Silly daddy

Spring's coming to Providence!

Earlier this week we were walking downtown and stopped by this planter. It's next to Memorial Blvd. and the courthouse is behind us:


See what's against the tree trunk? A mallard mommy! Someone has even set out a dish of water and left a note among the tulips warning against bothering her.

Yesterday she was still there, still on her nest. Today, though, something had changed: she was standing up.

Only one reason why: she didn't want to squash these little guys:


We left her alone. Someone had added a pile of bread for her, and I don't think it was the lazy drake we saw paddling in the river, either.

After months and months and months of growing it out, this hair is getting ready for greatness:


She's donating it to Locks of Love (www.locksoflove.org), an organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under age 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis.

Here is the hair, ready to be sent off to its new owner:


And here's her new look in action:

Playing for the Orioles this year. They keep score, the count pitches, it's the real deal! (Except that if you get hit by a pitch you can't take the base, which strikes me (ha ha) as a little unfair.)





She covers her base well, she hits, and she throws. And, best of all, she's having a great time.