The grass is greener on this side

With spring in full swing, I'm on a mission to acquaint my daughter with the great outdoors. To this end, we are dedicating some time each day to stroller rides, swinging at the park, or exploring the greenery popping up everywhere around Goose Poop Pond.

The results are such that at the ripe old age of 26, I'm being reintroduced to our fascinating world through the eyes of an eight month old.

Yesterday I learned that long skinny sticks are more manageable than long fat sticks, but short fat sticks are easier to hold and better for poking the ground.

Spiky grasses hurt to sit on, and aren't much fun for anything. But long soft ryegrass (like the kind growing around the pond) is just right for rubbing your hands through.

Weeds are wonderful...without them, flowers would be contained to flower beds, and the grass is much more fun to play in when there's an occasional dandelion to grab at.

I'm also becoming aware of just how noisy our world is. Birds chirping, planes flying overhead, cars whirring by, bugs buzzing around, geese honking, lawnmowers mowing, doors opening, runners running, leaves rustling...Abby doesn't miss a thing. Every little noise catches her ear and she has to turn to find it. I guess I've learned to tune out all these nature sounds over the years. It's nice to hang out with someone who isn't so adept at that yet.