Birthday Treats

God bless Wynham: He's so easy to please when it comes to his birthday dinner menu, even if his tastes do run to the expensive... But he's only 15 for a moment so better make the most of it!

Forget Me Not...

Every time I see these minute blossoms springing up in the wild, I'm reminded of one of my favorite family stories, about the courtship of my great-great grandparents. Sarah was very young, 14, when John (rather older) fell in love with her. Her parents told him he would have to wait until she was sixteen to marry. He was bold enough to ask permission to write to her, but not so forward as to sign his letters "Love"; instead he wrote "Forget Me Not"...

When they married, her rings were a little blue flower crafted of turquoise petals with a citrine center, and a band with the phrase engraved on it. The flower ring is long since lost, but I still have the band. I may not remember the details precisely, but the sentiment is one I'll never forget...

Little Helpers

The enthusiasm that Claire and Jack have for cooking is such a delight to see. We all know the ulterior motive -- who gets to lick the beater -- but their eagerness to participate in kitchen alchemy renews my own faith that there's simply something magic about cooking for the ones you love...

Day at the Beach

Capturing a Thousand Words

By Chloe Guillemot

I often laugh at my mom

For taking so many pictures.

She says I will thank her later.

Once, she took a picture

Of Claire and me

Down at Kirby Cove.

But she did more than take a picture –

She captured a single moment in time;

She captured a thousand words.

Behind our frozen faces

Full of sunshine,

The Golden Gate took up the blue sky.

Further on still,

The tall San Francisco skyscrapers

Sprang up from the ground like flowers.

The blue bay, an upside down sky,

Was still and undisturbed. Quiet.

Free of boats and sailors.

The cables between the two towers

Of the Golden Gate dipped into a smile,

Reflecting Claire’s smile and mine.

The rays of sun brought light

To everything that it touched,

A golden aura filled the air.

I try not to laugh now

When my mom takes a picture

To capture a single moment in time.

Instead, I look for colors and light,

Smiles and sun, life and more life.

I search for a thousands words.

Spring is Kind...

Egg-cellent!

Claire and Jack have a blast every year at Heidi's annual Easter egg hunt. This year all the girls were dressed to the nines! As beautiful as spring flowers...