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Clocks, Bugs and Birds

Time for Sun Hats!

Last night we changed the clocks and sprung forward.  Tonight I am realizing that we truly are in the northern latitudes and we will have a lot of light nights!  It is 7:55 and the sky is blue, though slowly darkening.  The sun set just 10 minutes ago.  


It doesn’t seem like very long ago that I was writing about the darkness that fell so rapidly, so that Elisabeth was home from school for less than an hour and it would be getting dark.  In January we walked together to her piano lessons at at 5:20 it was already dark.  Now here we are 2 1/2 months later and I am thinking perhaps I should’ve gotten the special darkening shades for the kids’ rooms, and perhaps even for my room.  Because after all, it is only March, and we’ve got til June before the days start getting shorter.  While I may sound a bit anxious about the sleeping part (oh, there goes Henry again, coming out of his room) I am overjoyed by the sunshine and look forward to sitting out on the patio with John, drinking a glass of wine and watching the sun set at  9 PM.  Because the kids will get used to it.  They just will.
I am rather bemused that I am so surprised by what is a fact of nature that has existed this way for eons. 
I have been noticing bugs.  Insects.  I think perhaps I missed them, or at least was so surprised by their absence.  In Texas we have someone from pest control come four times a year to spray for insects: cockroaches, earwigs, spiders, you name it.  But here we just open the windows and let the air in, not worrying about anything.  A few weeks ago a fly was in our kitchen.  “Look!”  I shouted to the kids,  “A fly!”  I hadn’t seen one since August I think.  
Wednesday was a startlingly sunny day and I noticed two yellow sulphur butterflies flitting under our awning.  It is a clear glass or plexiglass awning, so they were full in the sun, just bumping against it trying to get out.  I knew they would manage at some point, so I just enjoyed seeing their bright colors, greeting the spring.
Yesterday I took the kids outside with journals and pencils and said, “Let’s look and see what birds come in our yard.”  But of course we made so much noise getting out that we  scared them all away.  Instead we listened (well, Elisabeth and I listened while Henry drew an owl).  It was a chorus of different voices--I could pick out the mourning doves or pigeons like we have in Texas, but there are many new ones I haven’t yet identified, but I see them when the kids are safely away from the backyard.  I purchased a small bird book for kids in German, but haven’t made much progress with it yet.
Our Spring Boy, opening presents

Today I was looking through the ads, trying to make my grocery list for tomorrow, when I saw this ad and was just struck by its beauty.  If anything will make me want to eat healthy and work in the garden, this will!


Henry with his 2 race car cakes for Kindergarten.  He's been talking about these for months.




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