Cheese

Most nights I pray the Numbers 6:24 blessing over the girls before they go to sleep. 

It says, "May the Lord bless you and keep you. May He make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you. May He lift up His countenance upon you and bring you peace."

Rosie has memorized it by now and I often pause at the end, as in, .... and bring you...(pause) and she fills in the blank, peace. 

Today I put Sadie in her crib for her nap and was putting clothes away in her room. Rosie came in and asked if she could give Sadie her blessing. She recited in in her sweet little voice, with the r's that sound like w's and it almost brought me to my knees. At the end she paused just like I do and waited for Sadie to fill in the word, peace.
Do you know what Sadie said?

Cheese.

May he lift up His countenance upon you and bring you.....cheese.

Amen.

Spring in Central California

We went "home" for President's weekend with the Hunts and Welches. Although I love where we live, I miss this area. I miss the trees, the open space, the smells, the colors... one of the things that I miss so much about this area is the weather, or the variation of weather. 

I read an article that Anne Lammott wrote for this month's Sunset magazine this afternoon. She wrote about Northern California and although Bass Lake is technically Central California, it reminded me of February/March growing up.

 It's a long excerpt, but I know you'll indulge me because you know of the big crush I have on Anne.

Northern California spring is not a nice orderly progression that you recognize from any other part of your life. It's a kaleidoscope. On almost any day, it could be almost any season. Hot, warm, very cold, rainy, gray then blue. Then it rains, and when you try to adapt to the hopelessness of it all, you wake up to bright blue skies, and the warmth of the sun, and then the fog rolls in. An then we get that cold mean wind that pricks at your skin and your very being, and then soft golden warmth. Nature hikes up her skirt and bops you around and laughs, and you laugh with her, like when a sweet person teases you. 

Here are some pictures from a little mini-hike that we did with the kids one day.

That's Amore!

When the moon hits your eye like a big pizza pie, 

that's amore!

Happy Valentine's Day from our Italian pizza shop to yours :)

Lots of love.