Coney Island: Spring Break Edition

Warm weather in NYC means you've got to hit up Coney Island.  It was a perfect outing for us over spring break with the sunshine, even if it was crazy crowded.

We visited the tiny aquarium, making sure to say hello to the walrus.  Freddie loves to hear the story of him as a tiny guy who was terrified of that old barking walrus and wouldn't even walk by his habitat without crying.  I love telling the boys those kind of stories of "so long ago" as much as they love hearing them.

After the aquarium we hit the boardwalk to have lunch at Nathan's.  It's a must do when at Coney Island.  You've got to eat your fries with the teeny little fork!

And then on to the amusement area.  The boys have graduated to the bigger rides where the crowds tend to be, especially during spring break.

It is so interesting to see how brave Freddie has become in the past few years, and how different his little brother is, absolutely fearless.

Finishing the day with pretzel bites rather than ice cream as they were soaked from the last ride of the day!

We're all thankful for sunshine and warm weather.  I think we'll be outside from sunrise to sunset from now until next fall!

Spring Break Adventure

Spring showers…

Jack and the Beanstalk at the Swedish Cottage…

Central Park shenanigans...

And of course some Shake Shack (best burger ever!)…

Egg Hunt

Hans' playgroup had it's second annual egg hunt.  The weather was crisp, not unlike last year, and we even had some snow the night before.

Hans didn't really want to take his hands out of his pockets, but conceded and collect some eggs once he realized there was chocolate inside some of them.

Freddie scrambled around and filled his basket.  He was most happy to see some friends.

They were both so tickled to find out what was in each of the eggs.  Stickers, tattoos, bouncy balls, and chocolates got a squeal with each egg they split open.

A great start to some Easter fun over the next few days.

Spring Training

Egg Hunt

 

It may be cloudy, grey, cold and *snowy* but we are carrying on with spring activities. 

Hans' playgroup put together an egg hunt in the yard. 

Hopefully the Easter Bunny hides some more eggs for them to find later this week. 

The scientist at work

The caterpillars have arrived.  Freddie's observing and has the butterfly habitat all set up and ready to go.

She's back

She's come each year since we've lived here in March. And then she returns a short while later for round 2.


She's here now for round 2 of the season with her usual 2 eggs.


Charlie and I like having her. We check on her each time we go out to the porch.

Signs of Spring on Bordeaux

The side bed has been filled with coleus...


The altheas have begun to sprout...


The hibiscus not only has buds, but it's blooming...


The feeders have been filled...


The nasturtium are beginning to bloom...


I have a mystery bloom, which I've been watching develop for several weeks....


It started as a tiny sprout, and now is a mounding something or other with pink blooms.

The Indian blanket is blooming, and blooming, and blooming...


The flowering maple is loaded with flowers...

And we are outside each and every day enjoying it.

It's Spring, Part II

Three weeks ago we were watching the chicks in our hanging baskets. It wasn't but 10 days later that we were having empty nest syndrome. Charlie even commented that "they grow up so fast." We were both surprised by how quickly the mama stopped coming around, and how soon after that they were gone.

Last week I noticed two adult doves back at the nest building routine, and then she was there wating.


Can you see her in there?

So today Charlie gave me a lift to see what was going on...



No more empty nest!

Springtime

New decorations adorn the door.



Jazzfest flag is to go up this weekend! It's really spring, and only 8 more weeks until summer vacation.

It's Spring!

Each time I water the walking irises in the hanging baskets on the porch I startle a dove. After a few times, I figured she was trying to build a nest, but thought surely my regular watering would be enough to keep her away. Today I found her in there today, so decided to take a peek at what she was up to. I was hoping to snap a picture of a nest in progress or a few eggs.

Instead I found....



two chicks!

Mama bird watched from the tree in the front as I looked at her babies. I can see her through the window now, still watching.