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Author Archive for haley montgomery – Page 11

sojourn . Flora and Fauna from Summer at Busy Bee

Farm days. They are always full of discovery, and the theme for last week’s trip seemed to be green, green and more green! We’ve returned from our annual sojourn to Noxubee County to kick-off summer vacation, and I’m always amazed at the new flora and fauna we find. It was unusually hot this year for May. At least it felt that way. So, lingering in some of our favorite activities was a little uncomfortable. But we enjoyed at least a few drives through the pastures and exploring. So many greens and blossoms. And, although some of my close-ups got a little grainy, we got to see a few critters, too. I hope you enjoy some of the sights of summer at Busy Bee, including some of the inspiration for the Small Pond…

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Hello, June… And Summer [free printable calendar]

Hello, June! It’s a new month, and that means a new printable calendar…. I’m sort of congratulating myself for being more regular with these printables this year. The school year finished up last week, so we are about a week and a half into our summer vacation – excitedly! We’ve spent this week getting lazy at Busy Bee for our annual summer kick-off trip to the farm. The weather seems unseasonably hot for May, but it hasn’t stopped us from enjoying these first days of summer slowness and freedom – early morning quiet time on the deck, pasture walks, pancakes for breakfast, a few wanders through county roads, water fun, bonfires for hot dogs and s’mores, and searching for ripe blackberries and wildflowers. It’s not quite time for wild blackberries yet. They are mostly green and red right now, but we’re spotting them everywhere and hoping to come back in a few weeks when more will be ready for picking.

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keep . Good Night Prayers

I’ve been thinking lately about the things in our lives that help us create family, the experiences and qualities of “home” that knit us together and create the safe place we need to become confident in our best selves. After my husband, Mike, died, we were all engulfed in this wave of sorrow and change and uncertainty, and for my children, a sea of confusion and lack of understanding – an ill-defined sense of loss and insecurity. It was all very natural, and in many ways still an ongoing process at various stages of resolution, even six years later. But, during those early days of grief, I felt so strongly that I needed to focus on making sure our home was a place of security and honesty, where all feelings were welcome and peace would reign. Home-keeping. A tall order in a very chaotic and confusing time of adjustment.

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letters to my daughter 052118 . Brain Freeze Season

Summer vacation begins for us on Wednesday. We have big plans for small schedules and fun with our summer jar and each other. I predict a few brain freezes.

letters to my daughter 051118 . Forever

The conversation went something like this…

Baby Girl: I’m going downstairs.

Me: Oh no! But then you won’t be with ME!

Baby Girl: Mommy. I’m with you forever. Forever and ever.

Me:

I think I may have gotten out a whispered “me too.” But, I’m not sure. She had already disappeared into our little off-the-entryway “Kid Cave”, with snacks in hand, and the curtain drawn for her own little girl time. Those few words just filled up all my hopes and dreams and goals for our family. To share the power of being “with” one another. No matter where we go, or what we experience, to know that our hearts are knit together. That with each other, there is always a place where we belong.

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