Brown Paper Packages

yesterday ::

Yesterday we . . . 

 

 

 

 

:: worked in the garden, weeding, musing about how tall the plants are getting and hauling grass to keep down the weeds . . .

:: marble painted and fingerpATEd (as August and I refer to Ruby's first experience with fingerpainting - she tried hard not to, but sometimes that little finger just slipped right in the ole' mouth!) . . .

:: switched mediums to crayons and watercolors . . .

:: made hamburger buns and enjoyed them poolside . . .

:: despite the nasty heat, we picnicked outdoors grilling hamburgers (with said buns) and fresh veggies from our CSA . . .

:: enjoyed a movie at dusk on the side of our house - sort of a drive-in movie feel, only without the car.   

 

 

akeru ::

Akeru’ (Japanese) ~ meaning to end, begin, to expire, to start, to unwrap, to pierce… to turn over.

And since new years are all about turning over new leaves, I thought it appropriate to start my new weekly blog post with this vocabulary word.  I like it because it simultaneously lets you let go of something and begin anew. 

That was my philosophical post of the week.  :-)  And now on to us!    The return of somewhat warmer weather means a lot of this . . . .

and a lot of this . . . 

and a lot of adorable views of our Sissy in her hand-knitted-by-Aunt-Karen acorn hat.

Hope it's warmer where you are for a few days!  (And then I could be ready for more snow!  :-))

autumn bounty ::

Autumn is my favorite time of year.  Part of the reason is the beautiful colors and weather, but mostly I love the 'nesting' aspect of fall.  I love to pick the garden and put up food for the winter months.  I love bringing the outside 'in' and arranging the rooms for the winter activities and clothing.  I love unpacking gloves and hats and deciding if last year's winter wardrobes will fit growing children. 

And August, much to my delight, loves all of those things as well.  Especially the aspect of picking the garden. 

 Picking tomatoes for sauce ::

 

Weighing tomatoes for sauce ::  (four pounds a batch - August got really good at reading the scale)

 

The last of the strawberry harvest ::

my little summer Ruby ::

She's getting so big and developing such a personality of her own . . .

Sometimes I think about all the things in the world that she has yet to discover - things as simple as the funny smell of a geranium or the prickly feeling of grass between her toes.  Things that we don't think about because we've seen or touched them hundreds of times before . . . they are all brand new to her. 

And then sometimes I just think about how incredibly adorable Ruby is.  How sweet her feet are and how very kissable those little soft spots on either side of her rosebud mouth are . . . and how happy I am that she is my little girl.

Summer is sweet.