When I woke up this morning, a blustery day greeted me and reminded me of Winnie the Pooh.  It seems, in his stories, the wind is at a constant clip and the clouds fearlessly race by.  After preschool drop-off, I was blown to the grocery store where I found just what we needed to spend the afternoon – a kite featuring none other than Axel's pals from the Hundred Acre Woods.

When you have a four-year-old who has seen the world and experienced more than his share in just a short time, it's nice when you can give him a first.  Today was the first time he flew a kite.  He was thrilled!

Spring is definitely in the air this week, and my lawn is turning green.  I am so thankful this time of year for my favorite leafy green, one that is so plentiful in my damp landscape, moss.  Isn't moss the greatest substance?  It's like lawn...that you don't have to mow.  It's the first to show it's bright green face in the spring and the last to batten it's hatches for the winter.  It spreads...yea!  It feels awesome on your feet...mmmm.  It even looks cute as a photo backdrop.  Welcome moss, please stay for the summer?!

Along with the moss come a few of my other spring favorites.  Here is a list:
  - Balled-up man-socks at the front door. (Because I have to get mean if I see them in the house, on my furniture).
  - Slimy dog, with a side of newly thawed poo smell.
  - The ever-looming fear that snow could make a return any day.
  - It's now time to bathe your children every day, but not quite warm enough to do it with the hose.

But seriously, these are the things I really love:
  - Waking up, windows open, with a cold nose and not wanting to leave the covers.
  - Barefoot runs to the mailbox and beyond.
  - Seeing everybody newly invested in fitness and having "running partners" on the trails.
  - Freckles.
  - Picnics.
  - Grilling.
  - Bonfires.

Here's hoping our 60 degree weather is here to stay.  Here's hoping you have a bit of moss to brighten your day.

So here she is – the partial canoe rescued from certain death by fire.  As she presently hangs from the ceiling above me, I have to point out through the details that things weren't always this pretty.

The exterior color is original and every rock she skipped over has left evidence of itself in scratches.  To the exterior we did nothing but clean, wax and buff.

I gave her a name.  Doing a bit of research I pulled up the names of every shipwreck in the Great Lakes.  The smallest vessel to remain underwater is an 8' boat named the "Penelope."  Assuming this canoe wasn't much longer than the original Penelope, I adopted her namesake and painted it on the side of our treasure.

While the wood of the seat and handle are original, their luster is not.  After a brief sanding we gave them two coats of clear varnish to bring out their age and natural beauty.  The brass hardware is new, the black edging is the same webbing I make my guitar straps out of (plus a tube of E6000 adhesive), and the interior of the boat has been spray-painted gold.

Needless to say, I am totally in love with canoe restoration.  Maybe this will inspire you to look deeper into the banks of your nearest river and dig out a piece of condemned history yourself.

PS - If this was your boat: Finders Keepers!  (Or pay the escalated price of one-million-dollars.)

The new view from my front door.  Also notice the black railing and bit of blue painters tape...an updated photo of our custom staircase to come.

"Your ceiling is your fifth wall."  I remember reading that in a magazine once.

Last weekend I remember telling Jahred, "I hate this vaulted ceiling.  It's dead.  I need to hang something from it, like...a canoe."

Jahred - "I saw a canoe.  In the county park the other day.  Well, only half a canoe.  It was in the burn pile."

Me - "And you're just now telling me this?  Axel, get in the car!!"

We pulled up to a grim sight – a canoe so ugly only a vaulted-ceiling-hater could love it.  We crammed it into the van and took it home.

While the details I will photograph in the natural light of day, here is a preview of where that broken vessel ended up.

A pair of old-faithful Smartwools met the fall air this past weekend.  I was lucky enough to ride middle on one very "boyish" canoe trip as the temperatures dropped to sweatshirt-friendly.

Tyler, Jahred, Axel, Oscar and I paddled around Bluff Lake as the leaves turned before our eyes.  Still quite green in this particular part of Wisconsin, we were treated to changing leaves along every part of the two-hour drive.

We had a beautiful time, burned plenty of fallen limbs, cooked a few square meals, and left our cell-phones in the car.

Do you know what I love about sock season?  Everything.

Pictured below are a few abstract photos of the indoor hobbies I plan for when my socks need to hybernate.  Some hobbies are new, some revisited, perhaps I'll talk more about them in the months ahead.

WARNING:  Minnesota winter on the horizon.  Get your feet aired out while you can!

Cheers.

With autumn on the horizon and the days getting shorter, we spent our Saturday cramming all we could into the dwindling daylight.

Two art fairs, one playground, a pumpkin patch/petting zoo and one busy apple orchard.  Capping off our day was the most gorgeous hot air balloon, about to set sail before our eyes.  Axel was intrigued to say the least.

Thought I would post a few links to some of my new favorite artists, discovered along the St.Croix river, showcasing their talents.
Tru-Leigh Yours Designs
Sue Rowe
Jeff Boutin

Lots of Minnesota and Wisconsin talent out there.  Just getting some ideas for x-mas, which is right around the corner.

I've been shamelessly enjoying the Minnesota summer this weekend and lapping up all the visual stimulation my eyes will take.

We started yesterday at a triathlon, trying to catch a glimpse of Tyler speeding by on his bike, and then witnessed the beauty of a private lake where the scenery is simply paused for you to take it's picture.

Jahred, Axel and I have forged through crowds, brush and mosquitoes to cheer triumphantly at the finish line and to wade in the lily pads.

Simply wonderful.

Here's to hoping you all enjoyed the July sunshine.

"No, Axel, you cannot go in the lake with your clothes on."
"It's o.k Mom, I just had to get this lily pad."

While inside the house I'm toiling away, scrubbing walls, picking paint colors and infusing our own smell, the nature of our yard seems to be freshening up all on it's own.

Last weekend, Axel and I traveled to Pittsburgh and were lucky enough to spend some time at an east coast wedding.  The wedding took place on a farm, complete with dogs that napped on the dance floor, one wickedly good "cookie table", and a barn fit for Kate Middleton herself.  If you're in the market for a Pennsylvania wedding, I highly recommend Armstrong Farms!

So coming home from spectacular landscaping I felt compelled to do some exploring within the fenced confines of our own lot.  Over 20 trees grace this city sized chunk of land (that's way more than necessary)...some of them already on the chopping block...but will wait until fall so we can experience a summer in full bloom.
 
Leading with the camera, I first captured a few tiny beginnings and then got down and dirty trimming some of what 20 years of "wild" has created.

plum tree blossoms

fiddleheads

all trimmed up . . . pine