mermaids and moss

weekend wanderings

We escaped the city for a few days and took off for a beachy weekend. We decided to take advantage of the low rates and squeeze in some beach time before the summer crowds. We had fantastic weather... so glad it didn't rain... and so much warmer than when we last went to Chincoteague and Assateague Islands in February.

We stopped at our favorite rest stop in Cambridge, Maryland. It's best to visit early in the morning before the big afternoon crowds and the heat.

The kids love to stretch their legs and run around collecting shells and sand and small objects found at the water's edge. We pass so many parks on the way out to Chincoteague Island, next time we'll have to try exploring a new spot. If you're familiar with the area, do you have any favorite rest stops?

After a few hours of driving, we finally made it to our destination and we were fortunate enough to see the wild ponies! Yay, Assateague Island!

{ this moment }

[inspired by SouleMama]

garden wanderings

This post is dedicated to Anna. Thank you for the countless adventures in the woods, the love and appreciation of nature, the outdoor skills, stream stomping, encouraging my art and giving me the map project, your patience, your many words of wisdom and your beautiful self. I'll always keep you in my heart.

in my garden

This little guy practically jumped into my shopping cart at the store. I'm so tempted to collect his other friends [Hint, hint. Mother's Day is this weekend!]

Lots of swinging and playing and running and climbing and watering taking place in the yard these days.

The ferns have really gotten lush and I'm enjoying them so much. So green!

His latest "project"... working with wet chalk. And leaving his "art" everywhere. He's also been ripping up tiny pieces of paper and gluing them to sticks.

And we've planted a new hydrangea, a bleeding heart and a lilac tree. We're taking care to keep them watered, hoping that they survive for many years. Oh, and we also planted the seedlings... it may have been too soon, but some of them were starting to flop over and wither up in their egg cartons inside. I hope they grow. Some sprouts have disappeared. I'm pretty sure the disappearance is connected to our resident bunny. And! The red fox dashed through the back of our garden as my son played and I watered plants last week. Hoping I'll have my camera handy one of these days as he sprints by.

a tea party

A mother from my daughter's class hosted the sweetest mother/daughter tea party over the weekend. We dressed up in fancy dresses and shoes, and she brought her favorite doll and new camera [and I brought only two more cameras, just a little bit nerdy, maybe].

There was a trampoline...

Beautiful gardens...

Crafts with friends...

... and toads! 

It was a magical afternoon... sipping champagne, as dozens of little princesses traipsed through the woods and the gardens, jumping, running, spinning and catching enormous toads. So much fun.

her very own camera

A certain little girl has been requesting her own camera for months, possibly longer. Sometimes I let her take photos with my phone, but I get nervous that it will get dropped, especially with other little friends grabbing for turns, too. I was looking a bit for cameras on-line the other morning, and my husband mentioned that he still had his old polaroid camera. So, he dusted it off and went to the camera shop to buy a couple packs of expired film. And voila! Our girl has her very first camera.

She used the first pack of film to document our family and home. Taking portraits of the cats, the new garden, her father...

And all day long, she kepting tell me how it was the best day of her life.

After many requests, I stitched up a stack of little books for her to fill. I've made these before, she fills them so quickly with birds and families and lists of things. I also gave her access to my treasured washi tape. She loves it. Me, too.

{ this moment }

[inspired by SouleMama]

Sorry for my absence this week, I'll try to get back into the swing of things soon.

blues and greens

Been feeling a bit blue these last couple days... not feeling very creative or motivated. I went dress shopping yesterday... it was a disaster. Came home and pulled out some old stand-bys only to discover that they're a size 6. I swear I just wore them a couple years ago.

The lilies from my dad's garden are growing. He'll be proud. Hope he's remembered to bring me back some pretty rocks from Lake Superior. I have big plans for them.

One garden hose guide has been procured... I probably should invest in a few more. Lots of watering and planting and playing in the yard lately.

Happy May Day to you!!

{ this moment }

[inspired by SouleMama]

in the trees

Buttercup meadow is in bloom, a new favorite climbing tree has been discovered [and it conveniently arches up and then back down to the ground, so that I don't have convince a certain three-year-old to not climb too high], and vanilla ice cream with pink sprinkles is the new favorite [neon is in again, you know].

And on a side note, here's a bit of funny news: the photo below was showcased on a popular instagram stream [ instagood ] as the photo of the day. Not only did my followers multiply at an alarming rate, but this tree shot was loved by more than 6700 viewers all over the world. Pretty wacky.