Three more days and the farmer’s market near us opens. Saturday mornings are a delight, wandering among the fresh produce and booths with homemade products like natural soap and homemade kettle corn. I hope the weather will cooperate on Saturday for this first farmer’s market of the year. Buying locally grown produce and talking with the hard-working people at the booths is a special pleasure.

This summer, Lord willing, Tom and I intend to do a lot more to enjoy it. After several summers in a row where the unexpected dominated and altered summer plans, we are hoping to not waste this one. Tom has a camping trip planned with Will, and Emmy and I have a daily appointment for what we call our “nature walks.” This involves walking through the neighborhood with her running dialog regarding things like the beauty of dandelions, why robins won’t let her hold them, and the loneliness of a plastic deer that sits in a nearby flowerbed. “Is he sad, Mama?” Her dialog is intermingled with bursts of song from her growing repertoire.

“She’ll be coming round da mountain when she comes..why can’t I get that flower over there, Mama? …aye, aye, yippie, yippie, aye…If yer happy and ya know it, stomp your feet.. Look, a squirrel? What’s he doin’, Mama? I want to hold him…”

Nature walks are never boring with Emmy.

Rachel and her mom, my sister, Lisa

Lots going on this summer! My beautiful niece Rachel is graduating from high school in a few days. It is difficult to believe that she is that old already. She was younger than Emmy when Tom and I married. Congratulations to Rachel Beth on this milestone. We love you!

Sam and Laura’s baby is due in a little over four weeks. How in the world time flew by that quickly, I don’t know, but it did. I remember the excitement of those last few weeks before Sammy came. Wasn’t it just a few weeks ago? It’s been 24 years. When babies come in spring and summer, it’s a lot easier not having to bundle them up to go out, and it’s great to not have to be cooped up inside for months before you can take walks. I’m sure Sam and Laura will have many enjoyable walks with little Peter. The view they have from their windows of Pike’s Peak is just gorgeous. I can’t imagine looking out at that every morning! Here’s a photo Sam took the other day.

So we’re ready for bare feet, picnic suppers on the deck and some fun trips to unexpected places. Em’s got her summer clothes all organized in her drawers, so bring on the warm weather! Summer’s almost here.