the branches were strung with a million diamonds

diamonds at sunset

tiny prisms

 

This little place I live is so amazing. Trees and light and birds. I will really miss it when we move this summer. Still don’t know where we’re moving to, so don’t ask. I’m super impatient about this whole thing and have absolutely no control. I could start deep cleaning my house or something productive in preparation. I will one of these days. Probably on a Saturday when there is a grown-up here to keep me on task.

 

Anyway, I got tagged for a “write 7 random things about you” meme, so here goes:

 

1. I’m messy and generally disorganized. I try to be on top of things and do fairly well in spurts. It is a very good thing I married the man I did because I have gotten pretty good at maintaining some routines when it comes to the structure of our mornings and evenings, but as for maintaining self discipline with things that I don’t like to do (read dusting, cleaning finger prints off walls, dog snot off of windows, or even sometimes pee off of the bathroom floor) I’m not so good. This has been a problem as long as I can remember. Ask my mom.

 

2. I worked in a wood shop in college. We took trees that would be taken to the dump and turned them into lumber, then into jewelry boxes. I got to use lots of power tools and learned to identify all sorts of woods. It was an awesome job– much better than the two weeks of phone calls I made for AT&T. I couldn’t handle that for long.

 

3. Um, I have to sleep hugging something soft, but inanimate. I slept with a big white stuffed reindeer until I had two kids, then decided that I should try to be a grown-up, so I gave up the reindeer. I absolutely must have my hugging pillow,though, or my back is all tweeked in the morning.

 

4 . I’m irrationally afraid of making phone calls. To anyone. If someone can explain this to me please do.

 

5. I really, really want a tree house some day.

 

6. Hmm… my favorite color is green. Brown and blue are right up there. Well, it has to be the right blue– a light turquoisish bluish grayish. The color of the walls in my kitchen, dining, family room area– that blue.

 

7. I watched American Idol tonight. People seem to be surprised when I tell them I watch American Idol. I guess I don’t seem like the American Idol type? I’m really not much of the TV watching type, but watch American Idol I do. I’m rooting to the two Mormons. Oh, and the kid with the dread locks.

Now, if you have a blog and feel so inclined to write 7 things about yourself on it consider yourself tagged.

Is it really possible?

One year ago I was snuggled up in a hospital bed exhilarated and exhausted. Ian was born, all round and red with a head full of dark, dark hair. And he was just so beautiful– the perfect little features, his button nose and rose petal mouth. Oh, and that fresh baby smell, and the feel of baby breath against my cheek, rubbing my nose and chin in his soft hair. Could that really have been a whole year ago?

One year old?!?!sorry about the wrapping papera new toy

We started the day out in new jammies, opening presents. I had planned to include a haircut into the festivities of the day, but that didn’t happen.

I did make a cake, though. I tried to be all prepared and on top of things by making cupcakes last night– cupcakes of the healthy variety. While I did fill them full of things like honey, whole wheat flour, carrots and zested lemon, I forgot the baking soda. Oops. Results– not chewable by a baby.

So, I tried again

that is way cool!

and he was impressed. For a little while.

let me seeget it off!really, I'm not a fan

Until he tasted it. Logan said, “Mama, can I not have carrot cake for my birthday?”

Sorry, I promise there will be chocolate next year.

And lots of ice cream.

 

so, that’s the end

which are you favorites?

 

I think my favorites are 12, 14, 19, 23, 24, and 25.  How about you?  Which were your favorites?

 

This was such a fun project for me.  I love setting up and rearranging my collections of seeds and nests and sticks and rocks.  I’ve had them piling up for ages– stones from my first trip to the beach (when I was 18– geesh), seedpods from my college days, playground gravel from visits to friends in Tennessee, sticks from an anniversary trip to Garden Valley Idaho one summer, driftwood from San Francisco the next summer, even shells saved from Barry’s boyhood trips to Ireland.  These are the colors and beauty that make me dizzy with awe and gratitude for nature, fresh breezes, loving memories.  It was fun to try to share the visions in my head with you all.  Thanks for watching and commenting.

 

evening ritual

 

The nightly ritual.  Arranging and listening to this.  It felt so good to do something creative everyday that was simple and intuitive.  I would love to draw or paint everyday, but for me it takes a lot of quiet time and concentration and I’m coming to accept the fact that this is just not the season of my life endowed with quiet time or concentration.

 

Now back to regular programming.  I did do other things in February, so stay tuned for some catch up!