Nature Walk Garden Party

"After a long day, I steal a few minutes outside with my camera. All alone. [With children all around me.] Even though I don't live in a cabin in the woods on a lake, I can find peace in nature right here, in the middle of the city, in the neighborhood, in the garden, barefoot on the grass, among the daisies and the bumblebees."

~ Elisa ~

I'm joining Elisa for her nature walk garden party today. I'd be happy to see you there. 

Armeria Dusseldorf Pride

Calendula

Angel Daisies

Lupine

Lupine

Bee and Rhododendron

Magnifying glasses are great when you're a boy

Cross-posted at Our Lady's Garden

Bike Riding Fun

Last Thursday, one of our neighbors gave us a 24" and two 26" bicycles, providing us with some much needed larger bikes.  The children were anxious to go bike riding, but we had things that we needed to do before bedtime.  The next day, we went to Mass for the Feast of the Sacred Heart and then we headed home to eat lunch.

After lunch, I surprised the children by telling them that we were going bike riding.  They were happy to see me riding, but they were even more excited for their sister.  Theresa rode her bike without training wheels for the first time.  She has been ready to do so for quite some time, but protested trying.  On Friday, I insisted that she attempt it.  I held the back of her bicycle three times and she was off. Now, I need to convince Patrick that he can also ride without training wheels.

As Mommy Weeds...

Finnian plays in the dirt

and tests the watering cans.

More on Global Warming?

Last year, March to April's average temperature, in my neck of the woods, was 48 degrees. This year's average temperature for March to April was 42 degrees. It seems that this year's temperatures have been consistently lower than last years.

And this from Cardinal Pell
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/new.php?n=12424

Hmmm...could it be "Global Freezing"? ;) .

Global Warming?

I just got this email from our friend and realtor (no, we are not selling our house):

it’s SNOWING.

My deck has disappeared under this blizzard. It looks like it’s never going to stop.

This must have something to do with global warming or the CIA.

I’m going back to bed to hide until springtime.

Schumacher

Yes, you read that correctly. It is April 18 and it snowed in Western Washington today. My children and I were shocked to see the white fluffy stuff coming down. It does not snow in Western Washington in April, except in the mountains.

The last time that it snowed in Western Washington in April was on April 17, 1972 and I was not around to see it, so this is a first for me.

Spring Snow

On Wednesday, I took the comforter off my bed and replaced it with a cotton blanket. I was rewarded for my efforts by shouts from my children, "It's snowing! It's snowing!" While our snow is nothing compared to that found in other states, it is a rare occurrence in the Seattle/Tacoma area, especially in spring. Usually the only place that we see snow at this time of year (or any time of year) is in the mountains.

It rained, hailed, and snowed intermittently, yesterday. Today, we have had only snow and the children are dreaming about making a snowman. Unfortunately, we will probably only receive a dusting of this amazing powder that brings joy to children's hearts.