Over the winter....

....last fall's planting in the garden began to take some new growth!

Spinach and lettuce!

The Husband was able to pick this much spinach and lettuce from that new growth last week!

It became salad!

With some roasted chicken strips, dried cranberries, walnuts, and goat cheese - along with oil and vinegar dressing - I had a great lunch.  China is Strawberries and Cream by Villeroy and Boch; flatware is Chateau stainless by Oneida.

We also had this to saute with garlic.

Mixed greens....

....and these for flavoring EVERYTHING!:-)

Wonderful onions!

Currently, the garden space is still to wet to be plowed!:-(  The Husband is really anxious to plant the garden for this season.

I hope you have had a good week-end.  It was a beautiful one here!

Thank you for reading.  I really appreciate your comments.

Third Sunday of Easter....

The Mission Focus for today, as listed in the United Methodist Women Prayer Calendar, is the Red Bird Missionary Conference in Beverly, Kentucky.

May this be a blessed Sunday for each of you.

Birthdays continue....

I believe I have mentioned earlier that we are in the midst of "birthday season" around here.  This week has given us an opportunity to continue celebrating.

Keeping current.:-)

Gourmet cupcakes.  Yum!

 There was another party this week!  This one was for Great Nephew #2!  His birthday actually isn't until June, but he will be traveling in Ireland with family at that time, so it seemed appropriate to celebrate the occasion at this time.  The decorations are picking up on that Irish theme!

Great Nephew #1 celebrates his 15th birthday today!   He says he is looking forward to being able to drive!:-) 

Nephew and the family hadn't been "home" for a year and a half, and it was a really special week to be able to see them.  (Great Nephew #3 was 8 years old in February).

So - we march on ahead to the next birthday!  Time waits for none of us.:-)

Thank you for reading.  I really appreciate your comments.

A favorite past time....

Happy Friday to everyone.  Does it seem that the time passes as quickly for you as it seems to pass for me?

A favorite past time for us when our girls were young was reading.  In addition to the books we had in the house, there were weekly trips to the public library, which resulted in bringing back home a shopping bag full of books every time.  The library staff was always happy to see me come in because they knew I would help their circulation numbers.:-)

There are not many of our own books remaining from those days.  Our oldest daughter was 20 months old when she welcomed her twin sisters, so our books quickly became well-read  - and well-loved.  Here are a few examples.

Sent by a good friend at the birth of City Girl's sisters.

It is missing the back cover!

Also well-loved stories.

Held together by tape.

No front cover or first page.

Thankfully there is a good recap.

No back cover, either!

Well, that's the latest from here.:-)  I hope you have a good Friday!

Thank you for reading.  I really appreciate your comments.

On the wall....

Happy Thursday to you!  Does it seem that the week is passing quickly for you? 

Dogwoods are on my mind these days, so I am going to share with you what is on the walls here.

Work of a local artist.

A gift from a very good friend.

This has been around many years.

By Homer Laughlin.

Another work by a local artist.

Are you able to tell that I like dogwoods?:-)  There is even more!:-)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

                                      

 

 

 

It's Dogwood time....

At this time each year, our area celebrates spring with a Dogwood Arts Festival.  There are usually many activities planned during the month, and there are Dogwood Trails that are designated for their reputation of having beautiful blooming dogwoods and other spring blooms.  Sometimes the weather developments encourage that blooming even before the Festival begins.  This year, however, spring's warmer temperatures have arrived a bit later, and it seems that the Festival opening and the opening of the dogwood blooms have coincided.  While the blooms in our community are not quite open, they are in other parts of the city.

Ever wishing to keep up-to-date with the special seasons, here are some things that help us stay current.:-)

No long sleeves today!

The high temperature is predicted to reach 84 degrees!

This hangs on the washstand rack.

A gift from Munchomom, it is a delicate pink for the dining room.

Purchased from a North Carolina craftsman at the Highlands Festival in Abingdon.

Are stick pins even in style anymore?  I will wear this one, regardless.:-)

The pink ones are very heavy and awkward.:-(  Is it time to send them on?

I send along wishes for a good Wednesday to each of you!

Thank you for reading.  I really appreciate your comments.

Signs of spring....

There are some signs of spring in our area.

Bradford pear trees.

This was the scene on Good Friday as we were on our way to church.  These trees are part of the landscaping at a school in the area.

A pear tree in our yard.

This is not a Bradford pear tree, but an actual tree that hopefully will give us a pear or two this season.:-)

More blooms....

....and others

.....still more.

The Husband is hoping to have a peach or two - maybe even a little apple - from these trees in the next year or two.

Thank you for reading.  I really appreciate your comments.