An Alley Walk

We're lucky to have these quiet, almost hidden paths throughout our neighborhood. All we have to do is step out of our backyard gate, into what seems to be, when in full bloom, a secret garden full of Lilacs, fruit trees, fresh mint and even roses.

 

To some, these alleys might seem  like the areas of the city that are unkempt, being used for yard waste and dead leaves, compost bins and sometimes leftover building materials. 

But to us, this is a treasure trove. 

This is a place where we can walk without the sound of traffic, or the danger of little ones stepping off the sidewalk. It's somewhere that we can still see the odd toad, sneaky rabbit, garter snake, bee hive, or in this trip's case, a busy woodpecker.

The boys are always sure to bring some pruning shears and small shovels for different botanic treasures they're sure to find and take home to plant in our own garden.

This trip rendered a variety of golden green mosses to go in a new shade garden that they're  working diligently to establish.
I wonder what the tomorrow's treasure will be!

Apothecary Circle Giveaway

Laura Emily is giving away a seat in her very nifty Apothecary circle! (I hope I win!) But you have a chance to win too!  Visit here to enter.

Lexicon Reveal: Neatly

I'm late, Again! But this time our internet was down which made it a little difficult to post anything at all ;) So better late than never...

Our lexicon word from last week was :Neatly!

Here's my contribution: 

And here's Rachel's!

Did you participate this week? If so, post a link to your image below in the comment section!
And be sure to visit Rachel over at HouseFullOfJays for next week's project word.

Lexicon Project Word

Our assignment word for next week's Lexicon Project is....

Neatly

neat

  [neet] adjective, neat·er, neat·est, adverb

adjective

1.

in a pleasingly orderly and clean condition: a neat room.

2.

habitually orderly and clean in appearance or habits: a neat person.

3.

of a simple, pleasing appearance, style, design, etc.: a neat cottage.

4.

cleverly effective in character or execution: a neat scheme; a neat solution.

5.

Slang. great; wonderful; fine: What a neat car!

If you would like to participate , simply take a photograph this week with the word "neatly" in mind, and then next thursday, post a link to your image here in the comment section, below. So easy! 
Also, be sure to head over to HouseFullOfJays for today's reveal!

If you're joining us, grab a button for your side bar!

 

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Lexicon Reveal: Provision

This post is a little late (again...slapping my own wrists!)

It's clear that Rachel and I both had similar ideas when it comes to "Provision"...

and it makes sense, since after all, we spend much of our day tending to bottomless tummies!

Here's mine...

Here's Rachel's....

I think Rachel's kids were probably happier with the final result. Just sayin'.

If you participated this week and took a "provision" themed photo, post a link to your image here in the comments section below.

Also, be sure to go visit Rachel over at House Full of Jays for next week's theme word.

Grab a button for your side bar!

 

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Lexicon Assignment Word

I'm blogging from my phone tonight so i'll have to keep this simple. (I would make it fancier if I knew how. Maybe that's something I can work on...)

So without much more than the silly little proverbial drum roll, here's our word:

"Provision"

To see our results from last weeks word, or to paticipate, be sure to head over to rachel's site.

A Warmed Heart {Weekending}

It's been so long since I've made a weekending post, and this week I've been feeling the itch to get back to my (neglected) blog space.

March has always been a dreary, long month around these parts. Yes, March holds the first days of spring, but it certainly doesn't feel like it, and the constant cold feels so defeating. 
And during this time of the year, I always feel so completely uninspired, and down. It's pathetic that something as simple as the weather can make a person feel like this, but alas, there it is.
I'm a warm blooded person, and I'm thoroughly convinced that I was not designed for the cold.

I'm simply stunned sometimes at the thought of pioneers settling in a land such as this. (Or anywhere that it snows, for that matter.) What on earth would possess someone to do such a thing?
 I do know that I'm probably in the warmest area of Canada...but you have to realize that I'm also the world's biggest wiener when it comes to winter. I like snow on Christmas day, and through new years, but then after that, I'd really be just okay with that white "magic" melting away into spring. 

 I had a great, great, great grandmother, who was a pioneer in Kansas. 
They settled in an area that was extremely underpopulated, and what little population was there, was an all black community. And understandably, at those times, white settlers did not exactly receive the warmest welcome in that area.

Now, Kansas prairie winters are pretty dismal as well, although quite a bit shorter.
I would imagine though, with babies and small children to take care of in a drafty cabin, by herself, with no family in sight other than a husband who spent his days working the land, and complete lack of communication with the rest of the world, her winters must have seemed pretty long. Very long.
She died at a very young age, and of what could be chalked up to being nothing other than the sting of loneliness. Somewhere along an old fence row near Nicodemus KS, is a tombstone that reads "Nancy Ellen Persley... died of 'Pining'" .

Every time this kind of grey, cold-to-the-bone bite of winter gets me down I think of her, and how much of a total wuss I must be compared to her. And how thankful I really should be.

 I mean, I have a warm house, family nearby, my children are fed and clothed much more easily, and aren't dying of things like common colds. I don't have to go chop ice each morning for drinking water, or light any fires to fight death on a daily basis. As a matter of fact, with the push of a button or the twist of a handle, I get heat, and instant hot water. How completely petty are my complaints against winter?

This weekend though, I did see the light at the end of the tunnel, with a warm sun, and even some April showers.
 Stepping out onto the porch and being overwhelmed with the smell of rain in the air before it even fell was so completely reassuring, and promising.

Windows open, fresh air in, warm sun on our skin, hints of new life and growth everywhere we look, and free time together for family gatherings and meals, to play, sing, and worship our creator on Resurrection Sunday.
We are blessed.