Near-nightly spotting of firefliesA smattering of pink evening clouds in the sky.My little helper, in his mother's helper, helping me bake/cook/transfer chopped veggies/you name it.We are re-watching Downton Abbey for the fourth(?) time through. So dang good...

The week before Cooper's birthday, my parents, Grandma Donna, and my brother Matt came to visit. We ate carnitas made in the instant pot, and visited. Saturday morning, after breakfast, we spent the bulk of the day outside. Cooper played in the kiddie pool, my parents helped a ton in the yard (thank you, mom and dad!), and Cooper opened his birthday gifts, with much glee...

So early in the season, the water was around fifty degrees, the kind of chilly where even just dipping your toes in cools off your entire body. Nicholas brought Cooper up to the top of a dune and then they ran down, he took a video with our new GoPro camera (Cooper's face is priceless, such joy). We're looking forward to making good use of our annual parks pass. More beach days, sunshine, picnic lunches, and swimming ahead...

Even within my heart and personal life, I have days rife with longing and grief and fear, where tears come easily. I can't speak for you, reader. I won't assume anything about your life right now. But my aim in writing about life's little things is to add a little lightness, if I can...

Since I lasted posted about finished projects, I finished two pairs of socks. First, a pair of slipper-type socks for Nicholas. I have only ever knit toe-up socks twice, both times with this pattern. Nicholas has already worn them a few times...