Rhody Convert

I never appreciated rhododendrons until we moved to Little House. Here in their natural wooded setting they look so right and are bright spots of color amidst a see of green. I'm reaping the rewards of a previous gardener...they're old and mature.  My very fav is one that's been starved for sunlight under a canopy of old growth trees. Its whimsical viney form gracefully arches over my seasonal creek...it's simply enchanting in person.

My hubby knows that pruning is forbidden.

My 2nd fav is a deep purple one planted right outside the cabin. It's a first pick for my bees, however, as they make their daily rounds.

Firsts & Lasts

Has it really been over 2 weeks since I wrote last??? It’s been a transitional time for us as a family. After 22 years with the same employer, my hubby was ready for a new adventure. His final day was last Thursday and reported to his new post on Tuesday. He received a warm welcome, a logo hat and a book on the history of the company...can’t wait to read it!

It left us only a few days in between for celebration over the long weekend. We took the girls and headed up to the foothills of Mt. Rainier in Washington for a few nights stay in a rustic cedar cabin that was much like home...it was charming but actually smaller than Little House! The stuffed moose was Little Sis’s fav part...it followed her everywhere.

Today is Big Sis’s last day of school...3rd grade has flown like the wind. Here’s a pic from her calendar from the first day of May.

And a pic from today...alas...sorrow. Here’s hoping the sentiment is the same at the end of 4th grade. :)

Wild Celebrities - Part 2

Seems that the wild bunnies around Little House are being stalked by more than just my girls. No, no…bad kitty…

Wild Celebrities

Wild bunnies are celebrities at Little House. That is until the garden patch gets planted.

Mr. Pileated Woodpecker

So yesterday was the closest I’ve ever felt to being a bona fide National Geographic photographer. I have to say that I enjoyed his company far more this time than last when his persistent rat-a-tat-tat was resonating through my little cedar cabin after mistaking it for a tree for a mid-morning snack. I suppose he’s one of the reasons why it’s taken 4 months to gain approval to build our barn, which we just secured this week. There’s a SEC (significant environmental concern) zoning overlay on our property related to wildlife habitat making clearance with the county a requirement prior to applying for a building permit. We hope to break ground this year while it’s still called spring.

Miracles Do Happen

Our story is long and tangled, but if you find yourself in a similar spot, don’t ever loose hope. Here we are celebrating birthday number 2 of a life that started out nothing short of a miracle . She’s the most unexpected but delightful surprise to these 40+ year old parents and continues to surprise us each day. Feisty and spirited, cuddly and relational. I never know what the day will hold with all the trouble her curiosity finds herself in or how many leg-hugs and snuggles I’ll have racked up by the end of the day from all the love she so exuberantly extends. I love you all the way to the moon and back, Little Miss B. and couldn’t imagine life without you in it. You fill my days with laughter and exasperation but I wouldn’t change a thing. God knew exactly what this mama’s heart needed. What a joy, blessing and gift you are to us all...I'm thrilled to be celebrating your life today!

Her big cousin's shadow...yesterday and always.

We made her wishes come true. When I asked her what kind of cake she wanted for her birthday, she thought for a moment with her finger tapping her lips then declared, "Chocolate.....and...uuuummmm...MEAT!"

All in the Approach

With the house quiet and still, my hubby and I enjoy strategizing the big and the small over morning coffee. After touching on a multitude of random things this morning, I tried to lighten things up a bit and announced that I just had a billion things to do. My hubby kept the tone and proclaimed he had two billion. I playfully replied, “Oh...you’re way more important than me.” Just then our Big Girl be-bopped into the room, so I asked her how many things she had to do today. Not being privy to our conversation, she just shrugged her shoulders and said, “I just did ‘um.” I laughed hard then enjoyed a moment of perspective that was good for my soul. Wouldn’t it be grand to have the responsibilities of a 9 year old for just one day, or learn to approach my day with the same abandon? I learn so much from these kids, I just hope this is one area that she doesn't learn too much from watching me.