Summer Simplicity

Outside My Window

Four little girls have been happily playing all day long, despite ridiculous heat and pesky big brothers.

I am Listening to

Nothing right now, but I've been listening to a book on Kindle all day long.

I am Wearing

A simple t-shirt and seersucker capris.

I am so Grateful for

the kind words about this post. Your comments on Facebook and your emails are treasures. I'm privileged, particularly, to hear your stories of grace.

I'm Pondering

"Providing the right stuff--opportunities, shoes, private schools, skating lessons, etc.--has become the gold standard for many parents when it comes to excellent parenting. Since each of us longs to be the best mother possible, we quickly ride the same train in order to be better. The problem is, we are duped. Rarely do kids describe their mothers as being fabulous moms for the material things they provide. When I ask adult children about their parents, they talk about their mothers' greatness in terms of their kindness, affections, and caring. (Yes, and they even describe their favorite foods their mothers made.)  Young kids talk to me about their moms' moods, how fun they are or whether they are crabby. They don't boast about their shoes, their schools, or the sports they play when talking about their mothers. They talk about their moms, not what their moms give them. 10 Habits of Happy Mothers

I am Reading

10 Habits of Happy Mothers. Good stuff here. Really good stuff.  I'm listening on Kindle. This book is so packed with great wisdom. Together with Simplicity Parenting, I think these are the best of parenting books. 10 Habits isn't a parenting book as such, but if mothers employ these 10 habits, they will be excellent mothers. And happy ones, too. So good I'm seriously considering a book study.

I am Thinking

about asking some small businesses and Etsy crafters if they'd like to sponsor this blog. Let me know if the thought appeals to you. I'm shooting for the beginning of July...

I am Creating

~A Baby Surprise Jacket Ginny came and helped me sew the seams together. Still working on button options.

~To Eyre shawl. Oh, I so love, love, love the process of knitting this one. The yarn, the pattern, it's all good. And nearly finsihed

~These skirts. Four, so far, as we made Gracie's this morning, in time for a midmorning tea party. There is another one cut and ready for Katie to sew later today.

On my iPod

Not much new. I'm listening to my Kindle these days and really impressed with the audio. I kept it with me while I sewed and  then, all afternoon, as I've decluttered in the bedrooms with a vengeance, I've listened. The sound quality is very good. 

*Just to clarify: I'm listening to the Audio Book version from Audible on my Kindle. I'm not listening to the Kindle text-to-voice version.

Towards a Real Education

I suppose I should put down the knitting and the sewing and start writing lesson plans. Next week. Definitely.

Towards Rhythm and Beauty

I am in love with summer rhythm. In love. The morning rhythm is good. The bedtime rhythm is peaceful and happy. I'm so in love with this rhythm that I might write a whole post about it.

To Live the Liturgy...

The rosary on tape is part of my little girls' bedtime routine. We use an ancient cassette tape of a children's rosary produced by Lion Communications. I've searched high and low for these online and never found them. Anyone know? These rosary tapes are my very favorite and those songs are etched into the fond memories of all my children. One of those songs was even my "labor song" when Mary Beth was born.

I am Hoping and Praying

for Elizabeth deHority. She is constantly on my heart and in my prayers. She needs you now. Please, please pray with me. 

 for a friend for whom life has been exceptionally difficult and lonely

 In the Garden

We have enough basil for our first batch of pasta pesto tonight. Good thing, too because I forgot to defrost anything else.

Around the House

Much decluttering. Everywhere. New calendar season, new season of life. Time to clear the clutter.

From the Kitchen 

With the demise of our spare refrigerator, there has been a drastic shift in shopping and planning routines. I can't shop in the quantities I need to for the week because we don't have the storage space. There are 11 people eating here, three meals a day. So, we're shopping every three days and re-thinking things a bit.

One of My Favorite Things

The smell of the room when I'm steaming cotton lawn.

A Few Plans for the Week

more clutter conquering

more crafting

that's about it...

Picture thoughts:

  

{These is Gracie this morning. She wasn't here yesterday so she didn't get in on that photo shoot. We made her skirt this morning.)

First Daybook in a Long While

Outside My Window

It's one of those days that can't decide if it wants to rain. At least it's not unbearably hot. I don't really mind the clouds.

I am Listening to

Some sort of jazz mix at Starbuck's. When working in the neighborhood, I much prefer Panera to Starbuck's, but it's mighty crowded at Panera at lunchtime. Need to re-think this time/location thing.

I am Wearing

Poplin shirt, khaki capris. Summer uniform:-)

I am so Grateful for

my husband.

 

I'm Pondering

from Small Steps, June 7~

Think: Just as He gives the gardener the skill to tend rare and delicate plants while fertilizing them Himself, so He wishes to use others in His cultivation of souls.~ St. Therese 

Pray: You are the Master Gardener. Help me to be diligent. Teach me to prune and to weed so that my soul bears abundant fruit for you!

Act: Begin a summer art journal with your children. The night before, set the breakfast table with colored pencils, markers, and watercolors. Surprise each child a new, spiral bound sketchbook. Start by sketching plants in your yard or your newly-planted garden. Set aside time to update your garden journal once a week. Make art journaling part of your your shared experience. You do it too! Vary the media: try collages, doodle-fests, vegetable printing. 

I plan to do this tomorrow morning. I have a half dozen posts on Gentleness, the June Small Steps virtue, all hanging out in my drafts folder. I'm finding it difficult to write about gentleness without sinning against gentleness. I've long considered myself pretty gentle--and I think I am, with children--but my struggle to write on this month's virtue has me re-examining my own lack of mastery. Anyway, that's what I'm pondering, for what it's worth....

I am Reading

Seams to Me. Again. This time, I'm reading every.single.word. I'm taking notes and I'm making lists and I'm seriously considering a new sewing machine. 

10 Habits of Happy Mothers. Good stuff here. Really good stuff. I love to talk about books like this with my friend Linda, in particular. I'm reading this one and she's currently reading The Blessing of a B Minus. She's pretty sure I need the B- book. I'm pretty sure she needs the Meg Meeker book. No doubt we'll trade before the summer's finished.

I am Thinking

about asking some small businesses and Etsy crafters if they'd like to sponsor this blog. Let me know if the thought appeals to you. I'm shooting for the beginning of July...

I am Creating

~A Baby Surprise Jacket (All the knitting is finished and I even went and purchased buttons. But they're not right. If you know good online buttons sources, please do leave a link in the comments.)

~To Eyre shawl. Oh, I so love, love, love the process of knitting this one. The yarn, the pattern, it's all good.

~Some very concrete sewing plans that are the making of a major summer surprise. It all began quite innocently. Sarah announced to the world that she intends to learn to sew. And then she told the world how ridiculously hard that is. I could totally relate. 

I love Sarah. (In real life, as my children are so fond of saying.)

 So, I tried to talk her out of it. I told her I'd teach her to knit. Knitting is better;-). She persuaded me that sewing really did have its merits. In talking it out, I heard myself discovering how truly important it might be to one daughter in particular that I learn to sew with her. And, truth be told, I do agree that sewing rocks. But I've never managed to learn how to sew. So we agreed that we'd learn to knit and to sew. Because we're like that: if doing one is hard, doing two must somehow be easier. 

To that end...

~I'm beginning to create a craft nook. Katie and I have spent significant time looking at craft rooms, sewing rooms, studios and such online. When we moved into this house, we designated a room in the basement as the craft room. And it might one day still be one. But it's got some stirkes against it right now. (Shh, don't tell anyone, but Mike's home office would be just perfect. And, well, he hasn't worked from home for nearly five years now.) Do you have a favorite online dream studio? One like Heather Bailey's? Leave me a link. Katie and I love fodder for dreams.

 

On my iPod

Brad Paisley's new album. And Keith Urban's, too. It's summertime. 

Towards a Real Education

Patrick's report card arrived. Remember how worried I was last fall, when he was suddenly a student at a boarding school, with four days' notice and nothing but homeschooling behind him? He did us proud. I don't remember the exact number, but his GPA was over a 4.0 and his lowest grade was in soccer...

Towards Rhythm and Beauty

The rhythm of this summer reflects my ever-increasing awareness that

: I need time alone.

: my children need enforced times of quiet.

: we all need room and time and materials with which to create.

: summer doesn't mean we take a break from math every day.

: that life is short and every day is to be treasured and lived intentionslly and prayerfully.

To Live the Liturgy...

Back to the liturgy of the hours every day. During Lent, I focused on daily audio Bible. All. the. time. I'm still loving my morning Bible and knitting time, but the rest of the day has found its way back to the cadence of the Church.

I am Hoping and Praying

for Elizabeth deHority. She is constantly on my heart and in my prayers. She needs you now. Please, please pray with me. 

 for my teenagers. Growing up is such hard work.  

for my dear friend Becca as she prepares to bring a new baby into the world. Becca brings a whole new dimension to the word "labor." This is going to be work, no doubt, but she will labor at this most important task with the same grace and dignity and faith as she does every small task of ordinary days. She's just like that. Won't you pray a wee prayer for Becca and that baby girl? Grace. Begging grace.

 In the Garden

Our spring peas were taking over our small garden when it was time to plant tomatoes and basil. I whined a bit aloud, lamenting my lack of raised bed organic space. The Farmer's Wife suggested I stop complaining and plant in pots. I put the tomatoes in the garden and the basil in pots. The basil is thriving. Of course it is. She's a wise one, that Farmer's Wife.

Around the House

The laundry is all caught up. If you have more than three children, you will recognize this event for the rare miracle it is. Go bathing suits!

From the Kitchen 

Big hits lately:

Baked Asparagus Risotto (H/T Elizabeth DeHority) to accompany Chicken Piccata (Patrick is back in the kitchen and cooking delicious meals while cleaning up as he goes. Got to love that about a kid.)

and Father's Day brunch:

Belgian Waffles with fresh blueberries and strawberries. We tried Bisquick's Gluten Free baking mix and found it to be a keeper. Hooray for waffles!

Spinach Frittata. I made this one up as I went along and didn't make notes. Will have to re-create soon.

Grilled Sausages and Grilled Bacon. The meat-eaters in the house declared it all good.

Orange Juice with Pellegrino (known in this house as "Ballerina Juice" because the curly one heard "ballerina" when first we told her about Pellegrino)

One of My Favorite Things

quiet mornings.

A Few Plans for the Week

~the summer revolving door begins to turn. Patrick is bound for Dallas and Mary Beth to the beach with a buddy.

~Farmer's Market on Wednesday to do a photo shoot for the summer issue of Faith and Family.

~art journals

~My Fair Lady on video to get ready for the stage version in July

~swimming with basketball buddies at the pool Christian manages.

Picture thoughts:

  
 

{These are a bit dated. Over Memorial Day weekend, we had soccer in three states. Michael and Nicky headed south to NC with our friend Luke and his dad, Ron. Luke's brother, Jack,  plays with Stephen, so he and his mom and his twin sister spent the weekend in beautiful Poolesville, Maryland with Stephen, our girls, and me. And Mike and Patrick went to NJ. The girls (and Jack and Stephen) managed to have all sorts of fun. We even squeezed in some strawberry picking between games. Strawberry picture from my friend Mindy's iPhone. Soccer stud is Stephen on the farm fields I really love so much.)

New Season Daybook

Outside My Window

The yard is neat and tidy and the front beds are newly planted and mulched. The big hope is that when Mike steps outside our door to leave for work (for the first time in a really long time), there will be no little details that cause him to say, "Please tell {insert boy name here} to {insert yard chore here}."

I am Listening to

Ann's blog. I'm sitting at Panera early on a Sautrday morning, trying to get some posts written and ready for the week. Ann's blog, coming through headphones, is blocking the Panera noises and shielding me from the sounds of all the people ordering breakfast. It smells heavenly in here and there is absolutely nothing I can eat. Note to self: write to Panera about offering just  couple gluten freen options at breakfast time.

I am Wearing

Jeans, a pink printed corduroy shirt, black flats, glasses that fit, headphones.

 
 
 

I am so Grateful for

A yarn swift and ball winder. They were a Mother's Day gift from Michael. I appreciate the sentiment behind the gift. I know he really doesn't have the funds for such extravagance. I appreciate that he is thoughtfully encouraging a hobby he knows is bringing me joy. Most of all, though, I appreciate the whole idea that he risked anaphylactic shock just going into our local yarn shop and staying long enough to acquire an education in swifts and winders and purchase them. Michael has the worst wool allergy I've ever witnessed. In appreciation for the gift, I promise him a sweater worthy of the Connecticut winters in his future. Made of something other than wool:-)

I'm Pondering

 How beautiful it is to behold a person destitute of all attachment, ready for any act of virtue or charity, gentle to all, indifferent as to any employment, serene in consolations and tribulations, and wholly content if only the will of God be done. -- St. Francis De Sales

I am Reading

Review copies, upon review copies! If you sent me something to review, please trust me that I am indeed reading your book or magazine. And if you like to read reviews, stay tuned. There are several in process:-)

I am Thinking

quite a bit about how life is going to work around here in the very near future. Mike has been gone all but 4 nights or so in the last 7 weeks. Really, it's been almost a year of absolutley intense work travel and long, local hours. On Monday morning, all that changes. At least I think it does. We made a decision to jump off the barrelling train and change direction a bit. I recognize that there are several people in my household (myself included?) for whom change is difficult. Even good change. And the next few weeks will see all kinds of change. Patrick will come home? For how long? I have no idea. Truly. Michael will leave. Or will he? I have no idea. And Mike. Mike will be here on the weekends. How strange is it that I honestly cannot imagine what that will look like? To have another adult in the house on Saturday morning? To not be solely resonsible for Saturday home and yard maintenance? To not be the only one waiting up and wondering if it was a good idea to grant permission to that teenager for whatever has him out of the house?  To not be solely responsible for getting everyone to church and soccer and dance and whatever social things crop up? Social things. ... There's a concept. I wonder if now we will have date nights? If I will go to gatherings with other couples? Yes, thinking. I'm thinking.

I am Creating

A Baby Surprise Jacket

and I'm promising myself time this week to sit with the user's manual of my sewing machine and figure out why the tension always messes up and I never get going with sewing. If you have words of wisdom to offer, I'm all ears. Except. Don't say "Bernina." I have to make peace with my Brother.

I will say this, though. My recent experience with knitting has taught me how much difference the right materials and a steady, patient teacher make. If I'm ever to sew, I'm guessing I need the same for sewing.

First to figure out the tension thing.

On my iPod

Knitting Yarns and Spinning Tales

 

Towards a Real Education

Have I mentioned that Patrick is coming home? I wonder how that is going to work? A teenaged boy who was still quite young when he left. He has spent nearly a year away, managed his own business, been highly disciplined, stuck to a very strict schedule, and attended a prep school. He's gotten much bigger and we all recognize that his time away and the experiences he's had have matured him beyond imagination. Now he's coming home to the same unschooly home-ness that he left. Wonder how that's going to work. Stay tuned.

Towards Rhythm and Beauty

I think I might just be a little nervous about what this job change means to my rhythm.

To Live the Liturgy...

Playing this song over and over these days.

I am Hoping and Praying

for Elizabeth deHority. She is constantly on my heart and in my prayers. She needs you now. Please, please pray with me. We've begun a novena to Bl. Elizabeth of the Trinity for her intentions. You can find the text at the top of the Prayers and Devotions page. Click the hyperlink or click on the tab at the top of this blog. That tab is always there; please pray early and often.

for the soul of Ty Lewis and for his family and for the countless soccer families who grieve his loss.

for Sarah and her family as they grieve the tragic loss of her sister-in-law.

for Michael upon his graduation; Joseph on his Bar Mitzvah; Brian on his first communion; my mother on her 70th birthday; Paddy as he travels homeward. We have quite a weekend ahead.

 

 In the Garden

We planted the front bed with salvia, and tiny petunias and some buttony blue plant whose name evades me right now. I found the kind man at Cox Farms to be really really helpful. And it was fun to be there to see the alpacas and the llama and some baby goats that were just hours old.

I'm holding off on the veggies until Patrick is home to plant with me.

Around the House

I'm sort of uninspired. We need new furniture. Truly need it. usually, when we need new furniture, someone in my extended family moves or redecorates. We inherit furniture when they buy new furniture. My whole house is furnished that way. Everything has a history. I am truly in need of couches with histories:-)

From the Kitchen

Strawberries, not yet local but so truly amazing that I will relent on the local thing and just be grateful for trucks that bring me deliciousness from California

One of My Favorite Things

Matthew 6

[28] And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin;
[29] yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
[30] But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will he not much more clothe you, O men of little faith?
[31] Therefore do not be anxious, saying, `What shall we eat?' or `What shall we drink?' or `What shall we wear?'
[32] For the Gentiles seek all these things; and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.
[33] But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things shall be yours as well

~friend who has the perfect little black dress hanging in her closet

~sister who is sad because her "little" girl is graduating, so she shops for my little girls and sends a box of pink amazingness

A Few Plans for the Week

~graduation. Michael graduated in December, but the official ceremony is this weekend.

~Brian, our nephew, receives our Lord in Holy Communion for the first time.

~Joseph, also our nephew, has his Bar Mitzvah (has it? not sure how to phrase that ).

~70th birthday party for my mom.

Lots of dressing up. Lots of fancy parties. Lots of celebrating.

~Patrick might be in Philadelphia to play. I'd really love, love, love to see him play before this residency year is over, so if we can squish that in around the above, you better believe we'll make a road trip. No dressing up required.

Picture thoughts:

 

Cinco de Mayo Daybook

Outside My Window

Today is bright and beautiful, but cold. It won't hit 70 degrees today and the wind is blowing.

I am Listening to

Nicholas and Katie discussing Tangled versus Rapunzel.One thing is certain: Nicholas is sure that Tangled is not a princess movie. "It's way better than that."

I have to agree.

I am Wearing

Jeans, ruffled neck t-shirt, embroidered cotton cardigan.

I am so Grateful for

~my optician, who has been on a quest for nearly ten years to find me a pair of glasses that fit.

~glasses that fit. Worth every penny I saved to buy them.

I'm Pondering

 “It is Jesus that you seek when you dream of happiness; he is waiting for you when nothing else you find satisfies you; he is the beauty to which you are so attracted; it is he who provokes you with that thirst for fullness that will not let you settle for compromise; it is he who urges you to shed the masks of a false life; it is he who reads in your hearts your most genuine choices, the choices that others try to stifle. It is Jesus who stirs in you the desire to do something great with your lives, the will to follow an ideal, the refusal to allow yourselves to be grounded down by mediocrity, the courage to commit yourselves humbly and patiently to improving yourselves and society, making the world more human and more fraternal.” Bl. John Paul II 

I am Reading

a review copy of Kate Wicker's new book. Good stuff.

I am Thinking

about asking some small businesses and Etsy crafters if they'd like to sponsor this blog. Let me know if the thought appeals to you.

I am Creating

A Baby Surprise Jacket

On my iPod

 a little Cinco de Mayo earworm.

Towards a Real Education

Nicholas has been challenged to read his way through every picture book we own--aloud, to me. We have a vast selection of historical, science, saints' and other biographies, geographical, and just plain good stories. If he meets this challenge, he will have a wide and varied (and fairly deep) knowledge base and he will have an appreciation for good art and language. Sounds like a plan.

{The extended time on the couch with mom is not to be underappreciated, either.}

Towards Rhythm and Beauty

We've begun a new school term and so far the rhythm is lovely. Our afternoon knitting and crafting begins in earnest when Gracie arrives around 2:45 every day. Mornings are productive and academic. Chores are getting finished. Outside time happens when the weather permits. Evenings are for soccer and dance. Lots of reading. All good.

To Live the Liturgy...

Playing this song over and over these days.

I am Hoping and Praying

for Elizabeth deHority. She is constantly on my heart and in my prayers. She needs you now. Please, please pray with me.

for the soul of Ty Lewis and for his family and for the countless soccer families who grieve his loss.

for Sarah and her family as they grieve the tragic loss of her sister-in-law.

for Mike's dad and for his mom and for his medical care.

 In the Garden

Snap peas and spring lettuces. Observation: we have a very small square foot garden. There's no way it can a feed a family this size. For instance, I can't begin to gather enough lettuce at one time for a dinner salad for us all. We really need a bigger garden. One at least three times this size.

Around the House

I fixed the washing machine. It's been taking ages to get through one load of laundry--seriously, four or five HOURS. I dreaded calling our very nice repairman and having him tell me that someone's pocket treasures were clogging up the works. And I dreaded even more writing him a $200 dollar check. So I googled. And I found this. We bought a set of Torx screwdrivers ($8). And I fixed the washing machine. When you subtract the $1.75 in quarters I found in the pump, the whole thing cost me $6.25. And made my whole day.

Furthermore, I learned a valuable lesson: it really does matter how well my appliances work. No matter how organized I am and how disciplined I am, if the washing machine doesn't work well, I will get behind on laundry. This principle can be applied to other things. More on that later, perhaps.

From the Kitchen

Tea without sugar. I gave it up for Lent. Now I don't want it any more. Go me.

One of My Favorite Things

the smell of the craft store

A Few Plans for the Week

~May Crowning at the mission church tomorrow with our girls club

~State Cup on Satruday

~Mother's Day: game in Maryland (and hour or so away),  pickup at the airport close to home, game in McLean, drop off at the airport close to home.

~ballet on Monday. and soccer

~and Tuesday

~and Wednesday....

~I'm speaking at the women's group on Ft. Belvoir Wednesday morning:-)

Picture thoughts:

 

  

{{Comments are open. I have been terrible about responding to mail. Please forgive me? I do read every single note and I do pray for you. But, I don't always answer promptly. I'm hoping that having comments open on occasion will give me a chance to answer the more common questions for several people at once and will give you dear ladies an opportunity to talk with each other. They are moderated, so if you don't see yours at first, it means I'm busy knitting; it will appear shortly.}}

On My Mind: Easter Week

Sunday, late afternoon...

Outside My Window

It's finally spring. Virginia is greening up nicely and we're sure glad to see it.

I am Listening to

The Ladies of Cecelia perform Be Still and Know--over and over and over again. It's really beautiful. Longtime followers will recognize the amazing vionlist as MacBeth Derham's daughter, Libby. I think you will agree that she's grown into quite the lovely young lady.

I am Wearing

A sweater and a skirt and an apron.

I am so Grateful for

~safe travels. Mike and Patrick are in Amsterdam this week.

~3 goals and a 3-2 win over China. Patrick scored all three.

~decent telephone connections

~knitting

~cotton yarn

~a daughter who knows that baking is art

~Easter with grandparents and cousins

~ a darling picture of a young soccer player wearing Patrick's National Team jersey. Paddy signed it for him and sent it back to his parents so they could put it in his Easter basket.

I'm Pondering

Knitting twelve sweaters isn't insane. It's actually part of what keeps me sane, keeps me calm and focused on the important things, and brings me present into the here and now. Pretty amazing for something as simple as wrapping some string around a couple of sticks...over and over and over again. Until there's a sweater....or twelve. ~Amanda Soule

 

I am Reading

Organized Simplicity 

I am Thinking

about what to keep and what to change from my Lenten rhythm and resolutions. Actually, there's very little I expect to change. The only book I read during Lent was the Bible. I do look forward to delving into the stack I have for myself, but, I'd like to keep the extended Bible reading time as well. And all the other disciplines? All good. It was a very fruitful Lent.

I am Creating

A sweater shrug (number 5 or 6?) and I'm starting a new project this week, too.  With handpainted yarn. Karoline painted it. Much more on that later this week.

On my iPod

Knitting Yarns and Spinning Tales

Towards a Real Education

Mary Beth and I mapped out her first high school year and got everything tidied up and ordered. We'll begin next week. I like to have our school years run year 'round and my goal this year was to finish before the bluebells bloomed so that we could really enjoy some extended time outside this spring. That plan is mostly on track.

I know that she wishes she were attending a one of two schools in the area. The first is all girls and way out of our price range and a long commute. The second is an impossible commute. We're both trusting that God will provide during the next four years. I'm grateful that she is who she is. Pure blessing.

Towards Rhythm and Beauty

This Easter was very different than I imagined just a week ago. I thought we were going to the Shrine downtown and then to brunch at the club. Early in the week, we decided Mike should fly to Holland to meet Patrick. So, that makes it the first holiday without everyone together. That's new. Then, Mike's dad fell for the second time in as many weeks and it was clear that we couldn't do the trek into DC. So we stayed home. I  just sort of did reprise of last year. And it was fine.

But I missed them.

To Live the Liturgy...

Easter isn't time or place or even tradition. It's the awareness of the risen Christ and the intimacy of His forgiveness and His friendship.

Stephen and Nick served Mass Thursday night, SAturday at the Easter Vigil and first thing Sunday morning. This fact might not be remarkable except that before this week, they'd never, ever served. Now, they know what they're doing.

I am Hoping and Praying

for Elizabeth deHority. She is constantly on my heart and in my prayers. She needs you now. Please, please pray with me.

for the soul of Ty Lewis and for his family and for the countless soccer families who grieve his loss.

for Sarah and her family as they grieve the tragic loss of her sister-in-law.

for Mike's dad and for his mom and for his medical care.

 In the Garden

We planted sunflowers and snap peas and spring lettuces and morning glories. The tulips are fading and I need to think about color for the front beds. I'd like to get creative and I'd like to plant some perennials. In the end, I'll probably plant two flats of petunias. Just like last year.

Around the House

A few fun new Easter things.

A copy of Tangled and a very effective new de-tangler.  (Guess whose basket?) Hat tip to Lori.

Fresh supplies for the easel

Chocolate-covered espresso beans.

From the Kitchen

Recipe testing some meals inspired by the farmer's market for the summer issue of Faith and Family.

~Fettuccine Gazpacho Salad

~Mixed greens with Strawberry Vinaigrette

~Zucchini bread

and some more you'll have to read about in the summer issue. By the way, I got a sneak peek at the spring cover last week. So much darlingness:-)

One of My Favorite Things

safe landings

 

Sarah Annie this week

She misses her daddy. And her Paddy. This has been an intense time of travel for Mike. He's rarely been home this spring. Sarah is very attached to Daddy, so his absence rocks her world. And she's a big Paddy fan. Pretty much, we're both hanging on 'til the end of May.

A Few Plans for the Week

homecomings: Mike on Monday and Patrick on Tuesday (but Paddy will only be here for few jetlagged hours.)

For the first time in eleven years, I'm going to meet a friend for lunch. And a visit to a yarn store. I'm giddy with excitement.

More bluebells, no doubt, as they begin to fade. And lots of Bluebell Blogging. I have a billion blue photos to share.

Pretty sure there will be a doctor's appointment for Mary Beth. She had a CT scan last week to address some ongoing problems related to  last year's eye injury.

Make-up State Cup game from the weekend of the deluge. No idea when that will be, except it must be before Saturday, when the Round 2 game is to be played. And it's in Richmond. Can't wait to drive to Richmond on a weekday evening/afternoon.

Picture thoughts:

  

{{Comments are open. I have been terrible about responding to mail. Please forgive me? I do read every single note and I do pray for you. But, I don't always answer promptly. I'm hoping that having comments open on occasion will give me a chance to answer the more common questions for several people at once and will give you dear ladies an opportunity to talk with each other. They are moderated, so if you don't see yours at first, it means I'm busy knitting; it will appear shortly.}}