Easter week

 Lots to do to prepare the church for Holy Week (one friend called it holy terror week) Got everything ready for Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services. Both are very meaningful...we must remember the bad before we get to the good part on Easter Sunday. Well despite the cold the plants are emerging. I thought I had done in my jade plant (the little man) when I let half of him freeze

Isn't that awful?

 

but on closer inspection...he is putting out new leaves all over!

 

Mom will recognize this harbinger of spring. It is a trillium. Moved from our old house on Riverwood. This lone plant comes up every year. I'll post it's pic when it blooms

 

had a scant few azaleas this year...not sure why so few..I'm no gardener

 

this is another spring favorite...Mahonia berries...they are such an aggressive little shrub with all those thorny leaves, but their yellow blooms and purple berries are spectacular

 

One last sign of spring...Mary Grace bought Truffles a new bright pink collar...she is so proud

 

      And Mary Grace is moving into a new house tomorrow. What an exciting new chapter. More on

      that later.

 

 

Spring?

So the first day of spring was March 20th. Then why is it so cold? Pepper (devil cat) is running from window to window watching the little finches outside eating the little seeds that are falling from our elm trees. We have also had beautiful flocks of cedar waxwings that have come through filling up on berries. So pretty...when Jan and I were walking one day we looked up and saw an entire tree filled with them. From underneath they are a beautiful green exactly the color of the new growth of the tree. It was amazing. They looked like little moving, twittering leaves. Speaking of green....

Amy (my friend Amy) and I had these fabulous zucchini beignets at Anjou. Crunchy on the outside tender and tasty on the inside with a feta cheese dip.

 

So I finally finished the latest Stephen King book, 11-22-63. I assume its the latest. He writes one a month I think. Candy accuses him of getting paid by the page. Haven't read one of his in a while but I must admit I really enjoyed it. The guy can write a story and you just can't help but believe that this stuff really could happen. So it was a satisfying if long read. Now I'm ready for something a little deeper and I don't mean in inches! I have a couple of candidates on my reading table.

 

Organic farm

One more little note on the mountain trip...we found a really great organic farm. They had cows, chickens, bunnies and the best part (for me) was this...

 

a pile of cute piggies

 

 

You were supposed to be able to pet them but they were a bit shy. That polka-dotted one came out and almost let me touch him. We bought some raw milk and fabulously fresh, not to mention beautiful eggs . We had them for binner (breakfast for dinner)  Candy brought home another dozen for me and here they are...

 

 

 

ok ready for a little wierdness? Jan and I were out walking in the hood this morning and look at what we saw....talk about walking dead...yikes

 

this poor little guy was lying by the mailbox waiting for the trash! I wanted to take him home but Jan refused to walk him home, besides you can't be too careful with zombies anyway





Mountains

So, the mountains of North Georgia are beautiful. Left Madison at 6:00 am Saturday with friend Candy, god daughter Lucy and her friend Grace. Mary Grace and Ryan went separately in his truck. Got to the cutest little town, Blue Ridge, GA. They really don't mind getting a laugh on themselves and the hillbilly stereotype. I saw one T-shirt which read - If you hear banjo music , paddle faster. Way too many stories to tell in one blog so I'll just post a few pics.

 

The cabin

 

The firebug

 

Inside, very warm

 

This lake was very green ..never found out why

 

Candy and Lucy

 

Ryan and Mary Grace

 

I look like I have been in the woods for days

 

 

Long ride home. Anyone who knows Mary Grace must recognize that blanket. Uhhh. Yes Gunky came on the trip













 

Spring sun

What a gorgeous day - sunny and cold - just like I like it. Here is Toby enjoying the sunny deck.

Doesn't he look like a wild beast in this one?

 

Look at this great vase I got for $6.99. Of course it came from my favorite, TJ Maxx. I put the Ball jar there for size.

 

times running out

Ok maybe that title is a little mean, but here goes. I have posted pics of some of the animals, but here is one you haven't seen. This is Beau. AKA Bo Bo, Beauregard, the Biscuit and even Mary Grace's boyfriend. He is 18 years old so I felt like I needed to post his pic. Sophie has said he is on borrowed time for years. He is so sweet and I can remember Ed bringing him home in his hunting jacket pocket. His muzzle and ears used to be black. He also had one white foot. How can you tell on a beige dog? He is what some people call a feist dog. That means he is a squirrel dog. However in the suburbs a dog should not bark so I trained him to tree them silently. I never let Ed take him hunting because I was worried he would get lost. Oh well here he is. AKA der Boder

he's watching...

Ahhh! how scary is this?

 

In stores now! Sophie hates these things. I'm not sure if its the googly eyes or the cheap chocolate. I know I love them. I love to bite off their little ears. When we were kids I always gobbled up my basket contents immediately. My sister Linda could make hers last until Christmas. urrr  It drove Jan and I nuts. In retrospect she probably was like Sophie, more refined palate. Now that the kids are (mostly) grown up I have to satisfy my Easter basket fix by making them for a children's shelter. Must get on that. 

March wind

Well the wind is howling outside like a lion. But Truffles and I are warm inside. Although we spent a while out there and she loved it.

 The temperature is rising rapidly. It will go from 30 degrees to 70 this afternoon! I thought Ed was crazy when he left in a short sleeved polo this morning, but he was right. Just separated the Sunday church flowers from Broadmeadow into four arrangements. Mom and I will deliver them to some people who can use a little cheer.

How cold is it?

It is so cold that I am wearing (albeit thin by most standards) a sweater in the house. Anyone who knows me knows that this could mean snow and ice. I even persuaded Ed to order another small load of firewood. It would be a shame not to have a fire on the coldest day of winter. This also helps.

 

Had a treat this morning. Got to walk with sister Jan, as usual but this was special. Delightful niece Cary came with us. How great is that. She and David are staying with Jan and Tommy while waiting to move to their new house. Yay for us! We solved all the world's problems and even discussed getting to see Ashley while she is in town. More fun.