Thursday, February 16, 2012

Inspecting the Grounds

A great deal happens on the ground. Because of this, the ground requires constant inspection and monitoring. It must be smelled, poked, viewed and dug into at all times. Bugs must be harassed. Rocks must be located and relocated. Dirt must be packed under fingernails and applied to adorable little skirts.

About fifteen minutes before I took this picture the boy on the left said to me, "TV's boring." Well, yeah. Who needs television when you've got friends, a dog and dirt?

12 comments:

sonia a. mascaro said...

Petrea,
I agree with you and with the boy!
So good to have a dog, too!

Petrea Burchard said...

Isn't it, though, Sonia? These kids are being raised right.

Bellis said...

Yes, turn the TV off and play in the dirt with a dog - that's the way to stay healthy (and I'm not being ironic for once). I wish more parents let kids have the outside fun my generation enjoyed. Wonder what they found under that bush? Maybe the entrance to the Borrower's home? (I loved the books, and the film may encourage a new generation to read them.)

Anonymous said...

Did I ever tell you that I'm in total awe that you can find an interesting perspective and thing to say every single day?

TheChieftess said...

Yay!!! Every child should get dirty every day!!
Dear friends of ours have two grandchildren who live in NY and have been raised with virtually no exposure to dirt...literally...they scheduled appts to visit the grandkids...kept their windows closed at all times so as not to let in the dirty air...practically lived in one of those bubbles...and yep...they have allergies galore, asthma...you name it...their immune systems never got challenged...to me...that's child abuse...kids should just plain eat dirt at least once in their lives!!! I did...more than once!!!

Petrea Burchard said...

Oh, my. I've had a very long day and it's such a pleasure to come home to your comments.

Bellis, we have some excellent bugs in the dirt on our block, and excellent parents who allow their kids to discover them.

Karin, you made my day, my week, my year, etc.

Brilliant, Chieftess. You remind me of years ago when I took my friend's son to Disneyland for his 8th birthday. I brought him home filthy, apologizing for the dirt. My friend said to her son, "Tell Petrea what your job is." He answered, "To get dirty!"
I know some really good parents.

Margaret said...

I'm sad you had such a long day. Get yourself a glass of wine, my friend. And tell John to rub your feet.

Petrea Burchard said...

Thank you, Margaret! I can't complain. Most of my days are just right.

Ms M said...

That's an endearing photo. Lovely to be in a place -- if only for a moment -- where things are simple; dirt to play in, friends, and your dog.

irinapictures said...

Photo, which reminded of me about 35 years ago. My friend and me were doing our usual dolls' business at her grandparents summer country house when her granddad appeared and presented us with 4' long piece of thick phone cable (I wonder where he found it, it could be lightly criminal story)).
Inside, the cable consisted of 60 thin wires coated in plastic of 60 different colours. We were the happiest girls, as then our jewelry collection started, plastic multicoloured earrings, rings, bracelets made us feel like beauty queens for the whole summer.

sonia a. mascaro said...

Yes, Petrea, they are being well raised!

Petrea Burchard said...

Ms. M, I feel fortunate to be able to witness this part of their lives.

What a wonderful story, Irina! He created such a sweet memory for you.

Sonia, I don't call myself an expert but yes, I think so.