Selma resting. She's so good that that.
Me resting. I'm not so good at that, but learning.
And little children playing at my feet, which I must say, makes the most lovely entertainment.
And for the cookies we settled on a gluten free strawberry linzer cookie. I am generally a woman who believes that dessert is meant to be indulgent, but with Ben's little gluten free trial underway, I knew I had to accommodate "the boss" as he's affectionately called. I felt like I was betraying myself while I was adding things like garbanzo flour and agave nectar to a dessert, but you know what? In the end, they taste delicious.
You know when you're immersed in the world of small children, there's little bits of knowledge you pick up along the way-- from a friend, from a book, from a blog-- and they just sort of sink in and become a part of what you know, deep down, to be true? Somewhere along the way I absorbed the information that there is great value in small children being immersed in the natural world. Observing things outside, talking about things outside, studying the natural world. There are so many reasons: there is beauty, wisdom, knowledge to be obtained. It is fun. But this is the one that really sticks with me: the entirety of the natural world is a metaphor, a beautiful story of our own relationship with the divine. Every animal, plant, particle in the universe gives testament to our own sacred origins, our purpose, and our destiny.
I haven't gotten around to planning the garden yet. By the summer, there will be tomatoes, herbs, strawberries, and, if we can get around to building another raised bed, hopefully more. But for now, the garden is as it was left last summer, albeit a pitiful neglected version of itself. So when Zosia and I headed over to see what is what and noticed that our spinach plants not only survived the winter, but are in full yield, it was a surprise to say the least. And, if that's not miracle enough, the bunnies hadn't gnawed them down to the root, either.
Zosia cut each spinach leaf with such care, talking about how she is "a farmer" under her breath.
The before dinner grab. Do you know this one in your household, too?
Dinner was such a wonderful summertime prelude. Spinach, mixed greens, tomatoes, some leftover chicken from last night and red onions tossed with Goddess dressing and corn on the cob. Ben's trying to be gluten free for a couple of weeks to how he feels, so for breakfast and dinner, we're along for the ride with him. So far, so good. Lunch seems to be the tricky part for me. Any suggestions out there?
I wish I could say Lily's delight is purely from eating fresh seasonal greens, but she's actually talking about how she wants "Cookies, cakes, and toys" for her birthday this week. Certainly reason enough to smile, if you ask me.
What changes do the warmer months bring to your kitchen?
And for the rest of us, a lovely smoothie for lunch.
Today's recipe, as dictated by chef Zosia's whims, was about half a cup of frozen berries, a chopped up frozen mango, a banana, a cup of milk, a third cup of dried milk (which adds great protein for growing children inside and outside of the womb), and a drizzle of honey. Yum!
And strangely, even amid the familiarity of everything, there is a newness to it, too. Because these streets knew a young newly married couple, full of joy but also insecurity. Countless delights and disappointments happened in this place, since this place. How do we walk these streets now? We are wiser, changed. Different. I know I walk differently than I did then, see things differently.
It only takes moments for these children of ours to pick up on the fact that this is a place that they belong. And us, too. At first, there are shy smiles and hideaways behind big legs, but hugs and tickles quickly sneak in. These are friends. Family. After all, these are voices that they were surrounded with when they were still growing in my womb. This place is a part of their story just as it is a part of our story.
As old friendships are renewed, new ones are formed. It is a magical thing, to have a place like this. A place you can just arrive at and feel so entirely at home. A place that is just waiting for you.
This little baby loves kicking at our little belly pokes (or kisses, or licks, as the girls have taken to doing). He loves music (especially a little marimba the girls shake close to my belly). And my oh my, is he beloved by this family. I think Zosia is partially convinced she is actually the mother, and Lily has named every toy and inanimate object in the house "brother."
on our mantel than in our yard, but I have no doubt that a few more days of this glorious spring weather will fix that. Can you tell that we've been doing a lot of good deeds? Okay, so maybe we put in a spoon full of seeds for each one. ;-) And, for those itching to try this project at home, snipping the grass is a wonderful project for the budding motor skills of a 3-year old (a tip given to me by a brilliant Montessori teacher). Spiritual growth, something green for the house, and an educational tool. And, if you're Lily, also quite a delectable treat.
We've been rediscovering the joy of the weekend around here. After a year of working on Sundays, there is such surprising beauty in having a full two days together. The pace slows down. Ben might have a project around the house, I might teach a class, we visit with friends. But there's also a spaciousness to just being together. We take a nap, the girls play, I give Ben a haircut. 
So tonight, while the fried chicken was bubbling away in the dutch oven, we had a fleet of little ones working on dinner. The ultimate menu: fried chicken, chopped fresh veggies, macaroni and cheese and brownies for dessert. Lily set the table, Zosia made sure the brownie bowl was clean as can be, and we all received a bit of thanks for our part in the meal.
