The Big, Brown Lawn: The Power of Tools

This weekend was filled with some of my favorite things. Although there was much work to be done, it was good work, work worth doing. As with anything worth doing, time must be invested and on this particular "spring forward" sort of weekend time seemed to be speeding right along and I found myself wishing there was more to be had.

Instead of dwelling on the "not enough time" I started thinking about what we made time for. Ellie was ready for "not a work day, today is a family day?!!" with an early morning wake up call at 6:30 Saturday morning. As Daddy and Mason woke up at 8:00, it felt as though we had been up for hours. We were making waffles and other tasty breakfast goodness and getting ready to unleash the day.

Daddy and Ellie took charge of seeds. Our "happy little farmer"(as she researched back at winter break) worked hard to plant all the "little babies". Ellie loves caring for babies, but she likes to hold them and snuggle them...these babies might not be sturdy enough for her loving embrace.

Our little garden fairy

A watchful eye is needed when unleashing the fun of seed starter kits. A bit of over-processed packs took us outside to enjoy the crisp, sunny day!

Oh if all our outfits could inspire spinning and flying...

My new favorite shirt of Mason's is this one which is difficult to see in this picture. "It's kind of like a costume and a shirt," he told Grammie on the phone. The pirate on it is fantastic and even has shiny gold bling. Perfect for heading to a birthday party!

The kids headed out to party and Josh and I scurried to sew, and construct. We have been working on the class project for Mason's preschool auction and needed the weekend to get things wrapped up. As with many of our creative works the estimated and actual times don't seem to match up. We used to joke at how the Home Depot book for Do-It-Yourself projects should be read by multiplying all times by at least 3. So true to form this project is no different. Saturday I spent the day at my sewing machine listening to music inside while Josh was outside constructing a castle. At the end of our 8 hours we were calling it a day realizing there was more work in our future. The kids returned home from their day of fun with Grammie and slept the night away.

Sunday I needed to head outside. I have more sewing to finish, but I needed to get out. I was happy Josh took the early wake up call from Ellie so I could sleep in a bit. I played driveway croquet with Mason and then got to work as carpenter's assistant. As I sanded castle pieces with the random orbit sander I got to thinking. There is nothing like a job of sanding to set your mind thinking. With each piece I smoothed I was thinking. The power of this tool to take something flawed and reveal its beauty. I was holding in my hands the power to transform - to bring out this wood's future.

I wonder if we all have this power to reveal, uncover, transform the beauty that lies within. I got to thinking about my class this year. The path we have taken. It has needed a bit of random, orbiting sanding, but the beauty is revealing itself. I am inspired by creativity in the room and at times am a bit overwhelmed. The vibrations needed to keep working toward to ultimate reveal can shake you to the very core. Get a bit to close to your thumb nail and it roughs you up a bit. None of this is completely devastating, yet it can set you back a bit.

"My Onyx likes to run. Come on Buddy!"

I stepped back this weekend now and then to be an observer as I do in class sometimes. I was searching for the beauty and allowing my brain to think about it more deeply. As I watch Ellie love her buddy, Onyx, I am moved by her gentleness, her love for him. Her walk around the yard with him is pure joy for them both. She notices him and his needs.

"I think he needs to rest a minute. I will sit down." (Notice signs of driveway croquet?)

I know I can get annoyed with him as he pesters and sheds and muddy paw prints the floor, but her genuine love and joy reminds me of my love and joy for my dog when I was growing up. Her caring soul reminds me to see the goodness in him and what he brings to our family.

It is this that is true for so much. The uncovering, the revealing of layers not seen at first glance. The joy in the discovery of something you didn't realize was there, or the reminder that you hadn't been seeing it when it was there all along.

I have found joy in creating. Taking items and turning them into something beautiful. Sometimes the uncovering is a process and you need glimpses of wonder to keep you moving in the right direction, so here is a peek at the project. Not the final reveal, but a sampling of what's to come. There is something about the suspense of waiting for the finished look, but as I found with sanding, sometimes we need to begin to see the beauty, so we can make sure we are on the right path and are given the fuel to keep pushing on ahead.