The Good Stuff

Hello! What a lot of time has passed, it seems, since my last blog post. Well, I guess it was only a week, but still... What full days we've been having! I couldn't possibly record it all here, but I thought I better try and set some of it down. Let's see.... We spent last weekend in Halifax, visiting.

Mom and I spent a day-and-a-half attending a basketry course put on by the Nova Scotia Basketry Guild, and if you ever find a lovelier bunch of ladies anywhere, I might have trouble believing you. We made willow Easter baskets, and it was so much fun! I did bring my camera with me, so here's some pics:

We both came away with a total desire to learn more. I love stuff like that - Mom compared it to knitting and she is totally right. You start with something really basic, a pile of twigs, or a really long piece of string, and you end up with something totally functional. It's making at it's most fundamental.

And other than that, we've been busy with much of the same stuff - reading stories (we've already read through two stories since I started this post) - can't get enough stories.

And playing with trucks.

You know, the good stuff.

Almost!

"I wonder if the sap is stirring yet,

If wintry birds are dreaming of a mate,

If frozen snowdrops feel as yet the sun

And crocus fires are kindling one by one:

Sing robin, sing:

I still am sore in doubt concerning Spring."

- Christina Rossetti

Oh, it's coming. I wasn't sure on Sunday, when I went for a walk in our yard, snow sinking up past my boots with every step. It didn't seem possible. And then today... grass! Sun! Water gushing through the stream! (though it is bloated now with frozen chunks and fallen limbs, overflowed it's banks and then some.)

Still you need a coat, hats, mitts, scarves, gloves, but sitting inside, in a splash of sunshine, we can imagine warmer days coming. Today, it finally seems possible (when on Sunday I was moaning that the snow was never going to melt - would still be around when next winter rolls in.)

The forsythia we brought in has opened it's eyes and smiled - a jubilation of sunny yellow flowers. See? They were in there all along. (You doubter, you!)

Griffin and I have been enjoying our new library immensely, taking any old excuse to head in there for a visit. When we walk in the outer door, he shouts "we're home!" just like he does at our outer door. I've been trying to teach him "we're here!" but he insists on saying "we're home!" at the library. And even though I correct him gently every time, it does make my heart smile.

Now that the snow has mostly melted, we are able to go for walks a little easier, so he has been enjoying stomping around the neighbourhood, holding my hand and exclaiming at all the curled up brown leaves that have emerged from the melted snow. "Oh! A leaf!" he says, "Oh! A leaf!"

And he's been getting some excellent hat head.

I've been trying to get inspired to use my camera a little more, even on those dreary, inside days. It's so easy to be inspired when you're outside in beautiful light every day. These early March days are a little better than those late February ones were, though, and I am trying to rouse myself back into playing with my camera. Griffin and I spent a little time doing self-portraits, trying to capture a kiss:

We didn't really get it, but I love the pictures all the same. The "almosts" take it!

Book Reviews Coming to A Blog Near You...

Ok, I've been meaning to do this for a while, but finally just started. I created a second blog, where I can just write about the book I just finished. Starting with "The Habitation of the Blessed: A Dirge for Prester John". I found this hard, because books are such a personal thing for me. I tend not to share. But, if you ever meet someone who loved the same book that you loved, don't you just have something instantly in common, like you just know you could be bosom buddies? Isn't that the best?

I don't know if anyone will be interested, but if you are, hop on over to A House Full of Books.

That is all.

Some Masterpieces are Born...

Hello! Well, that was a week that just flew by! We had a couple sunny days, and everything. We've been keeping busy...

Growing taller...

Painting masterpieces...

And creating public art...

The local library is moving into their new building tomorrow, and I co-ordinated a bunch of local kids to paint some fish we cut out of plywood with the CNC router. Now I just have to hang it tonight, so it's ready for the grand opening. Currently it's hanging from our ceiling, over our dining table. (I kind of like it there!) I'll try and post some pictures of it in it's new "official" space. We're so excited about the library moving from it's dark and dingy town hall basement to a new, bright, wheelchair and stroller accessible building of it's own! It's like Christmas, or something. Only one more sleep...