Tuesdays at the Beach

Tuesdays at the Beach, originally uploaded by islandj.

Whew, our "casual and relaxing" summer vacation has been a really fun-filled adventure! Today marked day 12 of being out and about ... and such fun we've been having. A quick 12 day recap: nature walk with our CM group; Peacock Park with friends; Baseball game with Sterling; VBS and park play (x3); VBS and play date; VBS and more play; Swtichfoot at the beach; Sterling to Medieval Times for a birthday celebration/the rest of us to a lovely pool and BBQ time with friends; a full day of swimming, dress up and fun in the vineyards; and today, co-op beach day with so many friends.

Whew! Not necessarily good planning on the part of this mum (we've had a few meltdowns, several enforced quiet times, and a serious desire for a few days at home), but so many good things to say yes to. We are truly blessed. At beach day today, each of the kids had not one but several good friends to attach to. The boys boogie boarded in the rough waves, played catch, freeze tag and whatever other games they came up with (in other words, I hardly saw Sterling except during my regular headcount). The girls played in the sand and found a live clam, and then, spontaneously, created this seaweed encircled tide pool.

This has been Siena's latest joy (generally, but particularly with her friend E) - the creation of habitats for creatures she images are just itching for her human made natural homes. A few weeks ago it was a bird cafe, then peacock nests, an ant home, and today this tidepool. I laugh, but it is the most remarkable and wonderful thing to watch. So much creativity and compassion go into these habitats, not to mention an eye for beauty. I could let her do this all day and still not be tired of watching her as she goes about pondering and collecting and creating - all within the context of cooperative work with friends.

I confess we were all ready to leave the beach today (good fellowship and fun aside), and head home, shower off and crash. We are finally into our regular beach routine. The kids know what to rinse off, where to stow all the wet stuff, and to jump in the shower and clean up. Siena and I have been listening to Heidi on audio (from librivox.org), and Sterling is in the midst of some serious lego building (more on that later this week). Sage is in the process of giving up her afternoon nap, both a blessing (she'll go to bed more easily at 7) and a sigh (getting through the late afternoon is a trial sometimes), but she tires not of being with everyone and being a big girl.

Much as we crashed today, I cannot stress enough how utterly grateful we are ... days filled with friends and families we love and are loved by. What more could we ask for?

Loving the Beach

Loving the Beach, originally uploaded by islandj.

Need I say more?

Yeah, This is Home!

Yeah, This is Home!, originally uploaded by islandj.

Well, today it feels like home again. One year ago we attended the annual Switchfoot/Bro-Am surf competition and concerts, and fell in love all over again with the southern California life - the beach, the waves, free music and lots of fun (hedonism at its cleanest!). Today we went again - missing the surfing, sadly - but in time for fun in the waves, and on the playground on the beach, and backstage spots to enjoy the free Switchfoot concert. Though they didn't play my favorite song from last year, it was so very fun to watch. Sage, our musically inclined one, just loved it, sitting high on daddy's shoulders and watching the drummer. The big kids liked it too - so much noise and enthusiasm and energy! We stood next to a mom and her son - homeschoolers (coincidentally) from in LA, and what a small world it is to find a stranger that can be an instant friend at a place like that.

Today we played at home, splashed in the waves, dug really big sand holes, braved the beach bathrooms, swung on swings with views of the ocean, and rocked out a bit. All it's obvious downfalls aside, I surely do love this place!

Creative Mum :: A Morning to Myself

Creative Mum :: A Morning to Myself, originally uploaded by islandj.

Ah, I love VBS (technically, Vacation Bible School, but in my world, Very Blessed Silence). All three kids are enjoying friends, games, snacks and the Word. This mom? Enjoying a bit of reading, a bit of socializing, a coffee shop (gasp, unheard of decadence), and today, a bit of sewing.

It's amazing what can be accomplished without helpers or interruptions. With Wuthering Heights on in the background (one of the books I set aside to read this week, as I have shamefully never read it before), I began to iron and measure and sew. I love the cheerful fabrics Siena and I picked out at the fabric counter the other day. I love the methodical nature of sewing the same seam over and over, the unique sound of the pinking shears cutting through, the pleasing stack of colorful triangles. I am loving how I envision the finished product - watch out birthdays, some cheer is coming your way!

The only glitch was my ironing board cover, which lost its cord in a battle with the vacuum, and therefore cannot stay on the frame. Enter a quick google search, some snipping, a bit of sewing (nary any ironing, thankfully), and I've got myself a new ironing board cover, bold and clean, and staying in place.

How I love to sew!

It's a brand "new" car!

It's a brand "new" car!, originally uploaded by islandj.

Yup, it's true. For the first time in, oh, maybe 8 or 9 years, we have two cars in the family. Not even when we had 3 adults and 3 kids in the house did we have this luxury, and it is with a fair bit of trepidation that we do so now. Our wonderful car of 7 years - the white mini-van that has crossed the country so many times, and has been, as Siena says, "the only car I've ever had," not to mention actually been home to us for a time - is nearing the end of its adventure with the Hansen's. The AC is officially gone, she stall periodically, and well, it's nearly time.

Enter our new best friend - a 2006 Honda Odyssey. For us, it is untold luxury - leather seats, hidden storage spaces, even an 8th seat (hurrah - so many of my 3 children mom friends will be happy too!) - and we are a bit in shock. Our old white friend will still be our beach car, but this new one is pretty spectacular. We bought it at a used car dealer, and what a treat to simply sign our name at least twenty times and walk out with a new car, no trip to the DMV needed! I confess to being near tears at one point, realizing afresh how blessed we are that we could buy in cash, and buy what we needed, when we needed it. It's not something I take for granted in these days.

The kids love it. LOVE it. And they haven't even figured out that there is a DVD player hiding up there (and I charge all of you with silence on the matter). Now, to figure out how to move the turtles from the white car to the silver, for it can't really be a Hansen car without the turtles...

A Major League Game

A Major League Game, originally uploaded by islandj.

A Happy Father's Day to all the wonderful men in my life - being a father is such an incredible gift... and the kids and I are so grateful to have a dad like Chris in our lives. So... I took Sterling out to celebrate! No, we had tickets to a Padres game, and it happened to be on Father's Day. I was, I do believe, the only "madre" at the Padres on Padres Day, but I can live with that!

We had a blast. Sterling is truly one of the most fun dates I've ever spent time with. He chatted away the entire time, full of questions, possible answers and total conjectures, as is his way. Everything we did - from hitting at the batting cages, to calculating the speed of his pitch (27 mph), to buying a hot dog and singing Take Me Out to the Ballgame - was done with enthusiasm and gratitude. He was engaged from the moment we arrived, and cheered each and every hit. I confess I managed to read a bit of my weekend reading - Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone - during the down times (I had forgotten how long it takes to change out a pitcher).

Walking hand in hand with my boy - a future father, Lord willing - to and from the game, I felt very blessed. And then we went home and loved on the best dad we know.

The Peacock Park

The Peacock Park, originally uploaded by islandj.

Isn't it wonderful - this wasn't a field trip! Did I mention school's out for the summer?! (can you tell we are all excited about that here, especially the planning mum?)

Today we went with friends to the Leo Carrillo Ranch - a city park that preserves the home and grounds of late actor Leo Carrillo. The kids around here know it as Peacock Park, and it is that. Tons of peacocks, strutting all around, squawking their great yells and cries, and showing off their stuff. They even have a very rare albino peacock, which dazzled everyone.

It was marvelous watching the kids play. Left to their own devices while the parents talked, they went about building a peahen nest, since we had seen peahens and their chicks wandering about our picnic area. I don't know that they needed our help, particularly, but it kept the girls well occupied and they were so happy about it! Sterling was busy finding feathers and, a true triumph for our collection, four peacock eggshells!

I am so enjoying the relationships that our kids are forming, and the blessing that comes when the parents enjoy each other as well. As we begin our second year in one place (hurrah!), it becomes all the more apparent and meaningful to me that we really are settling in here, finding our routines, places to play and visit, friends to be with. It's shaping up to be a splendid summer!

Just Because

IMG_5162.JPG, originally uploaded by islandj.

... she is growing up so fast. Three years and two months, and trying so hard to be a big girl like her sissy. She's talking and running and playing and singing. My little girl who began bible study last fall with just a handful of words, mostly unintelligible, now recites her six memorized bible verses in song (she also hasn't really stopped talking since her vocabulary caught up with her). She's fond of saying, "that's 'mazing!"

And yet, here she is. Still has those chubby baby cheeks, the little nose, the wide eyes, taking in the big world. Don't grow up too fast, little one. Mommy's not ready yet.

SchoolHouse Moments :: Celebrating on the Water

Celebrating on the Water, originally uploaded by islandj.

Hurrah! School is officially over for the Hansen's here at the SchoolHouse Academy! Yesterday was our last day, and today we celebrated with a trip to Grandpa Mark's and Balboa Island. We started with a lovely ride on the Duffy, each of the kids taking a turn steering. Then we rode out to the seal lions and pelicans, found a parking spot on a public pier, and walked over to Ruby's (on the pier) for milkshakes and burgers (woo-hoo!). The kids just love watching all the fishermen catching smelt and mackerel off the pier, especially if a milkshake is in hand... After that, Grandpa Mark treated to Siena and Sage's first ferris wheel ride (my camera died before we could get a photo of that one - but for fans of Arrested Development, that's the balboa peninsula we were on, albeit one without the Bluff banana shack). I got to ride with them, which was a huge treat - I love ferris wheels! Then the kids all raced around the arcade trying to win tickets to trade for prizes they either don't really want (plastic from china) or shouldn't have (think pixie stix!), which made them incredibly happy. On the boat ride home we floated through a smack of jelly fish (I looked that one up). They were just beautiful, clear and floating, undulating up and down and so peaceful to watch. The kids? Not so peaceful, as they clamored from side to side on the boat, desperately trying to reach out and touch the "safe" side of the jelly fish. It was a fantastic impromptu nature study.

After we returned to the dock, the kids fished for a bit (nothing biting, which doesn't really bother Sterling, who has more patience than one would think), and then we tied bits of hot dog onto the ends of string and caught crab after crab... I told the kids that they can't make me fish with them, but they can't keep me away from catching crabs - it's too much fun!

The day was long and the weather perfect. It really was just the right celebration to the end of a well-done school year!

Wordless Wed :: Move Over, Keira!

Wordless Wed :: Move Over, Keira!, originally uploaded by islandj.

Play Time :: The Pirates who don't do Na-fing

The Pirates who don't do Na-fing, originally uploaded by islandj.

As school is winding up this week, and play time is gearing up, there has been a lot of dress up going on. Thanks to the imaginations of several new friends, the kids have been becoming more creative themselves. This was what I came upon yesterday. I was cleaning up the school room - we have only one day left - and the kids were running about upstairs, singing away :: "We are the pirates, who don't do na-fing." This is Sage's interpretation of the popular Veggie Tales tune about the pirates who don't do anything... and its a good one, as these particular pirates are rather active, loud, and pretty good with a sword.

Photo Update :: Our Week

Photo Update :: Our Week, originally uploaded by islandj.

There was just so much I missed in the moment last week. Though I managed a bit of an update on Thursday, I realized I had missed some great photo ops while doing it, so I provide them now...

Sterling receiving his Outstanding Sportsman award
Siena and friends with their Bird Cafe (totally their own idea and their own making)
Sage thoroughly enjoying some homemade smoothie pock-si-balls (popsicles)
The boys doing what they do best - and somehow, no one getting hurt.

Star Wars Days at Legoland

Star Wars Days at Legoland, originally uploaded by islandj.

Um, yes, that's us at Legoland for the second day in a row. This weekend is Star Wars Days at Legoland, and Sterling just couldn't miss it. And then Siena wanted to see it too, and of course Sage couldn't be left behind. Honestly? Nor could I! I love these kind of events, so all five of us trotted out in the middle of a totally unexpected rain shower, and joined the throng at the park. It was a hoot. Lots of park guests dressed up in Star Wars costumes, a ton of characters walking around the entrance of the park (including a Princess Leia who, though very pleasant natured, looked a bit, well, motherly rather than like the vixen who Jabba the Hut tried to steal). Sterling was totally spooked by the idea of taking photos with the characters, even while he was completely awed by them and couldn't get enough of seeing them. We got our commemorative brick, a cool poster, and spent just over two hours walking around the park and being part of all that fun energy.

Most notable moment? We'd been at the park only about 45 minutes when Chris got a call from a local friend, asking how he was enjoying the park. Huh? Oh, he realized, I'd posted on facebook that we were going. Yes, she said, and so had another of her friends (someone we did NOT know) - and then that mom had posted a photo on FB of her kids with some storm troopers... and our friend had seen both Chris and Sterling, clearly standing to the side in the picture!

It may have been Carlsbad instead of Anaheim. The theme may have been the Force Being with you, but... It's a small world afterall. Even at Legoland.

Legoland with Friends

Legoland with Friends, originally uploaded by islandj.

Yesterday was a full and fun day - Legoland was generous with free guest passes, and Mel and the boys came down for a spontaneous day at the park with us. The kids loved to run around and watch the shows, play in the water park (they were all, at one point, completely soaked), ride rides, and obsess about lego. It was a total treat for me to have an adult with which to run around and make silly comments during shows, stay as dry as possible, ride rides and talk mum stuff. Perfect.

And after a very brief stop at home to change and gather pasta salad together, we went to another friends house for a quick swim (and that's another moment of, ah, my life is just too much goodness - both big kids have taken to the water like they never were out of it this year - such a huge change from last year!) and dinner together. These friends have to small boys, and all the kids - girls included - get on their swords and belts and hats and piratey/viking/warrior faces and go to town. What a blast. And just before bedtime (still a lovely 7:15-7:30 for us), they pulled out a perfect little fire pit and we roasted marshmallows and made s'mores! Heavenly for all the non-daddy Hansen's! What's more (yes, there's more), we ended up staying until 9, as the kids were having such pleasant fun and the adults were talking away... and you'll just have to wait to hear how they managed themselves today!

The Midnight Owl

Now, I know I'm getting a little obsessed about my birds, but, I can't help myself. I have been keeping our bedroom door open at night, ostensibly for the fresh air, but really because I'm so happy to hear the birds and other night creatures making all their comfortable little noises. (It's merely a pleasant side effect that those creature noises drown out most of the comfortable little noises that my own wee folk make). 

In daylight hours, we've continued to make strides in our bird watching. We've identified several new birds around the house - we've now got house finches, swallows, red-winged black birds, Anna's hummingbirds, black-headed grosbeak, nuttall's woodpecker, spotted towhee, starlings, california quail, sparrows, and of course our as-yet-unidentified hawks - and watched as the latest family of what we believe are house finches take flight. But in the past two weeks, we've not seen the family of hawks, though we still see it's nest off in the Eucalyptus grove in the canyon. So...

When a strange noise woke me up at 3 a.m. last night, I almost didn't think anything of it. But then nature called, and I was up. I thought the sound was so intriguing - clearly flying was happening outside, near the porch, as well as some heavy thumping (landings not so graceful as yet), and these odd, raspy cawing noises. I was expecting to see the hawks, so I peeked out the bedroom porch door, thankful for a bright moon. Would you believe 2 large birds sat on the palm branches just at the edge of the porch?! I couldn't! I was ecstatic! I watched and watched, and then one flew away, and another returned. I peeked out the bathroom window, and, sitting in the palm at the edge of our lot, were two big birds. At the same time, I noticed that, amidst the odd bird calls was the subtle and soothing sound of an owl - a gentle hoo-hoo--hoooo - coming and going. Intrigued, I looked more closely, and realized that I was not seeing my hawks (which, of course, made sense, it being the middle of the night), but a family of owls! 

Wow! I was so excited I woke Chris up. He managed a glance and a mutter, and so I woke Siena up. She and I have shared many happy moments identifying birds, so I knew this late night mum-daughter time would be good. We quietly sat at the windows, watching the birds, for nearly 15 minutes. Then we watched a slightly larger owl sitting on the farther palm, clearly clutching something in its talons, reaching down to rip a bite, and feeding it to another owl next to it. That's nature study for you!

Well, I wish I could have taken photos, but I didn't dare ruin the moment with a flash. I would question my identification but for three things: first, one of the owls sat for quite a long time with the perfect owl profile. Second, this morning Siena and I sat and listened through many different owl calls and were (together, I'm so grateful for the second set of ears) able to identify the hooting as a Great Horned Owl, and the screeching as the call of juvenile owls. And finally, when I discovered these photos of juvenile owls, they matched their body shape and profiles perfectly, even obscured as they were in the dark. 

Sterling is very sad to have missed the night, so I am hoping they will come back sometime. We did see bunnies in the yard this morning, so we've not lost everything (Chris was convinced they like our yard because we have a ridiculously stereo-typically large family of bunnies invade the yard morning and evening). We plan to head into the canyon to look for owl pellets and maybe even find a nest, after I research a bit of where they have said nests. Meanwhile, I just close my eyes, hear their noises and feel an incredible sense of gratitude for the wildlife God has blessed us with in our totally suburban house!

Year End Clean Up?

Year End Clean Up?, originally uploaded by islandj.

Can it properly be called a Clean Up when it produces such a prolonged period of mess? Sigh. It's a busy week - hence the lack of real posting. Monday, Sterling was invited to an all day birthday party at a water park, which he just LOVED - it really was a special day, with boys he totally enjoys. Ironically, we started the morning at Target, rushing out to buy the birthday present, and ran into #2 of 3 guests - and then found out that the 3rd guest had also been at Target... guess we were the moms who didn't plan ahead! Hurrah for nerf and lego! Siena, Sage and I were blessed to have the only other sister (girls not invited, and I don't blame them) and mom come spend the day at our house. The girls had never really played before, and they hit it off spectacularly, playing inside and out, and Siena learned how to play "room service" - something I suspect will become a staple in our house!

Tuesday we had our first summer beach day with the CFS homeschooling group. Again, a bit messy for our nearly last week of school scheduling wise, but such a blessing. So many families are coming, and our favorite girls were there. I remember when we arrived last spring, and our first homeschooling event was this very beach day. We knew nobody, the kids were all shy, and it felt like months (okay, it was weeks, but it FELT like months) before they found there way. This year, they fell into their relationships right away, and with the exception of Sage, I hardly saw them at all! Siena and her sweet friend E (and sisters) dug in the sand and played in the wash for over two hours. Sterling's band of boys included one forward thinking warrior who brought an assortment of light sabers and swords, and sand not-withstanding, they had an all out war. And I got to talk with good friends and enjoy the sound of the waves. Ahhh. We all came home tired and happy. We'd managed to squeeze school in before going, so the afternoon was spent relaxing (them) and organizing (me).

Wednesday morning we spent with our CBS friends - and again, I was simply so grateful to realize how far we've come in a year. We have been truly blessed with a variety of friends and relationships - peers, siblings, those older and younger... and by and large, it all works. I so enjoy seeing my children just play and have wholesome fun. So very, very grateful. We never do school work on Wednesdays (because bible study was so intense those days), so again, the kids took the afternoon off, and I continued to prepare for the years' end. Before I moan about that, I should add that we had dinner at another friends house (my kids must be having fits of glory this week - already, four playdates and it is only Thursday!). We really enjoy this family, and though it might sound like a broken record, have I mentioned how grateful I am that my kids have such good friends to play with? Even Sterling, the oldest by far, is so sweet about playing with the young ones, and then staking a claim on the sofa with a good book or two. Lovely!

So, back to the "holy-crow-where-did-all-this-paper-come-from" portion of our post. I have collected all my files and papers and piles and stashes, and taken over the guest bedroom. There are piles everywhere - the photo does NOT do it justice. My hope is to have our school work organized and filed properly by the end of school next week. As for all my personal papers and messes, those are supposed to find their way into logical order, permanent homes and the recycling bin post haste. I even plan to shock myself by creating the files and homes for our course work next year, so that when the day comes and the piece of paper/art/schoolwork is in my hand, I know right where to put it so that it won't take this monumental effort next spring. Right. I know. Laugh. But I aim to try!

Wordless Wednesday :: What a Life

Wordless Wednesday :: What a Life, originally uploaded by islandj.

Outstanding Sportsmanship

Sterling's banner, originally uploaded by islandj.

This weekend we finally finished baseball. Is it terrible that that is how I feel about it? I am so happy to have Sterling doing something he enjoys so much, but the constant back and forth of two games and a practice each week, during dinner, during bedtime, on Sunday, well, I struggle with it. In Texas it became a community event for us, but the same just didn't materialize for us here, so it felt more of a burden (even with Chris being a wonder dad who attended nearly all the games and drove to nearly all the practices).

So when they announced "closing ceremonies" (really? for 8 year olds?) today, while we had company here, I had every intention of skipping it. I am proud of Sterling - he attended all the games, cheered teammates on, and, most importantly, practiced at home on a weekly, if not daily, basis. All this was good. Good enough for me - we could pick up the little trophy later, and just enjoy our company.

Then our coach emailed, letting me know if would be a really good idea to come. Sterling wanted to go, the coach wanted him there, so I relented. How glad I am... Sterling had a blast at the (very boring) closing ceremonies. He truly enjoyed watching team after team called up, and he enjoyed watching all star players be introduced, and he liked sitting with his team, flipping through the baseball cards they were given. And then. They announced a special award, for outstanding sportsmanship. This was for kids who gave 150%, who were team players, who had great attitudes and cheered everyone on. Needless to say, Sterling's coaches chose to give him our teams award. I am so proud of this. He's a decent player, and as each coach made an effort to tell me, he's improved a lot this year. But he's not a natural, and there were times when I wondered if he was more interested in the gum he was allowed to chew during games than playing well. But he never complained, never gave up, always encouraged, and has such a sweet spirit... and that was recognized by his coaches (despite having less than attentive and gung ho parents).

Really, it made it worth the whole season.

Crafty Me :: a knitted nest

Crafty Me :: a knitted nest, originally uploaded by islandj.

It's all about the birds here, whether in reality or in my fiber world. I found this lovely pattern for a knitted nest and birds eggs, some recycled yarn, and spent a soothing bit this weekend working out the nest and eggs. It's a bit fiddly with cables and tight knitting, and provisional cast-ons (something new to learn -love that!), but overall, I really enjoyed every moment of putting it together. Sage and Siena both are awed by this bit of foolery, and both wanted me to put it outside to see if a bird would nest in it. This one, however, is about to be en route to a dear one as a very belated birthday gift, so no nesting is likely to happen. But I can see more of them in the future, they are so petite and cheery.

Wordless Wednesday :: The Final Game

Wordless Wednesday :: The Final Game, originally uploaded by islandj.

Quail Botanical Gardens :: Love the Field Trips!

Quail Botanical Gardens :: Love the Field Trips!, originally uploaded by islandj.

This morning we joined some kindred spirits for a field trip to the local Quail Botanical Gardens. What a lovely place to wander! Many different kinds of habitats, trees and shrubs and flowers and succulents and so many things which blew our minds. My favorites are pictured above - the white poppy is simply, by far, my favorite native plant, and the one on the upper right is just a spectacular desert plant. Sterling (once again the odd boy out - helping to right the wrongs of many years of poor Siena being the odd girl out) spent the morning chasing lizards, and writing down the odder names. Siena, Sage and their friends flitted here and there, smelling and touching and giggling. Lots of giggling. Their mom and I had just as much fun flitting and talking and sneaking moments of mom time amidst making sure no one got stung by a bee or tripped into a cactus. Add a picnic lunch and playtime on the grass... I love field trips!

Gardening :: Journal Sketches

Gardening Journal Sketches, originally uploaded by islandj.

Well, I must confess a great deal of excitement that the vast majority of our plantings of two weeks ago are NOT dead! In fact, most are still alive and well, and the few that died probably can trace their demise to several accidental, humpty-dumpty style leaps from their window container. Most were, in point of fact, able to be put back together again, but one or two simply couldn't take the shock or indignity of such treatment.

And so we've had much to learn and think about. We've used a handy e-book on seeds to learn about some terminology (seed, embryo, germination, tap root, seedling), as well as what each of the changes we watch mean. We've seen the soaked seeds begin to sprout, and then grow, we've been astonished by the network of white roots that simply pour out of the pea's little mesh dirt home, and we've watched with delight the bean plants (literally a handful of pinto beans from the 25 lb Costco bag tossed into some dirt in an old colander) take off and nearly become a bouquet they are so pretty.

Every few days we take a moment, pick a particular seedling, and sketch it in our garden journals. Siena and I have really enjoyed doing this. We both fell in love with a little sunflower seedling that, for over a week, kept it's seed shell aloft on its growing green leaf (you can see my drawing in the upper right, Siena's in the lower left). I was skeptical about our ability to actually capture this on paper (and so I've got lots of photos), but so pleasantly surprised to see what success we've all (including Sterling, who agreed to sketch a bean plant that is growing in the middle of the grass, where he and Siena dug a little hole and planted it a week or two ago - his is the top middle sketch) enjoyed. And taking the time to draw these seedlings - and attempting to do them justice - has honed our observation skills quite nicely, prompting us to see things we would normally just overlook.

I'm reading The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes right now, and it seems that at least once in each tale he chides Dr. Watson: "You see, but you do not observe." How very true it is in high stakes sleuthing, and how true it is in the little things in life as well. We are learning to observe more, and how much richer we are for it!