Monday, May 30, 2016

Ten Things


One
The lilacs are in bloom...need I say more.

Two
The garden is growing. We have had some pretty incredible weather the last ten days, making it feel more like July than late May. With the heat comes lots of growth, and seeds sprouting much quicker than usual. I will take it. The only problem, we have been a little short on rain, which means lots of hand watering.


Three
I am harvesting food from the backyard daily. Asparagus, salad greens, spinach, kale, Swiss chard, violets, chives, and nettles are all finding their way into our meals.

Four
I did a large nettle harvest on the weekend, and it is currently drying. I have plans to add some simple tea blends to the shop this fall, and nettle will definitely be in the blend.


Five
We have made the shift, and are spending more time outside than in. Reece gets up in the morning, gets dressed and heads for the front door, and that is him pretty much outside for the rest of the day. All our meals are being enjoyed on the back deck, under the glorious sunshine, and I am spending time in the garden, in the yard, and on the deck. It feels good after such a long winter, to be outside soaking up these summer like days.

Six
I cleaned all the windows in my house on the weekend. It is amazing what a clean window can do for your home and for your perspective. Every time I look out one of the windows I feel like I am outside, they are so clean, and clear. I love it!


Seven
The chicks are growing. They spend most of the day outside, free ranging in a small run we created on the grass. When I bring them in the house at night, they eat, drink, and then snuggle up, all twelve of them together, and I don't hear a peep from them until morning. So sweet.

Eight
There have been lots of fires in the fire pit. Friday night Reece and I lit a fire, and sat around it chatting and laughing. He would run off every now and then to play, and I would sit and stare into the flames, letting my mind wonder. It was peaceful, and calming. Saturday night we enjoyed a fire with a friend and her kiddos. The classics were playing on the radio, there was dancing as the sun faded into the night sky, there were marshmallows and sparklers, and lots of laughter and great conversation. Oh, and there was wine, for the adults, not the kids. It was a great night, and I am pretty sure we will be doing it again soon.


Nine
This weekend I held the first in a series of workshops I am running this summer on putting food by. We chatted all about local food, and putting it by. In the next session we get busy in the kitchen, preserving food together. I can't wait!

Ten
Baseball season has started, and while Reece is loving his practices, he isn't enjoying game night too much. I am hoping as the season goes on, and they all understand the game a little more, he will come to enjoy it. If not, he does have the option of just attending the practice, and I think he would be very cool with that.

Wishing you the most beautiful start to your week, my friends.

27 comments:

  1. Oh what a beautiful list of 10! Especially the lilacs, ours are out over here too and it's the most gorgeous smell on the walk to school!

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    1. Thanks Carie. The lilacs are amazing, aren't they? I so wish they lasted just a little bit longer. Enjoy them.

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  2. Your lilacs look so pretty and I wish I could smell them, they don't grow this far south.
    TD Bonnie is on her way out and I am hoping to spend a lot of time outside tomorrow, it will be muddy but that's okay.
    One of my son's never liked game night either while another one would play 24 hours a day..kids!
    Enjoy a beautiful week my friend.

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    1. They do have the most intoxicating scent. I wish I could share it with you Tracey. Have fun out in your garden, even if it is a little muddy.

      Let's just say I think game night is a thing of the past. He just doesn't enjoy the game, but loves to practice, so I think we will stick with practice nights this season and maybe the game will grow on him and he will try again next year.

      Thank you, you too!
      xo

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  3. Sounds like a great start to the summer (even though it's not officially summer yet)! xo

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    1. It is! Not officially summer, but goodness feeling like summer with the temperatures we have been having. It feels awesome!

      xo

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  4. What a wonderful list, our lilac is out here too, such a heavenly scent. If I ever wander past it without properly appreciating its beautiful blooms the smell stops me in my tracks and makes me turn back for a look and a smile. Hope game night improves, we've had ups and downs with that kind of scenario, but with various other sports. It can be difficult but if Reece can work through it I think it often adds lots of important elements - of teamwork, winning and losing well, understanding competitiveness and how it can be good and bad, but can be easier or trickier to come to enjoy it dependent on others around him too - another important lesson!

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    1. Thanks Sally. I open the door of my home and the scent wafts inside, it is just amazing!

      Sadly, game night has not improved. It was a tough night last night. I agree so many important things to learn, but he just isn't into it. He loves practice night, so I think we will stick to that this season, and then maybe next year he will be more into the games. I have to admit they do stand around a lot on game night, in the outfield, just waiting for someone to hit the ball. And then of course, waiting around to go up to bat. During practice they are moving and working on skills, and he seems to enjoy that so much more. Ultimately, I want him to be happy, and to enjoy the sport, even if it means just practicing and not playing the actual game.

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  5. ten wonderful things :) Sounds like you are content and rested and enjoying the summery weather that this heat wave brought us. of course your heat is less than mine but still.

    My son did tee ball and did not like it. He wanted to be with his friends and the practices were okay. The games were torture to him and he didn't like it all. (right field = nothing happens). I would watch him kicking dandelions and I would try to mentally send messages to him to pay attention :)

    he's young and he is exploring and he will guide you in knowing what he wants.

    My son later on ended up joining the high school tennis team (recruited!) and loved playing the game and the practices.

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    1. Thanks Karen. Yes, content, happy and rested :) And the weather, we are loving it.

      That is exactly the way it is with Reece, standing in the outfield, kicking the dirt. He has decided to just stick to practice for now. If he feels the desire to play in a game again we can, but for now I think he just enjoys practicing...nothing wrong with that :)

      Thanks for sharing Karen, it is so great to have you experienced mamas out there, sharing your stories :)

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  6. I remember the first year my son played baseball. At first it was like watching the Keystone Cops, but by the end of the season, they were actually playing some ball. This year is his third year and it's been good to see the improvement.

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    1. It is definitely tough to watch. I keep myself busy with some knitting :) I have a feeling the same thing will happen with Reece's team too. He is going to keep up with practices and if he feels like stepping into the game again we can discuss that later in the season.

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  7. Beautiful! Wish I could spend a day with you and Reece! ☺

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    1. I wish that too my friend. We would have such a great day. xo

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  8. Oh all those nettles! I have nettle tea every morning. I really hope I can grow them some how here.

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    1. It is pretty awesome!!! I love nettle tea, so nourishing. Fingers crossed your can grow some :)

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  9. A wonderful list! Life sounds good round your way at the moment. Drying nettles sounds like a great idea, I might just have to pinch that one.........ou lilac is almost out and I am looking forward to it, it didn't flower at all last year and I missed it's heavenly scent. I hope you are having a good week too ;)

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    1. Thank you my friend. Life is good right now. Settling into our summer rhythm and soaking up each day as best as we can. It feels good to have wrapped up our homeschool year, and now just enjoying some space to be.

      Enjoy those lilacs when they bloom.

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  10. I wish I could smell those lilacs!!

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  11. Hi Kim,
    Wow you are getting so much out of your garden already! Here nothing but rain, rain, rain!!! I've been drying nettles too, my favourite tea blend at the moment is nettle, mint & raspberry leaf!
    When RĂ©mi used to play hockey he too loved practice and did really well but never liked matches!
    Sorry I haven't been in touch recently, somehow I seem to have gotten myself terribly unorganised and am only finding time to meet our most very basic needs!!! Got to get that sorted!

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    1. Hello there my friend, how are you?

      Yes, the garden is doing well, and I am so happy to be harvesting and creating meals from the backyard. Oh, that combination sounds delightful, I will have to try it.

      It's hard, I want him to participate in the games for the team experience, but he just doesn't want to. The coaches are okay with that, and he can just attend practice, and they even said at any time if he wants to try playing in the game again he can. They were very supportive.

      No worries my friend. We all go through seasons of busy, hang in there. xo

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  12. So much joy here... and I feel like you could have kept going. You radiate happiness my friend, I'm so happy for you. xo

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    1. Aw, thanks my friend. Life is good right now, and I am in a really good place. Soaking it up as best as I can, and enjoying every moment. xo

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  13. A lovely list. Lilacs bloomed.. Did you go morel mushroom hunting this year? That's the time to go (actually right before they bloom. When the buds are fat and heavy). Our first bonfire will be tonight.. If the wind dies down. Shine

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    1. I didn't intentionally go morel hunting, as I don't like mushrooms, but I did find some.

      Hope the wind died down for you, and you enjoyed a fire.

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