PiCtUrEpAloOZa

The Tulip Festival at Thanksgiving Point

We enjoyed very fine weather, the highlight of which was a picnic on the lawn.  Leone took her first drink from a water fountain and embarked on her favorite past time, people watching.

Oh JOY!

I have pictures to post of our recent adventures.  Alas, the cord for my camera is in the bedroom where Leone is sleeping so you'll have to wait a little longer. 

In the meantime:  I just realized that the Farmer's Market officially opens this month and the summer equivalent of the incident below may or may not have just happened in this home....

(except for the language of course...sorry)

Trail Mix

I can't put my finger on when it all started.  Whenever I try to pinpoint an event of decision I always end up finding an incident that goes even further back.  I'm finding that our lifestyle is becoming more and more green.  It wasn't as if we started the movement or just jumped on the bandwagon, it happened gradually.  I think "going green" has this image of being tree-hugging hippie granola people (I have nothing against any of those names....we've been called them before in friendly conversation and now that Spence often sports a beard we could add hairy to the list). I'd say we're more "trail mix" than "granola".  Really we look normal and act the same but we think and do things just a little bit differently than we used to.  

It probably started a few years ago when I had a co-worker from California who was adamant about recycling.  She made paper recycling bins for each of our classrooms and made sure the students and teachers used them.  She would take them home to empty every Friday and bring them back on Monday.  I would recycle the more obvious items occasionally but I wasn't as serious until I decided to get in the habit thanks to this co-worker.  I truly admired her dedication.  By the time Spencer and I married I was in a good rhythm of recycling. Spencer was always interested in using essential oils and herbs for healing rather than medication. I started making homemade bread and reading Whole Living magazine and delivered our baby naturally. So, where are we now? 

We separate our recycling and what the city won't pick up on our weekly garbage/recycling day we take to a drop-off site.  We cloth diaper and use cloth bags when grocery shopping.  I make homemade whole wheat bread and I've started making a large number of other goods from scratch.  Right now our big project is to weed out as much plastic as possible.  We've collected a few jars in various sizes and often use them to carry our lunches or hold leftovers. We also use glass baby bottles. 

We dream of collecting rainwater, composting, and installing solar panels in our future home. 

This isn't to say "look at us, we're so wonderful" because there are so many people better at it than we are.  It's just a realization I came to within the last week or so as I tried to figure out where it started. It was a lot of little things that added up to where we're going now. 

There is a sense of pride, of having done a good deed I feel when I think of another way we can live more responsibly and prudently.  

My mom has always said that she believes we have a stewardship over the Earth that God created for us. I believe it too and, come to think of it, that's probably where it started.

Tradition

I had an idea a few months ago that scratched that hard to reach "create-something" itch. You know the one.  

I mentioned the idea in my February post and I put the finishing touches on during spring break. I made a few pennant banners that I plan to hang when we have a birthday.  The idea is that our children will wake up and see the banners hanging around the house and know it's someone's birthday or something special is happening (like graduation or General Conference....yes, we put them up for conference).  They were quick and enjoyable to make! 

I thought primary colors would be neutral enough

Spencer hung the few strands I had completed at the time for my birthday!  It made my day.

April Showers

I just love how the weather is always changing in the spring. I'm ready for temperatures to rise and sunny afternoons but I don't mind the rain.  I have a bright green rain jacket that has this little trick to it; when I wear it I can't help but smile.  April has been full of rain (only 10 days in!) and blessings. Speaking of blessings, I hope you had a chance to watch conference.  I always come away feeling rejuvenated  as though I've had a breath of fresh air and can face the world again.

Just a glimpse

Life.
Some days are as cozy as sunshine beaming through an open window.  Other days are a beautiful blur. Each is measured it in it's own way but all will merge to form the finale of a wonderful life.
Below is a smattering of images from Valentine's Day and recent days (but mostly Valentine's).
Just a glimpse at our lovely life.

For Thought

I came across this article courtesy of my mother and found it thought provoking.  I was most impressed by this idea:

"Women escort every soul through the veil to mortal life and full agency...

even Adam, who was created before Eve, entered into full mortality and full agency by accepting

the gift of the First Tree from the hand of a woman.  In a sense, Adam himself was born of Eve."

When you have a few minutes read the rest and be wowed by womanhood.