1000 gifts: two

Folding warm laundry with Ev.  Wood stove radiating.  Norah Jones in the background.

1000 gifts: one

Evelyn playing with light.  I wonder if this is the first time I've caught her doing this.  It made me marvel at the mind of a two year old.  The whole world is to be discovered!

Fifty-two.

I am changing the rules a little. Blog when inspired to do so.
The most popular question in my head this week would be "what would it look like to offer myself grace in this moment?" Try it... it's such a peace giver.
I'm a little embarrassed to admit how hard I can be on myself. I want amazing pictures... now... even though my first time ever touching a SLR camera was Christmas. and this is just one area... i want to love well, parent well, eat well, run well, play volleyball well, knit well, look well, all while keeping my house and childrens teeth clean, and perhaps even having some sort of spiritual life.
Grace (exhale) Peace (exhale).

taking a few days off....

see you soon

Fifty-one.

Joaquin, my beautiful nephew.

Fifty.

Today we visited a cattle farm just a 1/4 mile down the road from us. It belongs to a family of a boy in Noah's class. While we were there, a heifer gave birth to a calf, we met it only minutes after, while the mom was still licking the "wet" off.

Forty-nine.

The beginning.

Forty-eight.

The great melt. So grateful to be feeling little hints of warmth in the wind.

Forty-seven.

Fourty-six.

Ana's.

Forty-five.

Fourty-five.

Happy Valentines Day.

Forty-four.

My (not so) wee son. We measured him today and realized he has grown almost 3 inches since last April. And it's not just physically... he's grown so much emotionally, mentally, creatively. Since we moved in and first marked that doorway, he has conquered separation anxiety, learned to read and write stories, and he draws the most detailed pictures. What a gift, to watch your child grow.

Forty-three.

Country drive. Sun is not only wonderful for warming up our cold bones, but also for playing with shutter speeds. This shot was taken from the car at 80km/hr with a shutter speed of 1/3200 of a second... and it's still a bit overexposed.

Forty-two.

Having a little rest in the warmth of the sunlight.

Forty-one.

Forty.

While February has failed in the warmth department, it has been generous with sunshine. I look out the window and see so many beautiful photographs, but sometimes all I can do is crack open the door.
FORTY days!!! Perhaps I could call this blogging thing a habit by now.

Thirty-nine.

Lovely little book that arrived in the mail... thank you!!!!
Thank you to everyone for your kind comments and encouragement!!!
I read something wonderful today... i hope i can remember it forever...

"Rest is an intimate invitation—

not to step away from life but to embrace the Giver of it."

Thirty-eight.

Thirty-seven.

Thirty-six.

This is a bit of a cheat post... obviously i didn't take the pictures (credit due to wonderful hubby)...
Just finished this hat though and I'm feeling pretty proud. The thing with knitting is that you don't get to try garments on before you cast on and put your hours in. Hats have not gone typically well for me. Too big, too small, to short, to long, to pointy, to square... you know...
Very happy with this project, and it was an easy, quick knit too.
p.s. the pattern was a free find on the net... let me know if you'd like it.

Thirty-five.

Thirty-four.

Touching, sorting, imagining... all for $3/pound.

Thirty-three.

Snowed in. I was right. Lots of breaking up fights... but also many wonderful little moments. Noah and Ana were conspiring against us, sneaking down the stairs when I caught them, camera in hand. So they turned back, ran up the stairs to their fort, shrieking with excitement.

Thirty-two.

Weather Networks says we're having a Blizzard. 30cm of snow at 70km winds will do it, I suppose. So tomorrow we'll drink hot chocolate (then break up fights), play some board games (and break up fights), read some stories (and break up fights) and snuggle up close to fire (and break up some more fights.) (this is called the realistic approach to parenting)

Thirty-one.

I'm celebrating today! We've finished off January and for the most part we're all intact.

Thirty.

Twenty-nine.

Almost skipped today. Kinda feeling the way these branches might, with all that snow piled on top. Maybe the sun will come out tomorrow.

Twenty-eight.

mmm.... Naan.

Twenty-seven.

Finally... it's the princess rescuing the prince.

Twenty-six.

The flu has made it's ugly face known in our home. This is day 6. I'm fed up really. Nothing like some chicken noodle soup to heal our bodies.