I have found that my kids, especially Mackenzie, are the happiest when they are digging. They will sit in the dirt and just dig. It used to drive me crazy bu then I remembered that I used to do the same thing as a kid and how happy I was digging and being dirty. I love the smell of fresh-dug earth. There is so many things I smell when I smell dirt. There is a natural clean, a youthful innocence, a sensualness toward nature. There is something so basic and simple and yet complex about the smell of dirt.

We grow a lit of our own veggies in the summe rand my kids love to eat out of the garden. They will wlak barefoot through the plants searching for beans and peas, cukes and tomaotes, carrots and radishes.

Mackenzie will pick the basil and parsley and lettuces and stand there and eat them. “Mommy, which leaves can I eat?” I point to her choices and she picks some of each and stands there stands there and munches away almost rabbit-like.

I have introduced my kids to the wonderful taste of zucchini flowers. Connor wan’t too impressed but Mackenzie, who loves edible flowers, ate them happily.

I’m glad that I can deal with my “dirty” kids!