Spring is blooming

Well, after our little cold snap at the end of winter, we are finally back to Spring.  I took Pablo out to the park and we got to see Spring in bloom

 daffodils in the undergrowth.

This is wicked looking tree trunk.  I can not figure out what caused it to grow like this.  Isn't it cool?

A close up of the spiral.  It almost looks like a snake all coiled up.

More daffodils.

the squirrels were out everywhere at the park. Pablo was going nuts trying to get to them.  This one sat up in the tree and just chattered at Pablo- almost like laughing at him.

Even the turtles were happy to be sunning themselves on the log in the pond. 

And finally, my new glasses.  This is where I must confess to Falco that I lost my nerve again.  I went with tried and true instead of branching out and doing what I really wanted to do.  I need to put the pink bandana in a prominent place so I am reminded that it is OK to be bold.

that's all for today.

Love and hugs,

Deb

Wacky weather and the circus

Saturday we went out with friends to see the circus.  Since Rocket has been home, this has been one of my favorite things to do.  Unfortunately, this is the last year.  Not because Rocket is growing up, but because the circus is closing in May.  I am so sad- this something from my childhood that I love sharing with Rocket. 

I am so glad we got to go again this year.  I was pretty emotional through the entire circus.  I really wanted the audience to give them a standing ovation at the end, but people just got up and walked out.  The end of an era. 

 

Picking up clown noses before the show.

watching the pre-show activities on the floor.  We were watching some of the clowns and then the BMX bikers came out.  In the far back were jugglers and acrobats.

Beside us, there was an area to get pictures with some of performers.  I was the only one who was bold enough (from our group) to get a picture.  Come to find out later, this lady gets shot out of cannon- COOL.  she is my hero.

the bikers jumping over the kids

I realized early on that my iphone sucks at taking photos at the circus.  I forgot to bring my other camera.  these are the mermaids in the air.  I liked them.  I think the best part was the high wire walkers,  the lady being shot out of cannon and the wheel walker.  Rocket liked the tigers and the cool trampoline act.

Sunrise on Monday morning here.

The weather has been really wacky- back in February it was like Spring had started and then March came and suddenly we are back in winter.  Today it will never get warmer than 0 C (32 F).  We are freezing at the bus stop these days.

the snow that came Monday evening and Tuesday.  The East coast got pounded with the snow and we got just under an inch, but most of it melted quickly due to the ground being warmer.  I am hoping that the official start to Spring in 5 days means winter is behind us.  I am ready to plant. 

In other news, I am getting new glasses. As part of the process, they have to dilate my eyes to check that everything is OK.  This is what my eyes looked like after the appointment.  I was fine looking at things far away, but it was nightmare driving last night (rocket had scouts) and reading my book.  there was so much glare from the lights that I ended up with a headache.

I probably should have gone to bed early, but I did not.  I need to stop that- I should go to bed when I am tired or when I need to go to bed, not stay up because that is what I always do.

 

The time has changed here, so we are back to being 1 hour different from the time in Guatemala.  WOHOOOOO- more time to talk with Popi, Momi and the girls.   Hopefully we will get to talk soon.

 

Love and hugs,

Deb

time is speeding by again

First the weather- it has been freakishly warm here all winter.  We never got snow that lasted more than an hour on the ground because the ground is still so warm.  Last week, we had temperatures so warm we had tornadoes.  Then 2 days later, we had hail

Then Saturday, we got our first measurable snow of the winter- it all melted in an hour, but there were people (like my dad) out shoveling snow.  Events were cancelled in the morning.  Unbelievable.

The snow did not stop us from heading out to the home and garden show- the unofficial start to Spring at this house. Although this year, I have been in full Spring mode since the middle of February at least.

Rocket and Agua.  You can grow up little man, but you will always love fountains.

this is a shrub that I would like to have- an Ann Magnolia.  I like the color of the petals.  It is pretty dark in this area, but it is a gorgeous color.

Weeping Cherry- I like the little white flowers. 

I don't like the straight trunk.  I really need to find a cherry tree like the one at zoo- it has an interesting trunk.

the gazebo for when Rocket outgrows his trampoline.  there is a bar area for eating, a grill for cooking, and a refrig to keep drinks and such out in the gazebo.  It is an old grain silo.  I could do this in the back yard.  I wonder why my neighbors would think?

leaving the convention center we found one of the flying pigs from Cincinnati's Bicentennial back in 1988.  We took this picture for L. 

In keeping with the Spring theme- I am getting ready to paint the living room and dinning room.  There are the color choices.  I like the top left choice- it is the same color as the kitchen- a very pale green/blue called "breath of Spring".  Rocket likes the top right choice, called "Tahitian breeze".  I think the walls will be the paler color and I told Rocket I would paint the hallway the color he likes, though the bottom left color is the one I am pulling for.

Sunday night was the scouts court of honor.  Rocket was awarded the "merit badge hound" award for earning the most merit badges in his class (6th graders).  He earned 4 and is working on 3 more. One of the scouts a year older than him earned 21 merit badges this last year!!  Below, Rocket is part of the Eagle scout ceremony honoring the 4 boys who earned the highest award in scouting- Eagle Scout.  One of the boys is a close friend of ours.  It was a very moving ceremony.  I told Rocket, I don't think he should try for Eagle scout because I will cry too much (I was joking).  We were talking later last night and he does want to go for Eagle scout.  He has a lot of work to do, but I know he can do it.

 

We were out late last night and Rocket has standardized testing all this week and next at school- about 2 hours each day, so it should be a quite week for us. 

 

Love and hugs,

Deb