Shoshone Falls

We had our first nice day of spring, so we took advantage of it and went to see the Shoshone Falls. They've been letting more water over because of all the rain, and they aren't charging any fees until April (tomorrow), so we went to see it. It's about time, seeing how we've been in the area for 5 years now. We packed a picnic lunch and brought some balls for the kids to kick around. It was so nice to get outside together after such a long winter. Hooray for warmer weather!

 The Falls

 We stopped to see the overlook at the Perrine bridge. We've never done that either.

Some really happy kids.

Around here

Nothing better than a box

3 months old now

The latest study

I don't know why the yellow and yellow-green paint shows up so brilliantly on the photos, but I promise it doesn't look that gaudy in reality. Also, I don't really like the way this artist that I am studying paints deciduous trees up close. I'm going to have to try some different things I think.

Border Skirmishes

I love to garden. Unfortunately my efforts have been hampered each year by an increasing amount of shade from our trees. So I've tried to be creative and grow my garden on the outer edges of our property, where there is a small section of sunshine. This usually works well until about June, when my neighbors decide that the grass is too long on the fence line, and they bring out the Roundup. I have decided that old men LOVE Roundup, because both of our neighbors on either side of us use it faithfully and plentifully every year. They are even kind enough to spray our sidewalks and back fence, and I suffer casualties every year. Last year I planted 33 tomato plants, thinking that I could beat the odds with sheer numbers. I got a total of 6 tomatoes.

This year I surrendered. Then on one of our walks I noticed a flyer for a community garden. There hasn't been one since we've lived here, but someone decided to start one that was a 1-acre lot full of weeds. So this morning I put the kids in the stroller and found the guy who started it. He said I was the first person to ask for a space, and said I could have as much space as I wanted. We're going to start out with a 25x25 plot, and if all the space isn't taken, I may do more.

We're so excited to finally have some space to grow something, that it's in town and walkable, and that we can have the chance to get our children involved...because we're not just cultivating crops, we're cultivating kids too. Now if you'll excuse me, I have to run and dig through my tomato seeds. I want to make sure I'm growing every color this year.

Side by side

I couldn't help myself, and just had to put up pictures of the kids at the same ages for comparison. So here they are....

Jacob

 Bridget

 Anne