Sheer bliss... springtime in the country
Well... I know that many of you have been celebrating spring for weeks... months... (hate to put my mind there...) But WE are just now starting to enjoy mother nature in all her succulent glory! The other night I came home from the studio and the boys and I went for a walk. Max grabbed his camera... and it inspired me to grab mine as well. His thought was to start a photographic nature journal... so I went with that! He was tired of the concept after a handful of cool pics... but I was just getting started. Thought I would share!
We live on 120 acres in the country with woods, prairie, and a fetching 60 acre marsh... Some people don't get the concept of "marsh"... (I think they equate it to "swamp"... (Too much Scooby-Doo watching perhaps?) To us... it is truly remarkable. It is in our case a man-made body of water that is fed by a creek. It is shallow and therefore creates a perfect ground for most any of our Wisconsin fowl. We literally have hundreds of geese, sand hill cranes... an enormous range of ducks and other birds that nest or pass through here every year... Springtime is exceptional as the sky is a feast for the eyes with crossing lines of birds going this way and that... besides the myriad of other creatures that take advantage of the water.
A few years ago we added an acre and a half pond... partly recreational... partly nature inspired. Our four young boys cannot seem to get enough... from catching tiny minnows (and soon larger fish)... to making their own rivers and dams that lead to the pond from our sandy beach. We have cookouts on the beach, we play every day, and truly take advantage of all the amazing things about it.
As we walked around you can see we came across lots of goodies... This to me is the true meaning of luxury... nature and all her splendid chaos!
Gus discovered a duck nest in our front garden... our new puppy Kit discovered it as well... She naturally thinks the eggs make great balls, until of course they break... She quickly laps all that up... I figure good protein and healthy coat!
Max and Fin have emptied all the bluebird houses... We haven't had the bluebirds arrive yet this spring... but the swallows are quickly staking their claim on the houses that surround the pond. I love the way each nest is built of different materials, and the way they are each a true work of art.
Even though the pond water is remarkably chilly it is in every way mesmerizing to sit and just look at... the boys and Kit are in it every day now. The beach provides an endless source of entertainment for all of us!
We live on 120 acres in the country with woods, prairie, and a fetching 60 acre marsh... Some people don't get the concept of "marsh"... (I think they equate it to "swamp"... (Too much Scooby-Doo watching perhaps?) To us... it is truly remarkable. It is in our case a man-made body of water that is fed by a creek. It is shallow and therefore creates a perfect ground for most any of our Wisconsin fowl. We literally have hundreds of geese, sand hill cranes... an enormous range of ducks and other birds that nest or pass through here every year... Springtime is exceptional as the sky is a feast for the eyes with crossing lines of birds going this way and that... besides the myriad of other creatures that take advantage of the water.A few years ago we added an acre and a half pond... partly recreational... partly nature inspired. Our four young boys cannot seem to get enough... from catching tiny minnows (and soon larger fish)... to making their own rivers and dams that lead to the pond from our sandy beach. We have cookouts on the beach, we play every day, and truly take advantage of all the amazing things about it.
As we walked around you can see we came across lots of goodies... This to me is the true meaning of luxury... nature and all her splendid chaos!
Gus discovered a duck nest in our front garden... our new puppy Kit discovered it as well... She naturally thinks the eggs make great balls, until of course they break... She quickly laps all that up... I figure good protein and healthy coat!
Max and Fin have emptied all the bluebird houses... We haven't had the bluebirds arrive yet this spring... but the swallows are quickly staking their claim on the houses that surround the pond. I love the way each nest is built of different materials, and the way they are each a true work of art.
Even though the pond water is remarkably chilly it is in every way mesmerizing to sit and just look at... the boys and Kit are in it every day now. The beach provides an endless source of entertainment for all of us!
posted by Tracy Porter Blog
18 Comments:
Oh what a wonderful journal entry. Pure bliss!!!! The land surrounding your home sounds magical!!! Wish I were there. :)
What a memory making afternoon you and your boys shared! Truly a treasure locked tightly away in your heart, I'm sure!!!! Your boys are beautiful...enjoy all of the special moments God gives to you with each of them!!!
Thanks for sharing!!!
Hugs~
Laughing at the fact that those muddy boys and the dog will be going back into that lovely home with it's new decor. Life is wonderful the way it keeps us from taking ourselves too serious!xoxo
OMG, Kit is precious. I need his twin. Please share his breed type. Kinda has an Aussie look about him. So glad you had a great trip...enjoying reading about your experiences.
Your property is a childhood dream come true. All the exploring, adventure and fun your boys (and the dogs) must have when the weather warms up.
Kit is a newfoundland. This is a breed of dog I have wanted for so long! My parents have her darling brother, his name is Teddy! They are a riot together! I will post pics as she grows, she will be one BIG dog! She is already a giant and only a puppy!Really sweet, gentle personality, very nice as a family dog....lovely with the kids!.....and yes, the mud and sand and wet...well that's us top to bottom....now you get the oriental runner!!....hides everything!
Oooohh, a Newfoundland! Those are BIG OLE LOVEABLE doggies, aren't they?!?!? My hubby worked in Canada for years and would always come home and comment on what great dogs they were. He saw them all over in Canada. We live in Texas....those sweet poochies could never survive in our heat with their lovely coat!
Glad y'all have her in your family. I can't wait to see more pics of her as she grows.....the same goes for your boys too! ;)
Looking at your pictures brings back a world of memories for me and my 3 boys who lived in the woods, trees, and mud also. They are still nature boys. Thanks for sharing!
So Tracy do you let your big dog in the house? I grew up with golden retrievers but my parents never let them be in the house. I have a golden now and I let it in the house. I love dogs and boys especially for some reason love dogs. My son has an extra attachment to our dog. Your house and property are a boys dream. I read that people in the burbs are getting chickens and I have always wanted chickens and a goat but I live in a subdivision in the burbs:) I asked my husband if there are any ordinances against chickens and he said "we are not getting chickens". Oh well I'll keep dreaming.
By the way, we woke up to snow on the ground today. Don't you feel bad for me?
IM, I feel bad for you!!!!!! Hang in there spring is coming.
Im....oh my! It's still snowing!!! I can't even wrap my brain around that one.....I'm in Texas. WOW!!!
Hi Tracy, I LOVE your blog. I am a designer and mother of three. I am envious of your country life. We live in the city limits. I wonder how you do all you do? Do you have a nanny? I design for children mostly. I design for Peking Handicraft also. I love your videos on your site. Best, Kelly
So much to catch up on!
Tracy, you are too generous! Thank you so much for sharing your ideas, inspirations and family life with us... and, for 'keeping it real'! (Love, love, love the new 'Our Story/Unplugged' video!)
OH!! We have several poeple that came into the studio this morning and said they also have snow, our house this morning was all rain. But...brrrrr!! Really so cold!!
Yes, Kit is an indoor dog, she is a big wet sand covered love! this morning she climbed into Max's bed after she and I went out to feed the animals, needless to say Max wasn't so pleased. We are still training her, so plenty of pee-pees still in the the house...Oh well! Her demeanor is really great, very sweet with the boys...!
Kelly you are too sweet! i am very waware of your awesome work! You do really great childrens designs...if you guys don't know Kelly check out her stuff, really charming! So glad you have visited! thanks for your kind words. Yes, we do have a nanny that helps us when we are at the studio...we call her an angel..some say nanny! She is a remarkable woman and truly a member of our family. She does not live with us, honestly she allows us the ability to feel that we can focus while we are here at the studio, then be the kind of parents we want to be at home!I know the balancing act we all walk as parents you just want to be the best person, mom, wife...etc! that you can be wherever you are...you want to be present in that moment. ( sometimes easier said than done!)
Happy snowy spring day!!
xo
Snow!... I can't imagine. I am doctoring a sunburn I received being at the festival we had here this past Saturday. I' m a bit of a lobster.
What a wonderful place for your four darling boys to grow up!! I love the "realness" you share with us about your life with kids and dogs, and dirt, and fun!!
I am as grateful that I can be this "real" with you. Not sure I have the energy to fake a perfect world....you are getting us as we are...donut holes, sandy dogs...dirty little boy feet and all!!!
What I love about you Tracy and John there is no faking it... we all love donut holes and sandy dogs and dirty little boys feet....we expect nothing less when we visit.............and we LOVE IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
XO, Aunty Robyn
I forgot to mention the goat, donkey,ducks,chickens and any new family members!! Of course KIT!!!!
Robyn, love your comment!!! Tracy, you're the best!!!
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