Picking Flowers

Clara spends a lot of time in the front yard picking flowers.  I have two beds in which I plant annuals, usually just mums in the fall and begonias in the spring.  This year I did put in some vinkas, and I might even plant pansies after the frost so that we'll have something all year. 

Clara's favorite thing to do is to pick the flowers and hand them to me.  I am hoping she will know that the little seedlings I plant in the spring are more fragile than the overgrown vinkas, but I'm not optimistic. 

Here she is in action.

Her second favorite activity is to steal my keys (see picture immediately above).  Every toddler seems to love keys.  My mom got her a special set of toddler keys, but no, she wants mine. 

I feel like I should explain the pearls.  My mom found that strand of fake pearls that I've had since--I don't know--1991? in my desk at home.  Clara loves to pull at my jewelry, so I thought maybe some jewelry of her own would distract her.  And even though those pearls are fake, they are individually knotted so they are toddler safe-ish.  She loves to wear them, even though they do look a little ridiculous!  I do get her to take them off before we go anywhere.