in with the new

Spring is finally here to stay. With it came all the bargain shopping experiences you know I love. Negotiating ain't my thing, but if the price is set, I'll buy--and the last hour when everything is half price is fun too.

This weekend was my church's rummage sale, which is always a favorite. The children's book section is where I make a bee-line during the volunteer pre-sale. Check out some of these "awwww"-inducing finds:

Last year I volunteered during sale week by marking prices on breakables, but not being a tchotchke collector, I was worried I did it badly and found the experience stressful. This year I stuck with sales, which I liked because it involved talking to people. I met lots of the congregation who come to the 11am service. They all sized me up to be a 9am-er, "because all you 9am-ers have small kids."Yup.

The hardest part about sales was the rush at the end of the half-price sale. Everyone seems to assume you will give stuff away for nearly free just to get them out of your hair and because you don't want to cart the goods off to charity. They are mostly correct in this assumption, but I must tell you a hard truth. This segment of society--who haggle with volunteers at a rummage sale from which the proceeds go to a good cause--they weren't raised right by their mamas. My fellow fraught cashier could be heard a time or two exasperatedly bristling, "Oh all right, have it your way." I just laughed because laughter is how I handle awkward folks. Well, laughter and judgmental blog posts.

The adult book section--by that I mean books for grown-ups, not of the three-x variety--also had some great finds, so I think my summer reading selection is nearly complete. I put it up on Goodreads in case you're on there too and want to follow along or comment. If you're an avid reader and not yet on Goodreads, check it out! The combined inventions of GR and Pinterest mean I almost never miss a book recommendation these days.

Would you count Faulkner and James as summer reads, though? Hmmm, perhaps not. What do you have on your current book list?

p.s. I've already read Stumbling on Happiness, but I gave it away years ago and thought I could use a refresher. Do you give away books you liked? I can't handle clutter, so I find it's easier for me to get the book again later from the library or a used book sale than it is to lug it around for years. If I keep it, I just end up resenting it gathering dust. Plus, giving it away means I get to share book-love, which is one of my favorite life activities!

p.p.s. I admit that pic above of the books isn't great to show off the titles, but I wanted to squeeze in my other new purchase. That little bowl on the left is also a find from the church sale. Three bucks! I've been looking for a bowl for all the cell phone hoopla, and this one fits the bill nicely, doncha think? Here's a better shot of the books:

mother's day year-round {plus blueberry syrup}

It's a rare thing, but occasionally a weekend comes along that I am able to step out of my mom role for long enough, even if it's just a day, and just BE. Not be anyone's meal-maker or clothes-washer, but just read a book or maybe even be pampered for a change. Has this happened for you? Friends, let me tell you how wonderful it is.

When Nate got back from his long work trip, he had a brilliant idea. Why not use some of his points for a night in a hotel room, just for me to relax? I agreed, why not?! It was a great suggestion, and three months later I finally took him up on it. I invited my best local bud to come along. We had a fantastic time eating, shopping, and wandering Boston together.

on kippers and castles

Hey peeps!

Much has been happening around our joint, but I almost don't even have the words. It's all a jumble in my head-- an IKEA trip here, a barbecue there. The way my fellow camp carpooler summed it up (when she ran out of gas in her own driveway) was to say "Summer has a different rhythm, and I haven't quite figured out how to handle it." Amen, girlfriend.

summer grilling side: vinegar slaw

We went to the beach yesterday, and it was everything I had hoped for (except for giving my kids their first sunburns...doh!): breezy, warm, blue sky, and berries. Yes, berries! Unique to the New England shoreline experience is that you can stop off for some fresh-picked berries or even pick your own. A refreshing end to a hot day. Pictures tomorrow!

camp!

Vivi started camp today. Last year she attended a YMCA camp, but at 3 years old, she was still napping and going for half a day, so it felt more like day care than camp. This year she's going to a for-real all-day camp on a wooded farm, just like I did for almost twenty years. In honor of this big day, here are a few of my own favorite camp pictures from back in the day (more are included in last fall's Halloween post)...

I'll be sure to report back with details about how it's going. As we were hopping out of the car this morning, she turned to me excitedly and proclaimed "I can get as dirty as I want!" Yes indeedy, this is the place for that.

After the hand-off, I took Charlotte on a short walk to a pond to pick up some jewel weed for her poison ivy. Since getting her poison ivy, I've had to explain to just about everyone what jewel weed is, so I think tomorrow's post will cover that subject. You simply must know about this wonderful plant!

my childhood, the redux

Cousins.

Does it go without saying that we had a great time visiting the fam? Because we did. There, I said it! I should probably wait until I've processed the trip more to talk about it here, but I can't wait to show you some of my favorite pictures.

summer camp part two: animal care with kids

Thank you to LeapFrog for sponsoring my post about LeapFrog Summer Camp. To sign up for LeapFrog Summer Camp, please click here. #CleverLFCamp #spon 

Hello from Dixie! We are enjoying our long summer vacation so far. Our southerly trip is action-packed, but with lots of traveling in cars from different locations mixed in, there is plenty of downtime in which I need some form of entertainment for the girls. Click here to read more about my summer camp activities with Leap Frog!

the call of the summer wild

Mud, beautiful mud, makes me feel good

Should we play in the mud? I think we should

Will you play in the mud with me?

Then the two of us can be happy.

~The Mud Song, High Meadows Camp

I know summer doesn't officially start for a few weeks, but for me, June 1st is when I begin to celebrate summer. When does summer begin to call to you?

I think one of the greatest gifts I can give my kids is to let them play in the spring and summer mud. If the form she filled out with her camp paperwork is any indication, I'd say Vivi quite agrees with me:

The middle entry, in case you can't tell, is "DIRT" spelled backward.

I admit I bare some influence on the fact that she knows camp is where you play in the dirt. She won't attend camp until July, so it's my job between now and then to find ways to get dirty.

"Playing" in the camp mud. It might look as though I'm being ganged up on by three
men here, but I assure you I gave as much mischief as I got.

I got some great inspiration for getting muddy from this Rhythm of the Home article. Though she's specifically referring to the the spring thaw in Canada, there is still plenty of mud to be found after the rain during the rest of the warm season. Yesterday I found some great rain boots for the girls in preparation for the four days of rain we're about to get. I'm so glad it's finally warm enough to play outside in the rain! I'll be sure to follow up with some pics.

Speaking of Rhythm of the Home, their summer issue came out today, and I have two articles featured in it! Check out my features (linked via images below) and the others. It's a great online magazine, and I predict you'll gladly spend a few quiet and peaceful hours reading it, as I have. Happy reading!

Call of the Summer Wild: Cultivating a Love of Nature

Homemade Cheese Crackers!

Editor's note: This post is part of Seasonal Celebration Sunday and Simple Lives Thursday.