fairies, soccer, found objects, memories and celebrating love...

 So, when Mary and Crit were here when we first arrived, Mary and Oliver discovered a magical village just by our house in a cedar tree that is wound with wisteria.  They deemed this area "Dreamland Village"....and then their imaginations took off.  There are fairies, wizards, dragons, Pegasus and ponies.  Many nights we have to go and feed the fairies a very specific meal of magnolia leaves, moss, grass and flowers.  This is all from the imagination of Oliver and Mary and it is lovely. 

Oliver's imagination has found new breath here....it was always alive...but it has run wild here....

 We had a fun sleepover with Kobe last weekend.  Here they are in the early hours....this will certainly be used against them when and if they are older and care that they were practically spooning.  Regardless....i love this...and sweet Kobe is such a good cousin.  He's so helpful and STRONG. 

Bryce and I are still navigating the schedule of him working from home.  It's been a challenge because he is HERE...but needs to focus and not be disturbed.  So, we are trying to develop our schedule.  One great thing (for me) is that on *workdays* Bryce wakes up with the boys and I get to either sleep in, go running or do yoga.  It's a toss up as to which wins....but...when I do yoga....(deep breath)....this is my sweet view...:

 I roll out my mat at the foot of our bed and look out this gloriously tall window onto a gigantic trees and a winding driveway.  I breathe deep breaths in this space...

 This was a gift from my sweet friend, Julie.  I feel it....  Right now...this is where I belong.  I am so connected to the earth here...


We've been going out on the pond almost every day....until recently...we only had an OLD flat bottom fishing boat that you have to empty out every time you set to water: 

Me and Huggie,, pre-pond-cruise:

 Oliver and Bryce fishing:

Oskar and I stayed ashore...hunting for turtles:

I found Bryce, Oliver and Oskar watching a soccer game in Dad's room....beautiful to see them enjoying this together:

So....as I have explained to Oliver...this house is FILLED with hidden treasures.  FILLED!  Recently I found Mom's sewing box.  it was filled with threads, needles, ribbon, lace, patterns....a wealth of projects and memories.  It made me feel so connected to her as I rummaged through its contents...

 so....I took a few photos in an effort to capture its magic...

While on the topic of *found* objects...my beloved Critti is getting married on April 21.  I am leaving tomorrow to join the wedding festivities.  I have been working for a while now on her gift, which is entirely made of fond objects in this home and our lives...  here's my collection: 

I wanted to also share my Cranes....when I was in the hospital this past summer, Mary (Crit's daughter) and her friend made me strands and strands of "get well soon" cranes.  They carry with them a power and I like to keep them close....:

Here is Crit and Tate's wedding gift that I created from the found objects.  In case you can't make it out, it reads "i carry your heart"...which is a line from a favorite poem of Crit's and mine by e.e. cummings. Every piece of this from the wood (reclaimed from one of the fallen buildings on our land) to the green fabric (cut from the baby sling that I carried Oskar in) came from things that I found and re-pourposed.  It was really fulfilling to create this.  I am so excited for Crit's beautiful wedding this weekend and welcome that I will be present for this union....

these  beads, that make the ellipsis are from a necklace that Dad brought back from Mexico...

 i love the grains of this wood...

 I wrapped the ee cummings piece and some NC pottery very mindfully as well...here are some shots:

I leave tomorrow for Arizona....to witness the union of my BFF to her love on Saturday.   I wish we could've afforded to all go...but it's just me.  I am looking forward to the time and the celebration....I'll take tons of pictures.