May 12, 2008. Bethesda, Md. Girls and Farms.

Those city girls are not a bit squeamish. They catch crawdads in the creek, salamanders in the pond and tadpoles in the muddy tadpole puddles. Watching Mary Frances catch salamanders is like watching a heron at work. She stalks the side of the pond very slowly, then she is very still. until she pounces and catches one in her hands. She shrieks with glee to her Dad. If the water is too deep for her boots, she steps out of the pond, dumps the water out of her boots and then puts them back on her bare feet. Actually, she is about the size of a blue heron. The only difference between her and a heron is Mary Frances does not eat the salamanders or tadpoles or crawdads.

That brave Killdeer nipped the back of their dog Tex. The girls and I went to see the progress of the nest every day at the farm this weekend. They were careful, but the bird was not happy for them to get too close. Sunday morning we walked up to say goodbye, and Tex came with us. This did not please the Killdeer, who when we walked away. flew at the dog and bit his back. He yelped. This is one brave bird.

Ken set up out tent and tent fly and dining fly at the farm this weekend. He thought the girls might like to play in the tent or sleep overnight in the tent, and he wanted to see if the equipment was still in good condition. Ken and I camped all ever North America using very inferior equipment. As soon as we had the disposable income, we bought new equipment. That would be in the last 60's. Of course, we bought our first farm in 1973, so we stopped camping so much. But Ken wanted to know if it would still work. The girls were excited to camp outside in the tent. I predicted that they would last one hour before coming inside to their comfortable bed. Kate thought I was too much of a pessimist. I suggested that Andrew could sleep out with them and they were very happy, planning stories to tell their Father. Then they told me they were going to tell ghost stories. I figured 15 minutes would be the limit. Full of anticipation, they carried out their sleeping bags and pillows and flashlights. Then the three of them went to bed in the tent. Ken and I came down to hot tub and could hear their voices. Then I heard a yell of Andrew's voice. Soon after, Mary Frances walked over to the house. Kate told us next morning that she lasted an hour. Andrew came in soon after. But the girls loved the tent to play in during the day. They just want both parents out in the tent with them. And no ghost stories.