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Today
we put together some things to send my grandmother.
Abbott made her a card
with a rainbow
and a heart broken into two pieces
that said, "I know how it feels."
I asked him how he knew and he said, Cinnamon and Piper died. I still feel that way when I think about them.
Yesterday
the boys took their money out of their piggy banks
in preparation for a trip to the lego store.
Cal had less money
because he's spent more.
Abbott gave him three of his dollars
because he said he found him in a corner crying about it.
Tomorrow
is the anniversary of Abbott's due date.
Little did I know then
as I waited for him
how much my life would change.
Or who he would become.
I still wonder about that, really.
In my lifetime
I don't know if I'll ever feel as much empathy for others
as he does.

summer continues

On the trail to the beach yesterday, we noticed quite a few ripe blackberries. We did the logical thing and changed our plans to accommodate picking and eating, eating and picking. This summer the boys have become particular about picking only those berries that are perfectly ripe (is it plump? is it slightly squishy?). And, Cal pointed out to me their sweet scent - I'd never noticed it before. He carried his bucket near his face to enjoy the full sensory experience.

The beach will still be there tomorrow.

There are times
I wish they knew me in my younger life
also
I wish I knew them when I was a child.

now and then

I picked the last of our peas yesterday - kind of bittersweet - and used them to make this. And what you see here is the last of our cauliflower.

From one of my aunts yesterday:

"You make me think of picking peaches and shaking apples from the tree and picking okra and black eyed peas and shelling and canning them but somehow when I was growing up I didn't think that was all that much fun but I do remember that Grandma Wolf and Grandma B were plenty busy as well as Mother and how good Grandma Wolf's frozen cream corn was in the winter and how I hated and still do to this day apple butter but I liked the peach butter bet my grandkids don't even know what they are. Oh another trip down memory lane...."

Makes me happy to feel like the life I'm living is a life my great-grandparents would be comfortable in. And at the same time, thankful my life is easier in so many ways.

web of life

Unfortunately Alexi had to work this past weekend. The boys and I attended parties Saturday and Sunday and I had conversations with many people whom I didn't already know. I found myself dwelling on the ways connections are made, random and not so random. Saturday, I encountered someone who is connected to my friend the host because his late wife was a patient of that friend. Sunday, someone I talked with knew the host because they had once had a mutual friend. They've both lost contact with the other person, but remained friends with each other. I became friends with the host of Sunday's party via Flickr; the internet makes the world a smaller place.

What a web of life we weave all around us.

I hope you enjoyed your weekend. Happy Monday!

Saturday

We decided to walk to our neighborhood farmer's market this morning. Soon, we'll be catching a ferry to attend a pig roast! Happy Saturday to you, whatever your plans may be. xoxo Lecia

hi

Eight of the twelve or so weeks of summer, my boys are enrolled in swim lessons at our neighborhood pool. The swimming is great exercise for them, and it gets us dressed and out of the house reasonably early in the day. Every single lesson Cal spends much of the time grinning at and waving to me. I worry I'm a terrible distraction, but what am I to do?

This week we've had paradoxical days of chilly, foggy mornings followed by warmish to hot afternoons. The light and the temperature at times have felt and looked more like fall than summer. Alexi noticed that he needed headlights for his drive to work yesterday, for the first time in a long time.

We've been eating berries, berries, berries. Sometimes with yogurt or cheese, often alone. And lots and lots of salad. At our picnic Wednesday our friends brought this salad; last night I made a quinoa, corn and edamame salad with cilantro and a lime-based dressing that we all loved (if only I could grow limes!). We've had three ripe sungold tomatoes and are eagerly anticipating full blown tomato season.

In response to your inquiries, our camping trip was to Fort Ebey on Whidbey Island. The waterfall pictures yesterday were taken at Snoqualmie Falls.

Happy Friday to you!

good

One of the ways summer is good for me is that it pushes me to operate differently than I do when left to my own devices. This is primarily because the boys are home. Instead of 'getting things done', I get out and in summer. And tonight, coming home to chaos after a full, fun day of hiking and picnicing with friends, I was able to convince myself that I am not a terrible housekeeper. I decided I am a good wife, mother and friend who happens to have a messy house.

habit

Habit is one of my daily reads. For the month of July, Emily and Molly, the blog's co-curators have started a flickr group. Anyone so inclined is invited to share a moment of their day with a photo and a few words. This pool is a magical collection of days; I encourage you to take a moment to browse and, if you'd like, join in. The images below are some that I've contributed.

1 July
I washed our third and fourth pints of the day to make the pie.

2 July
It dawned on me that yesterday I forgot it was the 13th anniversary. And what a sign of healing. And if things had gone differently, I wouldn't have them.

5 July
I had the feeling of life having come full circle as we hiked. That same trail Alexi and I climbed dozens times together during our courtship.

6 July
I realized it's easier for me to understand the perspective of his older brother, being a firstborn child myself.

7 July
It probably wasn't wise to turn on the oven today, but I wanted to make something special for breakfast. His oldest friend was here for his first sleepover.

10 July
I always think about my grandmother when I garden. I'm thankful for all the teaching, the modeling she did for me in her younger life. I wish she lived closer.

11 Jul
For a split second I wasn't sure how he was going to react; I saw on his face it could go either way.


12 July
He never stops making me laugh.

14 July
I was glad for the time alone; at the same time, the house felt so empty.

15 July
At dinner he said to me, "At times I wished this day was already over and at times I wished it would never end." Exactly how I felt.

16 July
I had unexpected tears when he came outside in the cape. He reminds me to channel my inner superhero.

17 July
The last time their grandfather came with us to the farmer's market A was two weeks old and in a stroller. Today, we held hands and talked while they shopped.

19 July
To say we were all surprised would be a major understatement.

been camping

We're home from our annual camping trip. Suffice it to say the sense of togetherness and the emotional content will linger with us, despite Alexi's return to work tomorrow and his father's flight home.