In the last pages of the book I recommended yesterday, Making Things, is a recipe to sculpt bread.  Watching these boys intensely make owls and dragons while I clipped away at my mermaid scales was quite rewarding, particularly because the end result was warm and crusty and sweet with melting butter.  But, that is besides the point.  These two work elbow to elbow all day long.  I like to imagine them as men someday, and I hope, oh I hope they sculpt some bread together.  Just once.  For old times sake.

After the sun peeked out and just before the wind picked up, we went on a ramp hunting adventure and came home with a grocery bag full of success.  Our rubber boots were thick with mud and our minds were swirling with all the beginnings we just discovered.  The start of trillium and trout lily are beginning to coat the forest floor, the purple twigs of blue cohosh and the heart-shaped leaves of the marsh marigold are all upon us.  The boys played “PH test” with a twig of fern spores in the stream all afternoon.  The school bus drove by at one point and I can tell you on this day, I felt no twinges.  On these first spring days it feels good to be able to grasp every opportunity to spend the day outdoors exploring this crazy, beautiful country.

Speaking of PH, we did test our soil this past weekend and the results were promising.  We ordered six blueberry bushes and have word from our neighbor that he will be tilling up a large plot out in the sunny front pasture soon.  There are hundreds of little seedlings in the room that supposed to be the boy’s room that will find a nice residence out there growing leggy and tall.  Keep your fingers crossed for no late frosts….