GardenMama

.: Blueberry & Maple Ice Bliss! :.

.:Like a trail of breadcrumbs leading us into the woods, these signs brought us to sweet treasures!:.

We followed the signs that suddenly appeared  along a wooded road.  It felt as if we were embarking on a magical treasure hunt following along looking for the next 'Blueberries' sign that was shaded a similar hue to the blueberry-colored skies up above. As we headed into the woods we anticipated 'The King of Blueberry Land' to lead us to a clearing in the forest and share with us many sweet blueberry jewels that were as plump as grapes!

.: It looked as if the blueberries were reflecting themselves off  the blue sky! :.

The sun shared itself with us in a most beautiful warming way today. It was as if it's sole purpose was to nurture these berries that hung like little blue ornaments on each branch.

The blueberry bushes stretched themselves up in a tall sun salutation in thanks of granting it's endless energy to create a super-food right here in the fields.

.: Blueberries sitting on each branch like ornaments! :.

The earth gifts us in such rich and magical ways. What an incredible treasure that has been found along this wooded trail in the middle of a a farmer-made clearing in the woods. I can't think of a better way to power us today than with many blueberry batteries charging us up with health and wellness!

.: Like clusters of grapes! :.

.: Little blueberry boy powers up with sun and rain enhanced fruits! :.

My littlest blueberry boy powers up with these sun and rain enhanced fruits! We take peace in each berry that falls so effortlessly into our gathering baskets and bellies.

.: We gathered quite a bit on this day as each blueberry fell so easily into our baskets! :.

This day was a beautiful meditation for our entire family as we shared in the simple process of gathering berries!

.: Gathered blueberries in Vanilla Bean Ice Cream drizzled with pure maple syrup! :.

After our time of gathering was done, the warm sun reminded us of favorite treat we enjoy each summer. This treat brings me back to our time living in the mountains where wild blueberries grew all around and neighboring farms were producing the finest pure maple syrup...

Vanilla Bean Ice Cream drizzled with pure maple syrup and blueberries makes for a delightful snack! The berries become a bit frozen and the pairing of vanilla and maple is both naturally-inspired and incredible!

.: Welcome To Wandering Wednesday! :.

I am excited to share your 'Wandering Wednesday' photos here today in this space! Ever-inspired by your creativity and eye for beauty, I look forward to wandering with you today!

Please join us as we wander together to our backyards, our living rooms, our gardens, and to the ocean...

                                 "WELCOME TO WANDERING WEDNESDAY!"

 

 "This bowl full of crochet-covered stones sits on the chest of drawers in my mudroom. I like how the thread colors echo those of the flowers just outside the door. The stones themselves remind me of beautiful flowers." ~ Maribeth

The plants I potted up last month were so small.  Now, pots full of candy-colored flowers and foliage greet me at the front door." ~ Maribeth

here I stand in books

planning a year of learning for my girls,

myself  

Grace 

"Here I stand knowing that I just need to take things one puzzle piece at a time."                                 ~ Lynnette                                                                                                                       

 "Here I sit with my family around the table for our third and last meal of the day. My son touching my foot every few seconds with a smile to warm a weary mama's heart." ~ Lynnette  

Valorie shared her photo for 'Wandering Wednesday'

Patricia shared her photo for 'Wandering Wednesday'

                                     

"Here I stand on the balcony on hot hot summer evening, getting ready to water our little pots of plants and flowers and herbs we grow. so we can have something homegrown in our salad and so we can see how things grow out of the earth and so we have some lovely green and yellow and purple to look at on days not as sunny as the ones we're having right now." ~ Sylvia 

"Here I stand, as the children play close by, I choose each piece of clothing carefully, and hang them  mindfully in an eye pleasing manner, it is a task during which I am rarely disturbed, and therefore relish deeply in the moment" ~ Christina  

  

"Here I stand, in my most favorite way, bare feet planted solidly in the dark warm earth, following the calls of a child urging me to share her bliss, her bliss over a nest she herself has made, made of greens, and in which lives a little bird, a bird that is her friend" ~ Christina  

Here I stand on a cold winters day at the beach, with my boy cuddled close in his sling as we watched his sister playing at the waters edge.  I looked down and all I could see were his sandy pink toes peeking out at me."~ MaeKellan

"I put on my shoes, my rose shoes, and took off for my garden, where I noticed, looking out my window in my studio yesterday, the most glorious hydrangeas... Kelly's favorite...before I finally came in, my pot of chives called to me and inspired today's baking.  I immediately came back to one of my favorites, scones." ~ Susan

 

"Here I stand at the clothesline. While I waited for the rain to stop, I researched online about putting up clotheslines, and when the sun came out, it still wasn't up. Finally I bought a hank of clothesline and a box of bamboo clothespins at Fred Meyer. It strung a line from the porch to the big apple tree, and from the big apple tree to the cherry tree. It isn't even taut. But it's perfect. Sometimes things don't have to be perfect to be perfect." ~ Ellen

"Here I stand on the sandy shores of Lake Erie.  Amid sunny skies and gentle waves, I walked on crumbling white shells while my children played at the water's edge and danced among monarch butterflies in the grassy dunes.  A joyful morning!" ~ Kathryn Yorke


"Here I stand in a sea of wildflowers.  Happily I wander through the fields while gathering up bouquets that will grace the tables at home" ~ Gardenmama

Where did you wander today? I would love to know! With a link back to this post please share your 'Wandering Wednesday' photo on your blog too!

Please share your link in the comments so that we can all visit with you too!

.: We Celebrate You! :.

Oh, my sweet birthday boy! Today is your day! You wear your favorite color on your sleeve and it is echoed by the red balloons that made you smile so widely!

My sweet birthday boy, I remember the first time we met. Tears ran down my face as I gazed upon your perfect newborn beauty! I could not believe you were finally here with your golden peach fuzz hair and bright blue eyes gazing back at me.  I am so in love with who you are, you amaze me each day!

You are a dreamer, an inventor, a creator, and an artist.  You are always reflecting about how things work and how you will reconstruct them to make new creations.  You are rarely seen without a drawing tablet and markers in your hands. Your drawings literally wallpaper your bedroom now, and wrap it with your own dreamy vistas and detailed depictions of the things that you will one day create.

 

With a handful of red ribbons that are tied to these birthday balloons, you walked around the yard with a grin across your face, and beamed with each step!

While you and your sister and brother walked through the fields and played,  you shared with each of them a red balloon so that they too could wear this grin on their own faces!

Today brought you a special chocolate cake with cherries dotted across the top! This is your favorite that you request each year.

Even while taking notice of each moment,  just how dear child could these eight years have gone by so quickly!?

We celebrate you today as we run together with joy!

We celebrate you today and your exuberance for life--your gentleness, your creativity, and sense of humor while we watch frogs and tadpoles swimming in the pond nearby!

We enjoyed collecting feathers and treasures among the wildflowers in celebration of you!

I love you my dear sweet son. You are a treasure and a light! Thank you for being exactly who you are and for giving me the rich gift of being your mama! I love you with every ounce of my being and am so grateful for being given the gift of you eight years ago today!

As we sleep tonight I imagine that your dreams will be scored with "Beautiful Boy" by John Lennon. You will always be our beautiful boy.