Eleanor is looking forward to it so much that she constructed the
entire campsite. There was no family
discussion of Hector plans to precede this; she's just been counting
down the days in her head all year.
Red is volleyball net. Green is tent area. Brown is food pavilion. Circle around red, yellow, and blue flames is people around firepit. Beyond that, you'll have to ask her.
Come here! Look at this snake/spider egg sac/grasshopper that just hatched!
super pleased to have spotted these elusive yellow spittlebugs, who have left their froth on plants throughout the yard and the woods, yet managed to escape detection (until now, that is)
upon reading that snails are sometimes thought to have beneficial effects on the skin
red-tailed hawk, perched then chased away by a crow
crows
black-capped chickadees
cardinals
catbirds
bluejays
downy woodpeckers
hairy woodpeckers
red-bellied woodpeckers
pileated woodpeckers (pair)
northern flickers (pair and alone)
mourning doves
chipping sparrows
red-wing blackbirds
tufted titmice
goldfinches
purple finches
red-breasted nuthatches
white-breasted nuthatches
rufous-sided towhee
juncos
rose-breasted grosbeak -- at least one male and one female, but not at the same time
grackles
robins
canada geese, but only overhead
turkey vultures, but only overhead
edited in early August to add summer sightings:
ruby-throated hummingbirds
eastern phoebe, on back deck
common yellowthroat, in front flower garden
yellow-bellied sapsucker
(did emily see an eastern bluebird?)
that brings us to at least 30 species. that's not yet counting turkeys, cedar waxwings, or brown-headed cowbirds -- haven't seen them this summer, but usually see them in other seasons. also not counting barred owls, which we sometimes hear in winter.
Good morning! And thanks to everyone for joining me today. Over
the next ninety minutes, we’re going to travel out the front door. I
hope everyone’s wearing comfortable shoes and feeling well-rested!
For the first part of our trip we’ll — hold on, I’m naked from the
waist down. You weren’t going to let me go outside like that, were you?
Let’s head to the site of me taking my pants off
earlier. On our way, we’ll pass through the dining room: notice how all
the architecture has a patina of yogurt. And look, you can see the pants
to your right. However, those pants are green and I’m no longer willing
to wear green pants today.
Now we’ll travel through the baby gate and upstairs to get a diaper
and some different pants. No, I’m sorry, no one can separate from the
group. I need to walk up the stairs with you or I WILL throw myself on the floor and yell loud enough that people on the street can hear.
As we begin our ascent, let me call your attention to an interesting
landmark. Do you see this little blue crumb between the second and third
steps? What do you think that is? Oh, maybe some desiccated Play-Doh?
Interesting. No, I’m not ready to keep going yet; I need to bend down
and pick it up from that crack. This is a little challenging for my
balance and fine motor skills but I — no, NO, I do NOT need help
OK, I got it. Look! Here it is! Are you looking? Can I eat it?
Now that I’m dressed, we can head back downstairs. Everyone should
have had plenty of time to take in the scenery and get some good
pictures while I ran from room to room yelling that I didn’t want a
diaper on, or during my time-out. By the way, I got a boo-boo on my
finger when I slammed the door on you, and it needs a kiss.
I know you were hoping to head to the coat closet next, but our
itinerary has changed because I urgently need some craisins from the
kitchen. I don’t see how the number of craisins I’ve already eaten today
is relevant. How about if everyone else quiets down and lets me do the
narrating?
All right, we’ve reloaded on supplies, but unfortunately, we can’t
continue our tour yet because I noticed that someone took a potty break
and didn’t let me flush the toilet. Was it a poop? Just a pee? OK, I’m
going to need you to make another pee and let me flush it this time. Fun
historical note: just beyond that bathmat is the site of the famous
potty misfire of last Tuesday!
Is everybody ready to proceed? Please remember we have a schedule to keep.
Our next destination will be the diaper bag. Make sure to get a good
look inside. Are my wipes there? Did you pack a snack for me? And a
backup snack? And a protein bar for yourself that I’ll eat instead? Can
we also bring the TV remote and my heaviest wooden toy? Did you remember
my water bottle? And my milk sippy? Get your cameras ready, because I’m
about to chug one of these and spill the other, then make you refill
them.
At last, we’ve arrived at the coat closet. Are you feeling any
vertigo or breathlessness from the road that led us here? Or maybe it’s
more a sense of crushing dread? Don’t worry! This tour is very safe,
unless you count dying on the inside.
Now, I’ll let you put my coat on, but only if you do it while singing
in an Elmo voice. I also need to pull the zipper up myself. If you
touch the zipper at all, I will completely unzip the coat and start
over. No, I don’t want the stripey hat. Or the bear hat. You can’t wear a
hat either. It’s essential that I put on my own shoes and mittens, but
please be aware that I do not know left from right, or how to put on
shoes. Always keep your valuables within reach and do not attempt to
help me. Wait, what are you doing? I said I want the stripey hat!
There’s an exciting surprise stop coming up next: we’re
returning to the bathroom so I can make a pee in the potty! You’ll need
to take off my shoes and pants first. And diaper, obviously. Also my
mittens and coat and hat. And my shirt.
Why are you going into the bedroom and shutting the door? Is this
hide and seek? I’ll just come over and pull on the door handle until you
come out. Oh look, I WAS peeing! Hey, is that
sobbing sound the voice of a new Sesame Street character? Are you
watching videos without me? We do not have time for any unscheduled
breaks, people!