A Chive Is a Little Thing

I have a tiny garden on my back porch. And in my tiny garden, I have a chive plant. That chive plant has been with me for five years.

But here's the thing...I don't even like to eat chives.

This plant survived our move from Utah to Washington in 2008, and I gave it to my mom then because I knew I wouldn't use it. I forgot all about it. A couple years later, I was out on my mom's porch, and I saw that little chive plant, still thriving. I was so inspired by the plucky little plant; I took it back to my apartment with me. It's been with me ever since.

The next spring, it blossomed. (Okay, it might have blossomed before that. I wouldn't even know.) It had maybe four or five flowers on it. Last spring, it had a dozen flowers. This spring, it looks like this:

This photo was taken about a month ago. I've eaten--and loved--some of the blossoms, and I've clipped some and put them in a vase on our kitchen table, and the plant just keeps blossoming. It's turning yellow now; I think it's outgrown its pot. It may die. I don't have a bigger pot for it; besides that, we'll probably be moving this summer, and it's too big to take with me.

I don't really have a point for telling you all this. Maybe as a symbol of what this summer could be--letting go of some things that have been with me for a while. I heard Julie B. Beck say once that life is a series of losses, but that the important things stay with us. I keep telling myself that. I might lose my chive plant, for example, in the changes that could be happening soon, and I'll feel a little pang about that. But that's nothing compared to what will always stay with me--family, friendships, the gospel. And that makes the losses easier to bear.

Blooming!

When Isaac quit his job last summer, one of his co-workers gave him an orchid as a going-away gift. It was gorgeous, and we kept it until all its blossoms fell off.

And then I read on the internet that if you're very patient, and if you keep the orchid in a sunny window (...and water it...), it will bloom again the next year. So I did.

And then, a month or so ago, I noticed that it wasn't looking so hot. We kept it in one of those half-circle windows above the windows in our dining area, so I couldn't really see it very well.

So I got it down, figuring that I was kind of tired of watering it, if it was dying anyway...and noticed that it was NOT dying.

It was creating new life! I think the leaves were a bit wilted because it was using its energy to produce buds. It's bloomed a bit since I took this picture, and guess what? Still gorgeous.

Sweepin' the Clouds Away

Play time! We had a sunny-ish day (not today--this was a couple weeks ago), so Little Boy and I headed to the playground.

 

He's obsessed with slides. They're not as scary as swings.

 

 So Little Boy got some energy out...

 

 ...and I got to chill out. Good day.

A Brief Announcement

No, I'm not pregnant.

I changed my header. Y'know, the one up there ^^^ . I wanted a spring-ier look.

That's all.

Learning Time: Science

Little Boy and I have "learning time" every day after breakfast for about half an hour (usually it stretches a little longer, but let's not quibble). Really, it's home-preschooling, but try explaining that to a 3 1/2 year old. So, to him, it's "learning time."

Since learning time is a big part of our day, and Little Boy enjoys it so much, I thought I'd share a bit of what we do. I'm going to break it down into a few separate posts, because, really? I'm too tired to write a big, long post right now. And I bet you're too tired to read a big, long post right now. You're welcome.

Anyway, the first thing we do is take a look at the pumpkin seedling Little Boy's been growing. We point out the different parts of the plant, and count the leaves to see if there are any new ones, and water it if it's dry. [Don't tell Little Boy, but the pumpkin plant is going to be moved to his Grandma's house sometime soon. We do NOT have room for a pumpkin plant on our back porch! And...we'll figure out some other science-y thing to do.]

This is the plant--I thought this picture turned out kinda cool. I have NO IDEA how I did it. I don't understand cameras at all.

Next time: ABCs! Woohoo!

¡Olé!

{image source}
{This is absolutely NOT my husband. Heh.}

 Isaac works at a health clinic where many of the employees and most of the patients are Hispanic.

 Today is Cinco de Mayo.

 Therefore, Isaac has the day off work today. ¡Olé!

Ever Been Inside an LDS Temple? Here's Your Chance.

We'll be going here tomorrow:

 
{as you can see, we've already visited the outside. ha.}

...for the Vancouver LDS Temple Open House. It's free, and it's open to the public through April 24th (excluding Sundays). More information on the open house can be found here.

Mother's Day Flowers

I Live in a Strange Place.

My parents have this big trampoline that Little Boy loves. We went out there the other day, and...wait, what is that all over the trampoline?

It's moss. Or maybe lichen? I don't really know the difference. It's been there for a long time.

Now, granted, this trampoline doesn't get much use anymore. But really, stuff like this doesn't faze me--or anyone else who lives here. Moss grows on everything. It's just part of living in a wet climate. Weird, huh? But my guess is that there's something strange about wherever you live, too.

Tulips, Tulips Everywhere

 Last weekend, we visited the Skagit Valley Tulip Festival.


 It's a spring tradition in my family, but I haven't been in a few years. I've missed it.


 Little Boy wasn't sure what the big deal was.


 These purple & yellow ones were my favorite. I wish I could remember what variety they were.


 "Yellow Cheerfulness." How perfect is that?


 We'll definitely be back next year.

Go Get Yourself Some Cheap Sunglasses

When you wake up in the morning and the light is hurtin' your head
The first thing you do when you get up out of bed
Is hit the streets a-runnin' and try to beat the masses

 

 And go get yourself some cheap sunglasses

 

Oh yeah, oh yeah, oh yeah

Lyrics by ZZ Top.