Photos from the backyard

Clothes drying on the line and blowing in the breeze.  I just love how summery it feels to look at this.

Our blueberries - and the inspiration for this blog.

We've got to wait a bit before they ripen.

Raspberries.

Garlic

Sunshine in a flower.

More questions before 8 am than most people ask all day

It is 8:01 and already we have:

• learned to ball a cantaloupe
• discussed Michael Pollen and what constitutes "Real Food"
• read a riddle and created our own variation
• asked and answered "what is irony"
• defined "garcon" and in what context it is used
• performed a scientific experiment - yes a cantaloupe rind will hold water without leaking

I would like to conclude by wishing their teachers good luck today.

Hike at Patapsco State Park

Since the girls had the day off of school, I decided to take them hiking to Patapsco State Park.  We went to the Avalon/Orange Grove Area and it was just beautiful.  There was a great playground and we did a hike along the Cascade Trail.  There was a beautiful stream with lots of cascades and big rocks to climb.  Plus, I packed brownies as a snack.  Toward the end of the hike, Gwen started getting tired and she got a little cranky. Something had to be done.  So, when the girls were a short distance ahead of me, I slipped behind a tree along the trail and waited.  A few minutes later, Gwen starts screaming "MOM!"  "MOM!"  The girls head back along the trail.  As they got close to where I was, I jumped out and scared them.  They both had a good scream and then just started giggling.  They just couldn't believe that I would play such a trick.  They were laughing so hard they could barely breathe.  Afterward, it was all they could talk about.  We made it back to the car with no more fussing.  And the girls have wonderful, fun memories of our hike.

Caitlin as Laura Ingalls Wilder

Caitlin had to read a biography as her book report for the month of May.  She chose to read about Laura Ingalls Wilder.  As part of the book report, all the children participated in dressing up as their selected person.  Don't you think she makes a great "Laura"?

Favorite character in "Tangled"

Tonight a friend asked Caitlin who her favorite character in "Tangled" is.  I expected the obvious answer, the princess of course!  What little girl doesn't like the heroine of the story, especially such a smart and beautiful heroine?  Caitlin answered "Mother Gothel".  Say what?  The villain?    Caitlin followed up with her reason, her voice.  Mother Gothel has the most amazing, powerful voice and Caitlin knows the words to all the songs in the movie.  Music-wise, Mother Gothel is definitely the star.  I am so impressed that Caitlin was looking for something a little deeper than beauty in who she chooses as her favorite.  Once again, I'm proud of my girl.

Quote from Khalil Gibran

"And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare fee and the winds long to play with your hair."
--Khalil Gibran

Crafty girls

I like to put a few nice non-edible treats in the girls Easter baskets.  This year, I put in a little summer outfit of a pretty t-shirt and matching skort.  Gwen usually doesn't like to wear new clothes, preferring the old stained and threadbare clothes she has already fully broken in.  However, I know her achilles' heel.  She likes to match with her sister who WILL wear the new clothes.  So, now I at least have a 50/50 chance of ever seeing her in this new outfit.
And I added a pair of tiny embroidery scissors, the fancy ones with a tiny leather sheath.  Gwen was beside herself with joy.  It was just what she wanted!  Gwen can spend all day sewing, weaving, or knitting, so, yes, she will get a lot of use out of them.  But, Caitlin doesn't sew yet, so the scissors were her motivation to try.  I cut out nine squares of bright cloth and I showed her how to hand stitch.  We are assembling the pieces into a nine-square quilt patch.  She is already done making the three strips and can't wait to do more.  I am so happy to see her excited about this project.  Usually it is somewhat frustrating for her to do crafts because her sister is so much more experienced.  But, she is so happy.  She wants to finish the patch today to show it to her teacher at school tomorrow.  I'll post a picture when it is done.