrary to all appearances, we spent most of last week traipsing around New England, falling in love with Portsmouth, NH and the beach in York, ME (although the water only feels good on 90-100 degree days, take my word for it, and we had a couple of those). 

We had an awesome time, but I didn't take one single picture. Oh well.

I have been making lots of friendship bracelets, thanks in part to my friend/anchor The Wild Thing. 

I have also gotten my gluteus maximus back into workout mode to finally get rid of my empty baby house (because that baby is now, um, 2). My man and I started working out together (he is a total machine, it's incredible) to the tune of P90X, which is super fun (if more than slightly intimidating), even though I thought there was no way we'd ever work out together. Woot for doing stuff together!

And tonight he is taking me to see Harry Potter. DOUBLE WOOT.

Tomorrow is the last day to sign up for the swap, so if you've been fence-sitting, email us, stat!

tug hill bluegrass festival

Fried chicken and blueberries, perfect weather, and toe-tappin', banjo-beatin', yodelay-hee-hooin' good bluegrass.

Such a good day.

Happy Tuesday, fun friends!

while my husband pretended to be the taliban and got shot at with paintballs

So my rad sister in-law Amber called me up exactly 2 weeks ago and said something like this: "Hey! Our husbands will both be out of town next week. Let's go to Indiana!"

And I said something like this: "Okay!"

And our husbands (who are brothers) said something like this: "You're crazy!"

Crazy maybe, but we had a smackin' good time. Among our many exploits were:

:: playing in Grandma's barn ::

:: catching, terrorizing holding, and losing a frog  ::

:: popsicles after church (pants optional) ::

:: a grandma-endorsed water-spitting fight ::

:: the most extraordinary (cinnamon sugar-dipped caramel, ho.ley.mo.ley.) donuts on miss maren's birthday
(and her looking sideways to make sure no one's coming up from behind) ::

:: swimming with cousins at auntie sarah's house (another rad sister in-law) ::

:: cousin wyatt, showing us how it's done ::

:: maren loved her new swimmy too much to get it wet, obviously ::

:: fun dip, wall-e, and popcorn ::

:: sweet aqua doors at the super 8 in pennsylvania ::

:: home! and way too pooped for clothes ::

(Such) a good time was had by all.

Thank you Grandma, Grandpa, Aunt Sarah, Uncle Tyson, Aunt Amber, and all our cool cousins! *Loves!*

friday finds: midwest edition

We made sure to leave ample time for thrifting in Indiana/Ohio, and holy moly! I'm glad we did. I'm most excited about that pink Pyrex covered casserole, found for something like $8 at a flea market somewhere in Ohio.

The girls were so good to let me drag them around "treasure hunting" -- they got to pick out a few stuffed animals along the way, so they were pretty happy. I have big plans for the handkerchiefs (some are from here in NY) and food labels (taps fingers conspiratorially).

back

Just back from a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants trip to meet up with family in Indiana, just the girls and I.

We are smoked.

The girls were in bed at 6:30.

We all feel about like this.

(Her left eyelid droops when she's tired. Just like mine.)

Thanks for all the love on the Pretty Blouse. I feel so special!

I have so much to share with you. New ideas, new projects, lots of gooey family pictures (mua ha ha).

See you soon!

when gram + gramps came to town

the sugaring :: part 2

Any guesses what we're having for dinner?

{psst, looking for part 1?}