These Days

These days we are waiting.  Waiting to hear about some potentially very good things, but waiting nonetheless, with spring and summer plans on hold for now.

We are also:

 Enjoying lots of time outdoors this spring, aka the time before too many stinkbugs and mosquitoes.

Appreciating anew the beauty of our neighborhood.

Taking a welcome break from packing.

Taking a welcome break from keeping the house in show condition.  Because these children are very special and extremely talented in keeping the house in a more, um, creative condition.  The scene pictured below happened in the two minutes it took me to put leftovers on their plates for dinner.  (Not pictured: the paper towels woven into the backs of the dining room chairs.)

I enjoy the placement of the cat scratching post right next to the couch, for the ultimate in cat relaxation and grooming.

Moving On

So much has been going on these days, I've not had time to sit down and blog about it.  If you look carefully at the family photo from Valentine's Day, you'll see a big stack of cardboard boxes behind us.  The rumors are true: we are moving. 

As you can imagine, I'm getting all kinds of help with the packing.

I've been reading with interest about those doing the Forty Bags in Forty Days project for Lent, because we have easily gotten rid of that much, plus all the things we're storing (so they're gone for now).  It is amazing how little need to get by, and how much extra we are used to having.  We're the type of people who tend to save things "in case we need them later for some project," and it's a relief to be rid of the usual guilt that comes from getting rid of things.

It's also fun to rediscover some old treasures.  Check out my late Great Aunt Nora's Mad Men-era clip-on earrings that Betsy is modeling.

It's a surreal place to be, not knowing where we're going.  We have ideas, we're doing research, and in some says we're enjoying the freedom that comes with possibility.

But it does seem strange not to be starting our garden. 

Some of us have fingers that itch to dig in the dirt.

On Having Enough

A few weeks ago, while we were wandering around a local greenhouse, Matthew and I made an impulse purchase.