Papa John's poppies

This past winter my dad sent me a package with TONS of poppy seeds from his garden. They came in miniature manila envelopes, each individually marked and labeled by color - red, dark purple, pink, lavender and more. I scattered all the seeds in the front yard and the back garden just before the snow melted in March (as instructed). Papa John even brought more with him when he visited in May and planted them along the side of the house. I had visions of a front yard that was a field of poppies ala Wizard of Oz and large bunches of them in a rainbow of colors on the dining room table. But as luck (and my not so green thumb) would have it, not a single one flowered. None even grew higher than my ankles. I had given up on my poppies all together.

And not three weeks after resigning to a poppy-less yard, we returned from Halifax to these:

Now, it's no Wizard of Oz field, but the few we've had are just gorgeous. So delicate, the paper thin petals fall after only an afternoon's bloom.

These little beauties don't last long (and certainly wouldn't last on the dining room table) but they're a small gem in our yard.

Asa's grandfather

Here's of video of my father, Papa John, from last summer. I have so many childhood memories that look just like this - summer time at a lake, river or quarry, my dad climbing up something, preparing to jump off. Seriously. Bridges, cliffs and, as seen here, trees.

Papa John from lichen richardson on Vimeo.

How many 67 year old men do you know that can do that?

Papa John's visit

Papa John's first visit to New York - what better reason to visit the Big Apple than the birth of your first grandson?

Laughing with Papa John


On our first hike

Smiling in his sleep

Laughing with dad

Asa plays now with Papa John, the two of them quite interested in one another. They smile and laugh together as I sip my coffee and look over the photos from the last week.

What a treat it is to have my dad in town. It feels me with unimaginable pride to introduce my father to my son and to watch them spend the first of many, many happy moments together.

First days home

We are home. With our son. OUR SON. That is an incredible statement. One that continues to fill me with wonder and joy.

Watching my husband become a father is one of the most heartbreakingly beautiful things I could imagine.

This week we have four generations in this house.

Aunt
Grandmother
Great-Grandmother

At least 500 times a day I pinch myself. Can this be real? Can I be this lucky, this blessed? Then I look into my son's navy blue eyes and know that I'm not dreaming.

Sister

Last week Marleigh was here to visit. I can't tell you how wonderful it was to have her here. To wake up in the morning and make her breakfast (then eat it with her, of course), to hear her voice calling goodnight from down the hall, to laugh and be the silly sisters we are. I loved every moment of it. Here are a few captured ones.
Beautiful Mar at the Poughkeepsie train station

Flea market shopping in Arkville

The late blooming clematis that opened just for her

Sleeping on the Metro

The Natural History Museum in NYC

Mar rescues a butterfly in Margaretville

The special heart shaped potato eaten for brekky one morning

On the way to the city

Ang captures the sisters picnicking in the park

We've already planned Marleigh's next visit (Ash is coming too!) and I can hardly wait till it's here. Counting the days Mar - I love you!

Thursday Night Tequila

My mom is in town, so what better way to celebrate than to head to The Spanish Kitchen and drink tequila? The night, in photograph:

Believe it or not, this is before we left the house

My delicious dinner , washed down with several magaritas
And then, because only after that much tequila does more tequila sound like a good idea, Jaden and I went to the store to pick some up....and had way too much fun

And finally, the after party

A night to be remembered.....sort of anyway.