Family Time

A quick visit to B Ham rounded out my visit home: N introduced me to T, his good friend, and I snapped a photo:

We had dinner at M & ME's new house, and were forced to look at this view, say "aaahhh . . ."

And watch the sunset, say, "OOOOOHHHH. . . . "

And a little photo shoot:

Catching up in person with my son was the major reason for this trip.  It's always good.

Home Visit

I'm home for a week to visit my friends, my son, my house, and do a little business.  It feels good.  The weather has been beautiful, so J and I went for a walk at the Beaver Lake trail.

It's wonderful being in the woods, finding trillium blooming, and seeing a beaver lodge at the side of the lake.

Flowers are blooming in my yard:

Camillias

Evergreen Clematis -- the scent is overwhelming

Pink Magnolia

I'm fitting in a Seattle Rep performance and a Mariner's game.  It's nice to be home.

Here's J & J & M & GmaLaLa.  It started out sunny, then the roof closed, and it got very cold.  The M's had an off game.  Oh well, it's great to be with friends.

Miss C Walking

Here she is!

Miss C and I have just watched this post, and she squeals and smiles from ear to ear watching herself.

WALKING

Miss C is really walking, and wants to walk and walk and walk.  She's a little wobbly, and is falling, but wants to go and go.  Today, she even wanted down to walk instead of reading a book.  . . . .  Life is changing as we know it, especially for Gma LaLa.

I'll do a video tomorrow after I mail my taxes.  I have been paralyzed and unable to think about anything else . . . . why do I procrastinate?  Oh well, good old Turbo Tax helped me through it, and they go in the mail in the morning.

The other happening is that I've been going for acupuncture treatments.  A couple weeks ago, after working too hard in the garden, moving heavy bags of dirt, I tweaked my back, and had pain like never before.  After a week of ouch, I made the appointment, and feel much better after two treatments.  Stretch, watch the posture, stretch, lift with the knees. . . . you know the drill.

GROW

Miss C and I planted seeds, and have been talking to them A LOT -- well, especially Miss C.  (She talks a lot!)  "Grow, grow!"  We have tomato starts setting their first real leaves!

And we have an Easter Basket with real grass. . . . 

And Miss C is showing you the zucchini plants -- also with their first true leaves.  Beans are growing as are basil plants, lemon cucumber,  lettuce and chard.  We now must "harden them off" so that they will survive outside.  

Rainbow

It's sunny today, and Miss C enjoys looking at the rainbows cast from the crystal hanging in Gma La La's window.  "Rainbow, rainbow."

Flower Show

Philadelphia has the largest and oldest flower show in the country, and it was my pleasure to attend a few weeks ago.  When the world outside looks like winter will never end, the smell of a flower show lifts the spirit.

The theme this year was Italy, and the feeling was of being transported across the Atlantic.

Shoes made of flowers and seeds.

An Italian kitchen garden

A prize winning display.  The light boxes were full of water bottles, each with a stem of a yellow flower.  Some had vines going up the structures.  Magical!

Ah, to be in Tuscany

One of the lectures was on starting plants from seed, so I got inspired.  My room is full of baby plants, and most of the seeds have germinated.  Now to tend them until it's safely warm enough overnight to put them in the ground outside.  

Last weekend Miss C, Mrs T, and I worked in the yard.  We dug up a spot for a little "square foot garden" for vegetables, and put in a few strawberry plants.  

The timing of things is very different here in the garden.  I'll have to watch and wait.  Helebores that bloom in January on the Left Hand coast are just blooming now in late March along with daffodils and crocus.  

Miss C loves being outside, holding your hand and walking along the grass, and she loves "the purples," crocus flowers that are growing in clumps.  Don't you love "purples," too?