Friday Morning & A Pirate Name

Because we have graduated to chapter books, I find that I don't read as many picture books as I used to when the boys were the babies.  

(Mental note to self: Carve out time for that every day.  

With Claire.  

With all of them.  

ALL of us love picture books.)

Anyway.

My house was quiet and clean this morning.  

The older 3 are gone, so it was just me and Little Miss.

I went and grabbed this book that calls me back to earlier years, one I remember my mother reading to me as a small person.  

 It was so lovely.

Claire has graduated to the stage where she will sit and look at the pictures, point, talk about them, smile and stare.

And I just watched her, and loved us there together, alone, enjoying a book.

Some loves don't need much explaining.

Made me feel like my whole world is right and good.

A place of peace.

A place of warmth.

A place where at least one thing is right.

Couldn't not feel happy.

Then we went out for a walk -- to the bank, and to a friend's house, where we sat and talked for quite a while.

The wind was breezy,

the sun was out,

color is creeping into the city,

and this girl is a sweet companion.

And unrelated, but I lucked out and got 2 (!!) boxes of seconds today at the orchard...apples AND peaches.

Booyah!

And if you're interested, it's International Talk Like A Pirate Day.

Go to www.piratequiz.com, take the quiz, and you'll get your pirate name.

Like I did.

Which is why today is the day I became

Dirty Prudentilla Cash.

Cute

I have been gone for a while.

The summer is quickly slipping away and I am lost in the swirl of it.

We've been vacationing, Scott started a new job, and we are buying a house (different from the one I mentioned in a previous post -- and one I love a whole lot more).

I have been up to my eyeballs in new house prep and planning. I have curtains to buy, furniture to recover for my front room, and busy designing my fall mantel and finding a wreath I want to make for my front door. Picking out paint colors for the house, picking out carpet and tile. Thinking about pillow-topped window benches with lovely color-splashed throw pillows for the bay windows in my kitchen. Itching to get to work in the plot of land at the back of our deep yard that is going to be a nice big garden. Ready to refinish, stain and seal the deck so we are good for the coming moisture of winter. Excited to fence in the last part of the yard so that our little ones can run freely outside, enclosed and happy -- all with us having peace of mind. Ready to string party lights around the back deck so we are all aglow in the evenings.

Now you know where my mind has been and why I have not been here.

This morning was throw up (Isaiah), watching Cinderella and a pinch of 101 Dalmatians, canning tomatoes, "Ritzes" as the boys call them, and Graham crackers and popcorn. Reading Library Lion, Curious George Rides a Bike, and Seven Silly Monkeys. And then we took a very leisurely walk around the neighborhood. When we went out in the stroller I called Scott to tell him that we were out for a walk and that I had Mia in her cute little ruffle hat that snaps under her chin, and that I was wearing my frilly hat as well. And he said to me, "Sounds like two cute girls."

And I thought that was just cute

and I love our hats.