Roots

It's been a practically perfect week around here.  The sun has been out in full spring glory, warming to the low 70's.  We are finally starting to smell the pine trees again after several months of snow and a lingering burnt smell.  As I finish up my homework and begin to write, I'm working with tired eyes, and listening to a quiet house full of sun-kissed sleepy heads that have spent 90% of their day out-doors.   


The kids and I spent a beautiful afternoon Wednesday planting fruit trees.  This was on our NEED to do list this year, as, like I once read in a book, "The best time to plant fruit trees.... was LAST year."  There are many wonderful things this activity brought to my mind:

*Direct supply to the canning cupboard-- with the price of food becoming more and more ridiculous, it's hard to justify organics, so why not skip the bumpy trip to town and grow your own?!  An investment of time and sweat is SO worth it when you can line your cans up in fall and enjoy that wonderful food while you're snowed in during the winter.  We are still enjoying fruit from last season, and the kids are hooked on "making their own."  They are convinced that home-canned fruit is good enough to be dessert... Who can deny the yumminess!?   
*Dirt therapy-- there is nothing as satisfying as working around the "farm."  Getting your hands dirty, caring for your family, and getting things done!  We tend to have full plates, a fair amount of stress, and not enough hours in the day; but when we are all home, working outside, there's a buzz in the air; contentment all around.  A garden certainly is time and money... but it's also a product of dedication and love.
*Teachable lesson for the littles-- Where food comes from is most definitely something we strive to teach our children; but with this comes the work that goes along with feeding yourself.  It's never as easy as "lets just buy some plants," or "let's just butcher...," it all takes effort and investment when you don't outsource the work.  I was so impressed that Barrett completed the whole project with me this afternoon; usually attention spans get the best of chores, but lately he has been very focused.  He had shovel, dumptruck, and motivation to get this project done.  I can imagine his pride when he gets his first bite.  Kendyl also enjoyed the project, and was great moral support--enjoying the 70 degree weather in her undies and tennis shoes.  What a character! 

****Check Fruit Trees off the Seasonal To-Do List: Bees and Veggies Remain.. as well as a garden fence, hmmmm a milk cow would be nice, need more fences for that, DARN LIST anyway...

There is something about planting trees that seems fairly permanent.  While I snapped pictures of the kids, I was already planning yearly shots by the growing trees to document both their growth.  Seeing them grow and finding shade, a place to rest, or a snack.  The fires this year taught me a bit about the sacredness of the place you call home and your land-- a feeling that's multiplied by the memories you make and the sweat you put into it.  The more we form, the more memories are made, the deeper the roots go..................

We had quite the finish to my spring break.  A trip home for my Grandparents 60th Anniversary, and a celebration of my 25th (ok ok ok 30th) birthday.  I've actually been really looking forward to 30...no hesitations; I guess that is the feeling that comes from extreme wisdom, and being pretty ok with where your life is at.  Cam planned a surprise dinner with cousins, and friends and while I'm really not at liberty to discuss how much fun we had, I came away feeling incredibly lucky for the people in my life.  My grandma always used to tell us how much she liked to takes us out in public, because she felt so proud; and I felt just like her looking around admiring my husband and his efforts as well as the wonderful people my family members are, and those they have in their lives----so happy for their happiness.  It's really something to watch people you have grown up with navigate life-- I knew we would move on from capture the flag of course, but seeing these new families emerge is really amazing.  Families, houses, careers, we are all very different, yet I still feel the likeness of all the time we spent together growing up, and a common goal of a grounded life.  Having a husband that makes it all happen ain't bad either.

Celebrating my grandparents was very special as well.  Being married for 60 years stands on it's own as an accomplishment.  I can't help but think about the weekend and what they have created.  Two people who didn't have much, didn't know many people...and the wonderful village they have created.  Memories of time spent in their home are some of my best, and so much of where I am now is a product of the roots I was blessed with and stories I inherited.  Good food, laughter, loudness, games (lots of games), a splash of craziness, and lots of hugs-- family is a complex tapestry, but these two have given us a wonderful beginning to all our stories.  Very thankful for that.

Lumber Package Has Arrived

Returning home, we were all a bit wore out, but I couldn't rest for long as I had to start my FINAL quarter of nursing school.  It's still sinking in that I am almost done!  It's a gut twisting combination of excitement and shock/fear that I will soon have real people's lives in my hand (not really something to take lightly)--- it's beginning to feel like the end of school is the beginning of yet another challenge!!  My schedule is looking quite nice though, which is allowing me plenty of that dirt therapy I was mentioning earlier, along with much appreciated family time.  Today we started early again planting strawberries and blueberries.  I'm trying to be better about letting the kids be really involved and not minding so much if my rows are straight (silly I know, but meaningful when you are small and trying to help).  We groomed the horses and took off several layers of their winter coats.  Cam had a table buyer come in from Idaho today, to buy his latest creation, which was exciting!!  Following that we visited the neighbor's puppies and took ourselves to town for lunch.  We skipped naps and went to the lake for "homework" time while Cam worked on his latest order, a huge farmhouse table for a friend of mine.  Barret read several three letter words during reading time today, which was fabulous!!  I so enjoy seeing their light bulbs go off, and a sunny lake setting makes it picture perfect.  We topped off the day by heading to Fish Lake to roast dinner up there.  Both baths and bedtime are well deserved today....................... I'd call that success.