While We Were Away

Over the last few weeks Reece and I have been on a few adventures, and Justin has stayed home to get some work done and tend to our little homestead. When we went away the first time I came home to this lovely pantry unit. Space is always a problem in our home, it is after all a one room schoolhouse. We are always working to make the best use of the space we have and decided a pantry wall would be a really great idea. I left knowing Justin was planning to build the shelving while I was gone, but had no idea what his plans were. I was not only happy when I got home, but instantly got to work filling up those shelves. So far there are more empty jars than full ones, but with the canning season upon us you can bet they will fill up fast.

When we headed to a friends cottage last week he set out to build the island. Again I left with no idea what he planned to do and well, you can imagine how happy I was when I got home. I am in love with the island and have put it to good use many times in the last week, including serving up our buffet style dinner on Saturday night for friends.

My kitchen feels like a brand new space. Since getting home from the cottage the whole kitchen has been reorganized, there have been boxes of extras sent off to donation centers and it is now feeling light, airy and just perfect for our little home.

Our Weekend

This was a weekend in slow motion. Usually they rush by, Monday rolls around and we wonder were the weekend went. But not this weekend. We moved through it slowly, with intention and enjoyed every moment of it.

Friday was a day spent at home, working and playing. There was gardening to be done, windows to be cleaned, jam to be made and a little play mixed in. The three of us ate our meals outside, laughed and accomplished a lot. Tired but happy we all went to bed early.

We visited the market on Saturday morning, ran a few errands and then headed home for the afternoon, which included some prep work for dinner guests and a little time just hanging out watching the birds, enjoying the sunshine and looking for toads. Our guests arrived and we had the most wonderful evening. The kids played, the adults talked and we enjoyed a delicious meal. There was a fire and wild raspberries for dessert. Little ones cried when it was time to go home, a sure sign of a good evening. After a little clean up, Reece and I watched the last embers of the fire go out and searched the night sky for fireflies before heading off to sleep.

I awoke early Sunday morning, lit myself a little fire and enjoyed a cup of tea and some reading before everyone else woke up...it was divine. We enjoyed breakfast on the back deck and then headed out for a little nature adventure and then tea with my parents. Back home, we had quiet afternoon, enjoyed dinner outside and another fire.

A full weekend...full of good things, good people and good memories made. How was your weekend?

Joining Amanda

{This Moment}

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember.

If you're inspired to do the same, leave a link to your 'moment' in the comments for all to find and see. Inspired by Soulemama.

Cottage Fun

The water was still. The sun was warm. The call of the loons was hauntingly beautiful. The sounds of bull frogs serenading me to sleep was strangely peaceful. The gentle grace of the great blue heron on the water in the early morning was stunning to watch. My little man enjoying his time in the water made my heart smile and watching him sit among the wild strawberries and raspberries picking and eating, well that was just the icing on what was a wonderful three days.

Reece and I journeyed north on Monday to spend three days with a good friend and her little lady at her family cottage. It was absolutely wonderful and so very full in many ways.

We spent a lot of time in the water, Reece was having so much fun and I just went a long for the ride. I even had the chance to take him for his first kayak and while he was a little scared, he did enjoy it. There was a market on Tuesday so we went for a little stroll around the market and then stopped off at a lovely nature trail. This trail meanders through the woods and showcases a unique outdoor collection of sculptures by Canadian and international artists. To find such beauty hidden among the trees was wonderful and inspiring. We were also lucky enough to find quite a few patches of both wild strawberries and raspberries as we walked. We would stop, pick and eat whenever we found them, so good.

Time away with my little man with a good friend and her family, enjoying the peace which comes from time by the water, watching as Reece develops a deeper connection to nature and finding time to feed my soul...so much goodness from a few days at the cottage.

Playing along with Country Kids from Coombe Mill

A Nature Journal Entry

I hear the call,
birdsong.
Beautiful,
rhythmic
and
full of life.
I stop,
stand still
and listen.
A bird soars,
another sings.
Their activity mesmorizes me.
I watch
in silence,
feet connected to the
earth,
eyes observing,
ears listening,
heart smiling,
my soul
alive.

My Tree Climber

My little man has been hanging around in trees lately and loving every minute of it.

Crafting for Our Feathered Friends

Backyard birding has been an obsession around here. Not a day goes by that we don't stop to watch the flurry of activity in our yard. We have witnessed chipping sparrows leaving their nest, watched a mama and papa house wren feeding their babies, observed the eastern phoebe fly back and forth from the nest and now another set of house wrens are building a nest in the eaves of the house. It is thrilling to watch and has us reaching for the binoculars regularly throughout the day.

With so much activity in the backyard another feeder is always welcome. Reece and I sat down last week to build this fun and easy feeder. It was a great way to pass some time on a hot and humid afternoon and it looks wonderful hanging in our yard. And yes, the birds do love it!