Intrepid explorer

On Sunday morning, we all took a walk to my favorite place in Columbus - the Prairie down in Whetstone Park. It's a lovely meadow on the edges of the park where wildflowers grow, bees hum and ephemeral ponds glisten in the sun if you come at the right time of year.

I took that picture back in March on a crazy warm day when all the snow had melted leaving behind these vernal ponds.

Early March morning

Bloated worm bodies floating

Vernal ponds return

I had hoped to get back to document the change in the prairie over every month, but sadly never made it back in April. By now, a lot of peridot green new growth and early wildflowers have begun to push aside the dry, gray brush of last year.

We loved wondering through, soaking up the morning sun and saying hello to every dog that passed our way.

The going was a little slow. Taran was decidedly not thrilled about being in his stroller

and preferred this mode of travel.

or occasionally even consented to this mode of travel

He's not tall enough to reach the handle from the ground, so we strolled for over an hour and half mostly doing this. My arms hurt just thinking about it.

Along the way, we saw all kinds of interesting things

like this circling vulture

some sort of tent caterpillars

And lots of dandelions,

which you may not find all that exciting, but Taran would beg to differ. Every time T sees a dandelion with all the seeds blown off, he looks at me very earnestly, nods and says "Mama, dandelions all done", and then after this statement he'll pause, think, think, and nod again for extra emphasis.


Somewhat mind-bogglingly, he's sick again. Normally he's a pretty cheerful, sweet guy, but even when he's feeling great he has incredible will and determination. Not the temper-tantrum type, but the dig-his-heels-in and imitate-an-ox type. This gets incredibly intensified when he's not feeling well. I tried to get a picture of the two of us, but this is the best I could do as he was slipping out of my arms.

I was a bit more successful with my portrait of Joe and Taran

I love being with him outside because even when he's feeling like an absolute yuck-ball, he still maintains his sense of wonder about the outdoors

and his impish good humour

This video was taken back in March on our first trip of the Spring to the Prairie

He was a little less wet and dirty after this adventure..... but not much.