i am digging the bathroom reflections. Most self portraits are taken so close that i find it challenging to capture a flattering angel if you’re going for a face shot. The mirror allows for a bit more distance between self and the lens. i like that and i like these recent reflections.

Today my mom is 70 and growing younger in spirit. She’s pretty great. You’re lucky if you know her stories.

one great big wish;

Just yesterday i began some Spring cleaning and packed away the snow gear and then this morning we woke to a strange Coastal snow flurry - the hugest flakes ever. Little A was ecstatic, the snow pants and mitts were dug out from the basement and off he went to catch snowflakes. i’m quite sure this is the end of Winter now.

snow not daisies;

woowee. front page on etsy. Thank you Nathalie for letting me know and Carie for including me in her treasury.

It is cherry blossom festival in Vancouver, our neighborhoods look all sugary and those huge magnolias are a pink delight. We found a swing in a good place. Little A said “it’s quiet and beautiful here” and indeed he was right. We spent a good while swinging in the sunshine this early afternoon.

We’ve spent the past 3 weeks noticing signs of Spring - bunnies, buds, blossoms, grass growing, sun & showers…we visited the wee hatched chicks at Maplewood farm, we’ve had many egg dyeing sessions and the nature table is laden full of nests. Aside from the numerous photos and projects shared here these past weeks, Easter was relatively low key and perfect - a wooden egg hunt indoors since it was wet and rainy, some Sunday hot chocolates out with the gals, a yummy papa made dinner and last minute drinks out while grandma bathed the little monkey before bed. All in time we are creating our own family traditions, keeping it simple and yet with enough magic (and dark chocolate) to put a big fat smile on Little A’s face.

…you’re sure of a big surprise. If you go down to the woods today you better go in disguise….

…for every monkey that ever there was will gather there for certain because today’s the day the fairies or bunnies or what have you will leave their surprise eggs. Every little monkey who’s been good is sure of a treat today…

…There’s lots of marvelous things to eat and wonderful games to play…

…See them gaily gad about. They love to play and shout. They never have any cares…

…and so the song goes…our version anyhow.

We have been out, enjoying some warmth, sunshine and forest greens in lovely neighborhoods with paths and trails throughout. Burnaby with friends above and Bellingham with family below;

may your little nests fill with sweetness this weekend!

Everyday Little A asks me “how many days until Spring?” Soon soon. Slowly the nature table transforms filling with nests and eggs of all shapes, size and color. Clearly this is inspiring the artist.
Only a little wheat grass has been planted and has yet to sprout. It seems early but we’ve planted flower pots on the porch and each day we wonder, investigate and notice new growth. i love this time of year and i’m giddy with the idea that next month i will be picking wild asparagus in the Okanagan. For now i cannot resist the Mexican organic snap peas from Whole Foods. Crazy that they travel so far. Crazier that i buy them but i love them and Little A is snacking on peas in place of yogurt raisins and that pleases me tremendously.

While i’m on the topic of peas (add turnips to that too) let me share my weekend’s sewing project inspired by a dirty picnic table at Granville Island (and Lotta). We really need to carry these picnic placemats with us everywhere because we like to snack a lot and i like a clean eating space. Also, in anticipation for sunny weather for next weekend’s Easter picnic…(fingers crossed) these will come in handy.

Doudou couldn’t wait to share the picnic wares. Little A was pretty indifferent. i’m sure he hoped a chocolate egg would unroll out of there.

How’s the nesting going on for you folks? Any egg or nest experiments happening? These were super easy using onion peels for dye. We wrapped the eggs in nylons to hold the tender weeds and ferns in place while boiling. So pretty.

Our plans take weather into great consideration. If it’s raining we’ll go to the aquarium. if it’s sunny we’ll plan for the beach, but if it’s windy and cold we’ll retreat and wander closer to the neighborhood, notice new buds and wonder how many cherry blossoms will actually produce an edible fruit, maybe stop in at the library, the thrift shop, sit and eat (or drink tequila)…Days with Grandma P are both full of projects & events as well as lazy while she rests from working too hard and i rest while Little A rather play with her than me. i enjoy our simple days.

Grandma P wove a nest. Mama bird needle felted eggs. Little A adds them to the felted acorns and stashes them for an egg hunt;

The bus shot; it’s blurry. yes i know, but it’s moving - fast and it’s coming right for me. Maybe you had to be there, at the cafe, watching and playing back and forth. Fun times.

i found this quirky fun set of Kathleen Lolley canvas prints for $2 at our nearest thrift shop. i’m in love. What a way to discover a new artist. Clearly someone does not know what they are missing.

oh and some shots from foreign lands;

Saturday @ Little Nest - amidst toddler and restaurant chaos they have the loveliest details;

Sunday @ 49th Parallel - coco and chocolate overload with the gals.

returned home to this sweet scene on the couch. They must have had a busy day;

time for me to join them now…

my sister wrote this poem when she was about 7 or 8. oh man i laugh every time i read this and i’m so grateful that my mom saved all of our childhood project and art works. i re discovered this some years ago as i was going through the many boxes piled in my parent’s stored things. Multiple copies have since been made. As an adult my sister remembers lengthening the grass as an afterthought but she cannot remember writing the poem. We suspect our older sister had some influence in the writing. You tell me what you think…

Thanks L for letting me share your Spring poem.

Enjoy your weekend friends!