days of our play care

So, when we were out at the dirt pile the other day, I noticed that there wasn't much mud leading up to the water and thought "we could actually get close enough to set some a-sail".  I almost couldn't wait for nap time to drag out my computer to see if I could find an easy origami boat tutorial.  I wound up finding a really good DIY and after nap time it was on.  The kids colored sheets of white copy paper and as they finished I neatly folded each one while I explained the rules of the pond.  

As we were lining up at the gate to head out the thought hit me.... "are you nuts woman?  You are taking these kids to water!  They could wind up wet.... muddy... wait and build something that can hold water in the yard or get a pool."  But if I listened to the sensible angel on my shoulder we wouldn't have had a ton of fun setting our paper boats in the water, with the wind blowing them just right, and having a terrific time.  We had to get our the black pipe we found at the dirt pile to help when one of them started to sink and all boats were retrieved with success except for the toppled one.  It was promptly crushed by it's owner.    

I wish the boats would have sailed all the way across the longer way of the pond but they chose to stay closer to the edge.  I did think ahead to warn the children that we may have to leave them in the water if we weren't able to get to them but luckily this wasn't the case.  When we got back to the DC we pinned them to the clothesline to dry.  I have a feeling this will not be the last boat race we will have!

HERE is the wonderful tutorial that I used to learn how to easily make paper boats that float!  Too cool!

days of our play care

Honestly... I don't know what we'd do without the dirt pile that's out behind the day care.  It is a little walk down our driveway but just far enough away that we've gone somewhere.  The kids and I climb, jump, hunt, run, fall, throw, yell, and imagine.  The pile they are on here is our space ship.  I am on the ground looking for imaginary food.  We get dirty and sometimes a little hot but in the mean time we are all learning a lot.  This day we discovered bird prints and hundreds of tadpoles around the edge of the water.  Fascinating.  We are so lucky to have a big dirt pile in our world.  

By the way, here's a book we read on pond life.

weekend shots

whew what a weekend!  i feel like it was one of those weekends where i got to do pretty much whatever i wanted... in addition to the things i had to do.  i was able to squeeze in a walk to the woods twice this weekend.  one was with a friend on friday which was pretty cool.  we made some good finds.  then yesterday it was kate and i and i took my drawing pad and pencil instead of my camera.  the camera definitely captures the beauty of the place better than i can with a drawing pen or pencil.  oh well.  i also got to try my hand at being a real waitress, went dancing, avoided wearing jeans, bought a new hat and kate got in the pond for the first time!  how was YOUR weekend?

She was very verbal with the fish in the pond.

She splashes with her paw the bites the water.

I have several pictures of her when she would stop and give me this look.

Boy she was after those fish.  I didn't seem to phase them in the least.

I spy...

Marble found in the creek.

A few of my favorite things

Tulip Poplar showing come green.

weekend finds... a coyote skull, a brownie bottle and a feather left on the doorstep.

Me and Katie Bug

Trout Lillies should be blooming by next weekend.  The leaves are coming up everywhere in the woods.

HERE is a shot of the dogtooth lillies or trout lillies from 2012.  I missed them last year.

Evening

As promised, I did my best to capture the sounds that seep through our open windows in Spring.  There is no picture to watch, just the sound of frogs in the trees and around the pond to the side of our home.  I remember the frogs being so loud at the pond behind the day care that we could barely hear one another talking.  Not a complaint!  I love it.  I wait for it all Winter long. 

If you listen closely they really begin to get piped up about thirty seconds in.  I guess they saw me on the back porch.