Unexpected Art

March 14

We head to the park after school. It is so beautiful out, we just revel in the air, the sun, the freedom to be outside without a coat. We visit a playground new to us and I spot a beautiful nest of concentric circles acting as the roof of the big kid play structure. The metal is punched with a leaf pattern and as I start to look I see how the light plays with the shapes. In the sun the pattern is bright and the sky is rich blue. In the shade the metal looks black and the sky is pale. The light is acting as part of the design. I crawl down under the structure and look up through the curved ladder at the circular roof. Did the designer of this structure ever get down here and look? I hope so because this is fun. My girls see me in this funny position and join me for a moment. They do not seem to be as impressed with it all as I am and quickly get back to their game of tag. I stay a bit longer looking up at the sky through the metal leaves. Thanks for a little unexpected art.

Coming Attractions

March 13

Now that I am paying attention I see how quickly the Spring flora is evolving. Next to my driveway this tightly wrapped bud appeared and I can't wait to see what is inside. I will be visiting daily I'm sure. My little one and I spend a leisurely morning with friends big and small. After the morning chill wears off we head to the front walk of their house for some chalk drawing and creative spelling. My little one is just beginning to discover the power of writing. She is trying her hand at letters and she asks for help to write a short love note to her friend. They stand on opposite sides of the walk writing, reading, and giggling.

I am so grateful for this morning to chat while watching our girls play. They put on a dance performance full of audience participation. Next they are horses then puppies and back to girls going to a dance.

Today is the day: blossoms!

March 12

I have never noted the exact day that the tree in front of my house bloomed. I love the tree with its downy white flowers that grace my windows for about a week each Spring. In the years I have lived in this house I've taken note in passing but  never really paid attention. This year is different. I am under the tree this morning in the bright sun. Yesterday it rained and the day before the buds were still closed tight. When we look up at our tree and see the buds burst open I know that today is the day, the first day of the blooming! Some buds are still closed but most of the tree is covered in white petals. In a few weeks these petals will float down with the breeze and if we are lucky we will be showered with them as we were one year.

But wait there is more: the blueberry bushes on my deck bloomed this morning too! I have never seen these delicate blossoms up close. I just missed them in years past. Look at the incredible beauty of these tiny little trumpets. I had no idea that blueberry flowers are pink! "Do you mean those flowers are going to turn into blue berries?" intones my first grader. I nod and we both smile. In past years we have picked a few berries before the squirrels and birds harvested most of them, but we just weren't paying attention closely enough to see the blossoms. . . on the first day! Welcome little beauties!

I need some good news since my favorite purple flower from a few days ago is not looking so good after the hard rain yesterday. I feel even more grateful to have witnessed its full glory.

We spent a long evening outside helped by the time change. I brought dinner out to the bench and our girls ate with their skates on.

Umbrella Play

March 11

Today it clouds up and begins to pour. In the car this afternoon we have a spirited discussion about the how much rain is indicated by the term "shower." I contend that the order is something like: drizzle, shower, pour. My first grader insists that a "shower" is a lot of rain and goes on the higher end of the scale. After listening to her reasoning, I think I've changed my position. Either way we got wet today. In and out of the car on our various adventures, finally home and yes, I left the garage door open.

"I'm playing in the rain!" announced my first grader. "Me too!" pipped in her sister. Out we went to the driveway umbrella's in hand. As I moseyed to the mailbox enjoying the shower, the umbrellas became shields and the game became something about superheroes. I watched with not a small amount of concern as they banged their umbrella's into each other, top to top. "Until someone looses an eye," I heard in my head. But the spiky parts appeared far from eyes so I watched for a bit before joining the fun. Soon, I, umbrella-less, was chasing them and they were defending themselves with their shields pointed toward me. Much better, I thought, staying back a couple of steps.

When Daddy pulled up we were running in a large circle shrieking and laughing. He gave me the bemused "better you than me" look and headed inside to change. After a few minutes he returned wearing sweats and cheered us on from inside the dry garage.

Spring Worms

March 10

Spring is coming for sure now. We are outside in the back yard all afternoon. There are tiny buds on all the plants and the air feels full of potential. We turn over the dirt in our garden bed and find beautiful pink worms. My first grader holds them and laughs as they tickle her hand. She is so afraid of insects but worms are no problem. We set them down in the dirt and watch them work their way back under ground. "Look look they're almost gone!" she shouts.

We are ready to plant, but what? We need grandpa's advice. We heard last weekend that he has set aside a bit of garden for the girls to work when we visit this summer. They rake and hoe, dig and water. There is never an end to the fun they have exploring his backyard vegetable garden. One year they collected snails off the lettuce and instead of killing them built them a house out of flower pots. Every day my girls would head out to check on the snails and give them a nice fat lettuce leaf. One morning they were gone. Escaped! I suspected the pet chicken.

So later we will call grandma and grandpa in Italy. We have potatoes in the refrigerator that we grew last year. We've been waiting for his green light to take them out and plant them. I have a feeling it will be soon.

Can I get a minute please

March 9

I've upgraded my new outdoor sitting spot. Not stripes, but very comfy and free! I found these cushions in the basement. It is Saturday and my husband is home. I have a push me pull me feel wanting to be with him and our girls, together at last, and, I just want a minute to myself, please.

So I sit on my new cushy bench with a snugly blanket and read a book, a real book. Just me the birds and the sound of cars passing. I hear people walking by but don't look up. I'm too jealous of my little bit of time with a book. My sitting spot is far enough from the street I don't feel like I'm in mandatory waving distance.

It feels good to be out here alone, taking a moment to myself. I know soon enough they will find me and I will welcome their company. But for now I savor these minutes under the spring sky.

A Nice Place to Sit

March 8

My beautiful purple flowers, Crocus, to be precise are just as beautiful today. I moved our new sitting arrangement in between the two bunches. See them tucked on the ground left and right of the bench? After watching me watch the flowers for two days in a row my first grader got down low today to admire them. "Take a picture!" she encouraged.

So the bench is our new home base in the driveway. I finally decided that since we spend so much time out there we should have a nice place to sit. So far it has been good for putting on and taking off skates, good for reading Green Eggs and Ham, and good for having an after school snack. I'm thinking of getting cushions. Then the cat will take up residence and leave hair everywhere and it will rain and the cushions will never quite dry. I'm going to try anyway. Maybe stripes.