:: a happy nest ::

grateful monday.

feeling grateful...

for our first peonies from the garden (my mother & {step}father gave us the gift of 10 gorgeous peony plants as a wedding gift, and they give us such joy each spring.)

for an open calendar this week - reserved for self-care, rest, crafty catch-up, and connection with loved ones.  

for our pediatrician (I think I've said it a thousand times before, but I continue to be grateful for her unique practice model and the standard of care that she provides our family. you can read more about it here - shared by another mother in her practice). 

for my brother and his two best friends finishing a 30.1 mountain hike (or run, for one of them) in health and safety - to raise money for the CFF and awareness of cystic fibrosis. I am so proud. 

that we figured this out: long-acting antihistamines turn my child into a beast - and that she is back to herself after discontinuing the medicine.

for strawberry season.

for sprouting seeds.

for food fresh from the earth.

for hot tea.

that my mister is only out one night this week.

what are you feeling grateful for today?

four.

Four years ago today was possibly the most joyful - and the most terrifying - day of my life.

How has it been four years?

For years of joy, wonder, learning, and love. 

Happy birthday, baby. I'm so grateful to know you. I'm so proud to be your mama. 

I love you more than the moon,

more than the stars,

more than the fireflies lighting up jars.

barn bash.

This weekend, we ventured to the Starlight Meadow, just outside Burlington, NC. We went to attend the inaugural Barn Bash, benefiting the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.

My sister-in-law and a couple of her lifelong friends organized the event in honor of her daughter - my niece - Caroline, who has cystic fibrosis (click on the link in Caroline's name to read about the day to day management of cysitic fibrosis - though Caroline now has a vest to administer her chest physical therapy). 

It is so important for the CFF to receive donations because the CFF receives no federal dollars for research or development of a cure. $.90 of every dollar donated to the CFF goes to REASEARCH to develop therapies that help manage CF and hopefully will one day cure CF entirely. 

The inaugural barn bash was so much fun, I can hardly wait until next year. There were about 85 people in attendance this weekend, and we're hoping this event will grow each year. It was a good old-fashioned good time, with the added (and most important!) benefit of raising money to save my niece's life.

The setting was just perfect - a gorgeous meadow filled with buttercups, a charming barn, and a sweet little gazebo just down the hill. And the weather could not have been better. 

There was live music - bluegrass and funk,

dancing,

and great food. And cake!

There were tons of activities for the kids:

a waterballoon toss,

sack races,

and my brother (Caroline's father) had the idea to make kites and flags from sticks we found and fabric strips I had brought for the kids to use to make bracelets.

The best part of the evening was seeing Thea with her cousins.

Since Caroline has cystic fibrosis, it is especially important that she not be exposed to any germs or illnesses. Unfortunately, over the past year, someone in our family has been sick every time we've had a visit scheduled.

But these three connected just like no time had passed. Thea and Caroline spent a good part of the evening hand in hand.

I hope these two have lots of tomorrows. Every moment is precious.

 ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ 

I hope your weekend was filled with a little bit of magic too.

 

grateful monday.

feeling grateful...

for a good night's sleep in my own bed.

for a fun weekend with family and hours of snuggling my sweet niece (I haven't been able to see her in nearly a year!)

for greens growing in our garden patch.

for the tiny bouquets my darling girl brings me each day. 

for the quiet of farm fields and fresh country air.

for clean laundry (someone made quite an event of her first hotel stay by throwing up half the night!)

for freshly planted flower seeds.

what are you feeling grateful for today?

grateful.

 

feeling grateful...

for a quiet breakfast with tea and a book.

for the sound of my grandfather's voice.

for the nest of baby birds outside our back door.

for an ice cream shop in walking distance of our house.

for a dinner date with my mister.

for my mama.

for surprise gifts.

for the sunny spot that holds our garden.

for the smell of lilacs.

to have my sweet girl cuddled in my arms.

what are you feeling grateful for today?

fairy dust.

This weekend, one of Thea's friends turned four, and celebrated with a magical fairy party on the lawn of Maymont's mansion. The party was so sweet, and so well done. There were glittery feathers and butterflies draped in the trees, sweet tulle & flower wings for each little fairy, stories, dancing, and a search for materials so each little one could build their own fairy house.

The fairy godmother who hosted the party was a lovely Englishwoman with a soft voice. She used a wooden flute to capture the attention of the little fairies and to transition them from activity to activity. I wish I had gotten a photo of that!

It was a perfect afternoon, quite cool, but with warm sunshine.

The great trees themselves are magical: they are old & massive with great draping branches. I feel so grateful that we have such a picturesque park to explore and enjoy, right here in our hometown. (I've shared other photos of our time at this park here & on my Instagram feed). 

For the birthday girl, Thea and I made her a small fairy garden. I may have had more fun making this than Thea! I handpainted the fairies & mushrooms, and we collected various other plants and treasures to complete the garden.

What a lovely afternoon! Thank you, Freemans, for inviting us to be a part of it.

grateful monday.

feeling grateful...

for a happy garden growing in our new raised beds.

for new flower beds that are almost ready.

for the magic of preschool birthday parties.

for the joy of creating handmade gifts for loved ones.

for simplicity. 

for mama dates with inspiring souls at my favorite local coffee shop.

for stovetop popcorn.

that I discovered this blog.

for dogwood blooms.

what are you feeling grateful for today?