Look what we found the other day when cleaning up the chicken run: one praying mantis egg case on weed “stick”. Sometimes cleaning brings the neatest things into your view. This is now sitting up next to our chive patch near the house. We’re hoping to see some little praying mantis (matises? manti?) soon!
We spent a few hours in the wind today working in the garden. The boys both bought marigolds. I’m letting almost anything go except plants that will take over their plots like the vines and corn. So marigolds were planted. We found some Nasturtium seeds that we’ll put in this week too. I’m battling squash bugs and hoping for a pre-emptive strike with pretty flowers they don’t like!
I found a new project with the Lost Ladybug! I had forgotten about it. I can’t remember when exactly I stumbled into it but I’m excited to be reminded. Now just to re-find the lady bugs we found a few weeks ago!
I’m also ready to start my 100 Species up again. I had some photos for winter but most (if not all) were grasses. I am not that great at identifying grasses. And in fact I get quite frustrated and end up giving up quickly. But we’ve got a huge thistle that we’re going to photograph before we chop it out. And a couple other fun much easier to identify things popping up!
Our goslings are now about 8 to 10 inches tall. They’ll be moving out of the brooder box shortly which means we have to hop to it with our gosling fence. Once they are fully grown we’ll run them in a large enclosure but not for awhile yet. So there is a project we’re working on too.
What projects are filling your days?
And just because I feel like it here’s a Grace in Small Things list:
1. Jack Prelutsky with breakfast
2. Volcanoes for lunch
3. Small stories by Jr. for snack time
4. Orange flowers and happy boys.
5. Imaginary Fire with real boys and real hose but no real fire 
Today was a nice simple day. One that I actually enjoyed quite a lot. For a recap:
1. Got up late but not so late that I was grumpy.
2. After breakfast we went outside for a tromp in the brisk fresh air (also to do chores)
3. Lil’B had a make up piano lesson so we grabbed a quick lunch then headed off to make music.
4. Since we were so close Lil’B and I traveled over to the shoe store for his “farm” shoes.
5. Headed home and listened to our History Cds all the way.
6. Grabbed a snack and then started on bills/cleaning with the hubby. The boys opted to run around outside (ha ha ha)
7. Got bored of “helping” with the bills and decided to paint the chalkboard table. Looks great again now!
8. Went back outside for some more brisk fresh air (also chores again).
9. Confirmed that the goslings are indeed tall enough to switch off the lamps by “eating” the pull chain.
10. Moved the heat lamps into the “up” position away from curious goslings.
11. Rambled a bit then headed indoors with our rosy cheeks for supper.
12 Watched my most favorite NOVA about cuttlefish.
13. Read stories to my boys.
14. Visited my websites, worked on ridding the DJ of spam members, read tweets, and blogged 
I am now off to read a bit before I head to bed! I hope your day was full of simple pleasures too.
