In a blink

'Mumma' becomes 'Mom'. Legs elongate. Chub turns to muscle.  The door opens and shuts more often as the years go by.  We now just get snippets of time where once we wondered what to do with the long days of diapers, fevers, learning to read, tantrums, crafting and playing. And in the end, as we wonder how we might shape them and leave the best of ourselves in tiny cracks of their being, we finally see that as they have grown beside us, we've grown even more alongside them

Discovery

Hers...Theirs...Mine.

Hers: She is loving the wonder of her hands lately. The grasp. The look. The taste especially.

Theirs: They sense each others' presence. A mere walk into the room and the wee one's senses are awakened to her big sister's energy. Tummy tickles. Foot kisses. Love.

Moments I try to capture. To remember for them. Someday, helping to guide them back to each other.

Mine: Marveling at how I can never tire of sweet feet. The lack of arch. Foot all chub. Little toes flexing and spreading. Endlessly kissable and fleetingly tiny.

Misty May Morning

"don't worry about a thing...
'cause every little thing
is gonna be alright..."

These two...a study in tenderness

There we were, mid sheet change on the bed when the two cuties started in to snuggle. Of course, a moment like this shouldn't be missed (and sadly sometimes is in the rush of the day) so I grabbed the camera and we had a mini photo shoot. An almost 3 months old's attention span and endurance being what it is...little Miss L. decided it was time for a little snack and nap. Big sister often likes to hang out, chat and sweeten up the picture with some affectionate rubbing on her baby "sissa" 's head.

Moments to keep forever...

Setting up house

The process, most assuredly, has been a slow one. Last time I found myself delving into this kind of creativity and negotiation ...it was in a much smaller space, with far fewer things and just 2 kiddos underfoot. This time around I find myself  much more unsure of myself. Taking tentative little steps...settling in with what I've done and seeing how it flows. Still, there have been a few spots that I have fallen in love with and glimpses of "us" that I can see emerging as the days roll on...

and, of course, joys in simple things like making  new pillows...(its always the little things, really).

Then, there are parts that still need work and don't quite arouse a feeling of home....

The folks who had been here prior had been here for ages.They are 80+, and primarily used this place as a summer home. The fellow who lived here? Well, he was born here in this house (beautiful!) so, this home had been in his family quite a while. Hence, they had some clearing out and passing on to do (so we hear from them) but, left some treasures that we are ever so grateful for ....

 ( I had so wanted a sturdy pastry blender but never seemed to make it a priority to search out one.)

and others that didn't quite fit. The guilt (oh, the guilt!) of removing those things (it just felt, well, disrespectful on some level) has created a process slow in the making. There were curtains that went to homes more appreciative, carpeting that will eventually come up (covering a sub flooring that is - hopefully! - hiding a salvageable wood floor) and some wallpaper that is in awesome shape yet distracting so we'll be throwing a  good dose of some low voc paint onto some of the walls (but not all) soon.

We do love this new space of ours that offers room to live a little more freely and individually yet, not so large that we find ourselves drifting away from each other. Of course, there are still squabbles (nothing can magically eradicate sibling dynamics...I try to remind myself that this is a good thing...daily). Not to mention that some of our old favorites have found some cozy homes in spots that seem made for them...

Rolling On

I just couldn't do it.

Really, I tried.

Truly.

And, yet - here I am.

Leaving this space with all these sweet little glimpses pressed between the pages? It felt a little like abandonment, really. So, although we are not in the woods - (they cleared out almost all of the trees around this new house) ...and this is not a hollow by any means...we will stick to these old digs where the view is nice and the past and present all roll on together.

There is simply no way for me to write a reasonable post about where we have been and what we have been up to for these many months so rather than trying to play catch up...I will stick to the present. As in today...

 

Little Miss Sassypants was having a fun time strutting her stuff up to the garden. Speaking of - just way behind on that puppy. Other than some bleeding hearts, a couple of robust day lilies who didn't seem to mind the abundant shade and some vague and ultimately unsuccessful attempts at coaxing some seeds to grow here and there...this girl has never gardened. Suffice it to say, this will be a most interesting season for us here. The kids are off to a better start than myself though with their sweet little pots of sunflowers (a sunflower house was requested...I said we'd give it our best shot), morning glories and something that looks like daisies...but isn't. 

Luckily, there are some raspberries, strawberries, grapes and I hear asparagus already happily thriving up there somewhere. The plan was to invite some peas, corn, potatoes, zucchini and tomatoes to live there too but , seeing how they must have missed the invitation since I don't seen any veggie party yet - looks like I had better get hustling and get those babies growing too...

An ongoing adventure for sure.

Transitions ~

Moving!

Maybe if I do this again, I'll choose not to be pregnant...yes?

Not exactly one of those petite preggos (I tend to carry large ;) I'm waddling around at 6 months with a 9 month girth. Slowly...slowly moving along ;)

Loving our new place though. So very, very grateful and falling in love. This was not love at first sight so it's special in that kind of way. Rather than waning, this love just keeps waxing and growing....

Just as I feel fond, but a little odd going back to our old home to pack boxes and clear things out....it feels odd to come back to this blog space and try to write ...'we are not in the hollow anymore, Toto' and writing about happenings in our new home in this blog seems....awkward...

So we are transitioning... if you have followed along here, please feel free to join me with a cup of tea over at our new space where there will be plenty to share....recipes, crafting, and some surprises. Here's your invitation! :

Welcome!

Now the word "farm" is assuredly stretching it...still, there will be chickens, (eggs!), gardening and plans for a stand with handcrafted goodness and yummy treats. Along with the bits of homeschooling and other adventures along the way ~would love to see you stop by ~