Jo, this one's for you...

Ok, I know its the tree of the you-know-what political party, but I just love willows.  Oh I love love love them.  I annoyingly much love them.  I love them in that proclaiming way that makes you want to slap your sister.  I love them like my chickens love bugs.

I love how they move and hang and envelope you.  How the whole tree is in one giant movement all its own.

Grandpa's farm in Michigan has 5 big willows.  I stood under them and cried because they make me emotional like a hallmark movie.  Love.

 

garden goodness

 

Last week was open windows 24/7.  It bumps me up at least 7 notches of happy when I get to fall asleep with the night air and wake to breeze coming in the windows.  Kansas, you were so good to me that I promise to try hard to wait a few days before being mad at you again.

And this is happening in the garden.....

Love.

 

 River's one lone sunflower.  He is SO proud.

My beloved basil...

River's apple tree has about 10 this year!!

About to be lunch...

oatmeal pancakes

Tastiest pancakes of all time.  They make brunch really brunch, not just a late, lazy breakfast to tie you over til lunch.  We've been making them for the last 10ish years because they.are.the.best!

We always make them gluten-free with this gf flour recipe.

3/4 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1 Tbsp. sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 1/2 c. quick oats
2 eggs, beaten
1 3/4 c. sour milk or buttermilk*
1/4 c. vegetable oil

 * For the buttermilk - just do a scant 1 3/4 c. regular milk mixed with 2 Tbsp. vinegar - stir it together and let it set on the counter for a few minutes

Combine the dry ingredients.  Mix the milk, eggs, and oil separately.  Add them to the dry ingredients and mix until just moistened.  Makes about 12 pancakes.



Of course, its best with this!

 Pancakes so good, they make you.........

made of stars, blossoms, and breezes

You know how I say my kitchen sink is my office in this season of life?  Now I have fresh-picked lavender hanging in my office window.  Blisssssss.

Its scent and hangy-ness remind me that I have a center.  To pay attention to it, to breathe deeply and let joy creep into the corners of my days. 

And this....

"I also learned that you didn't come onto this earth as a perfectionist or control freak.  You weren't born as a person of cringe and contraction.  You were born as energy, as life, made of the same stuff as stars, blossoms, breezes.  You learned contraction to survive.  But that was then.  It is now your turn to reap."
~ Anne Lamott

Michigan, I heart you.

So I did this thing last week where I went to Michigan and filled my insides right up.  Swam in the blue water, watched the sunset over the lake, read three books, had great convos with my cousins, and was spoiled up one side and down the other by Aunt Charlie.

 This, my friends, is bliss.

Look at his little crack.  Oh my heart.

He liked to find a spot to himself to dig, build, lay, and think.  I love watching him.

No childhood is complete without burying your dad neck deep in sand.

The Buzz reunited with his cousin Hesston.  Two supermans in a pod.  Riv gave Hesston his old wrestling shirt because he thought there's really nothing tougher than your name beside wrestling.

And look who we saw on the way home!!  A few hours is better than no hours, so we made Goshen our pitstop.

The Chachi Band was at camp with her cousins all week while we were on the beach.  She had a blast, did not have gluten (woot woot!), and even remembered to shower.  Although the shampoo bottle was still full when we unpacked.  Hmmm.

Michigan, you do not disappoint!