Mama Raccoon

As I already mentioned in a previous post, we have a raccoon nest high up in a tree next to our house and I take a peek to see what mama raccoon is up to as often as I can. Yesterday, I didn't see her all day. But this morning she was active and posed for my camera.

After being outside the nest for a while, she went back in head first.

She turned around on the inside and for a while all I could see was her ear.

And then she stuck her head out and looked left...

and right...

and got ready to leave once again.

She always stays close, but it looks like she needs a break from the babies once in a while. Especially as the temperatures heat up, it must get quite warm in the nest.

We've lived here for 11 years and see raccoons almost every day and we've never had an issue with them, which we are very grateful for. Can't wait to catch a glimpse of the babies!

❧ Silke

Love Languages

Last week, I had an epiphany of sorts! It's amazing to me that I can be almost 50 and am still getting to know what makes me the way I am. I've been thinking about this all week and have to write this down, mostly for myself, which is why I am posting some beautiful garden photos for you to enjoy while I ramble on.

I always love when the amaryllis bloom on the side of the house.
They were one of my mother's favorite flowers and always seem to bloom on Mother's Day. 

Last week, Andrea Scher (you can find her Superhero Life Blog here) mentioned on Facebook how she is really bad at giving gifts and that it's not one of her love languages. What?! Love languages? How had I not heard about those.

Our jasmine in full fragrant bloom! 

I could so relate because I am absolutely horrible with gift giving. Always have been (I think most everyone in my family is challenged that way). The finding of something appropriate, the feeling good about what I've chosen or made, the wrapping of it, the sending it off on time if I have to mail it, the card that should be included - it is and has been a super stressful thing for me my whole life.

The oak leaf hydrangeas are magnificent right now. 

Not that I don't like to give gifts or receive them, it just doesn't come easily to me. That's why my favorite holiday is Thanksgiving - all the joys of cooking and getting together with family and friends and NO GIFTS! It is the only holiday I feel completely relaxed about.

A new hibiscus. 

So, when Andrea mentioned Love Languages, I took the test (you can find it here).  And guess what "receiving gifts" (and the flip side of that: giving gifts) is at the very bottom of the list of what's important to me. It is not one of my love languages. No wonder I have never felt like I knew what I was doing when it comes to giving gifts. It is not a language I speak well at all.

The gardenias are starting to flower. They smell so wonderful! 

What was first on my list? Acts of Service! And isn't that the truth?

The other morning, I walked into the bedroom to make the bed and came to find that Daniel has already done that for me. To me, that spells love! Or he'll clean the kitchen for me while I am at the store to get groceries. No gift would mean as much to me as that.

Last week, we were visited by a rare albino raccoon - it was amazing to watch!

Almost as high on my list was "Quality Time." And again, that rings so true.

And here a "regular" raccoon moving around in one of our trees. 

I love nothing more than to spend time with Daniel. Of all the people I know, he's the one I most love to be with. It was that way when we met 30 years ago and it is that way now.

That, too, is more important to me than any gift he could give me.

I'm knitting a summer top for myself with some stretchy yarn and a fun pattern. 

Somehow knowing about my love languages has brought me great relief! And it has made me truly aware that we all don't speak the same language when it comes to expressing love and affection. It's also wonderful to know that there are others who are terrible at the whole gift giving thing. That said, I do have friends and family where I suspect that giving (and receiving) gifts is one of their main love languages, which means I'll always keep trying hard when it comes to gifting because they are important to me.

A favorite moment from last Sunday - one of those that was just perfect in every way! 

With lots of LOVE,

❧ Silke

The Joys of this Morning

We are having a small summer miracle. After incredibly hot and humid days, which are normal for us in August, we woke up this morning to 71 degrees (21 Celsius) and hardly any humidity. I opened all the windows in the house and then spent the whole morning outside, first walking with Winslow, then on the back porch enjoying the cool breeze and then watering.

Look at that gorgeous bee I found while watering a friend's back yard! It was just stunning!!

And then on our milk week, I counted 30 fat monarch caterpillars. That is so exciting to me. Soon, they'll be able to cocoon and begin the transformation to beautiful butterflies.

It's a good day. I hope for you as well!!

❧ Silke