{ pretty, happy, funny, real }

~ Capturing the context of contentment in everyday life ~  
Every Thursday, at Like Mother, Like Daughter!
I haven't participated in {pretty, happy, funny, real} in a long while and I'm so glad to be back. This is one of my all time favorite link-ups out there. Focusing on the beauty and happiness of life through pictures really speaks to me. This series is my homage to the end of summer. We had some really beautiful high points that have been sticking with me and carrying me through the changing season. Thank you for stopping by to see how our everyday life brings our family much contentment.   ~ Marcy
{pretty}

Yesterday's heatwave had me dreaming of our recent trip to the ocean. It had been our first ocean visit in 8 years and the first for our three youngest. I daydreamed all day about sitting on the gorgeous beaches all. day. long. Soaking up the sunshine, embracing the ocean waves. Watching the children bask in the openness of the ocean's expanse. Having sand in every crevice and roll and crease. This was our best vacation ever and I miss it. Everyday.

{happy}

Every year our little town sees a County fair come through. We look forward to the week it is in town all summer long. The bigger kids look forward to a little bit more independence from us, walking around with friends and going on all the rides over and over again. The littles, well Charlotte anyway, is at her second year of really enjoying all the rides for smaller kids. Kiki, however, had stepped foot into just one ride last year and cried the whole time. She is our "non-risk taker". She likes moments of excitement when they are self motivated and where she is in full control. Rides are not that kind of excitement at all. This year was a new year for Kiki. She, of her own volition, got on a few rides and really, really, enjoyed them. She was all smiles and showed just a bit of trepidation; you could see her talking herself through. This evening, everyone was very, very happy.

{funny}

Summer means Daddy usually works more but this summer he has been home, lots. For better and worse. It is so wonderful to have Daddy home, even if he is just outside working around the house, the fact that his presence is felt, his voice is heard and his hugs are available at any moment, make our days so much more enjoyable. As a family, we do so much better when we are all together. Everyone feels held and heard, us adults feel supported and having a buddy around releases the loneliness and missing we feel when one of us isn't at home. I love my husband deeply. If only we didn't have to make money we would be content just spending every minute of everyday together, with our children, in our home, on the land. Then, life would be perfect. In the meantime, life is still perfect, just a different kind of perfect. 

This picture captured an impromptu "morning meeting" where discussions about George of the Jungle and boogers, various trees and our elderberry/peach smoothie were heard. Oh, and I can't forget Kiki's current photography series. She was very eager to discuss and show the many pictures she had taken in the course of the morning.  

{real}

Over the weekend we picked up our newest additions to the family, a flock of six Shetland ewes. We currently work with a flock of Oxford cross sheep that are kept mostly for meat processing. Living in an intentional community, Lee has taken on the shared task of shepherding with another family on the land. One of my deepest passions is working with wool. I love everything about it. Last year, I taught myself to knit and needle felt and the children learned to wet felt and finger knit. This year, our goal is to process our wool, from shearing to spinning (or felting). I was specifically interested in Shetland sheep because of their size, demeanor, and for the quality of their wool. Their wool is excellent for spinning, another modality of wool work I look forward to learning. Shepherding and working with sheep is a family passion. While Lee currently spends the most time caring for them (I'm working it in to my rather full day of caring for 5+ children and keeping the house) and the children visit and look forward to snuggling up and patting the girls on the head, I look forward to it becoming more and more a shared effort between all of us.