birthdaze

It was George's birthday, it was Zelda's birthday. We had parties. I was going to write things about them, but everything I started to say was uninteresting. My kids had birthday parties like pretty much every other kid has at some point in their lives. 

(I love this picture for many reasons but one of those is that Autumn is just cruisin' the internet)

And the bowler:

(his favors)

bread and roses

...Or, wildflowers. Today is May Day, one of the holidays I really hope George enjoys as he gets older. I'm thrilled with any occasion that combines doorbell ditching, flowers and workers' rights (okay, I've cobbled together two separate holidays that fall on the same day -- efficiency!). Using this tutorial, we made some little seed bombs

and using George's teensy fingertips, we made some cards.

Technically, we should've distributed our presents on doorsteps this morning before people woke, but pancakes were calling and assembly wasn't finished, so everyone will have to cut us a break this year.

Here is my virtual offering to you: James Oppenheim's poem, which always gets me teary:

As we come marching, marching, in the beauty of the day,
A million darkened kitchens, a thousand mill-lofts gray 
Are touched with all the radiance that a sudden sun discloses,
For the people hear us singing, "Bread and Roses, Bread and Roses."

As we come marching, marching, we battle, too, for men--
For they are women's children and we mother them again. 
Our lives shall not be sweated from birth until life closes--
Hearts starve as well as bodies: Give us Bread, but give us Roses!

As we come marching, marching, unnumbered women dead
Go crying through our singing their ancient song of Bread;
Small art and love and beauty their drudging spirits knew--
Yes, bread we fight for--but we fight for Roses, too.

As we come marching, marching, we bring the Greater Days--
The rising of the women means the rising of the race--
No more the drudge and idler--ten that toil where one reposes--
But sharing of life's glories: Bread and Roses, Bread and Roses! 

spring

Our payoff for Northwest winter is Northwest spring. Happy cherry blossom time; my very most favorite. 

The blossoms, the little bits of life peeking through the muddy brown gloom, our tulips and the way they show up somewhere slightly new every year in their migration through the front yard planter, the chirpy little chicks we picked out this afternoon: they all say stretch your legs and dust off! Wear your sandals, even though you'll regret it later. Optimism in pastels, bright green. Later light, neighborhood kids and their bikes on the gravel as the soundtrack to my tidying up.