Cloudy Monday Morning

Jeff is having a great time with Robin. Jeff is going to be leaving there about 9 AM on Monday (today) or so to head back to Stillwater. He isn't going to drive straight through like he did on the way out there, he intends to get into Indiana I guess and spend the night there. He and Robin went to the air museum yesterday after the bike ride, Jeff said that he took a lot of pictures. I am expecting to see him tomorrow afternoon. The pets are going to be happy to see him too.

While Jeff was spending time with Robin, I spent time with Char on Saturday and Vickie on Sunday. Char and I went to see 'Monsters VS Aliens' in 3D. I thought the story was good and the 3D made it even more fun. Char had her motorcycle out for the first ride on Friday when she rode it to work. She reported that it was a bit chilly, but way cool.

photo taken 9/27/08

On Sunday I joined Vickie and Ridley shopping for a dress for Vickie to wear to Katie's Wedding this on this coming Saturday. Ridley just hung out in the stroller and took in the sights.

We only got about 3/4 inch of rain over the weekend. It's better than nothing, we were hoping for more. Today it is wet, windy and cold, so we are taking a rain day. The word on the TV is that it is going to warm up some this afternoon but we won't be seeing 80 again for awhile.

When Jeff returns from his visit with Robin I should have some nice pictures to share with you. I do have a couple he sent this weekend. There is one of Jeff and his son at the Jefferson Monument, but I promised Jeff that I wouldn't publish pictures of him in his bicycle attar with out his permition.

Miss ya

Spring

Hope everyone had a good Earth Day. It was quite a nice spring day, with a wind. Everyday is sort of like Earth Day with my job. (Except the ones that I spray chemicals all over) Oh well, no one’s prefect right!? Actually I put down Preen on our garden in hopes of reducing the amount of maple seedlings that litter the garden. I a few years it was like a blanket. And after 3 days of wonderful spring weather it looks like the rain is headed our way and here all weekend, wet and cold, back to reality. The rain would be good. Guess we will have to take the lower temperatures too. I haven’t put the new plants that I got in the ground yet. They do have sprouts so perhaps I’ll hold on to them and plant them next month.

Jeff is in Bethesda Maryland as of 10:30ish (Central time) Friday night at just under 1100 miles. I talked to him this afternoon before he and Robin hopped on the bikes for an afternoon ride. Tomorrow the plan is to ride into Washington D.C. and get some pictures around the sights of the city. The weather there is going to be very nice this weekend, mic 70's into the 80's and mostly sunny.There is a flowering dogwood in the front yard of the house Robin lives in, Jeff says it’s beautiful. It sounds like it’s quite beautiful there right now with all the different trees and shrubs in bloom. The weather is going to be great too. It looks like it is going to be in the mid 70’s into the 80’s and mostly sunny.

Jeff will be coming back on Monday, but I'm not expecting him home until Tuesday morning. I think they are both enjoying their weekend together.

I'm still working on fine tuning my skills with the camera. I have a long way to go, but I am having fun with it. Think I am going to work with a tripod this weekend.

Gnome is checking out the Bloodroot that is blooming in the garden. And it's tricky to get a good picture of Goldie, she can't hear me when I try to get her attention or when I want her to stay.

I'm looking forward to spending some time with the girls this weekend. Char and I are going to hang out tomorrow and maybe see Montsers Vs. Allians in 3D. And Sunday do some shopping with Vickie and Ridley. And I can sleep in a little laters in the morning.

Have a good weekend.

Easter Season

April 19, 2009


Now that I am back to work the time goes by so fast. It’s going to take me a couple two or four weeks to get used to doing this everyday again. Fortunately the weather has been great. Right now we are all hoping for some rain. It is so dry we get the hose out and started watering the garden. The shrubs seem so be taking quite a while to get started this spring. There are still a lot of things to do in the garden this spring. I just received some woodland wildflowers that I ordered this winter. Virginia Bluebells, Dutchman’s Breeches (cause you can never have enough Dicentra) and Hardy Primrose. I am going to plant them behind the garage where the photo bench is.

There is a client that has property north of Stillwater that is a blaze of blue when the Bluebells bloom, I am going to go there for a few hours to take pictures in a few weeks when they are in bloom.

We didn’t make a big deal about my birthday this year and that was OK. Jeff and I went out for dinner and everyone knows about my birthday camera. I had my first free camera class this Saturday. I did learn quite a bit. I bought a few accessories like a filter and lens hood. He was really pushing the tripod but I didn’t see why I would want to pay over $40.00 for such a thing. I’ll look around to see what I can find. I have recently learned of a place in Forest Lake, (about 20 miles north of Stillwater) called Anderson Iris Garden. I am planning to go there this spring to take pictures and see what they have to sell in the peonies line.

Easter Sunday Jeff made dinner, cheesy potatoes, asparagus, corn, ham with raisin sauce. I don’t know much about raisin sauce, but the Cutler family takes it quite curiously and there can’t be ham without raisin sauce. Bill and Bob (dad) was here as well as Vickie and Josh and their friend (and ours) Laura. Char brought her friend John. Ridley and his parents came right from Josh’s Grandma’s house. It was a long day for them. I did get a Ridley hug and one of his wonderful kisses. Everyone thinks I’m crazy but I will swear that Ridley gives hugs as he snuggles and kisses as he drawls on my cheek.

This week Ridley got his first tooth. Sorry, no picture yet. I’m sure we’ll see one soon. While I was at the camera class, Jeff went to the Minnesota Zoo with Vickie and Ridley. I believe this was his first trip to the zoo. Jeff said they had a great time. Vickie got a pass to the zoo as a birthday gift.

My hand is doing OK. There are some things that are harder on my hand than other things. I used to like weeding but that is one of the things that is very hard on my thumb. I am trying to give it the six months that the therapist told me it would be, but when I need it to do my job and it hurts, it make for a very long day.

Early April on 2nd St.

New Daffodils poking through the garden.


It’s hard to believe that it’s spring when I look out the window and see snow. It isn’t going to be around for long. I am going to go back to work full time tomorrow and am really hoping that it is a bit dryer than it is right now. On Thursday and Friday I spent some time cleaning up our gardens. The piles of leafs were covering the daffodils that are starting to peek through. It's exciting to me. And my hand seems to be holding up pretty well. Yes it hurts, but I feel confident that it is improving and in time it will be a noticable improvement.

Yesterday was the last of two bridal showers I went to for a neighbor girl Vickie grew up with, Katie. She is a sweetheart and we wish her and Drew all the best in their new lives together. The wedding isn’t actually till May 2nd. Kate’s sister, Dorthy and Vickie hosted yesterdays shower; so while Vickie was busy being the charming hostess that she is, I got to hold Ridley (when he wasn’t sleeping in his snugly thing).

Vickie &Ridley talking with Katie and her friend from college.

After the shower Vickie and Ridley gave me a ride back to Stillwater. Grandpa Jeff was waiting for us to arrive and the we had dinner at Ruby Tuesdays. It was a long day and Vickie and Ridley headed back to St. Paul to take care of a sick Daddy. Hope you're feeling better Josh.

Big Blue is back! Jeff has installed new mirrors and saddle bags to the bike. And as we speak he is washing and waxing it. I need to have a little better weather to ride myself. Jeff isn't going far yet either. Still a little chilly, but I know right where the chaps and leather jacket are. By the first week of May the average temperature is 65 degrees.

Keep a eye out for the Easter Gnome.....

Correction

Sorry about the incorrect information I gave you on April Fools Day, it was a mistake. This is the first time Jeff actually killed a deer when he hit it. The last time he grazed it and it ran away. He talked to the folks that are fixing the blazer and I was surprised to hear that the damages were under $4,000.

Looks like we are going to have some sunshine for a few days. I am going to be putting my new thumb to the test some time today in the garden. I have to see what is the easiest way to hold my tools and get some work done. And my garden really is a mess. Spring is here, Easter is around the corner. It's time to get out there and get ready for the fresh season. And enjoy the sunshine.

April Fools

There wasn't really any big surprise today.

Find: 1. nail 2. comb 3. pear 4. wooden shoe 5. clock 6. eye glasses 7. magnifying glass 8. carrot 9. flute 10. Ice skate 11. ring 12. candle

It rained a little. But that's better than snow that was on the ground when we got up this morning.

Yesterday morning was the "start up" meeting for Sarah's Cottage Creations. We went over the rules and what they should bring to work to make their lives a little more comfortable. We will be under way on Monday April 6th.

After the meeting I went to spend my last Tuesday with Ridley. Sure am going to miss our weekly play dates. Don't mean to be selfish, but I really enjoyed time spent when I didn't have to share his attention with anyone else.

In the evening Jeff was driving to New Richmond WI when a deer ran out of the ditch and into the front drivers side. Jeff is alright, but the deer didn't make it and the Blazer is sort of messed up. Jeff is feeling sort of down about the fate of the poor doe. This is the second time in his life that this has happened. Hopefully it will be the last. He should have the truck back by the back of next week and until then he has a loaner. The insurance company is going to be wondering what's going on. First the bike and then the Blazer!

We hope your April gets off to a great start. Think Spring....