kirstencan

Up close updated

Another morning in the garden with my camera.  My friend Whitney says that you could take a picture of your toenail with a lens at 1.8 and it would look amazing.

It's probably true.  And I think garden photos at 1.8 look even prettier than a toenail.  Especially in the morning.

I've decided the peas are the most photogenic vegetable.  They have pretty leaves, twirly tendrils, pretty white flowers that remind me of white party dresses.  When they start getting pods it's like they're just showing off.

The garlic is nice and twirly right now, too.



The hollyhocks are at eye (lens) level - can't wait for them to bloom!

The mock orange is getting it's first blooms - we are so happy it's come back from last year!

We have had a few purple poppies flower.







Did you know we planted a LOT of giant sunflowers?  Well, we did, they're about a foot tall right now, can't wait for them to be massive!  Should be fun!

It's all about the details

My baby sister got married last weekend - it is always fun to have a big family party - especially with such fun details.

Thirteen

A couple months ago I was chatting with a friend who has two teenaged daughters.  She was telling me how hard it was, how emotional they were, etc.

My girl has always been fairly dramatic (oh, the pouts!), so I've always been worried about the onset of puberty making that worse.  I have NO patience for hormonal/selfish/emotional behavior.

But you know what?  This girl has been awesome.  Believe it or not, LESS emotional than before.  Still passionate about dance, with fun, geeky interests (also good taste in birthday restaurants).

I was telling this to my friend and she said 'You go inside and get on your knees RIGHT NOW and thank God.'  It was funny. 



Right then the girl got home from an activity, so I gave her a big hug and thanked her for being awesome (later I thanked God).

She says she doesn't want a typical teenaged mother/daughter relationship.  She wants to have more of a Lorelai/Rory relationship (yes, She's been watching Gilmore Girls).  I'm okay with that.



So here we go, into the teenage years - I'm really okay with it.  She'll only get better.
Happy Birthday to my girl (who had just turned six when I started this blog!).

notstagram #cupcakes

#thegirlturnedthirteen   #mylilsisgotmarried   #moresoon

notstagram #roygbiv

Handmade worksheets on the fly.

We watched color/light vids from Bill Nye, Brainpop, and TMBG.  And now the Roy G. Biv song is stuck in my head again!

Garden flags up!

I finally got those garden wish flags sewn together.  Sewn over a thin nylon cord, actually.

They're hanging from the grape arbor and raspberry trellis (still haven't replaced the other posts for the raspberries, but they're still just coming back so I guess it's okay).

Not sure this was totally the look I was going for (so close?) but they're pretty happy.

notstagram #piano

The piano went in the girl's room to make room for company at Monkey's baptism after-party.  It's stayed there.  She loves it and is playing for fun as I type this.  She might be getting new music to play with for her birthday coming up.  Not to be outdone, the old keyboard got moved to the boys' room.  Can't find the music stand or the pin for the keyboard stand, but it works.

Only bad thing is I don't get 'live music' as much!

Their piano recital was today (Monkey's first!) and they both did very well.  The girl's fingers flew, and Monkey dressed up in a jedi robe to play the Star Wars theme song.  And tried a jedi mind trick wave thing after his bow (kid you not - that boy).

#allhisidea

notstagram #totoro

He found a broken hollyhock leaf just as it started to rain - perfect!

 

notstagram #bees

This WILL be the year I remember to cut back the bachelor's buttons so that they bloom again. #lazy

Also:  Tender mama thoughts and ponderings lately as we seem to have headed around a new corner with my redheaded boy.  Some realizations have to be faced, some expecatations for this boy will be different than we hoped.  This post and this one have really hit home.  Inspiring thoughts.  Hugs to all the special needs mamas out there.  We need extra sometimes.

ps. new fridge is in.  #lowesforthewin  #goodbyecoolers

notstagram #morelaundry

(wow, that font was bigger than I thought!:)

So yesterday I got a two loads washed and hung - and then folded them up in a laundry basket soon after they were dry because it looked like it was going to rain.  So smart, right?

WELL - guess who left them ON THE PATIO in reach of the sprinklers that I accidentally left on ALL NIGHT?  Yeah, not so smart.

In the dryer they went this morning - because it's rained nearly all day!  Luckily it warmed up some while we were at the zoo!