It is finally nice enough outside to escape the bonds of home. It being my flex day yesterday — and also in the mid-twenty-cees — I think it would be a fair calculation to say that I spent more of my waking hours yesterday outside than in. Lovely.

Claire and I enjoyed the backyard for about an hour and a half after breakfast, she continuing the effort of breaking in her swing set while I made sure that every plant in the backyard was sufficiently soaked. The little girl was absolutely fascinated by (a) the water, trying to help out whenever she could, (b) the flowers, which I’ve finally convinced her not to paw and pluck, and (c) the spiders, who require her protection as they are “seepink” (sleeping) on the shed, a ten foot wide perimeter from which quickly became off limits to both dad and the plastic bunny garden ornament.

Around ten-thirty we loaded up the stroller and hiked over to the library. Round trip, including a stop at the library, the bakery, Safeway, and the playground — for both play and an impromptu picnic — was three hours. I think I burned my neck a little, but the girl with the over-sized sunhat did just fine.

Another two hours out-of-doors in the afternoon included more swinging, a little girl who (though reluctantly and after some whiny-crying calls for assistance) learned to use her slide all by herself, and dad plucking weeds from the flower-bed and garden. (Yes, it took two hours!) Sparkle spent most of that time in the yard, too, baking her little brains in sun.

Of course, that might have wrapped up the father-daughter part of the day, but I did find myself outside for most of the evening too: I had my running clinic, the dog wanted a walk, and the flowers in the front yard needed some TLC. I hobbled back in when the sun started to set and went to bed. All that fresh air… y’know?