Family...

From across the pond flew two of our favorite people to land at our doorstep and spend the last three weeks of summer in the garden, around the house and out and about working right along beside us to make each day flow so beautifully.
This about sums up the bliss (and notably excludes our third child who suddenly had a case of Mama Love the entire three weeks and would rather scream and pass out then let another hold him... For the love!):

They tore apart rooms in our apartments, mowed the lawn, knitted sweaters, cooked dinners, washed dishes and entertained happy children... We were so grateful for that time to focus on family and finish up some projects that we couldn't fathom finding the time to accomplish.
We also spent a weekend on an island off the coast where our friend is a lighthouse keeper. I could have stayed all summer, it made me miss those 10 years I lived off the coast of Maine each summer surrounded by good people and nature.

 Such special times. So very thankful. Breathing it all in, each moment with them... And thankful my parents could come for some days too - what a crew!

 We love you Poul and Lene! Thank you for all your love, energy and hugs...

Gardening

Do you ever feel like the time slips too quickly by in the summer? Flies by really... You find yourself staring at your toes or watching the little loves being silly and suddenly it is the middle of August.

The garden reminds me of the changes of the season. Lately I have been so focused on wild foraging for red clover, horsetail, yarrow and berries for teas that we only visit the garden for a quick treat for dinner. But today, we took the time to harvest for storage because the crops are coming in abundance and it is time to start pulling things out in big heaps. Yes indeed, the end of the season is approaching. Harvest is a time of turmoil for me because the garden looks so beautiful, lush and green I almost cannot bear to go in and pull it all up to eat. Is that strange?

I got over it. Quickly. You have to when you need the food for dinner and especially when you have littles helping to harvest - they are willing to stomp, trample and pull anything with abandon. And that is what it is all about...  The littles teaching me to let go and hopefully me teaching them about the joy of growing things, the feel of soil between my toes and fingers, the work and delights in harvesting. Round and round we go.

Right now I am thankful for the abundance of this space. It gives us so much in these warm months, a place to meditate, breathe, grow and nourish ourselves from. And in the coming weeks I am working on further expanding our joy in the garden with a little greenhouse row for the winter months because already I can feel the chill in the air and am preparing for the cold weather plantings. As much as I lament the passing of the summer, I can see on their faces that it has been full to the brim with joy.

Life

What is life? It is the flash of a firefly in the night. It is the breath of a buffalo in the wintertime. It is the little shadow which runs across the grass and loses itself in the sunset. - Crowfoot, Blackfoot warrior and orator

I am glowing...
Life    is    good.
My husband is a good man.

Today he finished his Ph.D.

Henceforth, all correspondence addressed to our household will only be accepted if it is addressed "Dr. and Dr."
Yes, we brought him quickly back down to Earth, but oh my, what a wonderful accomplishment amongst all the obstacles. We are so very proud of you.

KASPER!

This boy... Oh how I love him and oh how I struggle to give him all he needs. We are so similar and yet he is a boy, so we are sooooo very different. Today I was unpacking from camping and heard his sweet little voice in my ear continually asking for his training wheels to come off his bike. I kept unpacking, making excuses (because I was unpacking and did not have time to hold the bike for him like I did with AnaSofia (for MONTHS!) and hadn't I been asking him all summer to take off those wheels?!... And then I chastised myself for ignoring his needs and thought what can it hurt? (Well, besides his knees, elbows, teeth and...)
 So I went over, took off the training wheels and he hopped on right there in the yard and TOOK OFF.
Just TOOK OFF.
ON TWO WHEELS!
I knew he had it in him all summer and had been begging him to let me take the wheels off but it had to be that moment didn't it? When I was distracted, when he felt ready and when we both just let go and said, let's do this...
I was floored.
And I still have no idea how to keep up with him, but am so loving watching him grow into this strong, sweet, articulate little fella. Love his tenacity to pieces.

Camping with Friends

Each year we head off to Cobscook Bay State Park for a blissful weekend with friends, some we see only this weekend each year. A whole gaggle of children camping together, playing together and seeing the stars together. I could not think of a better way to celebrate Lughnasad. The kids and I packed all our fresh vegetables from the garden and headed out to cook them on the campfire.

 (the view from our group campsite)

 It was a weekend to get wet, dirty and fall asleep exhausted and content listening to the sounds of Nature all piled together with my sweet little loves in our wee little tent.

 

It was a weekend where I abandoned my shoes the moment we stepped out of the car and never put them on again. Each night as I drifted off to sleep the soles of my feet vibrated with the sensations of the day. I could still feel the cool mud, sharp clam shells and soft grass that had carried me along.

So very thankful.