May Day

Today we talked about the custom of collecting wildflowers to place on a neighbor's door on the first of May. It wasn't practical for us to do this, but we were able to set out on a hike through the woods to search for flowers to bring home. We had seen buds two days prior, so we hoped to find blossoms. It was a gray and misty day, so flowers were shut tightly. Still we did find dandilions, wild mustard flowers, strawberry and cherry blossoms. Plenty to fill the baskets we had made before heading out.



There's such a mysterious aura in the forest. We found clues throughout of someone else having been there before us. It's fun to try to guess who it might be. Upon nearly every tree stump, we found the remains of pine cones that have been torn apart in search of the little seeds that taste so good to someone. We call it the squirrel's dinner table. Every new stump we come upon, is as thrilling as the one before - it never seems to get old. We also search the upper part of the trees for holes made by pileated woodpeckers or others and we hope to get glimpses of someone peeking out at us. Today we discovered a very interesting home, low in the tree. There was all sorts of shredded wood and droppings on the ground.



We took our turns guessing just who it might be. When we returned to the Farm, Mr. Shaw suggested it might be a flying squirrel.
It sure would be wonderful to catch him soaring through midair. Unfortunately they only come out at night - and we're all tucked in by then!

~* Grace