Rachel Dillon

I was reading one of the blogs that I follow, Writers Inspired, and she interviewed an artist who recently came out with a book for children.  Rachel Dillon has written a poetry book, Through Endangered Eyes, about endangered species around the world.  What really intrigued me was the paintings.  She made them by painting lots of little dots of different colors to build the design.  I plan to show these pictures to Gabriel and we can try some of this kind of painting ourselves.  I think he would find the activity fun.  You can see some of her work at her website,  http://www.racheldillon.com/

Three

Happy Third Birthday, Annika!  We went for "a bird watch" today, enjoying the sunshine.  Then we went to a really cool playground.  She helped me make her cake, and enjoyed two pieces of it after dinner.

 She seems so tall to me.  Every day I notice her changing, bit by bit, understanding the world a little more, making connections, building vocabulary and skills.  Yet she is still cuddly and affectionate, partial to Mommy and fearful of many things in the world.  She walks back and forth between growing up and clinging tight. 

 

I love you, Baby. 

Shifting

My son is shifting and I can't quite grasp him.  He continually surprises me and catches me off guard.  He has entered a new land, leaving me behind, and I see him as if through a gauzy curtain that is blowing in a breeze.  Sometimes I see him clearly; other times he is a mystery child, delightful yet puzzling.

Today I took him to get socks at Fred Meyer.  He informed me that he would like a new shirt to go with his sweatshirt.  He said he wanted something with "hip hop" designs on it.  I think I did very well not overreacting (I mean, how in the world could this skinny little white boy know what hip hop is?) and asked him to clarify.  He pointed to shirts and sweatshirts that had wild designs on them - flames, and skulls and skateboards and guitars.  Big boy clothes.  No more sedate, conservative stripes, or dinosaurs and dump trucks.  He wants to show his cool personality and some attitude.  I hesitatingly agreed to a shirt and hoodie that I would have never picked out for him myself.  I still have doubts about the hoodie; it has a skull hidden deftly in the graphic design.  I can't believe this is starting already.  I am in uncharted territory.

Hiking, Anacortes with friends

Last Friday was the last day of spring break.  The weather was shaping up to be good, so we went hiking with our friends.  I've posted a complete report and lots of photos at nwhikers.net.  It was a wonderful hike!  I find myself going back there in my memories, trying to recapture the feelings of contentment from the day.  I guess that's one of the reasons I am so into hiking.  It sticks with me for a long time.  My kids feel similarly; Gabriel asked me today when we were going hiking again.  Unfortunately, our weekends are pretty packed for the next several weeks, and he doesn't have any more days off from school until the first week in May.  Sorry, buddy, it makes me sad, too.  The summer isn't too far off, and we'll be able to get out a lot.

Anacortes

I have an amazing husband.  He gave his blessings for me to take a couple of days off.  I drove up to Anacortes yesterday, all by myself, and checked into a B&B.  When I got there, I didn't know what to do with myself.  No one to take care of, no chores to do - so I took a little nap.  Then I got up and went on a hike at Washington Park.  It was a good test for my recently repaired ankle.  

That evening I finished the book I've been reading for the past month, knitted, and wrote in my journal.  I slept like a log!  No one woke my up during the night, and I slept in as long as I wanted.  After a leisurely and peaceful breakfast I explored some of the views around the area and walked around town.

 
I bought some wonderful fabric at a quilting store, and some yarn and a pattern at a yarn shop.  (Of course, hubby insists that I finish the projects I have started before beginning new ones.)  After lunch, I felt like I had spent enough time away.  It was time to go home to my snuggly children and adoring husband.  Thanks, Dear, it was just what I needed!

 

Sick Cat

Our poor cat is sick again.  She had a serious illness last year at this time, and it has returned again.  Apparently when some cats get "stressed out" they stop eating.  Jaz' body burned fat to survive, but her liver couldn't process it and got plugged up with fat cells.  Her liver stopped working right, she got sicker, and ate even less.  It is a downward spiral that is fatal if not treated aggressively.  Jaz had to have a feeding tube put in and we have to give her food, water and medicine every couple of hours.  She is starting to perk up a little bit, and her skin is not as jaundiced, but she has a ways to go yet.  It is stressful having to remember her routines and keep an eye on her.  Poor kitty.

Growing Up

When did my little boy grow up so big and mature?  Here he is in my sister-in-law's wedding last weekend.  Seeing him in his little suit made this mama feel all nostalgic.  He's so handsome!  

And speaking of growing up, how did Laura get to be old enough to marry?  When I met my husband, she was just a little girl, maybe 8 or 10 years old.  Now she is a grown woman with a life and a husband.


 

My hubby got to walk her down the aisle.  Now that gave me a lump in my throat, too.  I don't know if it was just missing his dad (whom I never got to meet) or visions of future aisle-walking, escorting our daughter to her future husband.  Well, he is pretty handsome, too.  It was a wonderful wedding.

Annika will be absent from this event in our photo album.  She got the chicken pox and had to stay with the other grandparents.  Oh well!  That's life, I guess.
Here she is in the dress she was going to wear, and getting her first real haircut in preparation for the big day that she couldn't enjoy.