Memorial Day - PLANTING day!

And so today - at last - Miles (our adorable 3 and a half year old grand nephew) came to LBF to plant his garden bed. He told me months ago that it would be "lovely" if he had his very own planting bed. The wind and late spring snows foiled our previous plans for planting. Today was our day! He arrived with his Dad, his hat, and 7 packets of seeds he had been collecting one at a time since February. He knew exactly where to find the hand tools - in the garden mail box, of course! With oodles of help (from Podgie & Melli, his Dad, and me) Miles planted his whole row! Then watered it...and himself. Wont' be long before his little row will be filled with sparkler radishes, perfect carrots, zinnias, peas, and corn! I don't hold out a lot of hope for the pepper seeds or tomato seeds, but we planted them anyway.

It was a great day!

Sweet time with my elders

I have had the privilege of spending quite a lot of time with my parents recently. The biggest reason I moved here two years ago, even though my "better half" (my hero!) had to continue to live in California a while longer (honoring his commitment to Uncle Sam) is this- so I can enjoy my parents now! Realizing I will not always have this pleasure, I simply love getting to visit with my Mom & Dad at their house. Mom is wheelchair bound (temporarily we trust), so today we went out for a wheelchair "walk" together for the first time since her surgery. I knew she would enjoy seeing the beautiful flowers in bloom, and while I nearly catapulted her out of her chair on a big crack in the road that I did not see (!!!!! sorry Mom!!!!), it was a lovely "walk". My brother (yes, he is one of my heroes too), joined us for a bite of lunch, re-vitalized the folks' water feature, and invited me to join him at a wine tasting! He's so good to me! We had a fine time!

My Dad (one more hero!) graced me with a gift today. He gave me a book that had belonged to my grandmother - his mom. It was a gift to my grandmother from her mother-in-law. It was written in 1922 by Edgar A. Guest. The title is Making the House a Home. It is a dear little book about...home! I love that this sweet book was important to my Grandma Carol. And that my Dad saved it and gave it to me. Thank you, Dad!

A time of change

With great joy I wish to announce that the Commander will soon be on the LBF premises full time! Come late June, he will drive up the approach to our little house with all of his leftover gear in tow - and settle in for real! No more short term engagements! We will begin a new chapter in the story of our very blessed lives together. It has been nearly two years that we have lived our "come & go" existence. While it has been somewhat exciting to have a "luxury urban loft apartment" at Oakland's Jack London Sqauare, from which we could easily launch off to Napa, Sonoma, Stinson Beach, Green Gulch Farm, and San Fransisco, it has been a bit exhausting and stressful. How much more easily we will now visit our children and sweet baby granddaughters, once we are living in ONE place.

I am ever grateful for our new situation! Here's to early morning coffee on the porch and a late evening glass of wine in the garden....together....over & over & over again! Again I say - LIFE IS SO VERY GOOD!

Meeting Itty Bitty Baby Bird

I've just returned home to Little Bird Farm after spending a very, very sweet week with our new Itty Bitty Baby Bird in North Carolina! Holding Little Piper Gaye, gently rubbing her soft head on my cheek, gazing into her dark sparkly eyes - knowing that she heard my voice and knew me!!!! This is how I spent hours and hours! I called her my little Marigold as her hair is such a pretty shade of red with graceful whorls. Grubepop and I took her for a long walk through Duke Gardens and I could tell that she appreciates the beauty of nature! Throughout the week, it was so sweet to see her Mama & Daddy caring for her, so gently and lovingly! Next weekend Little Piper's cousin Abigail will be visiting her for the first time, along with her Mommy & Daddy! I can hardly wait to hear about this event as our two precious grand babes get to know each other!

While in North Carolina we also spent some wonderful time with dear "old" friends and celebrated our firstborn's 35th birthday in person (wow - 35!!!). And we built a mighty fine backyard chicken coop. It was a wonderful week!

LIFE IS SO GOOD!!!!!

It's Mother's Day!

I am blessed beyond belief to:
1. have my Mom nearby to love and enjoy!
2. be the Mom of two fabulous sons, and the mom-in-law to their lovely "wives"!
3. be a grandma of two precious baby girls!
4. know so many amazing Moms and honorary Moms!

It's been a truly beautiful day. Happy Mother's Day!