and above all, watch

with glittering eyes

the whole world around you

because the greatest secrets are always hidden

in the most unlikely places

- roald dahl

I came across this quote in my internet wanderings the other day and wanted to keep it.  It put me in mind of a book we recently checked out of the library.

If you are involved with children's literature or media you'll know a favorite science topic is the metamorphosis of the monarch butterfly and it's migration to Mexico.  I've read and watched numerous versions of this process (which is fascinating).   This is the first that explains the process without explaining it.  It is very fun to read aloud, lots of repetition without being tedious.  It also follows the process completely.  You come full circle by the end.  The illustrations are simple yet clear.  The title?  I thought you'd never ask:

Gotta Go! Gotta Go!

It's by Sam Swope and illustrated by Sue Riddle

Here's a part of a conversation between a bird and the butterfly along its way to mexico:

"Mexico is thousand of miles from here! A teeny-tiny bug like you will never make it!"  But the creepy-crawly bug said, "I am what I am and I know what I know and make it or not, I gotta go! I gotta go!  I gotta go to Mexico!"  And off she flew just as fast as she could go."

It's a lovely little book.  I highly recommend it!

What wonderful secrets have you discovered lately?

Signs that Spring just might be here:

A Nest

Found on the ground (probably blown or dripped out of the tree)

We put it back up where we could reach.

Crocus

Grilling Love

A splash of color from the store

Nice Cold Lemonade in the shade

Pots of plants starts

Oooo that Lemonade is sour!

"Y"

Flowers and a wee bit of green

Toys that Dig

"Mom, I broke my finger."

"What?"

"I broke my finger, see."

(Wait a minute what does that have to do with Spring?  I'll tell you.  Nothing, except it happened one Spring day.)

(By the way, the finger wasn't broken, just jammed.  It didn't even swell up)

Just so you know:

If you put candles in a hot-out-of-the-oven-cake they will melt

I didn't know.

Now I do.

Just because I like them

                  

Peek-a-boo

or "Pee boo" as it's also known

Top o' the slide

Yeah!

"UP!  HEP!"

Sliding Fun

I'm not sure why patience is such a virtue

I want up NOW!

Your cruelty in not accommodating me is unsurpassed.

"Sledding"

Snowball Fight!  (I'm taking my face in my hands getting these pictures)

Sliding Again

Thanks for indulging me.   Watch for Spring coming soon!

When it's snowy outside, this is the mischief we get up to inside:

Discovery of a small bowl of powdered sugar:

(Thanks Christa for the reminder to take pictures when I'd rather do other less kind things)

Look I can get into the child-proof-lock cupboard

He's tough as  Rhino!

And loves these girl shoes!

What pencil scribbles?

I don't know what you're talking about.

This might be the last snow post--it might not

What to do with "Spring" Snow

Jump!

Be Cute

Don't forget to laugh!  (even if it's just 'cause you think you got away with something)

Give your sister a ride

Laugh yourself silly when she bails off and you collapse

 in the snow while trying to pull her up the hill.

I can't help it I love these faces

Bye!  Bye!

I know, you're tired of seeing snow from here aren't you?  Me too, but I have to remember that though it's not at an end, it can still be enjoyed.

And with that a reminder of poem I memorized as a child:

Last night the sky was reckless

A reckless millionaire

It threw down bits of diamonds

And threw them everywhere

And on this bright cold morning

As we go stomping out

Footprints full of diamonds

follow us about.

-Ailene Fisher

And we saw a few "critters" who stayed behind after the ball.

The Claw (scary huh?)

Tree Gift

Some letters for the letter minded (you know who you are!)

"V"

N

"S" (I know a stretch, but stretching's good right?)

Rainbow Sparkles on the garage roof

The other day as I was washing dishes I noticed a rainbow on our garage roof.

I tried to capture it as I've never seen anything like it.

This is my best attempt--no where close to real life, but a reminder of what I saw.

Can you see the colors in the sparkles?

Do you think this dainty maid could finish cleaning up and move North?

I'll ask her, someday.