Full Speed Ahead

When not in the kitchen baking with Kezzie, or stuck in the computer’s photo booth with this young man, we have been off on mini-adventures to familiar places with our Up North family who came for a visit.

Ezra has grown so much since we last saw him. He amazes me with his burgeoning intellect, eagerness and inquisitiveness. His attention to detail astounds me as he carefully builds tracks for his Thomas engines and shows signs of reading readiness. He’s a charmer, for certain, and knows he “has me” with just a pleading look in his sky blue eyes. Life is full speed ahead with Ezra.

I remain smitten.

We visited the Morton Arboretum’s children’s garden on a sunny but brisk March afternoon.  Kez & Ez explored the many features, including this rope challenge. I find it quite wonderful that places like the Arboretum have developed areas of their acreage for youngsters. Child-friendly, fun environments that bring children out into nature, developing respect for trees, flowers, animals, and all that our good earth provides.

Our adorable tree hugger,  this bundle of energy brings so much joy to our lives.

 

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All Washed Up

A delightfully unplanned, but heartedly welcomed family of visitors descended upon the Cutoff last week. They filled our home with laughter and curiosity, playfulness and adventures. It has been a week of blissful family time and all that comes with having small children about, as well as our own daughters and sons-in-law.

 I am so grateful.

While we have taken walks in the woods, had picnics and playtime and plenty of meals that I would love to share with you, it is children and water that flows in my thoughts right now. So, dear friends, I hope you won’t mind if I take you to a few of our recent watering holes.

The Little Red Schoolhouse Woods is a favorite spot of ours, so, we were thrilled when son-in-law Tom suggested we go to the nature center there and take a walk. I think it is a spot that will build some memories for our Kez and Ez, and appreciate Tom’s willingness to go there, especially with his very short turn-around time before returning home.

Kezzie noticed this frog eating Cheerios in a pond in the woods. She also noticed a water snake and some interesting dragonflies, but, those are stories for another time.

Water features are prominent in the Children’s Garden at the Morton Arboretum, and really, what child can resist the lure of dripping water and walking barefoot between stones in a creek?

Then, there was Ezra’s unbridled glee in a splash park near our house.

I am a wee bit tired right now and have much catching up to do, but, I wanted you to know I wasn’t all washed up. I’ve just been enjoying family time and all the joy that it brings.

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The Children’s Garden

What an amazing array of colors and textures greeted us as we entered the Morton Arboretum on Monday. Although it was high noon and we walked in the heat of the day on a very hot day, it seemed that the brown-eyed Susans were laughing in color and the cannas, just coming into season, were especially proud.

Then there was this little miss, who was looking about, taking it all in, as we walked about in the Children’s Garden, then in the shade garden, before eating some lunch in the Ginkgo Cafe. What a joy it has been to have her around for a few days.

After we strolled about in the Children’s Garden, we walked a bit in the shade garden. I’ve written before about my favorite tree at the Morton, a stately Copper Beech, whose leaves shine coppery and whose trunk is like an elephant’s leg. Hey, who’s that hiding behind the Copper Beech?

Oh, there’s Kezzie and her mommy, feeling the bark of the tree, so smooth and soft.

She seemed to enjoy being in the shade and playing with her mommy and daddy under the branches of the tree.

Down another path, this beautiful Canna Lily looked good enough to gently touch while her daddy held her close.

It is so much fun to see a garden through the eyes of a child, no matter how old they are, don’t you agree?

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