MLIA: Davy boy

I love this little man! Can't believe my boy is a whole year old already.

My life is awesome.

My love affair with dirt

I've spent two days in the dirt and am finally beginning to feel human again. My mind is off my job and onto the last garden jungle I want to tackle tomorrow. I don't know why working in the dirt is so theraputic, I just know that it is. Somehow, hands and knees in soil draws closer to the One who makes it all possible. Rooting out weeds makes me ponder sin and the need to be ruthless and vigilant, like I haven't been about my weeding. Flowers to remind me of God's love for me, the gift of the beauty He surrounds me with. The crazy dog that continues to drop the ball in front of me, begging for another round of her favorite game, and yet content to sit next to me while I dig in the dirt, reminds me that I am loved on a much more basic level. Ahhh I love it all!!

Not to mention I have actually made some visible progress on SOMETHING in my life, which is encouraging. In the last two days, I've managed to:
- Buy veggie plants at the Farmer's Markets, and some flowers for good measure.
- Clean up, weed, transplant a bush or two in the lilac hedge
- Dig up everything in the berry garden, till it, replant what I want in a cleaned up, weed free bed. (We won't discuss how Maggie decided to lay in the freshly replanted strawberries b/c the dirt was nice and cool... grrrr)
- Weed, till, plant the vegetable garden (still need to buy cuke, bean, and pea seeds and plant them)
- Started digging up the middle of the backyard jungle, but only a small start.... must get to the rest of that tomorrow. That's the bed that needs complete rennovation. Also need to dig up any plants I want to save, rip everything else out, till, and then replant. I've got other plants to move from other places to fill it in too-- kind of a project but it will be SO nice when it's done.
- Plant snapdragons in the front bed for a splash of color
- Trim pine tree branches
- Sleep in
- Visit with the Homies a bit

Still left:
- mow and rake yard
- middle of the backyard garden rennovation
- split and transplant some flowers
- move a little lilac bush
- clean the house
- laundry
- make dinner for some friends
- BBQ and game night with friends

Loving loving loving the long weekend and all the dirt. Gaining a bit more perspective. God is good!

MLIA: Thomas

Some days we all just need a little more Thomas in our lives...

Lucky for me, I have two adorable, sweet, and very intense Thomases in my life. My Life is Awesome (and so are Thomas and Thomas).

Randomly

Crazy things I think about a lot lately (in no particular order):
1. Backyard chickens. I have the coop, it only needs a couple repairs / alterations and any day now I might break down and try it.
2. Home cooking for the dogs. Not because I'm one of those dog people-- but because Suzie's allergies are so bad all the time and I feel I should try something!
3. Sheep. I desperately want sheep. And goats. And these adorable mini-milk cows. Spring makes me want sheep even more than usual. Lots of farm dreaming going on around here.
4. Ireland. I want to go back there one of these days. I actually want to live there, farming my sheep right up to the cliffs that go down to the ocean. Gosh I love Ireland.
5. Road tripping west again. So many friends, so many new babies to see, so much time on the road and away from the reality of my life. It won't happen anytime soon, but I'm thinking about it.
6. Projects. Lots and lots of projects to catch up on. Will probably never actually catch up, but it's nice to dream.
7. Prince Charming. Or my equivalent. How long does a girl have to wait??? Sometimes it just doesn't seem fair. And seriously, how does one meet guys when all they do is work and try to catch up on their life and hang out with awesome friends who are all married with kids? It's complicated.
8. Family. Family has been on my mind a lot. My family. The people I love dearest. The ones close by who I never see. The ones far away who I never see. Must spend more time with my family. And say a prayer for my Grandma who is in the hospital with pnemonia.
9. Flowers. I do love flowers. The irises are starting to bloom. The rose bushes are covered with buds. The lilacs are blooming and more on the way. Flowers brighten my life.
10. Patriotism. All the American flags are out. We celebrate Memorial Day this weekend and all the men and women who have given their lives for our freedom. Thanks to each and every one of you, we value your sacrifice, your gift, your patriotism.

Loving the sunshine

We have had two more weeks of rain around here... so the yard is atrocious!! I had spent all that time taming the jungle 2 weeks ago, only to have it either too wet or too dark anytime I was home to deal with it. So today I left work early (after a scant 48 hour, completely mentally exhausting work week)... and came home to face the music. The front is at least done- had to mow over it twice. Still need to weed whack. I even weeded the front flower bed and moved a couple plants. Then on to the back... about half done. RIDICULOUS. The grass is either really thick back there or non-existant and overrun with dandelions. Not a pretty sigh. And yet... gosh I love being outside, and sunny days, and a yard to cut. And even the dandelions looked beautiful reflecting in the setting sun. It's great to be home and in my yard...even if it seems like I'm losing the battle to the weeds right now.

And now, for the list of things that need my attention outside:
1. Weed vegetable garden and prep for planting
2. Move some flowers from vegetable garden to elsewhere
3. New garden bed boundaries for berry garden. Weed. Add compost. Move some plants.
4. Weed lilac border garden. Get rid of sunflower things taking over the whole area. Take time to smell the lilacs.
5. Middle of backyard garden box... Ugh. New boundaries. Dig up most of it and completely rennovate. Add compost. Weed.
6. Try not to mow over and kill clematis again (like the last 3 years).
7. Redeck playstructure.
8. Decide on Operation Backyard Chicken...
9. Side garden bed - weed. Get rid of bishop's weed trying to creep in. Harness lemon balm or get rid of it altogether.
10. Weed whack edges of everything.
11. Plant vegetable garden.
12. Not to mention cutting down the 6 huge pine trees of much loathing, ripping out and replacing the patio and driveway, and regrading the entire yard....

Baby steps, Reenie, baby steps.

More of my Lucy

I know I know... I don't even have kids of my own... so instead I'll brag about and gush about some of the awesome kids in my life.

I love this girl so much. Sometimes I think it must be tough following a funny, sports-addict brother and followed by a whimsical imaginative curly headed little sister. But don't underestimate this girl. I don't pick favorites (okay I guess I pick lots and lots of favorites)... and this girl is up there. She is creative, loves to draw and craft and create. Loves to take things apart and see how they work. Loves her swing with a passion. And is downright funny with a quirky and dry sense of humor. Lucy is a kindred spirit and an absolute joy. And do you see how cute she is? Yeah, that's my girl.