Children's Playgarden

A woman from our Meeting helped start this amazing place, the Children's Playgarden. It's designed to be a playground and garden and play space for kids with special needs and typically developing kids to play together. We went to check it out for the first time and it was so amazing and super fun. All the playground equipment and the tree fort are accessible to kids with mobility issues, there was a water play area and a gorgeous garden.  The woman from our Meeting is an amazing gardener so this did not surprise me but there are all kinds of lovely flowers and bushes shaped like animals, and tucked in among them are strawberry plants and raspberry bushes, just right for a kid to stumble upon for a snack. It is a magical garden. 

Making (and smashing) a sand cake

Sometimes you need to make a sand cake, to celebrate the birthday of your imaginary friends. And then after you carefully spend twenty minutes making the sand cake, what comes next? Smash it as fast as you can!

Three amigas after Meeting

all hands on deck

Lounging

the Yearly Meeting scarf

There is something about Quakers and the fabric arts. In almost every Quaker gathering, except Meeting for Worship, you will see at least ten percent of the room knitting, crocheting or doing needlepoint. I was trying to explain to someone how I feel like knitting helps me be a better listener, most of the time. It's something about occupying a certain part of my brain with a repetitive task, which allows the other parts of my brain more ability to focus. I think if I didn't knit during Meeting for Business, I would be more fidgety and distracted. I've noticed that when I don't bring my knitting, I notice other people knitting and my fingers itch.

So, this is my Yearly Meeting scarf. I started it in the car on the way to Oregon and carried it around with me for the five days we were there at annual session. For me it's seeped in the thoughts and ideas and Light that I was surrounded by, seeped in the occasion of meeting new people and deepening relationships. Being amazed again by the mystical and yet sometimes maddening Quaker process, and being so so thankful for the Religious Society of Friends.

What we're up to

We have been in full-on summer mode these days. These long sunny days that are full of so many projects and friends and adventures. 

 
                                           So many Lego projects. Entire Lego villages have been made,
                                     as well as a pizza delivery boat and a garbage truck jet.

                                             
                                                 We are at the library almost every day.

                                                        Painting!

                                                Unity's been keeping a daily journal all summer long.

And she and her friends are really into making fairy houses at the park or in the yard.

We are coming home sticky and sweaty and dirty, covered in sunscreen and berry juice, tired and oh so happy.

Ah, summer love. 

at the beach

So thankful for these days, these friends, this beautiful place. 

Summer Days...

It's a good thing, having a good friend with a backyard full of raspberries and a tree swing big enough to share. It's a good thing, these sweet and lazy days, with all the time in the world.

Pattern blocks and Pride parade

They got so much candy and other trinkets at the Pride parade, it was amazing. I guess Pride is the new Halloween?