Sometimes it Rains

In April it rained and snowed and snowed some more.  The rain continued into May...and now into June.  It's been a very rainy weekend...the rest of Billy's baseball tournament was postponed a day, and now delayed two hours.  Seems like a good time to make a little headway in catching up with my photos of the day.  Lots of photos...you might want to grab some coffee!

This little bird feeder / bird bath was filled with rainwater....the picture was taken on May 8th.  The only difference between then and now is that it's hot and humid in between the rainstorms now!

Billy was asked to be the assistant coach for a team of 10 year olds.  It's been a great experience for him and the kids.  And the adult coaches are great with him.  So fun to see the little guys looking up to my little guy!  This was taken after a cold, windy game that the kids lost.  We learn more in losing don't we?

In May we picked up this handsome guy from college...packed up all of his stuff and moved him home.  He got an Associates of Arts Degree and now has some decisions to make about what he'll be focusing on next.  Lots to think about when you're 20 years old and your whole future is in front of you!

We got back from moving Brian home in time to get Billy ready for the Senior Prom and picture taking.  It was cold and windy...I had on a sweater and jacket...but the girls were game for photo after photo.  Billy's date was the girl on the right...as sweet as she is pretty.  He had a fun night.  Blisters on your feet from dancing too much are a good sign of that!

Mother's Day was a cold but sunny day at the Twins game.  Billy was coaching that day, so Brian and our friend Bob joined us for the day.  Bob's first trip to Target Field.  I think he liked it!

There is a tradition in our High School of having an all night party after graduation.  One of the things that they do is have the kids make a life size cardboard cutout of themselves to decorate the hallways.  For Brian we got the cardboard, took a picture of his face, and his boots and then dressed it up in shorts and a T-shirt.  It was a pain in the neck!  This year we had the option of taking a full sized photo to a local drugstore's photo center and having them print it and cut it out...yes!  This is the photo Billy used.  We had to pay extra for them to make it 6'5".  It was worth it...it turned out great!

Look at the background....blue skies!  Middle of May and my crab apple tree was just starting to blossom.  Did I mention that it's been a cold and wet year??

Did I mention that in addition to everything else Billy has been playing soccer this Spring?  My washer and dryer have been getting a workout.

What a difference a day makes...the crab apple blossoms burst open over night.

They are even pretty in the rain.  Did I mention that we've been getting a lot of rain??  :-)

Our old dog doesn't mind the rain...or the cold water in the river.  She went from lethargic to all peppy in an instant when she realized where we were!  Splash!

In my last post I mentioned that we had just hosted a graduation party for Billy.  It took a lot of prep time.  One of the things I did was plant flowers.  We had such an odd spring with the late snows I wasn't sure if I was early or late in getting my flowers.  I still don't know.  Anyway, I made several trips to a few different places to find what I wanted...and because my car wouldn't hold everything at once.  And even with making several trips I got the "oh, you're going to be busy" comments.  If they only knew.  But they didn't and I think that was probably best!  I planted reds and whites this year to match the school colors.  This picture of the Gerbera daisies was taken before I got them planted.  It was a challenge with the rain!

But look...more blue sky as the pink blossoms faded to white.

I know that the picture quality of this isn't good...it was taken through the window and the screen...but how exciting to have an indigo bunting in my backyard!

The lilacs finally bloomed in late May.  They are so pretty and I love how they smell!  Did you know that if you hit the cut stem with a hammer to crush it a bit they take up more water and last longer?  Try it next time!

Look...shorts...a warm day!  Billy coaching first giving the "fist bump" for a job well done.

I took a little time one day and went to the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.  So many beautiful tulips!  I plan on spending more time there now that things have slowed down a bit around here.

This little planter was left in our garden when we moved here...there are two of them and I think they are so cute!  Some of my red flowers.  This little spot now has fresh mulch and looks a lot better.  Part of the party prep...yard work!

Eric was away on a business trip over Memorial weekend, but the boys and I spent some time at the cabin and on the farm without him!  It was good to see my horses...and they were happy to see some green grass after the long winter!

Horses don't miss much...I'm not sure what he spotted off in the distance but he was keeping an eye on it!

My mom has a red trillium in her back yard....isn't it pretty?

My mom has a big variety of lilacs...I took a lot of pictures of them.  I took home a big bouquet from the bush at my grandma's old farm.  And then I took a picture of one in front of a picture of one on my computer screen.  I know, I think I need a vacation!

The bleeding hearts were blooming in my garden...and still are almost month later.  I guess they like cold and wet weather.

And with that, we are caught up through May.  A cosmos....after the rain.  Of course.

Hoping for sunnier days ahead.  Thanks for stopping by!

Missing

 I've been missing.  Missing in action.  Missing my blog.  This photo was taken several moons ago...

But a little bird told me that it's time to catch up and get to blogging again!

Don't worry...the cat didn't catch the canary!

The last time I blogged Spring was just trying to emerge.

Summer took a long time to get here.  It's been cold and wet.  Wet and cold.  Either way it hasn't been very summery.  Tulips on the table help.

A red squirrel in the rain.

The first part of May brought some sad times to our city...a 24 year old woman went missing in a park very close to our house.  She was last seen with her former boyfriend who committed suicide when called into the police station for questioning.  The news helicopters were hovering over the park and around our house for a few days.  Seven weeks have passed...they still haven't found her.  I don't like to blog about things like that...but it was so close to home and made me realize that it can happen anywhere.  Many prayers have been said for her family.

On a lighter note...it's been so cold and rainy here that we've had a duck in our backyard.  Quack.

The cat burrows into the covers and sleeps as much as possible.  I can't say that I blame her.

Way back in May Billy did the sermon / message for church.  It was in honor of Youth Sunday.  He did really well...we were pretty proud of the kid!

Since then, Billy has graduated from High School, we've had his graduation party and now summer baseball has started.

Graduation parties mean that all of those projects that have been put off since the last party have to get done.  In other words, it was a lot of work!  We survived.  More on the party next time.  For now I'll just say that I'll try not to be missing again for so long.  I've missed my little spot on the internet!

I'll leave you with a cell phone photo of a sunset on the golf course.  Ahhh...it feels good to be back.

Is it Spring Yet?

It's another happy April to every happy fool....

The start of Greg Brown's song "Sleeper".   It seems appropriate for this April.  The fools that we are to think that it's springtime in Minnesota.  April is supposed to be a time of hope, a time of new growth, a time of warmer days heading into summer.  Not this year.  It's been cold, wet, snowy, and unending winter.  But there is hope around the corner.  Temps predicted to be in the 70's this weekend.  At long last.

The cat is tired of the weather, she's stolen my chair for her all day naps.

The female cardinal isn't amused with the rain.

The red squirrel has to dig to get at the fallen bird seed.

The chickadees don't know which song to sing.

The chipmunk has found a home in the tail of a giant squirrel chiminea.

And the male cardinal is soaking up the morning sun...because you just don't know how long it will be shining anymore.

Seventy degrees this weekend...I think everyone is ready for it!  Bring it on mother nature, bring it!  We can handle the sunshine!

Crabby Cardinal

It snowed yesterday. A lot.  Almost a foot.  It's April, average high is almost 60 degrees now.  We've been running about 20 degrees below normal.  And it's been either raining or snowing almost every day this month.  I think that's why this cardinal is crabby.

I know it's getting to me too.  Come on sunshine, warm days and Spring...we've been waiting five-ever.

March Part 2 and April So Far

It seems like it's just a blink of an eye and I'm way behind on posting pictures on my blog.  So today, pictures it is.  A long post with lots and lots of pictures so I won't talk much.  It's better that way.

In March we were hoping that Spring was just right around the corner.  It wasn't.  Here is is April 18th and it's snowing like crazy.  It makes me appreciate the spring flowers that I had in my "Watch 'Em Grow" pot more than ever.  I wish I had some blooming now.  In my garden.  Sigh.  Daffodils.

Gotta love yellow daffodils!

The birds like to rest in this tree on their way to the bird feeder.  Hello Mr. Cardinal.

Back to the "Watch 'em Grow" pot.  I think that these are grape hyacinths...not sure but they are pretty.

A bigger view of what is blooming.

Brian was home for spring break.  He was pretty proud of his Good Will suit coat...as he should be.  I like it best when both boys are home...even though they are both technically men now.  Sigh.

"Watch 'em Grow" tulips.  More color...Yay.

Molly...I love this picture of her...not sure why but I do.

Back to the tulips.

Colorful daisies purchased by Billy.  Can't have enough color.

I took a quick trip to Como Park Conservatory.  Big crowds the Friday before Easter.  I did get this shot without people in it though.  It's such a happy and hope inspiring place on a cold day.

A bouquet of tulips.  The pretty black background happened because I hadn't put my winter coat away...I like it.

Easter weekend at the farm.  My boys are wondering if Spring will ever come too.

Winter has been tough on little old Tish...don't worry sweetie...spring has to come eventually.

Back home to the tulips.

We went to a Twins game on an almost warm day...got to see one of my favorites Tori Hunter...he had the wrong uniform on though.  Excuse me Twins...if they are one of my favorites you should keep them.  Just saying.

Christmas cactus blooming for Easter.  Does that make it an Easter cactus?

Poor little bunny trying to get out of the rain.    

Gold finch in the cold rain.  Wonder what happened to the drought and global warming?

Oh my goodness...a sunny day.  Feels pretty darned good doesn't Czar?

A junco on another cloudy day.

My little garden boy is ready to get busy in the garden!

Maybe not...what a difference a day makes.

And it just kept snowing....April 11th blizzard.

Back to the flowers inside.

Cold and damp and wet junco.

Yep...inside is better.

We did have a cedar waxwing in our tree though...along with dozens of Robins.  I want to buy them some worms....poor birds.

Molly wants to put them out of their misery...I know, it's mean, she's inside...but it's what cats are born to do.

Another day another snowstorm.  I think I'm going to go back to bed until summer arrives.  You won't know though, because I'm the worlds most sporadic blogger.

I appreciate you stopping by though!  I hope summer has arrived in your neck of the woods!