This & That: Around Here This Week

So around here this week...

This is either a Sunday afternoon or Monday morning activity every week for me. I get my ducks in a row in my calendar and planner. This is necessary because my psyche doesn't do well in chaos. I need a plan.

Marc's family came over to do a little garden work and we picked some rhubarb. I'll freeze some and turn some into strawberry-rhubarb jam.

Speaking of strawberries, we're going to have a few soon. I'm telling you, the impulse buy at the farm store check out those several years ago turned out better than I ever thought it would.

My lone pink lilac bush is blooming beautifully this year. There was a time I thought it might not make it, but it recovered and is really lovely.

With the fairly cool spring, the pansies are thriving. It won't last forever, and I'll have to find something else to plant, but I'm enjoying them while I can.

My husband and I traveled to the cabin last week for a couple of quiet days. Spring days at the cabin rank second only to fall days.

In the distance, you can see there's still snow on the far highest peak.

It was just cool enough to keep a fire going downstairs to take the chill off.

I made a batch of hummingbird food, hoping the migration back this direction has started. Saw one lone bird the morning we left.

Apparently, there have been some industrious robins working hard, though.

We'll see how lucky this little egg is in a nest on the cabin stairs. Does anyone remember the Ollie/baby robin story from when he was a puppy?

My husband and some of the boys went back later in the week to chase a critter and sent me this one. Spring in the mountains can be a little unpredictable.

Some of the grandboys tagged along as part of the adventure.

This picture of Isaac makes me laugh. Marc says he was doing a little whining and was told he needed to smile in this picture for his mom. It's a pretty painful smile.

The trip was apparently exhausting for some of the little guys.

Sent to me from the kids and grandkids this week, I got this one of James who had his first eye exam.

And there was this. Collin graduated with an LLM from the Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School. It's extra education on top of his law degree. True to the military life, his family is off to a new posting, moving this weekend.

But first, there needed to be dinner...that John had to share his with his hair.

Isaac needed some dental work and all 3 boys wanted to watch the overhead movie that was playing.

This is just so cute with the boys holding hands.

And just to pile on the cuteness factor, here's Jack. He's in his favorite fuzzy blanket, propped up in the nursing pillow. He love that blanket and loves having it touch his cheek. My daughter said after she took this picture, she came back a few minutes later and he was asleep.