Do like a duck does

On wet days like this, I miss our ducks. I hope you're enjoying them, Mr. Craigslist guy with big ambitions for a small property. All that to say, today we went out to play in the mud for awhile, just like ducks. quack.

Boy#1 worked HARD (his emphasis) at spreading hay. About 90 pounds at a time, *if* you can believe it. Until he found an earthworm. Then he played HARD (my emphasis) at finding the perfect new home for wormie, complete with hay to sleep under and dirt to sleep on and neon orange walls to give a sense of...containment.


Boy#2 quickly tired of spreading hay, preferring instead to use his "dirtbike" to flatten some ruts in the yard and his new shovel to flatten some dinosaur heads (giant snowballs).


Boy #3 discovered that the sidewalk makes a perfect escape route,

and was NOT thrilled to be re-routed back to our area again. Mollification came in the form of snack. And then he wanted to nurse on the porch before going off on another rambling adventure. Yes, we still do that and no, it's not weird.


Even the dog was out, if only by default. According to her, cold mud is only slightly more appealing than whining almost all alone in the house (apart from the sleeping dad).


I spread a little hay and took a few pictures. The lilacs are forming buds, I cannot wait to see them in full bloom for the first time.


The grape vines are looking pretty dead, but I pulled a bunch of them over to our side of the fence (neighbors don't seem to want to harvest) and I know from last summer that this vine still produces yummy concords.


I also grabbed a handful of tiny bulbs to bring inside to force. I don't know what they are, they were a surprise found in the side yard when I was planting a little tree last fall. I'm hoping for daffodils, but they're pretty tiny. Do snowdrops have bulbs? And, for the record, this is why I don't *do* my nails. Though I have heard mud is good for your skin?



PS: If you have a kid who still likes picture books, do try to find Do Like a Duck Does at your local library. Super cute, even for a girl with no rhythm like me.