Wetlands adventure

Last week we went over to the new wetlands that had been put in about a year ago at a local park. It was lots of fun.

It was chilly, and it had rained recently, so we were all bundled and booted. The hats weren’t really necessary, since it wasn’t really COLD, but Naomi wanted one to keep her hair back, and Simeon…just wanted one.

There are many fascinating things at the wetlands.

Some of them get into our shoes. Each of the kids had a shoe-emptying stop.

Naomi is our star dandelion picker this year. We go about and pick them so that they don’t go to seed (although we’ve fallen down on the job this week). She recently made $10 picking dandelions for the local aunt and uncle. They pay more per dandelion than we do, and didn’t realize what a very dedicated dandelion picker they’d hired. She was really impressed with the size of this one. We didn’t pick it, though. You know, take only pictures, leave only footprints.

Hannah brought her nature book and wanted to sketch.

I imagine that, once the small things that are planted on the perimeter grow up, a photo from this angle will look very different.

The kids all appreciated the logs placed strategically around.

You wouldn’t guess we’re in the middle of the city, would you?

Fallen logs = comfy nap spots.

Now, imagine lots and LOTS of duck pictures. Here’s just one, a representative of the ones the kids wanted me to take of every duck we saw. We saw more than 22 ducks (carefully documented by Hannah), so I’m not including all the pictures I took. Oh, and we also saw (and heard) a redwing blackbird. But the picture I took of him was not remotely close enough to show him in this format. We also saw a flicker, as well as the hole in a large snag (standing dead tree) that was probably its home. And there were all kinds of sparrows swooping and darting about.

Did I mention the kids enjoyed the logs?

The log climbing reminds me that Michael and the local aunt recently taught the children the Log Song.

They learned it while they were making the wood pile from the wood that was left after the cherry trees came down.

I had heard it vaguely sometime in the past, but hadn’t remembered it.

Now, thanks to Michael and my sister, I can hear it playing in my head as the children play on the logs.

“It’s log, it’s log, it’s big, it’s heavy, it’s wood!”

“Everyone wants a log. Come on and get your log.”

And Sim collected large pieces of gravel. Which I made him leave on the path before we went back to the car. You know, take only pictures, leave only footprints.

The kids were very interested in the wildlife.

And the logs.

It was gratifying to have them hold still to hear the redwing blackbird, or cheer when the swallows came swooping close to them, or notice small details of nature.

Nobody wanted to get in the car to go home, but we’ll get to go back again soon.

We had a great time there. It was pleasant and peaceful and natural and 8 minutes’ drive from our house.