nesting . . .

I love my home. I love living in an old house, and a place where I can walk to the store, the movies, a park and some fun local restaurants. I love being able to share a big front porch with our neighbors as they pick up fresh produce from our CSA. I love that the house has great big windows that let in lots of sunshine.

So much to love about this place. I know I am so blessed to even have a place to hang my hat, and the fact that it is also a place I love and love sharing with others makes it even more of a blessing. I moved into this house in May of 2007 - I cannot believe it has been 2 years! There are still lots of projects on the list, things that will make it even more wonderful - but I like that about the house. I like nesting. Taking time to figure out what color would look best in the sitting room, or figuring out the best way to take off several layers of paint from the woodwork, or finally getting around to replacing the curtains the last folks left behind (I swear I'll get them sewn someday!!). But in the meantime, I get to enjoy living in a great house. Maybe it isn't perfect, but it is sound and happy and filled with pictures of people I love. And, to tell the truth, I like that it isn't perfect. I like that the paint on the stairs is a little bit worn, that the bookshelves have scratches, that the crazy peacock is still glued to the dining room light fixture (the last owner had a very different sense of style . . .). I like that it is comfortable. That you don't have to be too careful - you can just live here and enjoy it.

Sure, there are lots of things to do to make the house more perfect. And I have lots to do to make myself more perfect too - need to work on losing weight, organizing my time more efficiently, etc. And I'll keep working on me while I keep working on the house - one day at a time. But in the meantime, I think I'll go enjoy a cup of tea on the back deck and keep an eye out for the bluebirds.

Life is . . .

As is obvious from the title of the blog, one area of life I think of often is food. Living in the Northwest I am continually amazed by the variety of wonderful locally grown produce that is readily available. This year alone I have picked 25 quarts of strawberries, 15 quarts of raspberries, and about 20 pounds of cherries so far! Most of them are frozen, or in jam so I can enjoy them year round. And many of the cherries are dried - they are sooooo sweet! Of course I've also eaten LOTS of them all fresh as well - and blueberries are here now, too. I am well aware of the fact that not everyone has access to such amazing food. This time last year I was in Nicaragua, where we were hosted by very kind people who ate basically the same meal three times a day: rice, beans and tortillas. There might be a little something else now and again, but that was the meal that kept them alive. I have thought of them often as I picked fruit this June and am more grateful than ever to be in a place - geographically and otherwise - that is filled with such abundance. I am certainly thankful that this summer my life includes a bowl of cherries!