What is this {pretty, happy, funny, real} you speak of?
~ {pretty, happy, funny, real} ~
Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~
Every Thursday, here at Like Mother, Like Daughter!
I keep waiting for winter to show up, but maybe we're just going to skip ahead to spring, I don't know. I mean, it makes sense for spring to be on its way, but I just don't feel like we've put in our winter dues yet. Aside from a few ice storms, it's been awfully mild.
We all went on our nature walk Saturday morning, and even early in the day, we were hot and sweaty by the time we were done. Not quite what you'd expect in the middle of February.
And don't get me wrong — it was lovely.
(Aren't those hawks awesome?)
The downside to all this mild weather is that the dreaded bugs are returning. Mosquitoes, spiders… scorpions. Sigh. I would gladly accept some seasonally appropriate weather in exchange for a few more months (weeks, even?) of dead bugs.
Sorry to be just talking about the weather. I'm not trying to brag (this is our pleasant season, remember? Summer is so hot…) or complain (except about the scorpion in my kitchen. I make NO APOLOGIES for complaining about that), or even simply to bore you to tears. These things sometimes just happen.
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diane says
It’s going to be fifty degrees Saturday and Sunday. In February. In WISCONSIN. And this is not our first 50 degree weekend this month. We haven’t had much snow at all, and now all the bushes and flowers are confused. We’ve had significant (6″ +) snow as late as May 10th…
Your nature walk looks lovely – the kids are growing so quickly! Love Pippo getting set to take the baby down the slide – so much fun.
Kelly M. says
It has been a wonderful winter for people like me who hate winter. We’ve also gotten a lot more outside time which makes February seem less awful overall. But with the return of spring and warmer temps, I also have to fear critters in the house, though we’re dealing with bats, not scorpions. Maybe you could get a pet snake that could slither around to eat the scorpions? 😉
Rosie says
A snake! This is an excellent idea.
Maybe you could get a pet raptor to take care of your bats?
Tacy Williams Beck says
So cute. And here is a random question (that I know you or Mother or someone in your family could help me to answer). Do you have either a Catholic Devotional to recommend, or a special Catholic bible that might have devotional prompts inside? (I have The Little Oratory and I know this is useful for these things as well) God bless– tacy
Leila says
Hi Tacy,
I always recommend this Gospel of Luke and John from The Sacred Art Series: http://amzn.to/1QNvYN1
It doesn’t have prompts. I like it for other reasons. The print is a little larger, which slows you down. It lacks verse numbers (the chapters are marked), so you just read without being distracted. It has beautiful artwork, which lets your mind rest and opens the window on what you are reading.
I also recommend praying the Office of Readings daily from the Liturgy of the Hours (you can find it easily with the Universalis App, or use a breviary like the one linked to in this post). There, the Bible is presented to you, as I like to day, in “God’s order” — according to the Liturgical needs of the day and season. This way, your devotions are united to the liturgy. Each Office of Readings comes with a “second reading” which is usually a sermon or other meditation from a Church Father — opening up the Scripture of the Office or of the Mass of the Day.
Doing your devotional Scripture reading this way (along with the Mass readings), you will pretty much cover most of the Bible in 3 years — in prayer! The other Liturgical Hours (Matins, Vespers, etc) supply the other Psalms and a few other readings.
Stephanie says
Such a nice nature walk and cool hawks! I feel you on the weather Rosie! I lived for three years in New England (two of them in beautiful Maine) and when we were transferred to Alaska, with no glorious fall, I found it rather hard to adjust. I had become somewhat of a seasons (specifically fall) snob. Now I am in Virginia and we just had a thunderstorm in February and it seems Alaska has turned me into a winter (and nature) snob. Ha!
Caitlin says
I like your carrier! May I ask what kind it is? I have been liking my mei tai but really want an easier way to get my squirmy almost-1-year-old boy on my back! Not that you can’t do that in a mei tai… This kiddo needs buckles to hold him down, though!
Rosie says
It’s a Boba – nothing beats being able quickly to buckle them in!
Caitlin says
Thank you!
AnneMarie says
These pictures are lovely! I’m glad that you are enjoying the weather. I live in Oklahoma, and winter was also nonexistent for us, aside from two ice storms and some handfuls of colder days. (I think it’s supposed to hit 72 this weekend!) Particularly since summers can be brutal, I’m enjoying the awesomeness and I’ll get my snow fix another year 😉
Jenny says
What a beautiful place you have to walk. I’m glad the weather has been nice for you. We’ve had unseasonably mild weather here too. It’s like spring come early, but everyone is a bit nervous. Winter isn’t over yet!
Chere Mama says
Hmmm….I can almost smell those woods. But I agree with you that we haven’t been fully winterized yet. At least a few more weeks of really cold windy weather would make spring all the more happy when it came. Then again hiking without a coat a muffler and gloves is nice too.
Ruth Martin says
I find your daughter’s face as she is swinging to be one of pure joy! It has been unseasonably warm here in TX as well–actually the weather has been downright confused in this part of the world, since the heavy snow fell in the desert part of the state rather than where it usually does. In fact, one of the 2 trees in my front yard never properly lost it’s leaves, it has been so mild this winter. It makes me really love my bug guy! Since I live in a home built in 1940, I made the commitment to calling the exterminator every 3 months, whether I have seen any creepy crawlies or not. I’d rather be safe than have to deal with a full-blown infestation, and they give me a 90 day guarantee, so if I have problems before my scheduled time, they come and spray again for free. I’m almost positive that is why I have never seen a scorpion in my house…either that or my cats and dogs scare them off!
Paula says
I would have a heart attack if I saw a scorpion in my kitchen!
Woman of the House says
Your nature walk looks wonderful! Kids love the freedom to explore, don’t they? I remember spending hours at a time in the woods when I was young. It seems most kids don’t have that same freedom anymore, and that is a real shame!
Lisa G. says
It’s been relatively mild in New England this season, as you know. But Wednesday night we had the wildest thunderstorm – yes! in February! Far worse than anything we had during last summer. I think February lightning is a first in my lifetime. But I guess everybody is having a nicer winter than usual. We will get spoiled for next year.