Inspiration

Today started like so many school days lately.
We slept late -- took our time getting started.
The kids milled around in the back yard under the sun's early rays while I touched base with the newspaper and showered.



When it felt like it was time to start school no one was interested. This us usual these days, too.
They wanted to play.
I wanted to tackle one of 150 projects around the house that need my attention before we leave for vacation next week.
Ditching school was not an option today. We have too much to get through before spring break.

This left me with a nagging question: How on earth was I going to get us motivated?

Then, motivation landed quite literally right on top of us.

A red-bellied woodpecker set up camp in a high crotch of our favorite shade tree and started hammering away.

By the time I reached the backyard with my camera, he had pecked away a bare spot from the bark and was showering Lili, Calvin and Henry with glimmering flakes of sawdust as they sat two stories beneath him, gawking and craning to spy him against the brilliant sky.

The observation led to bird-feeder construction, nature guide brandishing and a request for woodpecker crafts.

We went with it and then tackled the math, reading and spelling that was required of the day, and that was that.

Thank goodness for the woodpecker.

 I don't know what we would have done today without him.