There are so many things I love about our yard. But one of them is not my complete inability to grow vegetables. 

Of. Any. Kind.

Lettuce. Peas. Tomatoes. Peppers.

Yeah...

It doesn't matter. My yard and the dominating presence of our neighbor's GIANT Black Walnut tree throw an all encompassing no-go over it all.

In the ground. In pots. In raised beds, even.

All a big, fat, depressing NOPE.

So. Thank goodness for the Farmer's Market. 

And my herbs. Because those I can grow.

 The magic of June...

...and Strawberry season...

When all of this...

...becomes this...

...and this...

...and suddenly the sun-ripened, rain drenched, long days, humid nights sweetness of summer is available even on the coldest February morning.

Not Peonies but still pretty lovely.

Glorious Peonies.

JUST DISCOVERED THE BEST ICE CREAM EVER.

(Yup, it needed all-caps...)

Not necessarily for the flavor. Though what can be wrong with Wildflower Honey Pistachio, am I right?

No, the flavor is delicious but what makes this ice cream truly outstanding is the texture. 

Because let's face it, when you are dealing with dairy free ice cream, well, there's often a lot to be desired. 

Creaminess for one. Density, for another.

But this new-to-me brand totally nails it. While being not only gluten and dairy free, but refined sugar free, as well.

A tri-fecta in my book.

I can not wait to sample the other flavors.

My Columbines.

They are blooming for the first time this year. And I think they have gone above and beyond. I mean, seriously. Aren't they just gorgeous?

And all from seed, too. I don't think I've ever grown anything this successfully from seed before.

Part 2.

Lifting her up onto the wall for the photo.
Which Josh took early.
Cause he's sneaky like that.

E's favorite part of camping.
Hot cocoa and a fire.

E jumped the creek and climbed up
as close as she could
to the waterfall in the Little Sand Cave.

Sand in the Big Sand Cave.
It looked like orange Kool-aid powder.

Balancing rocks.
We each created our
own smaller versions.

Hatching baby Swallow.
The nest was under a sandstone overhang.
Just at the height of E on tiptoe.

E and I at the
top of a small waterfall.