I am in love with this world

"The longer I live the more my mind dwells upon the beauty and wonder of the world...

I have loved the feel of the grass under my feet,

and the sound of the running streams by my side.
The hum of the wind in the treetops has always been good music to me,

and the face of the fields has often comforted me more than the faces of men.
I am in love with this world...

I have tilled its soil, I have gathered its harvest,
I have waited upon its seasons,
and always have I reaped what I have sown.

I have climbed its mountains,

roamed its forests,

sailed its waters,
crossed its deserts,

felt the sting of its frosts,

the oppression of its heats,

the drench of its rains,
the fury of its winds,


and always have beauty and joy waited upon my goings and comings."
-John Burroughs

The Pioneer Woman did a post using this John Burroughs quote and I was inspired. I really enjoyed the phrasing and rythmn that Burroughs uses - I may have to do some further reading of his work (more than just one quote). I would be curious to see how many of you who read this and also blog would do something similar? There is something about making a quote personable through pictures that is quite powerful.

In case you are wondering, all of the pictures were taken by me and the locations range from Venice to the fields at my parent's farm in rural Missouri.

Mr Man Update

Why hello there handsome! Its been awhile since you've been featured on the blog and I thought it might be nice to give our viewers - readers - alright the ten of you who actually look at this thing, an update.

You physical and verbal skills continue to impress me. You've started to memorize books and recite them. Few things make me beam with pride than hearing you "read" to yourself.

Pictures like this also bring out a smile of pride.

Can you believe my camera shoots so fast I caught you mid sneeze? I know! Amazing! Also hysterical.

You recently found your father's water gun from his college days. I'm not sure if you understand what it is, but there is something in your DNA that told you, without quite needing to understand, that this object is "cool." You carry it around a lot, especially to impress guests. You also like to ride around the house with it propped up in the basket of your bike.