My latest favorite photo

We spent the last 3 days camping and kayaking at Fort Custer State Park in Augusta MI.  Awesome weekend..... more to come soon.  This was my favorite photo from the weekend.  

Happiness is....

I have a new camera lens that I am in love with.  Never did I think a lens could make such a difference. This photo of Zoe was one of the first I took and I just can't stop staring at it.  You can see every hair on her chinny chin chin.  

How does Mom know how to do it so well?  I'm not talking about her amazing rhubarb pie but just the way she goes about it.  Early this afternoon I noticed that my Mom had called and left a message on my cell phone.  "Jessica" (she always starts every message she leaves me by addressing me by name).... "I went out and picked fresh rhubarb from the garden and I had so much rhubarb that I had to make two pies so I made one for you too".  Rhubarb is my absolute favorite!!!!! 

I told Mom that I would be over as soon as I got off work.... then she invites me to stay for dinner too.  Mom and Dad picked mustard greens and cooked them with bacon and just the right seasonings.... YUMMY.  Going to Mom and Dad's after a stressful day at work just makes everything all right.  I am feeling the love.

Not sure why I stuck this photo of Fiona in here.  I found it incredibly funny.  

It's been a few years since we've planted any new trees and with loosing so many trees the last 2 years we have plenty of space to work with.  I was thrilled to get this pink dogwood planted in the back yard last week.  

I was thrilled, thrilled, thrilled to find this throw at a thrift store this week, and for only $5!!!!!  I put it over the comforter on the bed in the trailer.  Every time I look at it I just smile.  Utter happiness.

Happiness is driving along and spotting something you just have to stop the car for and run down and take a photo of.  I only wish I had time to do more of that.   

Happiness is finding morel mushrooms.  The warm March and the cool dry April just isn't the best weather for them.  These 3 were the only ones I've found.

Happiness is having a whole two hours that you can sit on the front porch swing and finish a good book on a warm weekday evening while Zoe keeps watch of who is walking a dog down the street.  

All you need is love.... and a dog

The end....

A good kind of busy

Tonight I am tired but content. So many good things lately. We've been busy... a good busy.

I got a new camera lens that I am in love with. And it couldn't have come at a more perfect time... just in time to capture spring flowers, dogs playing outside, you get the picture.

All week last week I wanted to make a day trip up to Holland to see the tulips but the weather wasn't looking very promising. Up until Saturday morning I wasn't sure if I was going to go or not. I woke up early and went to the gym and worked out, came home and decided I'd go and much to my delight about 30 minutes before I left Craig said he wanted to join me. And Jordan and Nate met us there too. It was a great day. The tulips were magnificent and the company I had was even better!

Sunday after church we went to a few nurseries and bought new bushes and trees for the yard. Spent the rest of the afternoon planting all of our purchases. I am most proud of the pink dogwood tree that is now so pretty planted in the back yard. I've wanted one for years!

I have bluebirds!!!! I put up our my bluebird house the beginning of March and prayed that some bluebirds would take up residence. I was ecstatic when several days later a pair of bluebirds built a nest but as quickly as they built the nest they disappeared. They were gone for nearly 2 weeks and I had about given up hope but they showed up about a week ago and now are sitting on eggs! I hope this is the year that they all goes well. Twice in years past I have had bluebirds up to the point of eggs (one year they did hatch) but they have always died before they fledged. I want this to be the year that those precious little bluebirds fly away healthy. More to follow on the bluebirds.....

I'm working out at the gym and loving it... well most of the time. I'm not being totally honest but I am "liking" it and I'm still doing it. My whole life I have never enjoyed exercise. But I am loving the progress I'm making and I'm enjoying the extra stamina it's giving me. Last year it was weight loss, this year it's fitness. I CAN DO IT!

Jordan will be home in less than 3 weeks for the summer. Last summer she stayed at school so we are thrilled to have her home this year. I love the "adult" she's become these few short years that she's been away at school. My Girl is awesome!

Time to turn the light off.... mornings come too soon.

Poor Momma Killdeer

I was very excited to see a Momma Killdeer guarding her nest today but also felt terribly sorry for her.

I'm sure when she built her nest she thought this was the perfect place. It probably was quiet and secluded......

.... but not for long.

She built her nest in the middle of a tulip field right next to a path that is the home of one of the biggest festivals in Michigan. In a matter of days there will be hundreds and hundreds of visitors walking within a foot of her nest. I don't think she stands much of a chance of hatching her babies.

Isn't it amazing how well her eggs are camouflaged?

Poor Momma Killdeer was already terrorized by the traffic of people and it was nothing compared to what will be there soon. I hope she gets some peace and somehow manages to raise her babies. Good Luck Momma Killdeer!

Our evening ritual

We had some big trees fall around the perimeter of our property last fall and winter. Now that warmer weather is here we've begun the task of cleaning it up. It really has been an enjoyable job. Just getting outside is a treat in itself so the task at hand didn't seem like too much of a chore. And each night after we've worked for several hours with the chainsaw, hauling and stacking wood, this is what we treat ourselves too.

This is one of my favorite things about spring. We begin the evening ritual of fires that last well into the fall. We don't do it every night but at least a few times a week we love to sit around the fire. Some of our best family conversations take place here. We solve the world problems, we laugh, and talk about anything and everything.

It beats sitting in front of the TV any night.