Spring and All

It's been a busy few weeks around here.  Sometimes I don't know what we've been so busy doing, but I do know that I haven't had much time to upload pictures and blog about them....so I must be busy, right?  I try to stop and smell the flowers though, even if they are in the trees.

 Our flowering crab apple or flowering whatever tree...because I don't really know what it is...has been pretty this year in spite of the weather.  Warm, almost hot in March, now back to "normal" April temperatures...that seem really cold since it had been so warm...some snow, some hail, some cold rain, but the blossoms were still beautiful.  And the smell nice too!

The next picture explains some of the "busy" ness that we've been experiencing around here.  Baseball season has begun for Billy.  There are usually 3 or 4 games a week.  I love watching and taking pictures at the games.

 But that means a lot of time getting to the games, being at the games, and then looking over the pictures after the games.  Oh, and laundry too.  The kid gets dirty.  But I love it.

On the off days I try to catch up, and smell the flowers again.

Heading to the field on a Saturday afternoon for a double header.  I am going to miss these days when he's done playing.

 "Sometimes it rains."  Do you know which movie that quote came from?  I'll post the rest of it in a little bit.  We had a very rainy Sunday here last week, almost 2" of rain and some hail.  It was a good day to be inside.

No games on Monday because things were too wet, there was time to smell the lilacs.

The Monday game was played on Tuesday though...on an all turf field.  It was a little strange.  It wasn't because of the rain, that school plays on the turf all the time.

They were back on their home field in the dirt on Wednesday.  I loved the action in this photo, and the American flag in the background.  Oh, I kinda like the catcher too.

On Thursday the boys played in the cold rain.  42 degrees, windy and a steady rain.  Brrr.  Getting the win helped though.
Here's the full quote from before. "This is a very simple game. You throw the ball, you catch the ball, you hit the ball. Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, sometimes it rains."  From the movie Bull Durham.  One of my favorites.  I think I might have to watch it again the next time it rains.

On Friday we switched out of baseball mode and into music mode.  I took a quick shot of my tulips on the kitchen table...

...then we went to see Greg Brown and Bo Ramsey at the Cedar Cultural Center in Mpls.  I snapped a photo with my phone.  Poor picture, but an amazing show.  18 songs, the boys were rocking.

On Saturday we headed down to Winona to see Brian and to go to another Greg Brown concert there.  There was a music festival at Winona State University where Brian goes to school...seeing Brian and Greg Brown at the same time seemed like a great idea.  It was!  

We enjoyed the show with Brian...what a difference a camera makes....we enjoyed going out to dinner afterwards.

 And we enjoyed going out for breakfast with Brian on Sunday morning.  This is a rock formation in Winona that you can see from pretty much everywhere.  The photo was taken from the Perkins parking lot.

What I didn't enjoy was saying good-bye to Brian when it was time to leave.  Knowing that he'll be home in less than two weeks did help though.  I like it best when my family is all under one roof!  The whole "empty nest" thing isn't something I look forward to!

I hope that your spring days are full of hope, fun and green grass!  Thanks for stopping by.

April 23, 2011:  No Blog Post & Photo of the Day

April 23, 2010:  Out Front and a Curve Ball & Photo of the Day

April 23, 2009:  A Phone and a Flower & Photo of the Day

April Sunshine

Maybe my title should be March and April sunshine....since I haven't posted since last month.  I need an assistant.  Or some organization.  Or something.  But I do have my photos from the last couple of weeks...so here ya go.

Delphiniums in my front yard.  With the warm March everything is about a month early.  Unfortunately April has brought us more normal temperatures.  It froze last night.  I'm happy that my delphiniums survived.

 Eric got a new grill.  When you've been married a long time like we have, things need to be replaced...like the grill.  He got it assembled with no extra parts.  That's a good thing!  So far we've had chicken, steak and chicken kabobs, and rib eyes.  I'm liking the grill!

The squirrels around here eat well too.  Look at this cheeky little bugger giving me the stink eye.  That's usually when I let the dog out and they both get a little exercise.

Molly likes to spend time outside looking for varmints.  Squirrels are a little bigger than her normal prey.

I bought myself some orange tulips last week...they were so beautiful!  And they lasted for a long time.  I love tulips, especially in the spring.

 Such a yummy color.

With the weather cooling off, I was happy to have something so vibrant inside.

I'm happiest when I have tulips on my kitchen table.

The little azalea bush in the front yard has been blooming.  Hopefully they won't freeze tonight.

Eric and I spent an evening at my mom's.  This is one of the paintings that she has in her hallway, a copy of a Renoir....so pretty.

From my mom's we headed out for a mini spring break vacation.  We made the reservations in Wisconsin Dells when the weather was in the 70's, thinking it would stay warm and be a nice time to get in a few rounds of golf.  Our first day the temps got almost to 50 degrees...with a windchill of 45.  Ugh.  We golfed in Bloomer Wisconsin. The sun was out though, that helped.

The next day was a little warmer, getting up to almost 60 degrees.  We golfed at the Christmas Mountain Village in Wisconsin Dells.  The course was in nice shape, especially considering how early in the year it is.

Our last day there was colder yet, 36 degrees when we teed off.  We golfed at the Wild Rock Golf course.  Fancy, expensive course but we got an off-season rate so it wasn't too bad.  My biggest complaint about the course was that there were no bathrooms from after the 4th hole until about the 15th.  Not good for a coffee drinker.  We did see a pair of Sand hill cranes though, that was fun!

We came home to find our crab apple tree in full bloom.  So pretty.  It survived the freezing temps last night too.

Then it was a trip to the farm for Easter.  We watched the big orange moon come up on Saturday night.

Easter was a full day with breakfast at Eric's parents house, then church, then a feast at my mom's.  I took a little walk in the woods after we ate to find the hepaticas in bloom.  One of my favorite wildflowers.  How does something so delicate survive the winter and bloom every spring.  One of many miracles to ponder this time of year.

I hope that your Easter was full of family and friends and the promise that the day brings.  Thanks for stopping by.

April 10, 2011: No Blog Post & Photo of the Day

April 10, 2010: No Blog Post & Photo of the Day

April 10, 2009: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly & Photo of the Day

March Photos

When I look at this picture of the little junco in the snow it seems like it was taken SO long ago.  Sure, it was 2 1/2 weeks ago, but our scenery has changed so much from then!  

We went from slushy snow to green grass and budding trees almost overnight.  I haven't been very good about taking note of the things I'm grateful for, so I'm just doing one to cover the last few weeks.  I'm grateful for the weather.  Beautiful early spring, a record of 8 days over 70 degrees in March...in Minnesota...and it's only the 24th.  Ahhh.

 We went to the boys High School Hockey State Tournament earlier this month.  Some good games, some chippy games, but it's always fun.  I think it was warmer outside than in the hockey arena.

 Between periods of some games they bring out the "little chippers"  Peewee hockey players sponsored by a local potato chip company.  They are so cute...and it was fun to see so many with pony tails this year. Go Girls!  The hockey pictures are cell phone photos, I didn't feel like bringing the real camera to the games.

 The birds have been singing with the return of spring.  The robins have been back for a few weeks.  The finches are starting to turn into their pretty colors.

 We took a quick trip to the farm on a Sunday.  There was still snow on the hills on March 11th.  The horses were soaking up the sun.

 Someone is looking at you!

 I bought myself some spring flowers at the grocery store.  Yellow gerbera daisy and white daisies.

 Brian was home for spring break.  It was so good to have him home.  His freshman year is speeding by...for us anyway!  Time moves slower when you are in your teens.  He'll be done with his first year in less than 6 weeks.

 I switched my flowers from one big vase to two ball jars.  That way I can have flowers in more rooms.  I like that!

I bought some lilies last week...a celebration for another 5 lbs gone.  Pounds gone, fragrant flowers on my table.  Win win.  Celebrating little victories.

 I took another trip to the farm last week, the horses had an appointment with the farrier.  We are fortunate to have a good farrier in the neighborhood now.  Skylar's hooves grow crazy fast.  My horses get regular pedicures, I've never had one.  Things that make you go hmmmmm.

 On Saturday we were took a few minutes to enjoy watching the eagles on the river.  There were 15 eagles in one spot!  Some mature adults with their bald heads and white tails, some mottled brown, some were smaller.  Nice to see that they are making such a comeback.

 On Sunday we took a trip to Winona to bring Brian back to school.  The sun set behind us, I took a photo of it in the rear view mirror.  I miss having him at home!

 Here's some proof of the warm weather...leaves budding on my lilac bush.

 The gerbera still blooming but starting to wilt.

 I made myself some jewelry last week.  Dragonfly earrings and a bracelet for spring.

 A molting gold finch on a wet, rainy day.

 I tossed the gerbera, but the daisies still look nice.  I have this bouquet in my office to brighten the room.  When you crop things the right way the stacks of papers don't show.

 Baseball try-outs for Billy were last week...it's nerve wracking for all of us...but they are done, he made it, and we are looking forward to baseball this spring!

 And with that, I think I'm all caught up...until next time.  Thanks for stopping by.  Hope you are having a Happy Spring!

March 24, 2011: Winter Returns & Photo of the Day

March 24, 2010: Out Front Part 2 & Photo of the Day 

March 24, 2009: Climbing Mountains & Photo of the Day 

Springy

Springy...how else can you describe an early March day in Minnesota where the temperatures are in the upper 50's?  59 degrees in Minneapolis!  We still have some snow on the ground, but another day or two like this and that will be long gone.  Come on spring!

Last week I mentioned that Billy had been going to his friend Maverick's swim meets.  On Saturday he went to the State Meet finals.  His friend won one individual race, took 2nd in another race and his team placed first in two relays.  Our school won the meet by over 100 points.  Crazy.  Here is one of the signs that Billy brought.

Here are all the signs.  They must be why the team did so well. Really.  Or not.  Billy had fun with it anyway!

While Billy was at the swim meet Eric and I went shopping and then out to dinner.  An actual date.

Our shopping trip was to Toys R' Us.  We haven't been there in quite a few years....but see, this little sweetie Avery was having a birthday party and we had to find something fun.  We weren't the ones that got her the scooter...we got her a little golf set.  Hopefully she'll like it as much as the scooter!

She is as cute and as precious as her mom was at that age.

I was a little busy with work stuff on Monday, didn't have time to pick up the house before the cable guy came to fix our cable woes.  I'm sure that he's seen worse, but I hate it when people are working in the house and it looks like a bunch of animals live here.

I'm grateful that it's fixed though.  We pay so much for the service that the TV's and Internet and phone had better be working.  We sure took it for granted when TV reception was free.  Progress?

Back to the spring like warm day here today.  The cat found her favorite spot in the sun on Billy's unmade bed to take a nap in the sun.  He says he doesn't like to make his bed because the cat likes to make a nest in the bunched up covers.  True...but it's just one of the reasons it does look like a bunch of animals live here.

It's warm out and the sun is shining...sounds like a pretty good reason not to sweat the small stuff.

And cable guy...you're right...a bunch of animals do live here!  I'm just the zoo keeper.  Hope you are enjoying a warm day where you are!  Thanks for stopping by.

March 6, 2011:  Hello March & Photo of the Day

March 6, 2010:  Molly & Photo of the Day

March 6, 2009: My Rocket Boys & Photo of the Day