sunday afternoon :: monday morning

::Sunday afternoon::
Dan is over at "the new house" working to get walls mudded and paint on trim. I'm working my way around the house, trying to regain control of the weekend neglect before the new week starts. The front door of our porch slams open and Emma is there yelling for my help, right away! quickly! I go to the door and she's standing there in her plum-colored fleece and bright green knit cap (mine)--with the spool of kite string in her hand. Except the spool is empty. I peek out the door and see a faint line of string--from her hand, over the roof of the house, above the oak tree, above the barn--to a brightly colored dot of kite flailing in the sky. "I wanted to see how far out it could go. Then it pulled me all the way over here and into the trees. I can't get it down." Barefoot baby on my hip who's enjoying the show, we carefully tug the stubborn kite out of the sky, holding our breath as it tangles in the bare limbs of the oak tree three times before falling to the pavement.

::Monday morning::
Elizabeth is standing at the rails of her crib, squealing. I can hear Emma and Mary in the same room squealing and laughing too. A long wooden board--the adjustable shelf from an old bookcase is propped against the overstuffed chair in Elizabeth's room--a makeshift slide the girls have invented. They are sitting on dishtowels and sliding down the two and a half feet of board and laughing hysterically. Simple joys.

Spring is slowly sneaking in making subjects for my macro challenge plentiful. Everything seems ready to burst, though the landscape still looks a lot like winter when the sun isn't shining. Robins are boldly singing from the treetops and tugging tangled worms from the soft soil. Spring peepers are now just part of the sounds of night. But they still catch my attention when I walk outside. I'm eagerly watching the Magnolia in front of the "Big House". Each branch is in a different stage of openness. More here and here.

Happy Monday, everyone.

Comments

[Kate]

Simply lovely.
Spring bursting out in small ways makes a heart leap for joy!
I'm enjoying your macro challenge.
Happy Monday to you too.

[erin]

i love the photo of emma and her kite. and i can just "see" your girls sliding down that board. fun fun fun!

[Grace]

Gasp.

This is my favorite blog post by anyone, ever. Nothing more can be said about its divine perfection. (The photos, the thoughts, the actual events described ... all of it.)

I owe you an email.

xoxox

[Berlinswhimsy]

Beautiful words & beautiful photos.

[Bluebirdbaby]

This really is a marvelous post. I loved every bit of it. The photos are gorgeous.

[Kristy]

I want to see how high it can go too Emma!

[miss chris]

*sigh* Happy Monday. Thanks for such a lovely post!

[Liz]

I love your photos. Happy Monday to you too!

[Ellen]

Your post is like reading a book...very poetic and those beautiful buds...just lovely. Magnolias - is that the teacup tree?

[Mama Urchin]

I love that pink fuzziness. I just love magnolias.

[happymamaof3]

***gasp*** this was breath taking! i loved this post! your words flowed so lovely!

[Stefani]

Just sigh and sigh and sigh again!

Such goodness herein :-)