Walnut Squishing

[carnivalday]

Gryphon, my oldest just started kindergarten.  He only goes half-days.  Despite this, he's convinced that his younger brother and I are doing all the fun stuff, while he's gone.  I assured him that that wasn't true.  I have just enough time to, walk home, meditate, check CM, clean, and then walk back and get him.  That assured him enough to get him to go to school.

I told him the truth but not the whole truth.  I've been waiting for this time when I could spend a little one-on-one time with my youngest, Ro.  Sometimes we take the long way home.  We go see the neighbor's chicken and rabbits.  We learned that little fingers look like worms to chickens and we don't stick our fingers in the cages anymore.  We stop and watch, "Bob The Builder" dig up the road for a looooong time and then cheer when the "Barney Back-Hoe"  dumps chunks of asphalt into the dump truck with a huge crash. 

The best thing we do is squish walnuts.  We have a lot of walnut trees in our neighborhood.  They are all dropping their nuts at this time of year.  They lie on the ground in their green casings and essentially rot.  Sometimes the crows will pick them up and drop them on the road and wait for cars to squish them.  I see the squirrels running along the electrical lines with them but I'm not sure how they are getting them open. 

Well somehow, Ro and I got the idea that we would help.  He's not big enough to step on them and crack them.  So he takes my hand and says, "There's one, Momma, squish it."  He gets so excited his little blond head bobbing up and down, "There's another one!"  I have these big worker boots that make short work of the walnuts.  Pop, crack, pop, crack.  Dinner for the squirrels is served. 

I don't want Gryphon to know, but  walnut squishing has been the best. 

 

[alex]

Oct. 13, 2009 at 12:53 PM

awwhhhh, those little moments are the best!

Much Love

Alex

[mb_dolphin]

Oct. 13, 2009 at 1:38 PM

YAYAYAYAY. i have been wanting to hear of your one-on-one with ro. that is awesome. i think the squirrels have to store them or bury them and wait till the casing rots away... not sure.

[FelipesMom]

Oct. 13, 2009 at 2:28 PM

what a wonderful autumn post :o)

thank you for sharing

[Guaranteed]

Oct. 13, 2009 at 4:54 PM

andres is crazy about acorns right now. i keep finding them in my dryer no matter how carefully i go through his pockets before washing.

i don't have another child, but i hope that when i do i can experience moments like this with them.

[girlwithC]

Oct. 14, 2009 at 1:26 PM

When we were talking about Ocie & Gryphon's kindergarten journeys, you had mentioned Gryphon's worries & suspicions, and your reassurance of him.  "No, we're not going to OMSI together without you!"  I had thought to mention that you could have good/special times with Ronan, too, without having to keep it mundane and boring out of "obligation" to G, but somehow, I felt I didn't need to mention it to you.

Now I see I was right! 

What a sweet story.

And yes, the squirrels bury them (squirrel them away, yuk yuk) and later on, they are softened/rotten and they can nosh when they most need it, when winter is full upon them.  Our yard is a hotspot for such squirreling...