Rain

Saturday was so hot. When we made it home from Montana it was 97 F, there are also fires up in Canada and the smoke made the sky sort of soft with strangely filtered light. While the sunsets have been stunning, the fires are definitely not good for people who want to breathe air (AKA everyone). So yesterday when it started to drizzle here in Wyoming I was so happy for the clean air and relief from the heat. The rain continued on through the night. Eric and I slept with our windows open and the cool air, combined with the sound of rain and muttering birds was pretty much heavenly. It was a strange juxtaposition for me as I was having a full night of horrible dreams. I kept waking up with a jolt, only to be soothed back to sleep by the comforting patter of rain.

When we all rolled out of bed this morning there was coffee and breakfast and open windows letting in the clean cool air. The girls outfitted themselves in crocheted ponchos and Betty Sprinkles settled in front of a space heater. I went outside to take photos of the beautiful gloomy morning. Slightly waylaid by my inability to understand Eric's high tech camera. I enjoyed the wet grass on my feet. The drops of rain water resting on the plants. My garden was happily drinking up the excess. I am ready for a creative rainy day!

 











 

Winter

We have had an unusually mild winter this year. Lots of temps in the 50s, not a ton of snow, rain even. I hate winter driving and the wind here where we live is generally intense this time of year, so winter is not always my most favorite season in Wyoming. This year has been different. We have gotten to spend a lot of time outside. Temps that aren't in the below zero range means that the girls can spend time outside too.

Yesterday we got quite a lot of snow, but the temperatures stayed pretty warm at or just below freezing. This meant that outside play was an option and we definitely took advantage of it and enjoyed ourselves outside.

Break From Winter

Looks like we are enjoying a little break from winter, sorry East Coasters. The weather has been warm and pleasant. The snowy ruts in our road are nearly completely melted away. Yesterday afternoon I took the girls outside to play in the yard and it was magical. I cleaned up and did a little yard work while they stomped around in the snow and mud.







At one point the girls were beating the remaining snow drifts with sticks, almost as though they were beating winter away.



The dogs lounged in the  areas of the yard that weren't completely saturated by the snow melt.



It is that time of year where we have false starts to spring. Spring won't really arrive for some time yet, but I am itching to get back into the garden and enjoy meals on the back porch. For now I am content enough to just enjoy the gift of a random warm afternoon.

Teepee Painting

The other day I was hanging out in the back yard with the girls. They can play together back there all afternoon. Often times their play involves running back and forth from the bench to the teepee and then to their little slide thing. They giggle a lot. Sometimes there are monsters chasing them. Sometimes there is a tornado coming. Mostly though, they are princesses (yep, it is impossible to avoid Princess play) and they have many kingdoms to watch over.

I absolutely adore this time. I step back and let them be kids. Honestly this is one of the best parts of parenthood, watching your kids play and create and enjoy each other.

Generally now I am not wanted or needed during these times. I just work on the yard, paint, rake leaves, whatever. I only intervene when requested. The other afternoon was one such time. The girls were a bit bored/hungry/cranky. I pulled out some paints and handed them over to each girl and let them paint all over  their teepee. Instant distraction!

Cordelia had a game plan. Elise just went crazy!

A good hour was burned as they painted on their awesome teepee. For the record we have gotten so much use out of this simple teepee. I highly recommend that you try one.

Cordelia wrote me a message,"Love Mom."

Nice afternoon distraction.

Have a beautiful Saturday. 

Saturday

I hope you are planning a lovely Saturday! We certainly are hoping to enjoy a gorgeous Wyoming day. 

Gotta Do It

When we purchased our home we had no idea what we were in for each fall. All of the leaves in the world blow into our yard and stay there. Fact. This year we have all of the small branches left from the tree apocalypse that happened here last month. We got all of the major big branches out, but there are still tons of little branches to deal with. We had every intention of being totally on top of the leaves this year. Then we got hit with a month of unending illness and the leaves just piled up.  We have now become those people on our block, all of the other yards are tidy and ready for winter...then there is ours. Usually our yard is very well maintained, but not this fall. Eric just kind of cleared a path through the leaves for visitors and the mailman.

Sure we had opportunities to rake leaves, those window of free time usually popped up in the hours after the girls went to bed and neither of us felt inclined to rake in the dark. It would have been ultimately weird though and it would almost be worth it to be the weird neighbors who night rake.

Then yesterday we had a window of opportunity to actually do something about it. So Eric and Cordelia set to work. I have to take it easy with my cracked rib and there was no raking for me. I did manage to snap a few photos before I took Elise in for her nap.

















When Eric called it a day he'd made a ton of progress. Six major trash bags full and we still have to do the side and back yards. The back yard is the worst because, in spite of a poop scoop, there is always a threat of a lingering poo underneath a leaf pile. GAAAAG!

Ucross

Earlier in the week Eric had some business out of town. The girls and I decided to join him for the day trip. He was visiting the Ucross Foundation (click here). This is a place where creatives (artists, writers, musicians) come and take a retreat. I can only imagine how wonderful the experience must be. While I can't apply to stay there (no kids can stay there, kind of defeats the purpose) it might be something I shoot for in another season of my life. We drove to the absolutely gorgeous location on a restored farm and got a quick tour of the grounds, it was nothing short of amazing. The offices are housed in a restored farmhouse. Think high ceilings and old furniture. It was very charming.


Cordelia at Ucross.

Next we went and checked out some off site locations. Eric had a meeting. We all thought it would be quick so the girls and I decided to hang out  near the gardens and tiny chapel. If we had known that the quick meeting would turn into a 2 1/2 hour event I may have shuffled over to Buffalo to explore with our girls. Instead we hung out for 2 1/2 hours. It was kind of weird to just loiter, but the girls were totally oblivious and enjoyed the outdoors. Thankfully I had brought water, snacks and sunscreen.


Small chapel

We wandered over to the small chapel. Really it was just a small room with windows and pews. There was a podium with a guestbook where passing travelers signed their names. The girls played in there. Cordelia imagined that we were on a ship. Elise just ran around like crazy. She was also really impressed by the ceiling beams.







There was also a small and gorgeous  garden for us to explore. We sat around enjoying and exploring in a way we certainly would never have made time for otherwise, but the girls enjoyed themselves immensely.







When it was all said and done both girls passed out in the car on the ride home. I had received about about a dozen new mosquito bites (oddly I was the only one bitten). A strange day for sure, but a good one too.

Outside All Day

Yesterday I was determined to spend more time out than inside. So we did. First we went down by the river so Cordelia could collect some objects for the nature table. We wandered through the shallows and the brush. I just let the girls set the pace and the destination. We had a fantastic time.















When we tired of that it was time to head home for lunch and Elise's nap. Over lunch Cordelia talked about how much she loved nature. Elise slapped her food around the tray and laughed at her sister. It was good. Then it was nap time. Elise slept while Cordelia and I read some books and snuggled.

After Elise's nap we went out on the back porch to relax and play. There was chalk and play and a unicorn and investigating and it was lovely.






Later we took a nice evening walk with the entire family. It is these days, or their memory, that will pull me through a long winter.