4.24.2011

Decorating Eggs

We may not be kids anymore, but Kid Sister and I decided we weren't too old to decorate Easter eggs.


And so last night, while the boys watched the NBA playoffs and stood around the bar in the basement, we commandeered half of the bar for egg decorating.


I have to admit, we were a bit rusty, as neither of us had decorated eggs in years.


But we decided to get a bit creative anyway.

Our finished eggs weren't masterpieces, by any means. But they're festive enough. And it was fun.


I hope your Easter is full of fun and faith and time with friends and family. And perhaps an Easter egg hunt, too.

4.23.2011

Tiptoeing Through the Tulips

Unlike their friends the daffodils, the tulips in the front yard don't think it's absolutely necessary to be among the first flowers to bloom each spring.


Sure, they're excited to make an appearance and to open toward the warm April sun. But they're going to wait until they're good and ready to do so.


Good and ready happened to be, for the most part, last week.

This also happened to be when the rain showers and thunderstorms and tornado warnings settled in. So today was my first opportunity to snap some photos of the trembling tulips as they danced in the breeze.


Most of the tulips in our front yard were planted long before we arrived in our house. They were a pleasant surprise our first spring.

This year, however, I supplemented those tulips with a few bulbs of my own.


Once they bloomed, I realized just how different these bulbs are from the ones that came before.


A little variety is kind of nice, isn't it?


Butter thinks so too.

4.11.2011

Happy Spring (From Butter)


Hey guys. Now that it's spring, I figure you're probably going to want to stop by soon and check out our flowers (and pet me).

So I wanted to let you know that whenever you arrive, I'll be ready and waiting to welcome you at the front door.

Come on in (and pet me).

4.10.2011

Little Pretties

A steady stream of little pretties appeared this week ...


in the palest of pale yellow


and purple


and more purple.

And there's more on the way too ... for months to come. Hooray!

4.09.2011

More Spring Blooms



Not wanting to feel left out, the daffodils by the old mailbox began blooming long before their companions elsewhere in the yard were ready. Can you blame them for being in a hurry?

4.08.2011

Spring Flowers

Rejoice! Spring has sprung in our front yard.

It actually began a couple of weeks ago, with some new buds never before seen on our property.

That's when the first of the smattering of bulbs I planted last fall made an appearance,


starting with the anemones.



Followed closely behind by the giant hyacinth.


And then the crocuses.

Pretty little buds signaling a pretty wonderful start to a new season, wouldn't you say?

4.07.2011

Bringing You Bentley

Booker, the sweet little pooch I introduced you to the other day, wasn't the only four-legged fellow I hung out with on my Idaho-Wyoming adventures.


Bentley was there too--and he wants you to know it.

He's older. And wiser. And exceptionally slobberier. (Yes, I know that's not a word. But if you've ever seen this bulldog drool, you'll understand that he deserves his own word.)


Bentley doesn't move as quickly as Booker, so he couldn't accompany us on our snowshoes like the little guy did. But it didn't stop Bentley from joining us outside on occasion.


Of course, everywhere he goes, he shakes his head and says, mournfully, "Don't hate me because I'm beautiful."

It's a terrible burden, isn't it, Bent?