These Eyes

I was attempting to capture the baby's light-illuminated eyes this evening. I only took this picture to satisfy a brother who felt a little left out but it somehow turned out much better than any of the ones I intended to take. It has a better impact when it's full-screen so I hope I managed to upload it at a good enough quality to be viewed that way.

An old argument against universal literacy

Obviously this opinion is not held by the author (or myself) but I enjoy this ancient furze-cutter's reasoning: 'Ah, there's too much of that sending to school these days! It only does harm. Every gatepost and barn's door you come to is sure to have some bad word or other chalked upon it by the young rascals: a woman can hardly pass for shame sometimes. If they'd never been taught how to write they wouldn't have been able to scribble such villainy. Their fathers couldn't do it, and the country was all the better for it.' Extracted from Thomas Hardy's The Return of the Native (from the first chapter of Book Second)

Coiled or stretched

Hard to believe it's the same cat!

Faces

Just when I think she can't get any cuter...I like how this series only ends after she starts to suck on her fists and get a little upset.

Funny faces

Lining up

There is "something akin to the electric thrill I once enjoyed" as a child while lining up my markers according to colour or sorting lego or my farm set, that seems to make hanging laundry on the line a bit more of an enjoyable challenge and a bit less of a chore (it also helps to be outside on a beautiful day!). I periodically come across evidence of a love of order in my own children, too. It makes facing their messes a little less overwhelming.

Fingers and toes

Imagine taking pictures like this of anyone other than a baby...

Spring weather

As is usual for spring we've been having fairly widely varying weather. But the blossoms are here on our maples and leaves will not be far behind. I am looking forward to putting in our own garden this year!

Brothers

One thing I have been enjoying lately is hearing the boys chatting while they play together. Our two-year-old is still in the stage where what he says has to be translated to most people outside of our family but I didn't realize just how well the boys knew each other until several recent occasions where I was stumped as to what he meant but his older brother easily translated for me. When my eldest was this age I was the one who knew best what he was thinking and saying. So, despite knowing that this is generally the way it goes and will go, it is with mixed feelings that I realize that I am no longer the closest. But it is good to have a close brother!