Baltimore Aquarium

We met up with some cousins and an Aunt and some new friends and went to the Aquarium in Baltimore. Here is Mr 7 and his Great Aunt meeting a Horseshoe crab. The only other ones we have seen were dead ones at Cape Cod.

Flamingos

I honestly don't understand the fascination with flamingos, but the suit is so much fun. I have also seen garden ornament flamingos, ladies shirts flamingos, as well as lots of little girl wear. (swimmers, thongs/flip flops, towels, shorts and t shirts, and of course, this little play suit)
Someone mentioned it might be the fashion this year, like owls and foxes were last year. I can say with confidence that pineapples are also in fashion as Summer prints. It is amazing what kids get away with.

Update (July 2017) - I have since seen an adult male wearing navy blue shorts with little pink flamingos embroidered on.

Zebra shortbread

Made (not by me!!) for our home preschool's little belated Z day.

Leaves at night

The secret life of husbands

I took the boys out and came back to this.

Yeah, in his spare time, he scrubs the kitchen floor by hand with soft scrub... What a man.

Cicadas - batch X

Periodical cicadas come out every 13 or 17 years. And the scientific community that is interested in this sort of thing has labelled the batches. This year they were expecting Batch VI in Virginia but they were surprised to see Batch X emerging as well, four years early. We only saw about 6 all up, so I presume the rest will come out on time.
The conjecture is that it is about a warmer earth temperature, making the nymphs grow faster to their adult size. Whether any manage to mate and lay more eggs (or if they all got eaten) is apparently going to be answered in about 17 years.

Another tree gone

We have a rather lovely run of huge trees of some sort out the front of our neighbourhood. Problem is, they're old, and no-one thought to plant some more. At the moment, they're gradually being cut down, but the thinking is to replace them with these sort of ugly evergreen trees.
The little windy path is becoming a sweet little mysterious breath of calm and more just a path through a clear patch.

August 2016

May 2017 - Less one tree

The box

It is always amazing to me what simple things will amuse the baby. This time, it was the box we keep her toys in.

Butterflies

Mothers Day morning tea at preschool - they served us morning tea, recited a poem and some information about the presidents that they'd learnt, and set these butterflies free in the preschool butterfly garden. They're not monarchs. I'm not sure what they are.
Watching butterflies hatch and grow in the class room is a very common activity in American class rooms. The kids were so excited.

New Door Mat!

The pineapple - symbol of hospitality, is very very fashionable this season. I am surprised at what a difference it has made to replace the old mat (which was black and sort of useless).

Funny tree flowers

After the daffodils and tulips

I don't remember what these are called, but they're next. The bushes are solid with flowers, it is very spectacular.

Washing Basket Playpens

Lady Muck, in her washing basket with a select lap full of toys. Gives me about 30 mins of relaxation about where the baby has gotten to.

Cheeseless Pizza

This is actually really nice. Another of those experiences I didn't expect to find myself having!

Pink clover?

The greenery they planted along our walk into town looks vaguely familiar, like the improved pastures I saw when I was young. They are all flowering now - this one is very beautiful.

Spring Greeness

This just looked inviting as we strolled along. The trees don't just grow green in the spring, they aggressively pursue it.

Chicken and Pepper Italian Style sausages

I was cooking these to have with half a plate of salad, probably because everyone else was having quiche, and my 7.5 year old kindly pointed out that they weren't 'real' sausages, they were just meat in the shape of sausages. I am reminded that empathy isn't something gained until 8 years old or so.
They do actually taste ok. So long as you're not craving 'real' sausages...