Early this summer, a mama robin decided to build her nest on top of the Bose speaker on our back deck. She was determined, especially after a storm, and my husband, took her half-made abode down three different times. She won in the end, though, as we came home from a weekend away and were thrilled she had completed her home while we were gone. As she sat there quietly nesting on her three little eggs, we concluded she could stay, so long as she agreed to share our favorite summer space with us. At first she'd fly away as soon as we'd open the door, but by the start of July she'd become rather tame, trusting that we wouldn't harm her hopeful babies when we'd come out to use the deck. I'd say we were friends.
I had no idea what a sweet process would unfold over our summer. We watched this mama sit strong through high winds and big thunderstorms, watched her fly back and forth to eager baby birds, their necks stretched high in the air looking for something to snack on, and just last week, watched them all test their wings off our tall deck into the big wide open world around them. One night, we were eating Tony's pizza on the deck and watched one take their first flight just steps away from us. And that steadfast mama stood there on our railing with a worm in her mouth, guiding and cheering her first eager bird along the way. The bird would fly a bit, land, and there would be her mom, swooping down to feed her until she was safely in the grass. And there we sat, eating pizza and watching in wonderment as the bird made it out of the nest. We got to watch the last two go for it, too, as if they waited until they knew we were there to cheer them on. And now, that nest is empty and I'm hopeful those birds are flying high somewhere in the summer sky, thankful to have had a front row seat to it all.
Summer will soon be through and another school year will start again, but I may just keep that empty nest up awhile longer. It's my reminder to stop and notice the simple miracles and sweet moments happening all around me. To notice them, name them, and delight in them.
Good things from our summer...
820. Maddie Poppe at the Butler County Fair. It was the middle of June, but felt more like late October. We had sweaters and coats and blankets on our laps, the bigs snuggled together in bag chairs and the littles kept busy grooving to their favorite tunes. We have now officially been to more Maddie Poppe concerts than any other concerts, including two in my tiny hometown of about 1,000 people.
821. Picnics on the river and dollar Thursdays at the Youth Pavilion with the Pattersons. I love watching these five play together. It is always sure to involve wild imaginations and usually a whole bunch of dirt.
822. Early morning thunderstorms, kisses for Daddy before work, and the rest of us piled up in Mila's twin bed.
823. A Saturday afternoon for pie. We had dinner at the Grays and I was asked to bring dessert. And on a rare occasion with not much to do on a Saturday afternoon, I went a little crazy thanks to a cookbook that combines two of my favorite things - seasons and PIE. I made a strawberry basil pie with a sugary balsamic sauce, and a brownie pie with nutella. They were both equal parts delicious and pretty. As was my little pastry chef.
824. Everything-but-the-kitchen-sink charcuterie board for the kids. Beau was gone and this is my favorite kind of summertime spread. And what they didn't eat, our favorite next door Sorbe kids finished up. ;)
825. The way Mila looks on a bike. She rides so tall and straight and I can't help but hum the music from the Wizard of Oz as she goes. She picked up the two-wheel in about fifteen minutes time early this summer and has loved riding near and far this summer. It's pretty fun to be on the go with them.
826. Homemade pancakes and my "failed" strawberry jam. It didn't set up like it should and while at first I was bummed and considered remaking the entire batch, it turns out there are far more uses for the strawberry sauce I ended up with. We serve it on pancakes and waffles, over ice cream or a strawberry milkshake, and in a strawberry mojito!
827. More summer bucket list passport stamps collected.
828. The way Mila's face lit up when she realized her "surprise" for the night Miss E for a baby-sitter!
829. Substitute CSA pickups thanks to Ashley. The Shaws were on vacation and she had a feeling I'd use it up well. Garlic scapes in the freezer, fresh fudge and mozzarella in my belly, and the cutest eggs I may not ever use but just put on pretty plates on my counter.
830. A backyard full of neighbor kids, followed by impromptu movie nights across the street. Mila ran home long enough to grab a blanket and stuffy and head back over. Post lemonade stand lemonade and Titos in our cul de sac. Missing Rush on his two week vacation with his grandparents about as much as his parents did.
831. Such a fun night at Sturgis Falls with Brad and Kate. Lawn chairs and blankets and Go Fish and dancing. We met Brian and Angie and Taylor and Kate down there and stayed until Brad and Kate ended at 11! The kids had a blast, Mila got a shout out from the stage, and we reunited with Andrew and Sara on the dance floor. And afterwards, Taylor and Kate came over for late night cocktails and all the leftover fried food in our freezer. We ate pizza rolls and stayed up until 3 am - I swear the sky was getting brighter!
832. Donut picnics with Sara. We sure like her a lot.
833. A spontaneous day to visit some family. We played in Adi and Livi's pool at Gabe and Gina's, rode bikes at Grandma Mary and Grandpa Ray's, and ended our night with another bike ride to Wilder's with Papa Curt. The kids didn't want to leave any of our stops.
834. Cruz and Mila got in a competition to see who could say "I love you" to Papa Curt as we left Wilder's that night. Mila ended up in tears because "Cruz said he loved him infinity times and I only said it quadruple times!" So, instead of heading east on Highway 3, we headed back to Mom and Dad's so they could exchange a little more love and go home with a tie. :)
835. Swimming lessons in the mornings. Mila's little smile she'd give me from afar and her joyful squeals every time she'd conquer a skill. Cruz conquered the high dive and Mila, well, she tried it a few times, too!
836. Bike rides to the pool after Dad got home from work. Since we typically go right when the pool opens, it was a fun change to get there just two hours before closing instead. We rode our bikes for the first time, did all the slides and boards, called Pizza Hut before we left, and made it home just as the sun was going down. We ate pizza on the deck before bed and chalked it up as one of our favorite nights of summer.
837. The way these two can make each other laugh. They've done their fair share of bickering this summer, but truly love to laugh together more than anything else.
838. My first cut flower bouquet of summer.
839. Fresh baked chocolate chip cookies and milk and picnics at the Meadows pond.
840. They even make morning cartoons cute.
841. Imaginative play in the garage. A monster constructed for target practice, an entertaining teacher, and a very messy classroom.
842. More Magnolia recipes tried, including six little jars of the best pimento cheese for lunches on the deck.
843. Sunday funday with the family. Post-church brunch outside at Newtons, a long bike ride through George Wyth, beers at the outdoor German biergarten, and skipping rocks along the Cedar before home. And Mila's sweet vintage summer tee.
844. Homemade ice cream with the biggest chunks of Oreo.
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