dirt don't hurt

When we put our oldest daughter Ellen into the grass for the first time, she was about seven months old. The instant her bird legs hit the ground, she started crying and was only consoled by picking her up. Put her in the grass = cry. Pick her up = stop. It was an amusing on/off game we played at her expense. Just yesterday I put Annie, nearly six months, in the grass for the first time. It was a warm enough day and there was plenty of uplifting sunshine, so I gave it a shot. Not even a whimper. She played with curiosity and wonder, feeling the blades between her fingers. If this is any indication of days to come, I predict she'll be the kind of girl who doesn't mind a little mud on her shoes. Just like her mom.

I am really bummed that I lost the picture. As I went to water our "extra" sunflower plants that we've got going in peat pots the other day, a little toad snuck back into the corner pot. He was hiding out in there! As ugly as toads are, it was rather cute to see those bulgy eyes poking out underneath the sunflower sprout. But the camera went kaplooie and I lost the shot. Yesterday as I went to water the plants, I heard a distinctive ca-chunk in the empty watering can. As you will expect, another toad. A dead ca-chunk-y toad in the bottom of the watering can. I shook him out in the woods for someone else to enjoy. Rest in peace. Ca-chunk.

I am really bummed that I lost the picture. As I went to water our "extra" sunflower plants that we've got going in peat pots the other day, a little toad snuck back into the corner pot. He was hiding out in there! As ugly as toads are, it was rather cute to see those bulgy eyes poking out underneath the sunflower sprout. But the camera went kaplooie and I lost the shot. Yesterday as I went to water the plants, I heard a distinctive ca-chunk in the empty watering can. As you will expect, another toad. A dead ca-chunk-y toad in the bottom of the watering can. I shook him out in the woods for someone else to enjoy. Rest in peace. Ca-chunk.

At a toy store this weekend, I saw those little hair-growing toys that are basically grass seed sprouting out of a $10 wad of dirt. As usual I thought to myself, "I can do that. I can do that and not spend $20 to grow a square inch of grass for each kid." And so... EGG HEADS. Easy activity. You'll need to chop off the skinny end of the egg. I used a pair of scissors and poked in at the top and then snipped around to create the hole. Once the insides were dumped out and I washed and dried the eggs, the kids carefully drew on their faces. (Toby's is a "masked super hero" if you're wondering...) Once that is done, it's a matter of filling it with some potting soil and sprinkling in some grass seed. We water carefully and have them sitting in a sunny place. After they've grown their full head of grass hair, you can actually style their 'do. Add a ribbon or two, give a buzz cut. I think at least one of ours will end up with a mohawk this year. Ha...

At a toy store this weekend, I saw those little hair-growing toys that are basically grass seed sprouting out of a $10 wad of dirt. As usual I thought to myself, "I can do that. I can do that and not spend $20 to grow a square inch of grass for each kid." And so... EGG HEADS. Easy activity. You'll need to chop off the skinny end of the egg. I used a pair of scissors and poked in at the top and then snipped around to create the hole. Once the insides were dumped out and I washed and dried the eggs, the kids carefully drew on their faces. (Toby's is a "masked super hero" if you're wondering...) Once that is done, it's a matter of filling it with some potting soil and sprinkling in some grass seed. We water carefully and have them sitting in a sunny place. After they've grown their full head of grass hair, you can actually style their 'do. Add a ribbon or two, give a buzz cut. I think at least one of ours will end up with a mohawk this year. Ha...

My grandfather seems to have his own language. One of his famous words is "bird seeder" which the rest of the world calls a "bird feeder." But he's really not wrong...is he... Anyway, here's a tidbit of information for all of us novice birders out there, one of the few that I know. When you buy mixed bird seed, a lot of the time the birds pick through it and half of it ends up on the ground. Don't be discouraged! There are birds that only feed on the ground, so by sharing the seed, you are sharing the love. Ohio readers-- are your hummingbird feeders -- I meed "seeders" up yet?

My grandfather seems to have his own language. One of his famous words is "bird seeder" which the rest of the world calls a "bird feeder." But he's really not wrong...is he... Anyway, here's a tidbit of information for all of us novice birders out there, one of the few that I know. When you buy mixed bird seed, a lot of the time the birds pick through it and half of it ends up on the ground. Don't be discouraged! There are birds that only feed on the ground, so by sharing the seed, you are sharing the love. Ohio readers-- are your hummingbird feeders -- I meed "seeders" up yet?