Dog Days of Summer

Avonlea and I took the pups to the dog park today for a little picnic. The juggling of two dogs and a toddler was a bit much for this mama.  So we picnicked under the trees, away from the other mamas and the other babies who giving this mama the stink-eye. It still was a perfect day....perfect company, perfect breeze, perfect moment for dancing in the sunshine. 

My three pups.

I forgot to edit these before the posting.  ignore the poor lighting...:)

She might be better than me....

just sayin'....

Flower Girls

 It was a pretty little sunset. And my girl requested that we go take pictures of flowers. 

Her mama's daughter. 

 

 wishes....wishes....wishes....

There is nothing more delicious than her curls tumbling over her pretty shoulders...

 it never gets old. :)

 A mushroom for a gnome...

we hope you enjoyed your sunset tonight...
<3

Give a little bit of your love to me...

This is love....This right here.

Happy Valentines Day to you and all of your loves from me and mine!

XOXO

Above the Waves

Today is a new month. I had great hopes for January. But the tragically devastating loss of a dear friend on New Year's Day has sent my little family reeling and spinning off its stable axis.

Today is a new month, but the loss is still so great. So many unanswered questions makes it hard to overcome. We feel not only her loss daily, but also her presence, the two playing tug-of-war in our hearts. The weight is still so heavy to bear.

There are nightmares.
There are tears once the sun sinks low, and the little is asleep.
There is anger and confusion and anxiety.
There is the weight.  The weight is. so. much.

I am white-knuckling the rope to my anchor-sister so she doesn't slip beneath the waves. There will be no drowning. There will be no more drowning.

I haven't forgotten the good that January has brought: the fresh starts, the new plans, the love. It is the sunshine to focus on when the days are clouded.

I will keep our heads above the water. And this grief will subside like the tide. We will roll with it.

February is a new month, and there are calmer seas ahead.

someone's in the kitchen....

Tonight was a quiet little night. We had nowhere to be, nothing to do, no one to visit, nothing to clean. No expectations of us. No crazy to-do lists. Life is quieting down here in our little home. We decided to bake.

The girl did more of this than the latter. Little talk from my tiny chatterbox. There were too many "mmmmm's" in the air.

"mmmmm....momma, taste this spoon!"

"mmmmmmm...one...two...three..mmmmmmm...smells gooooood...four..."

Pretty little cookies piled high....

*woof* "Don't I get a cookie?"