My Man...

Mother's Day is always enjoyable for me. I have just one request: to watch my man work in our yard, with his shirt off and a shovel in his hand. At least, I wrap it up under one request. And, I know I am not the only one who loves to see men at work.

This year I asked for a garden and a bird bath in our "bird garden". Let me tell ya, My Man delivered...He is truly going to have a hard time topping it!

My garden turned into lovely raised beds surrounded by pavers, which includes my clothesline. My bird bath became a little pond, fenced from the kiddos, big enough for a few large fish and some tadpoles. All of this happened over Mother's Day weekend AND we didn't buy anything for the hard scape! Everything you see in these pictures came from our yard. We scavenged for extra rock and pavers, used old fence pickets for the veggie beds and had an old pond liner from another pond we once had.

I spent this past weekend planting. When the sun began to go down, the moon rose and I continued along my merry way; plopping seeds and envisioning a garden where I snip here for my herbs and cut there for my peppers. This garden represents so many things for me...

Did I mention that Lance had been out of town, working in WY for 11 days, when he came home and plunged deep into this project? He spent his entire four days off working in our garden and then took off for another ten day tour in WY. I expect him home this weekend. I can't wait for him to see the garden planted and the fish comfortable in their new home. Yes, my man delivered. Every time I water the seeds and feed the fish, I am reminded of how much he loves me and how special our love is.

More photos of our weekend together.

Game Love...

My creative worlds mingle as I bring work home with me. A BackGammon board for a beautiful game table made by the talented craftsmen at Tribes Interiors. You can see in the picture here, I just pushed my sewing gear across the table and set up my paint.

I had so much fun with this project. My family loves to play BackGammon. Especially so while vacationing on the Oregon Coast with a storm raging outside my ocean view window. Nothing beats listening to the waves crash and having my family close to me...looking forward to our next trip to the beach, I'll be sure to pack our own 'Gammon Game.


Beach photo from our Thanksgiving Trip '06.

Sew, Shovel Work...

Yep, I'm still here...just been enjoying time with my sewing machine and looking forward to Lance coming home today (after working in WY for 11 days). This weekend we are digging and planting our garden, my Mother's Day gift. Of course if you know me well, you will know that Mother's Day is not complete without a good show. You see, every year Lance must work in the yard on some project, there always is one, with his shirt off. I get to watch and drink my margaritas. Lots of shovel work to be done, and let me tell you, Lance can work a shovel! I can't think of a better Mother's Day gift...

Here are some photos of the sewing projects I have been working on lately...Memory Match Games and tote bags headed to Chicago for Shannon's library Summer Reading Challenge awards, very excited about this project. Also, my new "Receive and ReGift Bag", another great way to reduce, reuse and recycle. And, as Roxie is having a hard time at night keeping dry, I made cloth pull-ups with liners. Very cool and earth friendly...

Deep Breath...

After a long and hectic last few weeks, I can breathe easier now. We had a wonderful weekend full of dance competition and the Earth Day Celebration. The kids did fantastic at competition, grabbing a "Superior" in the ballet production and an "Excellent" in their Jazz and Tap team dances. A good experience for all the girls.

After the Saturday dance competition, we headed downtown for the Earth Day Fair. Fun booths for all, every year it gets better. The live band started around 7pm and jammed into the night. I was impressed with Buckskin Bible Revue. They did an awesome job covering some of my favorite Dead songs. My feet couldn't stop dancing...I woke Sunday morning to the sun shining and The Grateful Dead on my mind. Inspired me to dig out my favorite old tie-dye (which I have not worn in 5-8 years!) crank up some Fire on the Mountain, and play in the dirt that is soon to be my garden. Yah! Talk about a lovely Sunday.

As the sun is just as beautiful today as was yesterday, I am not going to spend much time here and head outside for more yard play. Hope your day is as sunny as mine!

Photos of my girls before the Ballet production and Kaziah's dance team "waiting in the wings".
The last few photos of Earth Day are a skit put on by the Forest Service. All who volunteered were either an invasive plant or an animal who cannot eat it and has to move on to better feeding grounds. Lance was the "Weed Warrior", very fitting part for him if I do say so myself.

Photos of the Canyon Rim Dance Classic, and The Earth Day Celebration.

Rogue Bear...

I have been "sew" busy this week with costumes and other life happenings, I forgot to share Rogue's first birthday. April 16th our big guy turned one. He is a big, slobbery fur ball that must always be at my feet, which is a problem at times due to his heft...Pay no attention to what Lance says, I wouldn't trade him for another. He is a member of our family.

Sharing a few of my favorite photos here.

BARACKY...

"The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." -Martin Luther King, Jr.

This is our children's future we're talking about. I say, "Change...Yes, we can!"

Dilemma and Decision....

First, I have mentioned that our family was putting together a "Bennett Family Recycling" booth for the Earth Day Celebration this year. We have high hopes for meeting other people with same likes/dislikes and awareness to our responsibility as stewards of this beautiful Earth. So many ideas floating through the family. From a Lorax skit with the kids to exploring more ways we can reduce, #1 in the three R's. We are so excited about Earth Day, the challenge of bringing our ideas to the table and also communicating to others our family's goals and how they can do the same. It really is quite simple. Getting a flow of conversation going, that's where it starts.

Second on the agenda, the Dancers Fight Cancer, Canyon Rim Dance Classic. This dance competition is one that kids work hard for, at least -my girls do. It is a chance to earn money for the American Cancer Society and also a great learning tool in improving team and individual dance performance. Sometimes a long weekend, but fun for us as a family of dancers.

Normally these two events happen with no scheduling interference...but not this year. And I will tell you, I was in tears when I realised I could not be at both places completely. Completely meaning, how could I reach out to people on Earth Day, share my concerns and how we as a family are doing our part and "You can too"? This event was our avenue to sharing our awareness and also, showing our children what it really means to be involved. Talking to people, asking questions and hopefully influencing others to think twice when they are consuming, turning on the faucet or even something as simple as saying "I don't need a bag, I brought my own". Small things really do make a difference. How could I throw myself completely into this event when I am also huge on being a "dance helper" at the Dance Competition. I am not one to blow off responsibility, and when you are working with a team, what does it teach your kids if you back down when the pressure thickens. To be quitters? Not in my family. The kids have been working for this dance competition for months.

So, a decision had to made. And, although I love to watch the kids dance and see what other dancers are doing, I am sad to report that we have canceled our booth at the Earth Day Celebration. A heart breaker for sure. Again, we are trying to teach our kids to be responsible. Leaving our dance teams high and dry wasn't an option.

I can only hope next year's events will schedule more kindly to our family and we can do both, we have so many fun ideas for Earth Day! And, rest assured, I will be in and out of the Earth Day Celebration. Being there when I can and most definitely dancing it up to the live music (The Clumsy Lovers and Buckskin Bible Revue always a good time!) in the evening.

Now, I am off to sew the rest of the dance costumes for Kaziah's dance class. Finished three yesterday, four to go.

More photos of '06/'07 Dance Classic.

America's Stooge...

Good for a Sunday morning laugh...kinda.

Pyr Hair Everywhere!

Worked on Rogue and his shedding for about an hour today...the collection picture doesn't even show what was left on the yard, floating in the air or stuck to me. A Great Pyrenees in the spring...just may get me the Dyson I've been asking for. (A refurbished one to be exact...another way to curb the "Golden Arrow"...and save money!)

Doesn't he look so handsome with his coat freshly brushed?

Pink Paint...

In my reorganizing and de-stuffing of our home, I decided to freshen up Roxie's bedroom paint a bit. Yes, this may sound a little odd, but I take any chance I get to dip my brush into some of my favorite paint colors. This pink paint, (Olympic -Pink Clay Pot) is my all-time favorite in the pink color wheel.

Lance is not a big fan of this pink paint, or more honestly, anything pink! (He has three daughters...deal with it I say!)
Seeing how I do all the painting around here, I listen to his opinion...but ultimately do whatever I like. As long as I keep the master bedroom green, he keeps his comments about the pink paint to himself, most of the time...

I Don't Need a Bag!

Thanks for sharing Shannon, this clip Rocks!

Herrett Center...

Over spring break I took my crew (Ausha, Kaziah, Roxie, Rocco, Mia, Micheal and Ashley) to the Herrett Center for some good free fun. I love this place, so many things to look at and discover. You can learn a lot about Idaho and who used to live here. The kids never tire of the place. They also hold a Mingle in the Jungle evening where they break out the snakes and have an educational, hands on event. As I have a bit of a snake phobia, I usually stay home and Lance takes the kids. Although, I guess I should face my fears and join them...maybe next time.

More photos...

Punta Mona

Our friend, Talia, just returned home from nine weeks in Punta Mona. Her stories were fun to hear and the Rum she brought home was mighty fine, mighty fine indeed.

One of my favorite stories is men asking to share a shower to "Save water", always a good cause. Ha Ha! I'm sure Rich, her husband, didn't think it was too funny...but I got a good laugh!

It's nice to have you home Talia. I look forward to learning the organic gardening tricks you now have up your sleeve. Cheers to you, where's that Rum?

Family Hike...

Our family spent a special day together this past Monday. We went hiking, had dinner out and then finished the evening by attending the Golden Dragon Acrobats of China. Good family fun for all.

While we're on a family hike, we get about ten steps and then we're all crouched over some plant. Lance telling us what he knows about it, either it being a "good guy" (native) or a "bad guy" (invasive species). We learn about soil crust, birds and plants. All three girls are very proud and excited to show what they know and what they have discovered. "Hey Dad...check this one out! What is it? Is it native? Hey Mom, take a picture of this one!" I usually end up at the back of the line, taking pictures and enjoying the sights. Most lovely being my family, my kids learning from each other and interacting with us...The sky, rocks beneath my feet and the smell of sage brush always brings me home.

For more photos of our hike (all 93 of them!), click here.

Also, if you have never seen the Golden Dragon Acrobats, be sure to click the link. If you ever get a chance to...don't pass it up. Worth the ticket price on a school night.

Happy Spring!