In Search of Summer: The Manifesto

I think it so fitting that for some of us, today is the end of this series.

I needed something to usher in the season, to help me me mindful and focus on slowing down.

To look for every day opportunities to see the season for what it is-- this not spring but not yet summertime. To embrace all it brought with it, rain and sunshine, life change and rhythm change. We saw the physical changes didn't we? Throwing off the jeans for shorts. Trading in boots for sandals. Blankets for open windows.

Now, what was the purpose of this? And how will we carry on the mindfulness? Here is my summer manifesto, thank you to Nicola and Imene for the idea.

We will...
 + Say yes to sprinklers
 + Eat outside at least once a week
 + Play in nature, trees, forest, beach of some sort at least once a week
 + Take our family balance seriously.
 + Paint our house
 + Feed our souls and feed others bellies
 + Watch less TV-- or none at all (ahhh I can dream)

I will...
 +Learn how to sew
 +Be better at Thank Yous
 +Write in my journal

What will you do this summer?

Don't forget the giveaway you can still enter until midnight tomorrow!

In Search of Summer: June 3; Kids with Cameras

For the last few months, the kids (and their friends) have been obsessed with my camera, and wanting to take pictures for themselves. Well, with much trepidation, and some good instruction-- I let them take a few photos every now and then.

Here are some photos they took while we were at home, and some were taken at Rebekah and Davids, who moved into their new house this weekend.

corner view:: from where I'm sitting

Outside:

[Picnic at Stone State Park]

Inside:

[Aftermath]

From where I sat this weekend, in the grass under a tree on a picnic with the girls-- on our hike. Larissa surprised us with crackers, goat cheese and sparkling berry cider. Emily brought dried mangos and trail mix. Oooo dried mangos and goat cheese. Yes please. 

On Monday... every meal was awesome. We sat for our regular friends and neighbor's breakfast-- Eric's pancakes and bacon, fruit and coffee. Handmade maple syrup. We moved out to the front yard, where the kids played and the adults basked in the sun.

Chips and salsa, a couple beers and conversation for lunch.

For the evening we went for a BarBQue at Ryan and Katie's. We were tired and well fed by the end of the day!

Loved the view 'from here where I'm sitting." Where did you sit this weekend?

In Search of Summer: June 1

Our weekend was so jam-packed with loveliness, it started, for me on Saturday morning. When two girlfriends and I met up for a morning hike at Stone State Park (then Mexican food).  We all share a love of nature, Nikons and now goat cheese. By the end of the summer we'll be all over the country.

This day, was perfect, shady but warm. We got just enough sweaty/dirty to actually know we hiked. The conversation and location was sublime. 

And it was good so good to be together.

[Emily and Larissa. So beautiful, no?]

[A new Diana lens in action]

[Tacos]

[Burrito-y goodness]

**********

Note: OOops. I let my flickr pro account lapse. So if you are looking at a blog entry with no photo... I know where the problem lies. This should be fixed within the week...

Double OOOops!  I forgot to put Imene into the sidebar with all the other In Search of Summer participants. Please stop by and welcome her!

In Search of Summer...

We had a long and wonderful weekend, half work and half play. But even the work was refreshing.

After moving some friends on Saturday (I would say 'we' but I didn't really help...), we rented a dumpster and we cleaned out our barn, perhaps the first time in it's 40+ year history? And we took a carload out of our playroom to the donation truck and the kids haven't noticed. That's when you know they have TOOO much stuff to play with!

I will be back here in a bit with the weekend's photos.

FYI, my loom project was featured on Designmom. Stop by and check it out!

In Search of Summer: May 28: Truman

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. ~Amanda Soule

In Search of Summer: May 28: Isabel

{this moment} - A Friday ritual. A single photo - no words - capturing a moment from the week. A simple, special, extraordinary moment. A moment I want to pause, savor and remember. ~Amanda Soule

In Search of Summer: May 27th

We didn't have to search much for summer this afternoon, the warm afternoon just swept us there. The kids were itching, before the car was even in the garage to get out to the sprinkler.

We left Izzo's swim suit at our friend and daily babysitter's house, so we got creative-a pair of regular underwear and my old (so pre-baby) tankini. She thought she looked "fabulous!"

Truman had a very specific agenda for his summertime outfit, as little clothes as possible. He was sure his, "(S)wimmy trunks would be too HOT!"

Some baby birds were just born and live on our downspout. It has been fun to watch them grow!

*Please visit the list of other blogs participating, in my sidebar. It's not too late, you can participate too!

In Search of Summer: May 26th

 

Hello Friends! Such a great group is joining us for In Search of Summer. We will be documenting summer in all forms in all parts of the world. Asking the question, "What does summer mean to me?" If you want to join, just visit this post and email me a link of your blog and I'll send you a button!

[Me with two favorite things, flowers and coffee!]

 [Emily and I]

Today, I will be finishing up the last of the Des Moines posts and starting In Search of Summer with something that is so close to my heart, Farmers' Market. Farmers' Markets hold all that summer is, fresh, local, just picked, bottled or jammed food. Still warm bread and pastries. Beyond the food, it's the community aspect.

Des Moines Market is blocks wide-- brimming with people at 7 a.m. There was the regular but exquisite flowers and produce but the vendors-- were amazing. And BREAD. World Food. Yarn and baskets! O wow.

 [Breakfast of Champions too-good-to-be true breakfast burrito!]

 [Mushrooms that I've never seen before!]

[Hand spun yarn-- you know I had to buy some]

 [Orchids, Orchids]

I'm excited to say that Farmers' Market in Orange City (my own little town), starts June 1! I only am able to bake and sell for the Saturday morning session, but I love the group of vendors that we sell with. I'm so excited to be selling with all of them again!

In Search of Summer!

Tomorrow, we will be starting In Search of Summer. And I would love you to join! Tell us the way you are seeing the early stages of summer!

To sign up and get your own button and if you have questions email me at theyellowdoorpaperie {at} gmail [dot] com!