Duck...Duck...Seagull!

Since the first time HS feed the ducks at the pond in Monterey with my dad at 6 months old, he was hooked. Now at 5, we look forward to the days that are perfect for heading for a picnic and a stop to feed the ducks in a local pond. On my last post I mentioned taking a break from the daily grind of housework and taking time to do one of Ry's favorite outdoor activities. Here in Rhode Island, our weather has been lacking until now to feed the ducks. For some reason, I just couldn't motivate myself to bundle us both up to resemble Nanook of the North and stand to feed hungry geese in below freezing temperatures.

However, since spring has finally arrived here in the North, HS and I have been going to Prescott Farm, a delightful spot to stop in between running errands. There are always dozens upon dozens of ducks, geese, and seagulls just waiting for that little piece of stale bread to fly by their beak. The grounds are immaculately groomed by the Master Gardeners of Rhode Island and the buildings are historic and quaint. So, a stop at Prescott Farm is always perfect.

One gander in particular makes our day every time we've gone to feed them. He is a Mr. Pris if I ever saw one and makes it his lot in life to look as threatening as he can in order to protect his flock. However, a yummy morsel of bread and he's good to go...only watch out...by good to go I mean he'll tail you until you just can't take it any more. HS has asked him repeatedly if his rudeness seems to be working for him (guess he must hear me say that phrase in several variations!)...

Duck...duck...seagull feedings are a blast and memories of HS chasing the big geese while he merrily clucked his best duck impersonation will remain etched in my heart. Next time you're in need of a pick-me-up, head to the nearest watering hole with your Darlin' and feed the birds...you'll be glad you stopped for a second to participate in a time honored childhood tradition.

Spring, Marvelous Spring!

My mom has a counted cross stitch that has always hung in the kitchen for as long as I can remember. It is one of those poems that hangs itself on the wall of your brain always to be remembered whenever the weather turns nice.

I Meant To Do My Work Today
by Richard LeGallienne

I meant to do my work today,
But a brown bird sang in the apple tree,
And a butterfly flitted across the field,
And all the leaves were calling me.
And the wind went sighing over the land,
Tossing the grasses to and fro,
And a rainbow held out its shining hand,
So what could I do but laugh and go?

It is one of those poems that sticks in your head and teases and taunts as you enjoy the beauty of outside and know that inside your humble house lay piles of laundry reaching up toward the ceiling (I swear our clothes breed when I turn around), dishes that bekon to be put into the cupboards and dirty ones waiting to be clean, and of course the inevitable piles that build up around when you have one five-year-old, a graduate student studying and writing papers, and another one that doesn't have any excuse but that the organization cabability has been drained upon moving into this house.

Regardless, being outside and working with the future home of our veggies (this is the never-ending weed destroying evolution to get the soil remotely ready), watching the birds devour the birdseed that was just put into the feeder, listening to the songs of the songbirds who are finally returning to New England after the rest of the country began their spring weeks ago, laughing at the neighborhood squirells who come to eat the corn from my whirligig, enjoying picnics with one of my favorite clan guys as he chases, feeds, and enjoys the geese and ducks near Prescott Farm. All the while during these momements I just marvel that spring has indeed arrived and all the buds, blooms, and sounds are calling me.

Lamb or Lion?

The old saying about Spring is always that spring comes in like a lion and out like a lamb. I don't think that New England has that same saying. This Spring has certainly come in like a lamb and changed into a lion.

We had weather at the beginning of spring that made us feel like opening the sun roof and driving around with "Ring of Fire" (HS adores this song!) blasting so all could hear. It was also such nice weather that it fooled my delighted gardening heart into foolishly planting seeds with HS way to early and now we are facing roots that are begging to be placed into the cold, cold ground. However, the roar and clawing of the lion entered our spring as the weather bliss came to an end our temperature plummeted. Winter coats, hats, gloves, and layers were once again all the rage. Racing from the car (the comfort of my heated seat is always difficult to abandon) and into the warmth of HS's school or the gym was not viewed as rude by those who knew us....talking waits when your lips are turning blue and you can't feel your cheeks.

Regardless, I have been hit by the Spring bug. For those of you who know me well, my favorite seasons are not Spring and Summer, but Fall and Winter. So, coming from me that I'm ready for Spring is quite impressive. I am though...the bug has hit hard.

I'm biting at the bit to charge outside with my vegetables in hand in order to save them from their teeny tiny compartments so they can spread their constantly growing roots. I'm ready to savor every twitter of the birds as they come along with the hundreds of squirrels in the neighborhood to feast on birdseed and corn. I'm also ready to enjoy watching HH get on his bike and ride to school knowing that "Hans" Passat finally has some resting time while HH gets his exercise. Without a doubt, I'm ready to enjoying watching Ryan run, dig, bike, and swing the hours away on our little strip of grass. I always said in Japan if I could trade our balcony for just a smidgen of grass, my heart would sing. Well, it's singing along with all of God's wonderful moments that let you know how beautiful nature is...

Now, if only someone in the heavens would think I need those same things...until then, I'll enjoy the reprieve that that "lamb" has brought from the Arctic blast and relish in the sun...gotta go before the moment passes and I hear the roar of the lion once more!

Happy Birthday!

We woke up this morning to a morning full of excitement and serenading. A very Happy 35th Birthday to HH! Anyone for watching him blow out the flaming torch on his cake? He asked me if I was really going to put 35 candles on the cake...stay tuned for the follow on response...meanwhile sing Happy birthday to HH all day! HS certainly has been!

Hippitty Hop Hop Away the Rainy Day!

You have to love kids. I certainly adore mine. One of the things I love the most about him is his ability to make me laugh and see the lighter side of a bad situation. He's perfect for turning a rainy day into a rainbow without batting an eye. All he has to do is sing. I picked him up from school today and as usual, the mornings that he is in preschool are not "relaxing ones eating bonbons (I wish!) and today was not exception. With HH's 35th birthday rapidly approaching, an aerobics instructor who thought I was MIA over the past two weeks, and Easter bunny preparations going on my morning was chalk full of must do items. Usually a sunny day puts an extra bounce into my step, however, rainy days...well...they just make me crabby. That is until I walked into the school to see my handsome guy bouncing up and down, smiling from ear to ear as he shouted "hippity hop hop, hippity hop hop...look at HS bunny BOUNCE! I'm coming to your house leave out some carrot tops!!! Hippity hippity hop hop hop!" Well, clearly Ms. Nancy had taught them one song but HS modified it a little bit and was so into his jumping, hopping, and giggling that he didn't notice that the others in his class were finished. I tell you he's destined for stardom...The best part...he did it all with his bunny ears over his eyes and without thought to the fact that it was as gloomy and cold as it could be up here. Ahhhh...how good it feels to be crazy even on the rainiest of days!

Visits are Sweet

The past month has been full of delightful moments spent with family. I always enjoy getting ready for visitors. It is almost as if the president were arriving at our door any moment. I'm all a twitter thinking of what is to come, R gets antsy and looks forward to the "new play friends", and Kendo, well he just can't wait to have another warm body to curl up on! The preparation of outings and meals makes the days leading up to the visit fly, but then a whirlwind of activity takes place and you are left at the end of the visit wishing it wouldn't end. Then you pick yourself up by the bootstraps and try to look forward to the next preparation, execution, and memories of the next visit. Who would have thought that after finding my way around Japan I would get so lost and confused when back in the comforts of my own country. Lucky for me, Frost's famous line from The Road Not Taken applies to my mom and papa. They are game for getting lost and the detours that one takes on the way to finding the way back to the "correct" path, or sometimes the path that "makes all the difference." Thanks to their visit, we've gotten out and explored our area even more and now the desire to dig beyond the scratch that we made is strong. So, guess that means we're ready for more visitors in our neck of the woods! Let the planning begin! I promise that we won't play Hail to the Chief to loudly as you enter the house!