I am looking out the window and seeing snow yet again, which is absolutely unbelievable on March 25. However, when I look at our pictures from the last week I am reminded that we've had little hints of Spring.
Last Friday, rather than taking off on a grand adventure, Meg and Clare decided to take advantage of the green areas we have by our home. The green areas are one of the major reasons we chose the particular community in which we live. Prior to moving here, we lived in a high rise. There were grassy areas and parks close by, but the girls wanted a yard. My husband and I, however, knew we would not be good at caring for a yard. Besides, if we were to remain in Arlington, a large yard was not likely. Plots of land are small here. The larger the house, the smaller the yard. So, we chose a row-house community that was built around parks, playgrounds and green space meticulously cared for by the homeowners association (that's right, no mowing or hedge trimming for us). We have our own patio, but the girls mostly play in the shared front yard that is much larger than we could ever have in a single-family home. Also, when they go out and play, usually two or three of their neighbor friends join them.
Right after we moved here, our neighbors told us about the courtyard-type green space just up the path from our backyard. What a magnificent surprise when we walked over there. There were benches where I could sit while watching the girls run and run in a huge open area. I was immediately reminded of the shared garden in Notting Hill.