Summer in April

April went from 50 degree weather to 100 degrees almost overnight. We've been eating dinner out on the patio most evenings since the weather heated up. We've been enjoying popsicles for dessert to cool us off.

Scooter Explores the Outdoors

It got hot enough to let Scooter go outside. He explored a few flowers & shrubs rooting in the mulch. He seemed to enjoy it even if he was awakened early. Hedgehogs are nocturnal, but if we took him out after dark we might lose him.

Engagement Photos

I did a photo session for Patrick Hockaday and his bride-to-be, Teresa Newton. They have about 50 photos to choose from. The day of the shoot, it was 100 degrees outside so we tried to keep it brief and in the shade.

Irrigation

Devin took this shot from his bedroom window. You can see that Dwayne has the yard dug up with trenches. He was running water for sprinklers to the flowerbeds. It's so nice that he's done with classes and has time to do projects around the house & yard now.

Lacrosse

Devin really enjoys lacrosse and is starting to feel more comfortable in the games. Their team started out the year short on players due to injuries & illness (Derrik's knee for one). As the season has progressed, there has been an inordinate amount of injuries. They had to forfeit their last game in the 2nd quarter, because they sent two to the hospital during the game and there weren't enough left to play. They hope to postpone their next game and have sufficient players next week.
Devin has the ball in his pocket (that's what you call the net in the lacrosse stick head).

Carie's Birthday

I took a balloon and tied it on the bouquet in honor of Carie's 38th birthday.

Tree Removal

We removed seven large pine trees from our side yard. Dwayne was gone away to school, so he escaped the hard labor. Farley felled the trees and Margaret Ann, the boys & I loaded them on the trailer to take to the landfill to be mulched.

The bad thing was that Farley, Margaret Ann & I all had bad colds and weren't very energetic, Derrik isn't fully functional with his knee and Devin was in the ER that morning with some strange & painful gastric attack, so he was a bit out of it from the medication. Despite none of us being in tiptop condition, the job got done.

My 43rd Birthday

Dwayne made me a wonderful birthday dinner of Tuscan chicken cakes drizzled with golden aoli and topped with a tomato relish. The sides were cheese tortellini, asparagus with goat cheese and fruit salad with yogurt dressing. For dessert, we had key lime cheesecake from Costco which is pretty tasty.

I got an eggplant colored office chair in this big box to put in my home office. Devin assembled it for me and I am sitting in it as I post this blog. It's very comfortable.

I got a nice assortment of scrapbooking papers. I look forward to using them!

It was a fun day and I appreciate all that everyone did to make my day special.

Easter

We had an unusual Easter dinner of steaks & baked potatoes, but it was delicious.

Trout Fishing

It was a lovely day of fishing until the game warden showed up. A fishing license & a trout license are required for anyone over the age of sixteen. Dwayne thought he had bought both for him & Derrik when he got the licenses online. Unfortunately, he clicked too quick and didn't notice that he didn't get the trout license for Derrik--the game warden noticed. He gave Derrik an official warning.

They caught a bucket full of fish, but didn't get their quota before we had to leave.

Auction Projects

Each year the school holds an auction with donated items and class projects. Derrik & Devin each worked on these falcons in their art class. Derrik & a few other fellow juniors painted the one inspired by Van Gogh's Starry Night. Devin & a few other freshmen painted the one inspired by Katsushika Hokusai's Tsunami Wave. Over $200,000 was raised at the auction! Pretty amazing!

Envelope Books

Some of my co-workers wanted me to teach them how to make envelope books. They bought their own supplies and came over after work one evening.

This is Kris with her mostly finished project. She just needs to add her journaling.

Annette, Laurie & Kris around the dining room table.