Discovering

The boys are getting pretty good at chasing butterflies and catching them being careful not to actually touch them but to put them in an observation glass.

So much to discover around the yard. As our days are numbered here, we are trying to enjoy every last inch of this place that has been home for so many wonderful years.

Baking Day

Tuesday mornings are busy around here cooking for friends as we like to tell the boys. This summer we hit an awesome Tuesday rhythm. The boys both understand that it is our big day of work and tend to take it upon them selves to play and allow us to get the work done. Often times though it finds us together in the kitchen baking the bread and this week Asher took it upon himself to make a bunch for dinner.

He waited patiently while it baked, then picked some jam off the canning shelf (currant from last year) and we had ourselves a lovely breakfast.

This recipe was a challah recipe that is impossible to mess up! Perfect for any shape, any hands and always tastes so good.

Cooling Off

Oh it is hot. Too hot to sit at the computer, too hot to move. We have spent our week finding places that are cool. Streams, pools, libraries, malls and the coop.

It amazes me that the boys seem virtually unaffected by such heat. They want to go go as much as ever. We hit an outdoor park early before it is too hot, then AC at the library for mid morning. Home for naps in the afternoon and an evening outing for some cool off time, while our house cools off. Our stream outing was great. I am never excited about heading to the ditch, there is garbage and really it doesn't have much of an aesthetic. Plus it takes me a while to chill out with my kids- we can always wash them off! Then the magic unfolds, crayfish are found a teeny tine, small mouth bass, nymphs and ton's of damsel flies, plus a little fish on a line.

You may have to look really, really hard to find the beauty of this place, but if you take the time to look closely and wait it really is there.

Urbana Tiger

Our fist big harvest of the summer garden. the garlic we found growing wild and have cultivated for the past 8 years now out of the ground. We hope that this years crop of Urbana Tiger will be traveling with us north to be planted in a new home in Wisconsin.

Ben and I found this garlic our first year planting at Meadowbrook's Organic Gardens, we never imagined at that time we would spend nine summers in this wonderful, small town.

I am a bit lost for words these days, so pictures it will be.

These Days

I am really enjoying the deliberate way my youngest is with his art. As his older brother never seems to stop moving and turns any art supply he gets his hands on into some animal the idea that young kids spend more than 5 minutes coloring or painting is new. River is an incredibly intentional kid. He thinks before he does, attempts to color in the lines, or paint shapes.

We are loving these summer days, strolling along at this slower rhythm that has us enjoying our immediate environment so much. Lots of time splashing in water, digging in the sand, and painting sprinkled with minutes spent in the blazing sun harvesting berries.

I really can't remember a more pleasant beginning to the summer. The shade of our yard is much appreciated. As a family we are trying to remember to focus on our days and the right now. With a possible move and uproot we are having a hard time not being consumed with the what is to be. Luckily we have two members of the family here to remind us to live everyday with intention and living in the present moment.