two hundred and twenty

A girl and her own personal librarian!

two hundred and nineteen

Question: Is it easier to fall asleep on the floor than in bed?

Hypothesis: Falling asleep on a pillow on the floor in front of the fan to keep cool will be easier than falling asleep in bed.

What Happened:

*cold head

*legs on hard floor

*second attempt with Mama as the sleep surface (Success!)

[huge hat tip to the authors of 11 Experiments that Failed. A book that you really should read.]

two hundred and eighteen

Just Esme and I took a bike ride out to the playground at the airport today.

Esme is that kind of kid who finds and makes friends almost everywhere we go. She befriends older kids, younger kids, kids she’s met before, kids she’s never met before, adults of every flavor, and especially dogs! She just has that sort of personality.

It means that sometimes, just sometimes, I get to sit on the park bench, drink my water and enjoy a little time to myself. Today I was kicking myself for not bringing a book. She hopped off the bike, and moments later had a new bff and they were off playing. We could have been there hours if our schedule had allowed.

After a sweet, sad goodbye between new friends we pedaled back home.

two hundred and seventeen

As much as we love actual libraries (and boy do we love them!), I have always wanted to stumble across a Little Free Library– and maybe even curate one someday!

To my surprise, and glee, we have discovered one a mere minute’s walk from our cottage. We’ve borrowed a couple books and a magazine and some of us like to “just take a look” as we pass by on our way to the post office.

Such a sweet little community thing, and perfect in our little beach town. Borrow a book in the morning on the way to the beach…return it full of sand as the sun sets. I can’t think of anything better!

two hundred and sixteen

Summer Sunday

Swing

Stringing Seeds

two hundred and fifteen

During our stay here on Martha’s Vineyard, the girls have been attending what they call “Nature Class”.

For the rest of us, that means “Saturdays on Senge“, a kid-oriented, family activity that is put on as a cooperative endeavor between the Friends of Sengekontacket and Felix Neck, two local environmental groups.

Each week has a slightly different topical theme, water creatures, shells, and shorebirds are a few that we’ve taken part in. A naturalist from Felix Neck comes with just the right gear for the day- today all the kids had binoculars to search out birds! She also has a little talk and some activities up her sleeve to keep the kids interested and asking questions.

I love bringing Catherine and Esme to these kinds of activities. They are fun, free and give them an on-the-ground appreciation for the Earth around them. In fact, I should credit both organizations for helping to support my love of nature. I went to camp at Felix neck in first grade and then 8th grade and as a teen I helped the FOS plant beach grass along the same beach we were at today.

[Photo caption: Catherine sitting near her camouflaged plover nest, from today’s shore birds class]

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two hundred and thirteen

Things that we got at the library that you might expect:

*the following books: Pippi in the South Seas, 365 Penguins, Let’s Get Ready to Play Outside, It’s all about Me-ow and The Secret Lives of Codebreakers.

*the following movies: Captain January (Shirley Temple), The Wiggles on Safari and Wild Kratts.

Things we got to see at the library that you might not expect:

*four pitchers for the MV Sharks.

The Oak Bluffs library held a little meet and greet with four players from the local collegiate baseball team this morning. We didn’t know about it before hand, but I am glad we happened to be there for it. The players did a short Q and A inside and then all the kids got a chance to hit whiffle balls that the pitchers tossed their way.

At the end, every child was given a ball and the players autographed them. Esme liked this part the best and she went up to all four of them and asked very politely for their “photograph”.

It was a very sweet, positive, and exciting program for the kids. I think it built up a little more community spirit and gave a positive impression of the Sharks in general. There is a very good chance I’ll be taking the girls to see a game in the next few weeks.

two hundred and twelve

I just love a good outdoor shower, don’t you?

This is our new shower, circa 1998. It has hot and cold water, a curtain, hooks for your towels and a nice wooden enclosure with walls, roof and door, of course we could hire the contractors at http://www.oceansevenroofing.com/sherman-oaks-spray-foam-insulation/ to create a nicer roof in the future!

Prior to the big 1998 renovation it was a pipe with a nozzle at the top that was attached to the side of the house. Cold water only and bathing suits were a necessity. We’ve come up in the world!

My favorite time to shower is during a heavy rainstorm- the sound of the rain on the roof paired with a nice warm shower inside…perfect!

two hundred and eleven

Naturalist Esme gives us the low down on moon jellies, holding the one she caught as a visual aid.

Did you know that Aurelia aurita are almost totally translucent? If you click the photo above and then click the x3 link from the little boxes in bottom right corner you can zoom in to see the gelatinous thing in her hand. But even then you’ll have to look closely!