There was a bucket of live prawns, fresh from the Sound (the Puget Sound that is), that my boss had caught just this morning.  He brought them in for safekeeping in our walk-in.  They were squirmy and pink and HUGE!  I tried, how I tried, to stay OUT of the walk-in while it was occupied with said prawns (LIVE!).  But there was a bucket of clam chowder I need to retrieve, just behind the bucket of prawns.  Gingerly as I could I scooted the prawns over which woke them from their little nap and set them to squirming again.  I grabbed the chowder quickly and never turned back.  I'm not really a prawn kind of girl.

Home now and baking.  A couple loaves of fresh bread.  A batch of cookie dough brownies.  Some venison steaks that had been in the frig for a couple days and needed to be cooked up.

We've got some company over and the front yard is FULL of children.  Seven of 'em.  I love how the warm weather brings them out of the woodwork.  I love the sounds and smells of home when there are children around and fresh bread rising.  Nothing better!

In the wider expanse of home (the island on which we live) I find many things to love as well.  Like baby geese on a beach.  Who wouldn't love some sandy bottomed little goslings?!?

There were quite a few goose families at the beach this day.  This particular one was the largest I could see.  And the white one belonged somehow.  It followed them everywhere.  A nanny?  A crazy uncle? 

It was on this same day that my boys and I went hiking.  We started on the beach then meandered up into the woods and found our way back down to the beach again.

This place is beautiful and I feel so blessed to call it home!

A treasure!!

The sun streaming through verdant trees.

The curving beach.

The sky is still bigger here.  And so blue!

I layed in the warm, dry sand, fingers curled into the warmth.   I gazed into the sky: the blue, the wispy white clouds and spotted a neat contrast.

And my boy watched tiny fish at the shore.  He caught a couple, threw rocks at them too.

And my other boy, in his element in the outdoors, found adventure.

It's the kind of day that I slept in later than I should have, showered and dressed in clean pj's.  It's my second day off of work in a row and let me tell you, I have slept.

My youngest son is battling strep throat.  Nasty stuff that has had him out of commission for three days.  He has barely eaten, other than some brothy soup and tons of fruit pops, save the garlic bread he couldn't resist from last night's dinner, oh, and ice cream.  I just hurt for him.  Not enough to save him from his Math.

So, sleeping, reading, baking, housework.  These things have filled my days. 

In my sleep I dreamed about these sandals...

And in my waking I baked this Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough Cheesecake.

(not my picture)

Recipe here...... http://www.melskitchencafe.com/2010/07/chocolate-chip-cookie-dough-cheesecake.html 

It's a typical spring day around here.  Sunshiney one moment and raining the next, urging the grass to grow inches in a matter of moments.  The birds are beautiful as always, singing and chattering at each other.  In the last few days these varieties have been seen in our yard:

• hairy woodpecker
• female goldfinch
• hummingbirds
• nuthatch
• chickadee
• junco
• brown headed cowbird
• pileated woodpecker
• robin
• towhee
• house finch

Joyous!! 

It's ridiculous how slooooooww I am at this silly photo challenge I set for myself.  If you'll remember I began this journey mid-March.  Today I'm all the way up to photos 4 and 5 with a whopping 25 more to go.  Might not make it by the end of April, I'm thinkin'.  Good thing I'm flexible with myself.  Maybe I'll can the whole thing and move onto May's list of photo challenges after this.  Who knows!

#4 Challenge is "someone who makes you happy"

It took a long time to settle on a subject for this one.  But after yesterday I knew this picture would do.

My youngest boy makes me happy because he does sweet things like bake cookies and then arranges them thoughtfully and decoratively.

#5 Challenge is "Tiny"

I think this little guy fits the bill.

Kind of yucky but fascinating at the same time.

I know, I'm sometimes a big sissy.

The bonus picture fits the bill for both #4 and #5.  This one makes me happy and could also be considered tiny. 

But, he doesn't bake cookies or have wings.  He's my Charlie.  ♥

Yes, the pic is blurry but look at those eyes!  Look at those eyes, I tell ya, and just go ahead and try to not be melted!!

In this past month my boys each quietly turned a year older.  And my heart stretched and shifted to accommodate the changes. 

My youngest, on his eleventh birthday, celebrated with a day of paintballing with his dad, brother, pastor, and Sunday school teacher.  They loved every moment of it!  We enjoyed a homemade dinner and dessert then all crashed into bed.

The eldest celebrated his thirteenth birthday at a waterpark.  We stayed overnight at the resort, splurged on a very expensive dinner, and had a wonderful time together.

(These two are not my pictures, from Google)

This month we have spent some time at the beach, spotting whales and bald eagles.  Warming our faces in the spring sun.

We took in the grand opening of the nearby Cabela's.  I was tired from an early morning at work so I mainly enjoyed sitting by the ginormous fireplace in the foyer.

My mom fell and fractured her knee, had surgery, and is currently staying in a rehabilitation center.  I'm hoping to get down there next month to see her and my brothers.

I'm catching up to my boys in my copywork notebook for our schooling.  I lagged behind for awhile but I've been putting on the steam.  : )  A mom's got to be an example!  My students are gearing up for their next research reports.  I gave them full liberty to choose their own topic; eldest son chose the Abrams tank and youngest son is researching the history of cars.

And I'm tired.

   But God knows.

       We've been talking.

Outside my window...  sunshine and springtime!  Birds and bugs and green grass and warmish air.  The sliding door is open and boys and dogs are wandering in and out at will.

I am thinking (and praying)...  about my mom.  Her surgery went well, she woke well rested and was excited to eat real food today.  Not sure when she will be going home.  I imagine recovery will be lengthy.  : (

I am thankful...  for a job and coworkers that I get along with.  They make the time I spend at work enjoyable.  We can laugh together and have a good time.

In the kitchen...  Tonight's dinner will be chicken-baked steaks with gravy and homemade biscuits, with veggies of course!  And strawberries for dessert.  ♥

I am wearing...  My work grubbies.  Must fix that.

I am creating...  He-he.

I am going...  To be working for the next couple of days then have a few days off with my husband and boys for a little birthday trip.  They are 13 and 11 this weekend and we are treating them to two days at a waterpark/resort here in our state.  Our family has never stayed at a resort before so we are all pretty excited.

I am reading...  my Bible...my lifeline.

I am looking forward to...  celebrating my boys and their 11th and 13th milestones.  They are amazing young men.  Youngest son requested my sweet potato casserole for his birthday dinner.  We settled on fried chicken and salad to go with it.  I'll also make his favorite peanut butter/ chocolate pudding pie.  It's pretty dreamy.  Eldest son gets to eat out for his birthday as we will be at that resort I mentioned for his special day.

From the homeschool room (our dining table)...  My boys are doing awesome with Math!  Is it cool to admit that in public?  Things seem to be just running so smoothly in that subject.  I remember last year at this time was a different story!  They are also keeping up with their copywork while I, sadly, have fallen way behind.

Around the house...  my boys and I spent an afternoon this week working in our backyard.  We don't have a mower at the moment but we were able to collect all of the winter's tree debris and old dog bones and other various trash.   We had a bonfire and roasted marshmallows and felt good with our physical labor.  But 8 hours at work, 3 hours of working outside, and a couple hours of making dinner and catching up on laundry and housework left me beat and so sore at the end of the day!  Who knew a woman could pull from a well of energy so deep when her home and family depend on it?!?

I am pondering...  tea.  A nice hot cup sounds perfect right now.  And some time with God's word.

A favorite quote for today...  "What you do speaks so loudly that I cannot hear what you say."  Ralph Waldo Emerson

One of my favorite things...  My puppy dogs.  My Gracie is so loyal and so smart but so very stubborn.  She watches out for her boys like they were the puppies she never had.  My Silas is a big lover.  He knows nothing but love and affection.  My Charlie is devoted to me.  He understands my words when I speak to him in a normal voice and give him commands.  He sometimes acts like our third child so we always have to remind him to be a dog.