Neighborhood-Kids All Local. All for Kids. All the Time.

So is he really going to sleep with us in the tent?  Should we bring another tent just for him?  Will he wake up all other campers within a quarter mile radius?

Just a few of the questions that my mind keeps asking.  Shhhh, be quiet mind, we're going out into the great outdoors.  Well, at least sleeping outdoors.  Our first night will be a test run in the back yard.  In a worst case scenario, whatever that may be, we can just go back in the house.

Huge tent in a small yard with a fridge and a flush toilet nearby.  Now that is camping!

Our second camping experiemnt, will be camping with a bunch of friends at THE WEDDING!  At least if we keep everyone up, those that are up are already our friends. 

Running in, running out, running back in, and running back out of the coop again.  Our 9 backyard chickens love to be watched by Eliot. I don't think their behavior is choreographed, but their constant motion and pleasant cooing are mesmerizing to Eliot.

We built our coop and chicken run from old pallets and scrap material hiding in the recesses of our old garage.  The siding was leftover from my in-laws cabin.  The chickens don't really care about their confines, I think they are happy.  They eat our yard and kitchen waste, rest in the dusty shade in the afternoon, and pile together on the roosts in the coop at night.  I think chickens are easier to care for than fish and cats.  Plus you get eggs, beautiful and fresh, once they become mature.  Our hens are a welcome addtion to our family. 

We met 2 dozen friends and family at the food bank farm to celebrate Eliot's first birthday by working the Earth with hoes and gloved hands.  All the food grown at the FBF goes to the food bank but to grow the food comes at a price - a steady and loyal volunteer workforce.  Colleen and I decided the best way to celebrate Eliot's birthday was to surround him with those who care about him and figure out a way that we can give - rather than receive - a gift. Thanks to all of those who made this day special; for your presence iss truly the only present we need.

Reading is a nap ritual.  This morning we read Baby Beluga, a book illustrated by Ashley Wolff set to the lyrics of Raffi's famous song.  While flipping back-and-forth between pages reading the lyrics in non-linear fashion we saw pictures of fur seals, narwahls, tuna, walrus, gull, puffin, dolphin, arctic fox, polar bear, and of course, beluga whale swimming and loving their arctic habitat.

I got really sad.  When I was a child, seeing pictures of these animals, I didn't know if they were real or not but I liked to think they were out there living peacefully in the wilderness of their home.  But I know now this is not true.  Many have died.  Last week, the polar bears were finally listed on the endangered species list.  I know if they are listed, much to the chagrin of many corporate interests, then they must really be in trouble.  Will there still be polar bears in 30 years, when Eliot is an adult?

As the story goes, Baby Beluga and all the other animals of the arcitc celebrate the fact that they are connected by the ties of a common habitat.  But that habitat has changed due to the effects of human behaviors.  We humans must realize today that we actually can have a vast impact upon places near our home as well as places as seemingly distant and wild as the arctic.

If you are reading this, please take a moment to think about how your behaviors effect the environment (both near and distant).  Then tell your friends, family, and peers about your thoughts.  There is much that we can control - there are many choices we can make - I only hope that when we choose,  we choose wisely.

Thanks for reading. 

Removing the buttercup from the strawberry bed is a ritual of mine that I follow every couple of weeks in the springtime.  The chickens devour the buttercups when I toss them into the coop - it is one of their favorite foods.  I filled a couple of buckets amazingliy quick.  Actually, I don't know how long it took.  Weeding is a meditation.  I disappear, time slides by, and the bucket fills up.

In my spaciness, Eliot had drifted behind me and was playing with an empty bucket, a piece of paper, a tile, and a couple of buttercups.  I snapped out of it, looked around and Eliot was standing up by holding onto the edge of the raised vegetable bed smiling at me.  However, he not only had a big grin on his face, but a long brown drool dripping down his chin and onto his shirt.  The tell tale sign of pica - dirt eating.

 He thought it was funny.  He grabbed another clod and went for his mouth, but he shook too much due to his laughter and missed.  Either he liked eating the dirt or he liked the EEEyuK look on my face!

The street sweeper slowly passed by our front window this sunny morning and the new sound stopped Eli mid-squeek. He gawked, squaked, and then we both got outside to see this crazy machine do its job.  I then noticed that our neighbors sash was open so I strolled over to say hello.  Expecting Nina, I found Henry with their 6 month old son.  First thing he says is "Nina's first day back at work...just a half day."

As Eli wrestled in my arms squirming like a worm, Rowan relaxed lazily in Henry's arms and watched Eli do his exercises.  No one really said much, I think we were all happy to feel the sun on our shoulders and faces. 

Playing with his favorite toy - stackable wooden rings - gets a whole new dimension when placed into a plastic tub.  Put them all in, snap on the lid, and watch the synapses pop and snap. 

Eli tosses it around and listens to the familiar CLACK the toys make when they smack into each other.  I left one corner of the lid ajar.   Finally he got the lid off, grabbed the big bead necklace he likes to chomp on, and waved it around victoriously with a big grin on his face.  

Then, we did it again.  And again.  Good times. 

To celebrate the 1st birthday of Eli's pal Archer, friends and family met with the delightful staff of the Nooksack Salmon Enhancement Association to plant trees on Terrell Creek.  West of Ferndale, Terrell Creek meanders from Lake Terrell, past Pleasant Valley Farms, into a wetland and then finally through Birch Bay State Park.

 

 

Colleen and I tried to have Eli sleep during the car ride up, but he decided not to.  So upon arrival, we fit him into a warm suit and put him in the backpack.  We were first greeted by a couple of curious goats who then followed us down to where the NSEA folks were getting everything set up.  A lot of work had already been done at the site like clearing blackberry, repairing the creek channel, and securing large woody debris to the creek edge.  About 300 potted trees were set out around the site for our birthday party to plant.

 

 

 

Being a "presence, not presents" party for Archer, we all had an enjoyable time talking, laughing, and planting trees in the low late-winter sun.  No fretting over what we needed to bring for a happy 1-year-old, we simply basked in the sun and enjoyed each others comaraderie.  If you are thinking about how to celebrate your child's birthday, consider making a party like this.  Everyone felt so good being a part of something that helps our community and at the same time celebrating Archers day. 

 

Eli finally fell asleep in the backpack.  I think the light jostling and swaying put him to sleep while I dug holes and planted trees.  I knew he woke up when he squeeked with delight at the person nearest to us.  Maybe what he was saying with his squeek was actually "Happy birthday Archer!"

Doing laundry and folding clothes can become quite a fun game.   I fold 'em and he grabs and flings them around.  By the time we were done, Eli helped me deliver the folded clothes to their proper place.  Finally we drove around the house, picked up toys, and delivered them to where they wanted to go.  I am not sure who was having more fun with the basket, him or me!