A Short Walk with Plenty of Snacking

Today was lovely, blue skies and 50-something degrees, so the kids and I went on an expotition (we've been feeling Pooh-ish, and our official purpose was to find the north pole). We brought some bread and honey for the "road," and made it all the way to the top of the cemetery before I heard the first "I'm tired" complaint. I insisted that we had to walk all the way to the top of the next ridge if they wanted to stop for ice cream at the corner store on the way back, though, so they soldiered valiantly on (it really wasn't far, and the little slugs have got to build a bit of endurance). At the top of the ridge we admired the little view and picked up enormous acorns. A woman came out of the house across the street, and, after some waving and "hi-ing," we went over to chat. She grew up with the woman who sold us our house, and commented on how pleased her friend was to have children living in the house again. She was very cordial to T. and K., saying that she hoped they would call her Auntie Donna, and, being the familiar little creatures that they are, they were very pleased to oblige. She told them how deer like to eat the large acorns they showed off to her, and informed T. that the little holes he pointed out in his acorns were made by little acorn worms, thus earning herself a pile of suddenly unwanted acorns on her lawn. After inviting Auntie Donna to stop by and see the mess we are making of her old friend's house, we ambled back home, stopping by the corner store on the way for ice cream to keep up our strength. It was a nice little walk.