Leaves that are leaving

As I said before, I don't mind the leaves that are leaving... (I used to have a problem with those that were coming)

But this year in particular I don't give much for those that are coming either!
Because my kids have taught me something amazing: what comes down must go back up; and since what goes up DOES come down, we can have giggles and laughter for hours in the yard.

See? UP:

and DOWN: 

And all around...

I speak picturish

Every once in a while

Outings are for having fun, for running around (not that this doesn't happen at home, don't get me wrong), for seeing things and touching-smelling-tasting also. Always.

Outings are for letting them run ahead and see the delight in their eyes when they come back to show me this, or tell me that... Always.

Outings are for trying your strength, making new friends and.... yes, getting dirty doing all that. Always.

Water is fascinating when you grow up in a town like this. Sunrises on the beach, sunsets by the lake ever since you were a baby. And then holidays by streams and rivers. A mommy fascinated by waterfalls will drive you miles to take you see them. Always.

But every once in a while, although I understand them being fascinated by water, I would like them to come home dry! (not much to ask right?!)

I guess I found the biggest puddle in a parking lot in the area.

Things started to go into the water: pebbles, sticks, leaves.  Some were sinking, some were floating at the surface. And then the idea came: let's make a boat!

A piece of wood and a leaf

gliding smoothly in the sun.

(Did I mention that my kids were dry in the end? )

And happy. And proud.

"Did you see Mommy what we made???" 

Oh, yes. And I'm so glad and grateful for that.

An artist and his song

We were out enjoying the colors, the bright light. Some of us were chasing the ball, others were chasing the clouds in the sky with the camera.

 Well, you got the idea...we were really, really busy...

We were gathering leaves (to make a bird to scare Hopper away ;) )...

...until we heard (ahem) music.
Close to us.
Very close.
We looked around and there it was:

So we waited until the song was done, because you cannot disturb an artist during his song, can you?!

I speak picturish

I speak picturish

Wandering Mole (4) - Harman

The next day we stayed closer to our "camp", so we went to Harman. This is a well known fortified church, well preserved and very easy to get to from the main road.

Impressive by size (it must have looked bigger to my little ones, because they turned speechless for a long time). Despite the early hours of the day, everything was glowing, inside as well as outside.

I looked carefully at the benches: not a single metal nail in them! Everything was wood, even if not in one piece anylonger. Questions like "but how do they stay together?!" made me realised how at ease they were with hammering a nail here and there and how many details they notice at once.
For some, obviously, the hands turn out to be another pair of eyes. :)

So we went out to solve the mistery. And there they were: wooden nails!

However there are things that don't fit in the pictures, as much as I try. Like the smell of the oleanders...

But the best part (for my squirrels) was yet to come.
I kept telling them that long time ago people used to live inside the walls of the fortresses. My, that was hard to get! We opened books, we talked, we built with building blocks, but it still seemed like a fairy tale. So there it was, finally the chance to get inside one of those walls...

Quick stop before moving on: a picnic at the bottom of the stairs...

And, YES, the Mole was there to witness them all.