more stuff

Don't you just love ferns?  Those in the header picture make me think of seahorses, and who doesn't love to think about green seahorses?

Almost everything in the gardens is green right now.

The colors are coming soon.  I know this because of these--they like to be the first big showy color out front (they don't count the tulips or daffodils because they aren't really big and regal like these are)

and these--who gets flax that grows with bleeding heart?  Surprisingly, I do, that's who.  These two just decided to grow near to each other and brighten up a dark spot under the silver maple out back.

and this--the little lilac bush that could.  It waits until all of the other big girl lilacs are completely done blooming and then it starts slowly leafing out, then gradually forming blooms, and then covering itself in tiny, pale, fragrant, lilac colored blossoms.  Lilac colored, obviously because it's a lilac, right?  It does it all in its own good time. I like a plant that does it in its own way.

Mother's Day this year was lovely.  Fresh flowers and freshly planted tomato plants in pots, and new shrubbery and perennials to fill up the bed that has sat naked for a year while I tried to decide how best to replace the 40-year-old blue spruce my whackjob neighbor coerced me into removing.  May be a little bitter still.  And feel like I will be held accountable in heaven someday for killing that tree.  But, we came up with a new tree and shrubbery and perennials that I hope will be a suitable gift to the stump of the blue spruce.

Mother's Day also included books from Jr and a newly formed book club whose members for now are he and I.  If you read this blog and feel inclined to join us in reading and discussing the reading, let me know.  We're fun, you know.  And smart.  And well, fun.

Just in case you need to see these, here are a few shots of recent outfits at work.  You know how sometimes the only good thing about going to work is the getting dressed for work part?  I'm kinda stuck in that place right now, so I'm really glad for the woman who helped me figure out what to buy and how to wear it all.  And check out The Bag.

Mother's Day was a bit bittersweet.  We visited my mom and dad and Jack's mom as well.  It used to be I could feel good about myself whenever I stopped by to visit parents because, you know, everybody is so busy and lots of people don't take a few minutes to see their parents or grandparents, so I could, without even realizing I was doing it, feel a little superior for doing my part to make their days with my presence.  Or something like that.  This year wasn't like that so much.  It was more just sad.  Sad to see them in such a hard time of life.  Sad to be unable to help or cheer them up.  Sad to realize that is the future for them and also for us.

Sigh.

Happily though on Mother's Day, my kids and grandkids planned a picnic at the nearby park.  It was delightful.  They brought food and we all sat together and laughed and played and ate.  Jessie snapped this shot just as we were about to clear out and then she posted it on instagram with a sweet message that was a wonderful gift.

I'm so blessed by these kids of mine.

yay jr

Today was Jr's graduation ceremony from the University of Utah.  I'm so very proud of him.

this is how great the internet is

See, I post about something I don't know how to do, and just like that, somebody reads my post and gives me the instructions about how to do that thing.

So, here is one of the pictures I tried to describe from a recent post:

And here is the other picture--cropped by me, just so everybody knows I can also crop pictures.

And here is a bonus shot.

siblings--part 2

Okay I've thought more about my post about Jessie's kids.  Maybe I should have called that post sisters instead of siblings.  But another recent picture she posted on Instagram helped me think more clearly about what I was trying to say about her family.  Again, I wish I knew how to copy pictures from that app so I could paste them here, but I don't, so I'll describe the picture.  It was a compilation of four pictures, one of each of her brand new girls, each wearing the same sweet newborn outfit.  It was adorable and sweet and also fun to see how much alike and how very different they look.

But mostly, every time I look at that picture, I realize she has four girls.  FOUR.  She has been blessed with four girls.  Obviously that is so very different from my experience with motherhood.  I was always, always so very grateful to have one daughter.  She has been such a blessing.  But four?  Wow. 

Seeing them all together at her house last weekend made me realize how they are growing into these amazing beings.  I see their future and envision them each as individual, different people, but all becoming strong, capable, intelligent, beautiful, kind, talented, and compassionate women.  Just like their mom.

And that fills me with love for her and them and gives me hope for the next generation that will have women like them in it.  Such a gift to her, and I keep thinking I don't know anybody more able to fill that role. 

and in case you didn't know

My sweet baby boy, Jr, is 26 today.  I love him dearly and my life wouldn't be the same without him.

siblings--a post full of only love

When we started the basement remodel a couple of months ago, we also started inviting Jack's brother to come to dinner every night to help him start to feel more at home in what will soon become his new home.  This is a shot I got of Jack and his brother doing the dishes together after dinner one night.  They frequently do the dishes together, and I can't help but think that their mother and their father would be so happy if they could witness this.

I love pictures of siblings together.  I remember being pregnant with my third child and feeling like maybe people were looking at me askance, judging me for having, you know, so many children.  Because three seemed like a lot to me when everyone around me had none or maybe one at most.  At some point, I realized I didn't really care what people thought about how many children I gave birth to because I knew they were exactly the children who were supposed to be loved by me in my care. 

Sometimes when I tell people Jessie just had her fifth baby, they express some emotion--not really sure what it is--but I always, always say that I don't know anybody who is a better or more loving mother, who can handle five children, or more even.  I wish I knew how to steal photos off of Instagram because Jessie has posted some amazing shots in the past week that I'd like to share.  One was from the first time she took all five kids in her van together.  It looked so right.  Another was a shot of her brood walking home from school--because she is so amazing that one week after giving birth, she decided to walk to the school with her three littles to pick up the two older girls to walk home on a warm spring day.  Again, it touched me deeply to see her with these little people of hers.

I wish I'd taken a picture of her family together in their home last weekend when we visited--Jessie was holding Gwen, with Leo by her side, and all three big girls came to stand together in front of her to excitedly tell her something she obviously needed to hear from them.  I don't remember the conversation because I was so enthralled at the site of these five individuals who call her mom.  Again, it looked so right.  There is no doubt in my mind that these are exactly the five children who are supposed to be in her care at this time.  I'm so glad to be nearby, invited in to witness it all.