Today, the children and I got up earlier than we have been lately, and by 9:30 were in a berry field with Dawn and her kids. We had fun, the picking was awesome and fast, and I came home with TWO FLATS! of berries. Anissa came by for a visit this afternoon, and she helped me hull the berries - except six boxes we’ll keep for fresh - and they are all in the freezer. What a satisfying feeling!

I have been reorganizing my kitchen as well. I started yesterday and am mostly done, with an occasional tweaking. My goal for the summer is to get my problem areas tackled and organized, so that by fall, and the start of school, I won’t be constantly distracted by all the things that need to be done. Bottom line, I think, in many households is that there is too much stuff. Oh sure, it’s stuff too valuable to just toss in the trash, but it’s not things we use regularly, if at all. I grew up in a family of pack-rats - correction - pack-capybaras (largest rodent known to man), so I’ve had to learn to give things away, throw things away, etc. I am becoming a rather accomplished purger. And I admit, it feels GOOD!!!

Little by little, I know I can get this house to a place that demands less of me, so I can truly invest my time in my kids. No more putting off sitting down for a cuddle session with a little boy and a book because I’ve “got too much to do.” The less you have, the less you have to take care of. Sounds good to me.