Our Fascinating Neighborhood

We are very lucky to live in such a wonderful neighborhood. Even more amazing, we usually get to come back home with toys and treats that our neighbors have saved just for Olivia. When she is spotted coming down the street, we have lots of people to greet us.

I thought you might like to see how a typical walk around the block goes for Olivia. Today we went around the block twice and it took us 45 minutes. Below are some pictures of just a fraction of our walk that goes from our house to the corner. These aren't exactly in order but I'm sure that you can tell right away why a very short walk would take so long. Olivia doesn't miss a thing.

One of the first stops is to say hi to our neighbor's wonderful collection of frogs. Only the smallest green one gets a pat on the head.

Olivia waves to all cars that drive by.

At this neighbor's house, Olivia admires the mosaic border and likes to pick up the newspaper and carry it around the driveway before putting it back down where she found it.

Olivia is one of those people who will always stop to smell the flowers. We are hoping this neighbor will make her delicious shortbread cookies again for Christmas. Last year Olivia timed her walk just right and got to go inside to do some cookie sampling as a batch came out of the oven.

She always has to check out the fire hydrant and today there was a special treat waiting for her... a trail of ants.

This neighbor has the softest and cushiest grass on the block. Olivia acknowledges the nice lawn by patting the grass.

This is Olivia's favorite place to visit on our walks. She starts running up the driveway when we get close and knocks on the door. This neighbor always has a lolly pop saved for Olivia and the two of them play peek a boo behind the tree in the yard on nice weather days. She is also a huge fan of Olivia's homemade cookies.

Pointing out the duck picture above the storm drain

It wouldn't be a day without picking up some berries that had fallen from a tree and throwing them in the street.

At the corner of our block there is a big juniper bush and ivy. On the sidewalk just in front is always this really interesting type of beetle. Olivia likes to check them out and usually follows one across the sidewalk until it reaches the street.

This was something new. Olivia got tired as we were getting close to home and she had me stop the stroller so she could crawl into the storage spot underneath. She just barely fit and rode in there the entire way back.