It’s been a while since I shared a Life Lately post, so I wanted to catch up before the season moves on. Time really does fly. We enjoyed a lovely Mother’s Day weekend—my parents were able to stay with us for the first time in over a year. Though we’ve visited them in Portland several times, circumstances in 2020 kept them from staying overnight until now.
It was a lively week with my daughter Kylee and Lance staying here while house hunting, along with their two pups Bella and Leo. Even with the bustle, we managed simple, meaningful moments together.
Here are some scenes from around our home during Mother’s Day weekend.
This is my mom. One afternoon we visited our local garden store and paused for an impromptu selfie beneath the wisteria. It smelled wonderful.
With so many people around the house we brewed lots of coffee. I treated myself to some clear mugs for Mother’s Day and we’ve been enjoying coffee made in our percolator and sometimes a second pot with a pourover coffeemaker.
My azaleas and rhododendrons began blooming that week, so I brought some of the bright flowers inside. They added a cheerful touch throughout the house.
Yes, our Christmas lights were still up until my son finally took them down last week. We spent many of the days outside—the weather was lovely and it felt good to linger in the yard.
The dogs have been getting along so well that they even nap together now—such a relief and a joy to see them relaxed.
Jack kept us company while my dad worked on taxes—he’s a helpful presence around the table.
My parents enjoyed catching up on the usual topics—spreadsheets, tax laws, and family stories—while they were here.
This bookcase once lived in my dad’s office. I’ve owned it for years and recently repainted it—a small makeover that refreshed the piece beautifully. My parents also brought another piece of furniture this visit that I’ll share soon.
For Mother’s Day my husband found a lovely painting at a local secondhand shop. It depicts Port Townsend, a favorite nearby beach town, and now sits on our mantel.
The dogs adore our new rug, and I do too. I’ll share more about it in a separate post, but it’s already a favorite spot for everyone.
That sofa doubles as a comfortable twin-sized guest bed. With my parents in the guest room, Courtney slept on the couch and found it perfectly cozy. To keep things tidy with dogs around, we use slipcovers, a twin fitted sheet on the bench cushion, and washable throws—simple solutions that make cleanup easy.
A striped throw on the back added extra comfort for guests.
I recently added a new multipurpose pan in blue that we’ve been enjoying. It’s been handy for everyday meals and I’ll share more about it soon.
Kylee and Courtney prepared a delicious BBQ dinner one evening. They served a broccoli salad that was a hit—simple, fresh, and satisfying.
We keep many of our recipes on the blog for anyone looking for ideas.
One night we set up an ice cream cone bar with plant-based ice creams and gluten-free cones so everyone could enjoy a treat.
Since I follow a mostly gluten-free diet and Kylee is vegan, I’ve compiled a list of foods we often use. It’s helpful for others with similar diets—note that not every product is certified gluten-free.
With many people and pups and a small kitchen, we temporarily set up a second water filter in the dining room. It wasn’t the prettiest addition, but it made filling dog bowls and water glasses much more convenient.
Having multiple water sources around the house made life easier during their visit.
If you missed my post about the spring lantern and a short note on embracing imperfection, you can find that recent update on the blog.
We kept Jack’s ottoman in the living room because he loves it; replacing it with a coffee table would cause uproar. It’s become one of his favorite spots.
A Mother’s Day miracle: we got all four dogs to sit and pose for a photo. They even seemed to smile. It was a memorable weekend for everyone.
Hope you’re all well and finding small moments of joy. Thanks for stopping by to catch up with our family.
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