The cherry blossoms were over a month early this year. Usually, they bloom around mother's day which serves as a beautiful backdrop for photos. This year we got our mother's day photos early.
This was on my first mother's day.
And here is one from this year
This kimono was my sister Dorrie's when she was little. I fell in love with it and until recently, it hung on Faolan's wall. When we took it down to rearrange her room (she got her big-girl bed) I had Faolan try it on. It is a little big, but my heart beamed when I saw her in it. Tim and I knew we would need to make another trip to the cherry blossoms!
The staff, called a jo, was a gift from Tim to me. We are anxious to get back to Aikido some time soon. The inscription in kanji reads "love & protect". Seeing our little one with the jo brings a whole new meaning to those words.
My little worm queen! She had just found a very, very long worm. "I'm going to name him Longfellow!" she exclaimed. Faolan got a neat bug container for her birthday, which houses her worm collection for the day. She occasionally adds a few rolly-polly bugs and an odd slug for company.
We got alot of outside time over spring break. Tim & I measured out the square foot garden a'la
Mel Bartholomew. I'm anxious to see some results. I recently planted a second blueberry bush, a small patch of strawberries and some asparagus. I figure some perennial eats will be nice.
A hodge podge of flowers and greens that happen to be in our yard made a cute eclectic arrangement for Easter.
Faolan & I baked a lot during spring break. We made loaves of cool rise whole wheat bread (the bread I grew up on) cheesy garlic biscuits, home made pizza dough and sugar cookies. Faolan's favorite thing to do is to knead the dough. She really does a fine job! She is beginning to have more and more "responsibilities" around the house now. That's what they are called at Montessori school. Faolan puts all the silverware away from the dishwasher, sets the table & feeds the cats their dry food. She also fills the bird feeders with a little help and folds clothes *sort of*.
I had not attempted sugar cookies in years. With a little help from Betty Crocker these cookies turned out perfect. Bunnies, chicks, eggs and a couple of tulips were decorated in pastel colors. These cookies didn't last long!
The bunnies got little marshmallow tails. One for the bunny, chomp, one for Faolan....one for the bunny, chomp....
The Easter Bunny made an appearance at one of the children's boutiques downtown. Faolan was pretty excited. Most of the kids were a little afraid of the big bunny so Faolan got him all to herself.
This is Faolan scurrying around the house looking for Easter baskets. One from Grandma Hartsaw & one from Mamma & Daddy. Does a girl get luckier than that?
Arrrr, matey....I found me hidden treasure!
Mmmmmmmm. Chocolate bunny!
And on to the egg hunt outside! It's not unusual to have snow for Easter...but this year we had flowers and green grass! I think the lion statue may know where one is! Faolan was thrilled. The eggs were filled with pennies, a few jelly beans, and some other trinkets.
Soft fur you have......pet you I will....
This is Yoda's "wheelchair" because he is 900 years old and is getting tired. I don't know about the bottle.
An elk at the outdoor discovery center. It looked like she was posing for me.
Peek-a-boo! MAMMA! Look at me! Look at me!
In Holland we have a tulip festival. This year it was a
stem festival. These are tulips in peak bloom....the first week of April. One month early.
