i had so much fun with these 2 little ones the other day.  i’ve photographed this gal i think 4 times now and it’s amazing to see her grow over the years - shy and cheeky much like little A. her little brother just kept filling my pockets with treasures.

we spent an awesome day picking and eating the most delicious “duke” blueberries.  i have decided that they are the most fun berries to pick and i think my most favorite uncooked berry to eat. they are sooooo good especially with unwhipped whipping cream.

time to pull this book off the shelf again;

with such a delayed start i feel myself holding fast to summer before it is too soon over. little bits that make me smile;

it seems i haven’t much time for words these days.

it’s been a year since i changed my header and now there’s no need as we’re back again at Emma Lea’s to pick jam berries, tart berries, home made ice cream berries, smoothie berries, freezer berries, berries for birthday cake coulis…i didn’t even mind so much that it drizzled and was cool and felt very unlike summer - i ate a hot strawberry sundae anyhow.

so good to have extra picking hands because i spent most of my time nursing and changing diapers in the field.  these 2 were pro berry pickers - you should see all i ended up with (thank you S);

(looking disheveled and feeling a little so too)

can’t wait for the raspberries to sweeten up!

we just love them. that’s all there is to it.

ranunculus;

magnolias;

flower pressing;

i wander’d lonely as a cloud
that floats on high o’er vales and hills
when all at once i saw a crowd
a host of golden daffodils
beside the lake, beneath the trees
fluttering and dancing in the breeze.

from Daffodils - William Wordsworth

we scored A Child’s Book of Flowers by Janet Marsh at the thrift store last year and in addition to the sweetest illustrations there are little poems and verses;

buttercups and daisies
oh, the pretty flowers;
coming ere the springtime,
to tell of sunny hours.

-Mary Howitt

yesterday we were out with some new friends; beaching, wandering, flower searching and snapping shots. C and her gorgeous belly are due 1 month before me….exciting times! and our kiddos got on pretty nicely too! (i hope you don’t mind i’ve posted this C. i really love it. of course i’ll remove it if you wish)

Our Spring break has begun and what gorgeous sunshine we’re having. We’re taking the opportunity to explore some favorite places. This time of year we tend to focus on the birds, their nests, their eggs and their habits. Last year we found ourselves in exactly the right place at the right time to witness a goshawk capturing duck for lunch. Recently we happened upon a heronry right in Stanley Park, a place we’ve driven past several times each week and only just noticed.  After some googling, we’ve learned that the Pacific Great Blue Herons do not migrate. They live in the marshlands and shoreline of our beaches feasting on frogs and stickleback and nesting from March through to July. Their eggs are pale blue and there may be up to 3 chicks in a nest. The park raccoons have taken a liking to the chicks as a meal and so you’ll find that most of the tree bases containing nests will have metal sheets wrapped around to prevent the raccoons from climbing. The young birds are still prey to bald eagles, hawks and great horned owls. oooh if only we could go owling. I’d love to see one.

Some favorite bird books have been pulled out, our crow mobile is hanging in the front window and the little one is keen to do more activities…like build a bird box. Any other activity suggestions are gratefully welcome.

close enough to the city to remove oneself for a 1 day adventure. we traveled by ferry this time and hope to take the water taxi soon for another visit and more exploring.

so fun to get away with Auntie and visit our friend Fran (and her kitties!);

…do the tourist thing. we ventured amongst hoards of people to view the Olympic cauldron (you can smell it some blocks away). we had watched parts of the opening ceremony online and little A didn’t believe it was really real so it was cool for him to check out (i hope he doesn’t believe everything he might see on tv now). it was pretty fun being in the crowds of people too - lots of happy and nutty folk about.

with Uncle & Auntie;

cable line running over Robson Square - would be so fun if i weren’t so pregnant and if i didn’t have an aversion to line ups;

spectators to some pretty great free shows;

We spent all of Saturday outside. Morning at the park - Little A was fresh & awake, climbing, running, jumping, hanging, spinning… if only my energy could match his. Afternoon at the beach - i knit some and laid back soaking up some warming sunshine while he dug and raked. it really feels like Spring.

if there couldn’t be snow then we had the best other option - thick, magical fog. i love that. so much.

papa’s back to work. the little one and i are into leftover ginger cookies and plan to bus out to the bookstore later to spend gift certificates.  the sun is shining. we’ll see where the day takes us. i hope you all continue to enjoy some cozy down time.