These days, all 5 senses are alive and noticing.
I’m seeing:
*the colors of spring shift from every-color-of-the-rainbow to pure, fresh, Oregon, summer GREEN
*cherries, thousands of them, blushing
*the rise of red lettuces growing like weeds, first radishes, and I spy a cauliflower head!
*the primary color palette come to life in a new way as Orlis tells me the color of everything he sees…all day long.
*the finishing touches being done to our basement renovation. So soon I’ll finally have my office and studio to myself! (photos coming soon)
photo by USFWS Mountain Prairie
I’m Hearing:
*the constant jibber-jabber of the chickens (“chiches!”) next door.
*the crackle of the newly-fixed record player, back to her old sweet tricks playing Willie Nelson, Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder…
*…and the strong, searing sound of my unabashed toddler playing harmonica right along with her
*the rising cacophony coming from the mountain bluebirds around our yard. specifically, around our cherry tree. I think they are saying, “hey everyone! get a load of this!”
*spurts of high-pitched laugher that make my heart sing
I’m Smelling:
*wet leaves making their way from Orlis’ bucket into the compost
*the City of Roses declare herself. A few among my backyard trellis dare me daily.
*the somewhat sickening-but-already-nostalgic odor of Lip Smackers chapstick…Orlis’ all-time favorite thing to carry around
*the scent of sun on my little boy’s cheeks
I’m Tasting:
*a lot of salad… to keep up with planting too many lettuces. Dinner salad enough for 5… eaten by 2
*the freshest strawberries I ever did taste
*buckwheat pancakes made by Orlis (thank goodness for the vacuum)
*weekly bike rides to this place and a penchant for their Sea Salt with Caramel ribbons
*the bundle of weekly surprises from our CSA
*taco night that will become nacho lunch today. Mmmmm
I’m Feeling:
*the deliciousness of wrestling with a toddler
*the satisfying feeling of catching a weed at its root
*temperatures that [finally!] tempt the cardigan off my shoulders
*the skies that clear a bit after a good, hearty, wrenching cry
sweet noticing
Mary,
I read your blog religiously and I just love it! Knowing you would completely understand, I wanted to share with you my reflections on this ideal day I just experienced with Eve. The simplest acts of smelling and picking carrots fresh from the garden, and collecting sticks out in the yard made me feel that I just had the best day imaginable. These fleeting moments are what I cherish.
Thanks for your beautiful writing. Please keep it flowing. Oh, and the photos are gorgeous, too. You would appreciate a picture I just took of Eve, as she is proudly holding a beet fresh from the garden, while she is nibbling its greens!
Christine
Thanks for your comment, Christine! I do appreciate it, and love the image of little Eve nibbling from the garden. A “reclaiming” of her name in the deepest sense, indeed, and a gorgeous symbol of how much you cherish her. You seem like such a sweet mama. thanks for the inspiration and thanks for reading the blog!