zingo!

Both kids have had a virus this past week, and we have come to love playing ZINGO! Great family game given to us by somebody . . . can't remember who!

sisterly love

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From time to time these days Aurora practices her nurturing skills on her sister. Provides her with a toy, gets her hair out of her eyes. I relish those moments. And they have been snuggling with each other lately, too. The snuggling can devolve pretty quickly into wrestling, but I enjoy it while it lasts . . .

st patty's weekend

We were lucky enough to have Orion for the weekend, and he and Aurora thoroughly exhausted those chickens. Zeppo got to swim in the newly-filled pond, the spring peepers are out, and last night we had a St Patty's gathering. A superb weekend altogether.


Tim holding little Sander.
Jeff and Grover in the field.
Pink jasmine in bloom.
Striding the territory.

aurora, the chicken whisperer

Aurora can tame any chicken, even our alpha female Guinevere (top photo).

potty party!

Laurel and Grover are working on potty training. And this try was a success! Adrienne bought us two new potties at the IKEA, so we can have them all over the house!

almost a year . . .

As of the 15th we will have been out here for a full year. Hard to believe, as we are still adjusting in so many ways. But life has proven beautiful--full of blue skies, friends, the scratching of hens, and the bustling business of two little girls (and the parents trying to keep up with them). I feel blessed. I just wish it would rain. But I know I am not alone in that desire.

I'll post here a passel of photos I'd like you folks to see: of Aurora at her school's Open House, of our trip to the Houston Zoo this past weekend, and of a relaxing playdate at Adrienne and Grover's house on Monday. SO here you go!

Laurel inspecting the turtle shell at the zoo playscape.
A beautiful Brahma heiffer.
Aurora pretending she's a beaver at the playscape.
Adrienne and Grover on their porch.
Baby drum circle!
Aurora practicing her embroidery.
The classroom.