Spring hasn't sprung

Please excuse me if I'm not overly enthusiastic about Spring yet. Believe me, inside I'm dying to get together a good spring-cleaning list, bake some hot-cross buns, and bust out the pastels. But when I step outside my hopes are shattered. I mean, just last week I could see the lawn and some little patches of green. I was convinced it was here. I even bought Laney an Easter dress.

Don't you think this picture is more appropriate to a Christmas card than the view from my lawn in almost-April? I thought the added caption suited better than "Happy Spring"!

But enough complaining. I will appreciate the sun all the more when it makes its appearance. I did have some fun with my camera today. And those frost crystals are really pretty.

Happy spring to those of you who are blessed with its arrival!

A Perfect Summer

I love summer and I think the fact that I live in Canada might be the reason why.

Don't get me wrong though. I love all seasons. I love the renewal of spring, the sweaters and the colours of fall, and I love Christmas and snow-sports in the winter.

But there is something magical about summer. The following photographs show just a few ingredients to the perfect summer.

I am a certified water-baby. Approximately half of the pictures of me growing up include me in water of some sort. I love the beach. I grew up in gorgeous British Columbia where there are so many great beaches and places to swim. Cliff jumping, rope swinging, hot springs, paddling, diving, and swimming were my favourite pastimes. That is what I miss most about B.C. (besides my family). This picture is from a couple of summers ago from beautiful Hornby Island.

Fresh fruit is amazing. Canned goods and out-of-season items will never compare to tree-ripened fruit. Which brings me to another huge bonus about growing up in British Columbia: the summer fruits. Peaches are especially delicious. Just a little cream. A little brown sugar. My mouth is watering already.

I am going to go back to the water for this next one. I love kayaking. Not the hardcore rapids thing, just the gentle paddling in a quiet bay type. Mike and I were engaged at Sooke, B.C. This is a picture from that trip. I am so sad we weren't able to make it to Vancouver Island this summer. I had visions in my head from the time I was pregnant of Laney playing on the beach. Oh well, I suppose she'll enjoy it a lot more next summer.

From the moment Laney entered our lives, a neccessary ingredient to the perfect summer has to include her. I love that she is able to learn to stand in grass (and barefoot too). I love that she gets to know the feel of grass between her toes and that while she is enjoying it an adorable boy is fishing in the lake behind her. Does it get any more summer than that?

Nothing quite says summer like a swim in the Canadian Pacific. This picture was also taken at Hornby Island. I promise the water is totally swimmable here. I stayed in for quite a long time. I would swim in almost anything though.

I picked these five photos to depict the perfect summer, but the fact of the matter is that there are hundreds more I could have chosen from. Barbeques, picnics, family, friends, babies in diapers only, fireworks, camping, gardens, etc.

As much as I am going to miss summer, I am going to enjoy the fall. I am ready for comfy sweaters, blankets, and cuddling on the couch with my family. I hope you enjoy the rest of your summer.

Thanks to Mama Kat's writing prompts for the inspiration for this post.