Hello? Is anybody there?

So I know its been a really long time since I've posted but I haven't given up on this blog yet. I really don't have time to get back into blogging right now as we have a huge move coming up in the next few weeks, but here's some pictures from today that I wanted to share.

when faces called flowers float out of the ground
and breathing is wishing and wishing is having-
but keeping is downward and doubting and never
-it's april(yes,april;my darling)it's spring!
yes the pretty birds frolic as spry as can fly
yes the little fish gambol as glad as can be
(yes the mountains are dancing together)

when every leaf opens without any sound
and wishing is having and having is giving-
but keeping is doting and nothing and nonsense
-alive;we're alive,dear:it's(kiss me now)spring!
now the pretty birds hover so she and so he
now the little fish quiver so you and so i
now the mountains are dancing, the mountains)

when more than was lost has been found has been found
and having is giving and giving is living-
but keeping is darkness and winter and cringing
-it's spring(all our night becomes day)o,it's spring!
all the pretty birds dive to the heart of the sky
all the little fish climb through the mind of the sea
all the mountains are dancing;are dancing)

e e cummings

Beach Bum

Nativity Collection

I've been slowly collecting Nativities throughout our married life. Whenever a family member travels out of the country I try to remember to ask them to find me a nativity set in the style of whatever country they're in. I've missed getting a French or Italian version from forgetting to ask. Shoot. Anyway, here's what I do have. Not all are foreign, but all are loved.

Starting from the back left side, the carved gourd is from Brazil that my brother Spencer got for me while on his mission. Clockwise from there is the set Spencer and Anna his lovely wife picked up in Jerusalem. In front of that is a homemade set from my mom. To the left is another set from my mom, made from little gardening pots. The bottom left is a nativity my niece just got for me in Austria (It's my favorite!) and just behind that is a set from Nepal. Behind that just in front of the picture is one from Montana (not a foreign country) that I got at a craft fair. I have three or four nativity ornaments for the tree; one from Jerusalem and the other's local or handmade. Finally, I have a wall hanging quilt of the nativity that Rob's step-mom made for us last year that is very beautiful and detailed. Oh, and I can't forget our Little People set or the finger puppets that the kids get to play with. I guess I do have quite a few sets!

I also collect Santa's. I'll try to get those chronicled sometime this next month.

Fun in Snowy Montana