It has grown!

Our marsh ecosystem has flourished over the past few weeks, and we have to give you an update.

The plants have shot up and considering that they are growing in approximately 2" of soil, we are just not sure how far they can go!
The snail seems content, and we have discovered a few other tiny species flitting back and forth in the bottom of our marsh.

We have been wary of the recent appearance of transparent sacs against the side of our bowl and will keep you posted with further developments...
possibly a second generation?
(I already had to descibe what hermaphrodite meant!)


On a side note;
Does anyone know when in the season garden snails appear?

Our newest family member (and last- for a long while!)

Introducing Rylee!
Yes, we got another small furry creature to join our household. My "mother's day present" :)
I have always wanted two dogs, but had planned to spread them out a bit more... but, well... once the idea got planted... anyone who knows me can figure it out!

She has been great though! At only 8 weeks, she is smart, fearless, but also very complacent, and willing to let the girls do anything with her.
And although she is still getting me up in the night, she has settled right in!


Rylee has followed suit with Rory and has chosen Jeff as her favorite!
How this happens I am not sure... he doesn't even particularly like dogs... and I am the one that feeds her! Oh well, it makes for good photo ops.

Below: Jeff and the dogs sleeping. (I took 6 shots without any of them noticing! :)

Below: Tara tucking in her new charge.

Below: Rylee's first bath... what's really under all the fluff. (Not much!)

For anyone wondering, she is a yorkie/bichon cross and will likely be about 8 lbs full grown.

This one is for you!

Ok Karen, the girls would like to know...

What is it? Since the wild cucumber, they specifically asked for your expertise! :)

circuits

From a broken hair dryer to...

My hair dryer bit the dust a few days ago, and rather than just throw it away, I figured it would amuse the girls to let them get out some tools and explore it.
Of course when the man of the house steps in, things get a bit more elaborate. The girls (with a bit of help from Dad) converted the parts into a "windmill" first completing the circuit by touching the wire to the battery, and then troubleshooting the attachment of the hair dryer switch.
Maybe my new $9.00 replacement will meet its end soon so they can have another go! :)

The Hammock...

We finally got the new hammock up... an awesome gift from (Uncle) Chris and (Aunt) Pam from their recent trip to Ecuador. The color is so bright against the greens of the yard, it cheers me up just looking at it... which is good since I never got the chance to be in it!
Tara was recuperating from a mild flu, so we snuggled her in for some fresh air in a relaxed manor. Of course Aislinn was quick to join in, resulting in moths emerging from their cocoons, wild swinging, and contagious laughter. Luckily Tara was indeed on the mend!

I am looking forward to many hours relaxing with a good book this summer! (I can dream anyway!)

Spring wreaths

Well, better late then never, but we finally got to making this idea for a spring wreath. (It had been on our list for the week before Easter.)

The fun thing was that we got to do it with friends, and the girls enjoyed choosing their spring theme to decorate around.