born imaginative.: May 2023

"Just Her Size" Clothesline

I had my husband help me put up a little clothesline Anna-Kate could reach since she cannot reach the one I use.

I'm obsessed with it. She is too.

So the dress I made last summer for Audra's re-enactment activities no longer fits. The one I made her over winter does, but it's wool. Hearth cooking in the summer does not call for wool.

Finished this dress just in the nick of time. The apron coordinated and we already had it. It just needed mending. She is ready for her event!

Spring

We're all still here, doing what we do. I'm a bit behind on my blogging, it's such a busy time of year. But we're still here, doing what we do...with a mile long to do list, not enough time in the day.

We've been so busy, and are thankful for the days when we can just have time at home, doing our favorite things in addition to our to do list.

Let's Go Fly a Kite!

Friends hosted a kite making and flying event. It was magical!

May 20th

You belong among the wildflowers
You belong somewhere close to me
Far away from your trouble and worry
You belong somewhere you feel free

Only remedy for big odds is a Big God
Ain't nobody gonna shake my faith
No I'm not afraid
Throw my hands up in praise
For the times that He pulled me through
I'm counting on Big God

First Tom Petty then Terrian pull things together with their lyrics better than I can muster words today. Sometimes songs just seem to come at the right time. When you turned 42, you had a 12 and 10 year old and were losing mobility. Age 12 was the year I started doing the grocery shopping and making the family meals, growing up faster than anyone intended. I'm now 42 with a 12, 10 and 6 year old, remembering, realizing and grieving in a new way as I get to the same ages you were. Sometimes when things just feel heavy, I'm reminded where to turn, where the yoke is easy and the burden is light. And also, chocolate cake because that's what you'd always pick.

Our Traveling Show

I've had the pleasure of working with a great bunch of kids this week, helping them prep an entertaining magic show and planning our series of visits to various nursing homes and special needs schools, along with a friends and family performance. I have soooo many hours into this, it's totally worth it to see the kids perform and serve! A friend took these pics (thanks Shannon!) of our dress rehearsal today. Here's a sneak peek!

Earth Jams

It's been a solid decade of going to Earth Jams concerts for Earth Day. Adrian has decided he's too old for them, but I will never, ever be too old for them. A fantastic concert and a walk to the beach all in a couple of hours. So blessed this is our town.

Pooh

I think this is the fourth time I've read Winnie the Pooh aloud and we've listened on audio countless times. This season of parenthood has been thick and muddy as of late. This little one sometimes needs to do her own thing so I can tend where needed. I figured an extra reading of Winnie the Pooh would do both of our hearts good.

I scream, you scream!

It's Ice Cream Social season! We are all stocked and enjoyed our first ice cream social with friends. Kids made some really odd prices and had to really work at counting change. I rarely remember to take pics, did snap just one. My kids said, "Wow, that was a really great turn out for the first night!" Thanks for coming, friends! And if you didn't make this one, hope you can make the next one!

Birdhouses

My dad sent this delightful kit to us. He precut and predrilled birdhouses.

They each had a blast hammering them together.

I only have pics of the girls'. Adrian hid his so a bird actually has a chance to use it. The others are likely to have no inhabitants since they are checked multiple times a day by guess who. Always an adventure. Thanks BOG!

Animal Shelter Donations

Our 4-H club asked the animal shelter what they could use for donations. They asked for snuffle mats (left) and mats that are specific sizes to fit perfectly in their cat cages. We also had a whole lot of guinea pig sleeping bags delivered to a different rescue. Our club excels at overproduction.

Signed, sealed and delivered.

Fashion Revue

Not the best quality pics, but the quality of their 4-H Fashion Revue participation was top notch. Audra entered the apron, Anna-Kate her magnifying kit. Their entries are judged, they are interviewed by the judges, they write a bio and walk across stage modeling their entries while their bio is read. It's an empowering event for the bravest of the brave. I'm proud of all the 4-Hers who entered!

Recap: Anna-Kate's 6th Birthday

To top it off, her gift from Nam and Pap was a date with them!

Freebees

I would not be my dad's daughter if I passed up freebees. In one week, we ended up with....

A van full of a roadside maple.

A van full of roadside pine. Snap crackle pop campfires coming up!

And then at someone's home with my shovel, digging up this giant free azalea and all the runners around it.

This prompted me to dig up the last big burning bush. I know it looks like it's not *that* big, but it's because I kept trimming it. The base was quite huge. There was one bigger that I got earlier in the week too. Along the whole right side behind Audra below used to be barberry that I removed by hand. I have officially gone around the perimeter of the house and the rock wall along the road and removed invasives. SO MUCH work. Ten years of gradually chipping away.