homesteading

We’ve turned the corner on winter, and embraced the moodiness of early spring.  Despite a moment of hail here and there, it is mostly warming weather beckoning us outdoors.  This is the time of year that we take stock of our cupboards and freezers (Huckley is assessing this month’s quota from the cellar), mark animal arrival dates on the calendar in anticipation, and set up the trampoline.  Does anyone else notice that their trampolines are not really a jumping apparatus as much as a wrestling ring?  Or a cartwheel practice zone?  Or a human go-cart track?  Whatever it is used for, it is in high demand just now.

After the flurry of stitching I did for the Shop, we had many bits and pieces of yarn and thread leftover.  Sunshine went and pillaged the baskets and corners of our home for more, and we left them in a tree outside our big window for the birds.  Today, we noticed a few less woolly bits and are left to imagine where they went.

I have noticed, as my kids get older, I have somehow lost my energy for creating certain special festivals.  Not for any reason other than there are so many other activities pulling my attention away from the simple, beautiful celebrations we once did so often.  This morning, I was awoken by Huckley asking if it was time for St. Patrick’s “Celebrating”.  Ohhhh, I cringed inside a little knowing I had done nothing for it.  Really, it has never been a big deal in my mind…we aren’t even one speck Irish.  But, the magic of Leprechauns and rainbows and the allure of pots of gold were decidedly of great importance to at least two, if not three, of my children.  So I had them wait in bed and hauled out the festival rubbermaid and went downstairs to decorate.  They marched down, bedecked in green clothes, eager to go outside and find four leaf clovers.  I didn’t dare mention yesterday was the 17th of March.  Surely, it is humbling to witness the magic that is created by children…a force not to take lightly, nor to deny.  And really, truth be told, their delight and excitement is infectious.

The middle of the week is our family’s “weekend” on account of my husband’s winter mountain work.  He only has a few weeks left and one big trip and then we will settle into a more “normal” routine.  Today, we plan on having fires outdoors, with just a fair bit of running, biking and leaping to do as well…and who knows, maybe some hunting for gold!

Enjoy your own weekend, friends!  May you have lots of moments to leap outdoors, too!