February By Letters

I love that in February we did the alphabet challenge. It really made me have to think about creative ways to get my daily shots done. Here is how the ABC's looked through my February lens.
 1. 32:366 A is for active, 2. 33:366 B is for blanket, 3. 34:366 C is for colorful, 4. 35:366 D is for D'uccle, 5. 36:366 E is for Evergreen, 6. 37:366 F is for Frost, 7. 38:366 G is for Grapes, 8. 39:366 H is for Harvest Moon, 9. 40:366 I is for Ice, 10. J is for Journal, 11. 42:366 K is for Knife, 12. 43:366 L is for Loose Tea, 13. 44:366 M is for Mirror, 14. 45:366 N is for Nazar Boncugu, 15. 46:366 O is for Olive Oil, 16. O is for Onion Ring (alternate), 17. 47:366 P is for Pussy Willow, 18. 48:366 Q is for Quiet Flurries, 19. 49:366 R is for Recall, 20. 50:366 S is for Sunday Supper, 21. 51:366 T is For Teacups...., 22. 54:366 U is for Unearth, 23. 53:366 V is for Vulpes Vulpes (red fox, latin), 24. 55:366 W is for Wine, 25. 56:366 X is for X Marks The Spot, 26. 57:366 Y is for Yin and Yang, 27. 58:366 Z is for Zesty, 28. 59:366 On The Board, 29. 60:366 Reflections From a Late Night Supper, 30. 61:366 Doe A Deer31. Not available32. Not available

Spring?

It's hard to believe that I'm sitting here in the middle of February with a few windows open and listening to the sounds of birds return.  As we headed out to soccer this morning, sure enough, I caught the first glimpse of crocus' peeking through.  That was enough to inspire me to do a little light clean up.   Who wants to be doing indoor chores when the sun is calling? 

I began dead heading a plants that I'd left up for winter interest and with the lack of snow just look dead and scraggly.  Funny how these things start, I did the one bed and then another.  Then decided to walk the yard in the glorious sunshine to pick up the trash that had blown in over the last few months.  As I get close to the barn, I begin to inspect the asparagus bed.  It will be some of the first produce to come up in the spring.  As I look for little tops, I notice not only is the bed almost completely thawed but there are actually weeds growing!  So one thing leads to another, I set down the collected trash and weed.  I had almost forgotten how good it feels to get my hands dirty in the garden.

 Now, do I take all of this back to the fire pit?  No, it occurs to me that maybe a few avian would appreciate a lush green snack.  That they did, attacking it like it was candy.  All the while the rooster kept a watchful eye on his harem to make sure they all got their fill.  I'm sure the winter (though I use that term loosely this year) is not over yet, and maybe I have just jinxed myself by getting my hands dirty early, but it sure feels like Spring outside!

Perceptive Little Devils

Kids say the darnedest things.  This week I couldn't stop laughing at the little quips that kept coming out of their mouths.  Sidney always tends to be very verbose, where Charles hams up everything he says with a voice or expression (much like his father).  After a day or two, I decided to start writing a few of their gems down.  Oh!  I must do that more often!

Sidney: "Mommy, you know,  you're kind of like a rent a clown, if you think about it. People rent you to come to their parties and do Norwex tricks."

Charles: "Mama, mama, wow!  Have you ever tried to count your freckles?!"  (have no clue where this one came from, completely out of the blue.  I think he was trying to get my attention away from something I was working on.  It was early morning before school and we were at work.  It was at this moment that I began writing things down).

Me:  "Charles, you have to do your cover for your poetry project.  You know your name and a title and decorate it."  Charles: "Mama, I want to put a poem on the front."  Me: "Well you already have all of your submissions on the inside." Charles "sheesh, it will be a short one, just a couplet or something."   Yup, coming up with that thought, he got his way!

What made you laugh this week?  I think I'm going to start keeping regular count,  I only got a few actually written down, not always have a scrap at my fingertips to capture the moment.  No matter the day, take a moment to really take in what your kids say in conversation.  You will be amazed and entertained.  Perceptive little devils!  Happy Weekend!