New Neighbors

Oh how I've neglected this blog for the last eight months. Wish I had more time to write. But with Charlotte doing new things every day, and Makela saying and doing hysterical things, it's time to start doing a better job with this thing. So here's a conversation that Makela had mostly with herself today, after she found a little snail next to the sidewalk on her way home from the library with Daddy and Charlotte today....

M: I see his little breathing hole.

M: Oooh, he's got tiny little eyeballs.

M: What if he gets stepped on? I'm going to stay & watch over him.

J: But Makela, you can't stay -- it will take hours for him to get to the sidewalk.

So Makela gently moves the snail over by a tree.

M: Now he's safe from predators. Dogs like to eat snails, you know.

M: Look, it's a whole snail home!

M: That must be his mom & dad. I bet they were worried about him.

M: Just have to say one last goodbye. (Transfers kiss from finger to shell.) That's your home now. We need to keep you very safe.

M: They're our neighbors! We have new neighbors! I think the one I helped is Snaily. He has a sister, Shelly. The Dad is named Slime & the Mom is named Swirl.

M: I'm very good with animals, you know. I didn't just grab him up, I used very gentle fingers, like this.

J: You're an animal rescuer, Makela.

M: I am! I *am* an animal rescuer. Maybe I could work with Diego.