birch

I don't think that there are many things more beautiful than a birch tree.

Adam's off shooting a wedding in Saint John, so I've been having a busy, fun time with the boys to myself this weekend. Just popping in to share a few things that I've come across lately.

The Redwood Cup has been happening in my wonderful hometown this week, and it's been so much fun. People are excited - I love the sense of excitement around town, the new faces, and the hometown pride that hosting the event fosters. (I don't know why the men's prize is $40 000 and the women's $10 000, though. I'm hoping there's a good reason.)

When the mundane isn't status-worthy. I think you'll appreciate this one.

Bees and other pollinators are it. Without them, we'd be toast. These amazing images totally do them justice. (Thanks for the link, Teresa!) Speaking of which, Adam and some other bee lovers spoke at a town Planning Advisory Committee meeting this week supporting allowing hives within town limits, and it's going forward to council with the PAC's recommendation. Fingers crossed!

I was catching up on some podcasts and listened to episode 221 of Spark from CBC. Ben Falk of Whole Systems Design was one of the guests, and he totally captivated me! I'm now eagerly awaiting his book from the library. The full length interview is here, and it's worth a listen - anyone who uses the word 'folks' in that lovely, gentle way gets a thumbs up from me. The idea of enlivening the land is exactly how I've pictured our new property changing over time, I just hadn't the precise words for it.

With a sunny, warm, summer-like day forecast for tomorrow, I'm heading to sleep early. I can be confident that a sweet, cuddly little boy will climb into bed and snuggle up with me earlier than I would naturally wake up. Happy weekend!

impromptu weekend adventure, in chronological order, with approximately one zillion pictures

On Friday, the weather was beautiful and warm, and I decided that Phillip and I needed to shake things up and have a special little adventure together. So all four of us went to the camp (we have a camp! Can this be real?) for supper (real talk: drive-through sandwiches, no beautiful Pinterest pinic) and then Phillip and I stayed overnight. When we arrived, this fawn was in the back field, keeping an eye on us. Reports from the neighbours indicate that there are between 10 and 20 deer in the field most evenings. This leaves me wondering what kind of fencing we'll need for our future gardens, which farmer Adam has already started to work on. (Rotted hay? Check! Reading Ruth Stout? Check!) Here's the adventure as I saw it.

I can't figure out what these flowers are. They're very low growing and tiny; they seem to spread a bit, and bees love them.

 See the tracks in the puddle?

I love toad bellies! I just want to tickle them.

 Crazy fungi. I don't know what this is called, either.

 He's winking.

After a gorgeous sunset, we cuddled up with the lantern in our sleeping bags and read, read, read. And we woke up to a soft, grey morning with the moon looking down at us.

The fog lifted, and there was more reading for both of us, and hot chocolate with giant marshmallows with breakfast.

 I know I've mentioned my love of P.D. James before (she's incredible!) and I really enjoyed this book. A fun, quick read. (I don't usually treat books in this fashion. I don't know what came over me.)

We played some tiddly winks before our walk out. Whenever he's concentrating, he sticks out that tongue. Always has.

That little adventure was exactly what we needed.

sparkly diamonds

The light was lovely last evening, but I couldn't quite capture it until I changed the focus and saw the sparkle. Phillip said that it looks "like sparkly diamonds".

I'm just feeling content and inspired this week. What a pleasant state of affairs.

garden news

We planted several sunflowers this spring, but much like kale and carrots and a few other things, the seeds seem to have washed away in heavy rain before they had a chance to sprout and set some roots. We have a lone giant, beautiful droopy sunflower bobbing in the breeze, and I've been checking on the seed development regularly. It's fascinating, and one of the more beautiful patterns in nature. (There are so many!)

Speaking of seeds, I'm letting my cilantro go to seed and am hoping to save some for next summer's fresh salsas. Aren't the little flowers sweet?

 We have a couple of tomato plants that are heavy with very green tomatoes. I may need to make a batch of Shirley's Chow Chow to use some up.

We keep a patch of bee balm, which attracts hummingbirds, butterflies, and (clearly) bees. Now that the petals have fallen and I've taken a closer look, I can see exactly why the hummingbirds love them - it appears as though they're perfectly designed little nectar cups for tiny hummingbird beaks. I think they're just as lovely as the flowers in bloom.