April update

I've been suffering from lack-of-blogging guilt, and it's high time for an update!
Today we were hanging around at our favorite local park. We walked around the pond and wetlands, through the forest and over the boardwalk, hoping that the rain would hold off. And it did, right up until the moment we arrived back at the car! We saw a Canada Goose family complete with 4 goslings, waved and said hello to several elderly couples, putting a smile on their faces and ours, and hiked up a set of stairs to a 'lookout'. Then we scrambled down a brambly trail back to the main path, and won out against a momentary fear of bears. We named the plants we knew...verns (ferns), fairy bells, poison ivy and dandelions. And then we ended up at the best playground in town. A wonderful afternoon!
A few funny quotes from the past few days (before they escape my fleeting memory):
Matalena, after causing damage to Lesina's painted Easter egg for the second time,
"You have to trust me, Mama." Yeah, right!
Mekaia at the park,
"We ARE having adventures."
Mekaia, after digging a bent and ruined badminton racket out of the garbage,
"He is broken and sad and I will love him."
Lesina, after school,
"Mama, sometimes when I am so, so nice to people, I feel the tears coming to my eyes."
They really are precious.

Seriously.

It is not possible to get a picture with all three of them smiling 'normal' smiles.

Completely impossible! Can you see their faces in the following picture-

you may have to enlarge it?

At home, we've been busy lately too. I've been enjoying my time in the garden,

and Nu's been working hard to pretty up the yard too.

The pansies are installed and I aim to keep them alive for as long as possible!

Last year I tried the square foot garden idea along our back fence, but found there was too much shade. It had a pretty pathetic result, although we did get to eat 2 zuchinis, several tiny carrots, a few cucumbers and baby tomatoes. It wasn't a reasonable outcome for the amount of space and time invested. So we took out that strip of garden and moved the dirt into the corner for a small 'shrubby' shade garden. I see this as an example of my growing maturity, since I have never had any interest in owning any sort of shrubs at all. Not interesting enough for me. But alas, I will be 30 this year after all! The plant I am most excited about is the Variegated European Dogwood, which has bright red branches through the winter. I'm sure it's quite unreasonable that I'm this thrilled about that.

Another project is our new rock garden. It's in the perfect spot because it stays quite dry under the pine tree, but gets a lot of sun. It doesn't look like much now, but in my imagination, it will grow to be absolutely delightful! There will be a bench built where the chair is now eventually.

Anemone de Caen, my favorite flowers this spring. They are so bright!

As I type, much of the garden is in bud...I love this season and the promise it holds!