... and suddenly it's june

I carved this stamp for the incredible stephinie of sweet brier farms (formerly known as gypsy forest).

I have admired stephinie's work for a very long time and was so excited when she contacted me. She is beginning an herbal adventure, and she wanted a stamp to print their muslin herb bags. I immediately pictured something circular with leaves crawling up the sides. It's so fun to get to be a small part of something so special.

A new project.... sheet metal and an old frame... will share more soon.

Dirty knees and tired toes.

Another new project... project "building a chicken coop outside of the yard".

He tore out the overgrown shrubbery. He's leveling the land. He is going to put in a new fence and gate that the chickens can't get through, and then he will build a coop out there. 

The ground is recovering nicely from last summer's project.

The annual mountain bike race and my three racers. So proud of them.

This year was something else. It picked up a speed that I had not yet traveled at. Looking back I am so glad for all of the experience, inspiration, and insight it gave me... but OH!... I am so ready to take a step back from that commitment and slow down for a while.

the sound of spring

Beautiful spring cards from my very talented friend summer. Which is the same woman that makes our beloved peg families. These cards are prints of her original water color paintings. I am completely in love with them.

As you can see our chicks are quickly becoming chickens. They have been outside for quite some time now. They moved out into that hutch with a heat lamp, were out there for several weeks, and now they are in a chicken tractor (photos of that here) without the lamp. They seem to be very happy out there with their fresh spring grass.

Bought more hellebores... they are quickly becoming one of my favorites. Evergreen foliage, gorgeous blooms late winter through spring, shade loving. The flowers and leaves are both incredibly beautiful.

I love it when they bloom. They got a good week and a half, maybe two of nice weather for pollination. We have had rain and wind the last few days though, and most of the blossoms are gone now. It still surprises me how quickly they come and go. But now my absolute favorite part of spring has begun... the bird songs. They are constantly singing out there. Loudly. I can hear them with the windows closed, and they sing rain or shine. 

on the cusp of change

 my youngest turned five on saturday.

each year we move a little farther away from baby days and toddler hood. 

on one hand i feel a bit sad and nostalgic about it all... but on the another hand i am ever so ready and excited for what's to come next.

 

 my little ollie jane absolutely adores monkeys.

she also adores our hand painted peg doll family made by the amazing summer. so i asked summer to make a monkey family for her. not only did she make an incredible monkey family, but she included some very special extras.

 the sweet stuffy above she said has been looking for someone to love him, and my ollie loves him so very much. i just love that adorable face.

 the monkey family is even better than i thought it would be... i am so impressed with her creativity and attention to detail.

 and this extra is so very special...

it is jane goodall and her little chimpanzee friends.

i must admit... i knew very little about jane goodall. i also knew that ollie knew very little about her and would not fully appreciate this gift without a little more knowledge. so i ordered some books on jane to go with the pegs. oh. my. goodness. first of all, what an incredible woman, and secondly, there are so many wonderful similarities to my own little "jane". what fun we have had learning about her and her adventures. thank you so much summer for all the wonderful things you brought into my little ollie's life on her birthday!

 above are some very sweet handmades by her older sisters. those two are so creative and thoughtful. i was not home to help them sew their creations together, so they stapled them. i personally think this was absolutely brilliant on their part. 

five years old... such a wonderful age.