Bowl full of strawberry memories

Today, I stood at the kitchen sink, preparing the first bowl of strawberries this season, (little kid eyes waited patiently for the first chance to grab a handful of strawberries) i couldn't help but let my mind wander....

I remembered the road side stands that dotted the local roads in California.

I remembered stopping at least once a week to buy a small crate or two and not being able to wait till we got home to sneak one.

I remembered standing in the kitchen ,with my dad, as he washed them, cut the green leaves off, and sliced the strawberries to the perfect thickness-big enough to hold the little bit of sugar that was sprinkled over them- while still being small enough to eat in one bite.

A perfect beginning to the spring, a loving reminder of those past, the sweetness of a bowl full of strawberries makes me nostalgic and hopeful that each basket i bring home to share with my nieces and nephew help to fill their bowls full of memories too!

Snail Magic

this evening, in a small aquarium, in the corner of my nephew's room....i was witness to what i can only call snail magic!

a golden snail (bought to help keep the tank clean and because i had never seen a golden snail) moved gracefully through the tank, motoring up the side wall as i feed the 2 school fair won gold fish that share the habitat. doing as he usually does, he climbed up past the plastic red aquarium plant and made his way to the top of the tank.....

an escape plan perhaps?
a moment to slip out water for a breath of fresh air?

no, neither......

with a calculated, slow, 90 degree turn- the snail moved from the safe, solid surface of the fish tank wall to being completely upside down and clinging to just below the surface of the water!
literally hanging on nothing, but still managing to move across the water as if it were no different than the 4 other tank walls!

he moved through the tank to another wall- made his way to the bottom of the tank and then repeated the process again!

perhaps he was perfecting the "walking on water" trick to make sure the 2 gold fish were properly entertained during their fish flake dinner?

or

wants to break in to show business and is practicing for his spot on one of those "pet trick" segments on the late night talk shows?

or

maybe he does this everyday, and i have only now just taken the time to notice!

while the reason behind this little bit of "snail magic" may never be discovered, i , for one, will be forever impressed and think that i will take a few more moments at the fish tank each night to enjoy the show!

Frozen Falls

My first trip, of hopefully more to come in the future, to Niagara Falls in the midst of a frozen February! I can still hear the sound of the water rushing past and over the falls to the icy river below.

Next time- I will remember to bring my passport and make it to the Canada side!