I’m still trying to recover.  Here’s what’s on my mind, in no particular order:

• We’re getting ready to go on a pack trip with llamas next week.
• I’m on a new diet hoping to get my hormones under control.  I’m tired of having one week a month that I feel totally out of control emotionally.  I mean, should a pile of legos or potty accidents really bring me to tears?  I struggle with hypoglycemia and IBS– apparently PMS can be related to all that digestive stuff too.  We’ll see how it goes.
• I love the short videos on Yoga Today’s YouTube channel.
• I missed posting about our anniversary on Sunday– our 12th anniversary to be precise.  It’s gone by so fast and seems so long all at the same time.  On our trip we stopped at the campus of Utah State and found the tree Barry and I climbed and talked and talked and talked and fell in love in the weekend we met.  It’s a big old tree– all seven of us fit in the branches.

We went swimming tonight so the kids could show off their new skills to Dad.  Just as we were heading out to the pool an evening storm rolled in, so we ended up finding a random park with a shelter to eat our picnic at and went swimming indoors at our nearby rec center.

Wishing you all a lovely weekend!

(Underwater photos by Barry and the kids.)

On Thursday when I checked our nest there were only 3 babies left.  I think they’re so funny with their beady eyes, yellow “lips”, and tufts of fluff.

Today there were only 2.

As soon as I snapped their picture one flew away.  I bet by tomorrow the nest will be empty.

It’s funny, when it was supposed to be spring here in March, and then April I was really mourning being away from the magic of our amazing yard in Ohio.  I missed feeling like the world was just teaming with life, like the earth was in celebration at the coming out of the sun.  Spring in our suburban Colorado neighborhood just can’t compare.  It’s been late in coming, but there’s also the generic feel of  our yard.  No towering maple trees with dozens of goldfinches.  No red buds.  No kid made cities of forts.

But, these little birds reminded me that nature is everywhere– even in our neighborhood of arid postage stamp yards.  It may be different here, but still the miracles abound.  I know there are millions of birds, and I know it seems silly, but I couldn’t help but feel like just when I was missing them most, the birds found me.  Their nest was built, the eggs were laid, the babies hatched, and now they’re flying away.  It all happened so quickly we had to pay attention or we would miss it.  That’s how life is.  We can live and grow and thrive in a protective grove of trees or on someone’s front door.  Really, no place is perfect. Just like I know that this house, in this neighborhood is where I need to be, our front door wreath was just where those finches needed to be.   The ins and outs of our front door certainly weren’t ideal for this little bird family, but watching them has sure brought us joy, and made me feel that connection to the natural world I so needed.

Isn’t amazing how quickly it all happened?

I’m thinkin’ this would be fun on our school room wall.

The website this is on is in Korean, so I have no idea how much this shelf costs, but check it out!  A shelf that is a tree, oh be still my heart.  I also have my eye on the totem tree building toy.  It may be what the boys and I put together on my birthday

Ever since we put up our bird feeder, there has been more birds around the neighborhood (Team Sparrow who live in our big pine tree, some house finches, grackles, a few dark-eyed juncos, and one or two chickadees). I guess two house finches saw this as the perfect spot.   Anyway, my next-door-neighbor-best-friend Holly was over to play and we decided to play out front. As we were walking out the door, Holly spotted something fly away when the door opened.  Then we saw it. The Nest.

Now, I mean today, mom went out to see if she could get a picture. This is what she found.

We looked at a bird book and it says that one pair of house finches will breed up to 2-5 times a summer, and egg clutches are 2-6 eggs, and that our front-door eggs will hatch in 13-14 days.

Looks like we have new neighbors in the neighborhood!!

• Get up before everyone else.  Read.  Pray.  Do yoga (or go swimming).
• Take a shower, even if the baby has to come along.  (Naked babies are fun, after all.)
• DO NOT YELL UP THE STAIRS.  It does not make you feel happy.  Walk upstairs to say whatever it is that needs saying.
• Do not whine back to whiners.
• LOOK AT THE CALENDAR.  Your planner is your friend.
• Wait until after school to look at the computer.
• Read aloud.  And snuggle.
• Work on making something with a child.
• Work on making something all by yourself.
• Watch birds.
• Breathe fresh air.  Go outside, even for a second.
• Eat vegetables.
• Remember that there are people that live outside this house.  Talk to one (or some) of them.
• Give one hundred bazillion hugs and kisses.  (They are much more important than math.  Really.)
• Smile.
• Laugh.
• Sleep.

I’m printing this out and putting it on my bathroom mirror.  I’m needing the reminder lately during these days of not-quite-spring.

Speaking of spring– the new issue of Rhythm of the Home is up!

It’s full of creativity, fun, and loveliness– including the pattern for my sweetie birds.  Go check it out!

Thanks to all of you who have bought SweetPod patterns!  I can’t wait to see your creations!!

Our computer is still down for the count. Barry performed major surgery, positive that he knew the fix, but it’s still dead. Totally dead. If you’re reading this– BACK UP YOUR COMPUTER!!!

I have lots of fun stuff to share. Brenna and I made a skirt. Barry and I went on an over night ski trip. (I have not skied for over 10 years and it was fun! I love skiing!!) My baby turned 1 yesterday. There was a candle, and cake eating, and the hat! (I had to do something at night while Barry was gone and on that drive up to the mountains.) It’s just not quite as fun to write about without pictures and my 20 inch screen.

Say a prayer for our computer.

I thought Macs were supposed to be bullet proof ;(

Hi there! Welcome to all you new eyes that are coming here via Sew Liberated.  I hope you poke around and enjoy your stay…

and come back often.

Our main computer has totally crashed and my resident computer genius is out of town for the week, so I’ll probably be quiet here for a few days.  I’ll still be on top of e-mail and SweetPod pattern orders, though.

Come back next week because I’ll for sure have some sewing and knitting and a weekend in the mountains to show you!

I just wanted to spread the word on a way to help the people devastated by the earthquake in Haiti.  LDS Humanitarian Services does miraculous things with its resources.  Aid trucks have already been sent on trucks from the Dominican Republic, a plane full of supplies left Denver a day or two ago, and much, much more will be sent over the weekend.  Volunteer doctors are headed over to set up a medical clinic in the largely undamaged church building in Port-au-prince.  Hygiene kits, water filtration water bottles, and food are also being sent.

If you feel so inclined, you can make an online donation here.