For my birthday, Akiva shoveled a path through the Johnville Bog.
It was a lot of work!
Meanwhile, Iris & Martin played a game of snowball catch.
Later, Martin built a winding road for Akiva’s cars.
He also did some acrobatics with Iris—
at the same time!
To prove it is autumn, we went to Green Lake State Park.
The older folks thought we were slow, so they passed the time by walking rapidly—
to & fro & to & fro & to & fro.
The younger generation was considerably sower.
We pondered the things we saw in the lake.
We pondered the view of the lake.
We pondered twining roots and shapes of leaves.
We pondered the difference between lake and sky.
And we pondered wheely things. Or, at least, one of us did.
Iris has always been a people watcher. She stated this to me explicitly at age two. One of her favorite people to watch is Uncle Dan. She likes to watch him draw, especially when he is drawing landscapes. Rendering a landscape in watercolor is a magical act.
Landscape:
* * *
Later, at home, Gramma watches Iris knit.
Now & again, she lends a hand.
Knitting is not one of Iris’s favorite activities, but she is much better at it than I am!
I couldn’t carry both enough water to get us comfortably through our longest of hikes and carry Akiva, so I bought Iris a backpack. It gives her superpowers— the most wonderful of which is the super power to enable us to carry enough water.
It started out in the normal way: a walk in the woods down to the river,
fully clothed.
But, with the toss of the first rock, the first splash wetted their clothing and—
Off it came! Splash!
In to the water with the rocks!
Throw to the other side!
And—
bloop!
It’s good to have a river.
While Iris & Rethabille model matching outfits—
—Akiva behaves like a wild animal.
Quick!
Before school begins again!
Before this short summer ends!
Let’s go to some of our favorite places.
Remember this place?
We drive to Chloe’s house.
Where is Chloe?
Well, she is not here yet.
Remember this place? Remember this place?
* * *
Again. Again!
Each spring,
New goats
Spring like water from a fount:
they leap forth from mothers
and dive into arms.
A spring of goats:
a goatspring.
We walked through the woods and down to the island
carrying only a few essentials including water, cheese, and a small number of Little People.
“BBBBBBBBBBRRRRUMM!”
The Little People liked it there!
They drove over hills
and under bridges,
guided by the demigod-like little hands
of children.
Putta putta putta putta up the mountain—
“AAAAAH! HELP! HELP! EMERGENCY! HELP!”
Phew. All’s well that ends well.
They drove to the scenic overlook,
guided by the demigod-like little hands
of children.
“Goodness! There’s a lot of trash here!”
“But you must admit, the scenery is beautiful.”
Credits:
Sequencing & storyline by Iris & Akiva—
goofballs!
Photography & location management: Mama.
