Mother's Day Weekend

We enjoyed such a lovely weekend here at Front Forty Farm. The weather was warm and sunny...the warmest it has been all season. The Littles wore, for the first time, short sleeves and shorts, eventually stripping down even further to play with the hose and kiddie pool.  We worked on a new raised-bed rock garden in front of the house.  Little #4 was my head architect. With his great attention to detail and symmetry, he laid a perfect base for the new rock wall and gets all the credit for how well it turned out. I'm looking forward to filling the spot with hostas, astilbe, impatiens and other shade-loving plants.  We raked, picked up sticks, cleaned out the blackberry bramble, planted flowers in existing flower gardens, painted, and hung new birdhouses. Hubby and I took a trip to the garden center (alone); Grandma came for a short visit, and we took the grill out of storage and enjoyed grilled chicken and salad for lunch.  The Littles made bows and arrows, rode in Mama's new yard trailer and had ice-cream for supper.  We marveled at the return of the Rose Breasted Grosbeak (we haven't see him in our yard for four years) and watched the Cliff Swallows come and go from their nests under the eaves of the house.  I shed tears over the thoughtful cards and gifts the Littles made for me (one of which was a beautiful photo collage of my much missed Molly), watched Call the Midwife and Mr. Selfridge after the Littles were tucked into bed, and fell asleep with a smile on my face.  I could not have asked for a better Mother's Day weekend. I want to savor these precious days with all of my children still at home, wanting to be near me, taking pleasure in the simple things of life.