Friday Morning with Beauty and Young Folk . . .

 I grabbed my camera and hurried into the early morning for a shot of this dramatic sky.

 Big picture stuff, eh?

 Makes you look up at the sky, out at the big world . . .

But then look down, look close, and see what the same sun that paints those clouds red does to the sporophytes (fruiting bodies) of the moss on our rock wall. . .

 And lights up the moss itself, heightening the green outlines

 while it plays up the rock’s chiaroscuro layers.

All that beauty, and it’s not even 9 a.m. yet. Who knows what more the day will bring!

We have my 11-year old twin nieces and their friend staying with us for a few days during spring break, and I’m so pleased they still think their Aunt & Uncle are worth a visit. Edging toward the teen years, into the double digits, they still infuse the place with a spirit of childhood that seems so basic to a beach house. Paul’s busy right now putting together a Scavenger Hunt for them, similar to one he set up on their last visit, two or three years ago. Later today, they’ll be handed the first clue and will spend the next few hours puzzling and then hurtling the length of the island at least twice, consulting the map, perhaps even the dictionary (their uncle’s a bit of a fiend with the clues). From the sidelines we’ll savour the action, knowing it may well be the last Scavenger Hunt we host for that generation as these two are our youngest nieces/nephews. (And in a few years, Nola should be ready to pick up the torch, and another generation of Hunts will be launched . . . )

It passes by quickly, doesn’t it, this beautiful life, as one generation passes to the next. Are you finding ways to savour it, today? Do tell . . .

17 Comments

  1. Duchesse
    23 March 2012 / 5:43 pm

    Ohhhhh. (What else can I say?) I'm taking time to go to the market and buy almond croissants for a son coming over tonight (a favourite treat) and calling a friend in San Francisco. 16C here and sunny!

    • materfamilias
      24 March 2012 / 2:49 pm

      Sounds like a perfect succession of moments to savour — and in 16C, the savouring is easy!

  2. Susan B
    23 March 2012 / 6:12 pm

    Your pictures are just stunning, and just what I needed to get a mental bit of fresh air. A scavenger hunt, what fun! No wonder they want to come stay with you and Paul. I keep going back and looking at the closeup of the moss, just amazing.

    • materfamilias
      24 March 2012 / 2:50 pm

      I was thrilled to see the moss this way as well — and surprised that the early morning sunlight was enough to illuminate it that way, no flash needed.

  3. Pondside
    23 March 2012 / 11:20 pm

    Isn't it a beautiful day? I've just come in from the Tswassen/Swartz Bay Ferry, and the most beautiful crossing in a long time. With a wedding on the horizon I am more aware than usual of the passing of time and the roll-over of the generations.
    Not A to Zebra! It was on my list of places to visit in April – a always find something there. Past tense now, I guess. Too bad.

    • materfamilias
      24 March 2012 / 2:51 pm

      I'll be on the ferry today (the northern version!) and hope for a beautiful crossing. When the weather's like this, it's a stunning part of the world.
      Yes, so sad to see Deb close her store. I've got so many pieces there over the years.

  4. Patti
    24 March 2012 / 12:38 am

    It is a beautiful day, for certain. I just read an article by Dick Cavett that began, "as the years dissolve away . . ." and I thought – yes, that's apt. They almost start racing, it seems! We must savor, as in your wonderful photos.

    • materfamilias
      24 March 2012 / 2:52 pm

      I went and read that piece — too funny! But yes, the years do dissolve so savouring's important.

  5. LPC
    24 March 2012 / 12:48 am

    These may be your most beautiful pictures ever. And the thought of the nieces, and the uncle, and their scavenger hunt, is lovely. I am afraid I'm not doing much savoring lately, what with the demands of my job. That said, I feel fortunate anyway. Have a good weekend, Mater!

    • materfamilias
      24 March 2012 / 2:54 pm

      Jobs do interfering with the savouring, don't they?! Hope you find some moments in your weekend downtime.

  6. K.Line
    24 March 2012 / 2:57 am

    Hi praise coming from 11 yo girls! And they're bringing a friend? You must be entirely fun.

    • materfamilias
      24 March 2012 / 2:55 pm

      They're great kids, as is their friend. Part of the appeal is surely that they're old enough to sleep out in the guest cottage, which they've had fun redecorating to make it a pre-teen's version of playing house.

    • K.Line
      24 March 2012 / 11:45 pm

      I do know that "high" is spelled like this, fyi 🙂

  7. Anonymous
    24 March 2012 / 5:15 am

    Oh, I loved scavenger hunts when I was a kid, though I never had an island this beautiful to roam.

    • materfamilias
      24 March 2012 / 2:56 pm

      They ran the length and width of it several times yesterday, Terri — close to 5 hours of searching for clues!

  8. *Dark Angel*
    24 March 2012 / 8:45 am

    Couldn't resist myself from following you, the pictures are awesome!

    • materfamilias
      24 March 2012 / 2:56 pm

      Thanks!

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