spring walk

Have I mentioned how much I love the flexibility of homeschooling?  We are dog sitting for friends this week, and the sun is shining so beautifully, that morning walks are a must!  I believe a great morning walk makes for better puppy and better kiddos!  Plus the wind turns bitter cold in the afternoons this time of year, so the morning is the best time.

First we head down the hill where Kevin is starting a repair on the mainline.  He dug the hole yesterday and is getting ready to take off the valves, repair the line and put it all back together.

 Wide open spaces!

 We walked along the empty irrigation pond.  Only 1 muddy spot left. Copper found it, and sank in a bit.  Luckily he had the rest of the walk to dry and rub off the dirt.  Empty ponds are pretty cool. PILES of snail shells along the edges, dried algae, cracked mud.  Being able to investigate the end of a pipe from the well on one end and the gates on the other where  the water will leave the pond to irrigate the field.  Very soon, the well will be started and this will be full of water, ducks, geese, frogs and the occasional muskrat.

 Ady really likes to climb. Yesterday she was in cowboy boots with little traction. She chose better today and was able to do a bit more.

 Walking to and from the gate, singing all the way!

 Some posing for mommy.  They are pretty good to humor me.  She is 8 1/2 years old.

 This guy is almost 10!

And him? 10 months.

The three amigos.  They are seldom close enough to photograph together, so I had to take advantage of the moment!

 On the way back by dad, he had the valves off, and was ready to cut the mainline.  The kids took a turn trying to saw, they did get it to move.   We talked about levers (science) as dad was using one to relieve the pressure on the cut, and of course we admired daddy's strength when the cutting was done!

Now we are back home.  Kids are each curled up with a novel doing silent reading and the doggies are each stretched out in a favorite place, napping.  Hello spring!