March madness

The weather has settled back to something less midsummery and more early spring-like, but it was still quite pleasant to be out of doors today, and a comfortable temperature for doing a few chores around the yard.

We bought a new power hose attachment, which made washing the car quite fun (inevitably at some point the kids turned the jets on each other).  Then we decided to turn the hose on the house.  Modern American suburban houses are flimsy things made out of chipboard covered by "vinyl siding" - pretend wooden slats.  In effect we have a plastic house.   It has become a bit grubby during our years in it.  Squirting it with a hose proved to be moderately effective, but what it really needs is a good wipe over with a damp cloth.  We'll have to get a longer ladder, but for today I did the parts I could reach.  So weird, though, washing a house.

The kids have also been outside having fun.  They have discovered basketball - the Girl is doing a unit on it in PE.  This year, for the first time, they are both tall enough to make use of the hoop that came with the house, so there's been a lot of thump-thump-thumping of the heavy basketball as they bounce it on the driveway.