a lovely morning

The baby took a nice long nap this morning. So while dad headed out on a bike ride, mama and big made the most of some quality girl time. We used up the last of the frozen winter squash to make our favorite pumpkin pecan muffins from our favorite cookbook Feeding the Whole Family. While they were baking, we went outside to rescue a few ripe strawberries from the slugs, and to pick some pretty leaves for a lovely art project.

It turned out just lovely, didn't it? So beautiful with the morning light shining through. Thank you to Jean of the Artful Parent for the idea. We used a previously painted watercolor paper as the crown base, and attached ribbon so that it would fit all the way around a little head. All of our flowers were wet from rain, but we found some dry columbine leaves that worked well.

 Such a yummy snack....

makes for a happy little flower princess.

Spring

Bright cheery tulips

A major act of courage for one who only weeks ago wouldn't go outside for fear of seeing a squirmy worm!

 

lush spring garden

radishes, cilantro, dill

 

fava beans and vetch--cover crop growing so vigorously--as tall as the 4 year old!

baby plants warming in the makeshift greenhouse

a preschooler's "collections"

first greens

Now this is why we garden (well, there are at least one million other reasons why we garden, if I'm honest). But this, this first spring harvest of tiny tender sweet succulent salad greens, this little colander of perfect, nourishing, beautiful food, this does the soul (and body) so much good after a long, cold, dark winter. We ate these little lovelies for dinner, utterly unadulterated, with gratitude.

arms outstretched to the sun, in gratitude for life springing up anew...happy Easter!

tender heart

Sometimes it's hard for sensitive little ones to leave the comfortable environment of home. Hard to let go of mama's hand, say good-bye, and join the group at preschool. We've had an especially hard time working back into our "normal" routine after an extended illness. I've spent so much of my mental energy lately thinking about how to make these transitions less stressful. This little heart was one idea that came to me, and was well received by my little one. It's filled with lavender and wool, and covered with really soft flannel and a sweet little print. Soothing lavender to smell, soothing flannel and wool to feel, soothing pink bunnies and lambs to look at. And of course, filled with love from mama. I think making this was as therapeutic for my heart as it is comforting to my daughter's.

a little knitting for a little tomte, and a hobbit house

This little fella has kept us busy lately. So much growing to do! He grew out of his first pebble vest, so I knit him up another one, and used some of the same yarn (along with a lovely soft silk alpaca blend) to make the super cute Alfalfa hat for him. He grew out of the hat the next day, but it was fun while it lasted. I used the notes for knitting the pebble in the round from my previous vest--love this pattern so much--he really does wear it every day (unless it is recovering in the wash basin from an especially messy mess). The yarn is Cascade 220 on size 8 circular needles.

 And my daughter has been doing some creating of her own. This is a hobbit house (she did have the help of dad on this one). We visited a local plant nursery recently and were inspired by some very charming fairy gardens on display. We all wanted to come home to make our own miniature homes for traveling tomtens, fairies, gnomes, etc in need of shelter. This one was scattered the next morning by an unknown creature. My daughter was disappointed, but applied what she learned from the three little pigs and build the the next house with bricks. It is still standing!

Hearts (and lungs)

This little one caught herself a cold that developed into quite a case of pneumonia. (She likes to sit and look out the window, watching the chickens scratch and peck around the garden. Not quite as entertaining as Dinosaur Train, but almost...)

Even with a fever and oxygen dipping down to near-hosptilization level, though, she is a tough one to keep down. She has a lot of spunk. So we've been taking breaks from reading books and watching chickens to make valentines.

Both ideas here came from The Chocolate Muffin Tree, and they were both so fun.

 These are the shaving cream marbled valentines.

And these are the blotto hearts. Each time my daughter opened up the folded heart to discover the design she exclaimed "Mom, this is BEAUTIFUL!" Yes my dear, they are!