This & That: Around Here This Week

So around here this week....

The big spring show is starting with the daffodils. It's been kind of cold and blustery this week, so they've taken a bit of a beating from the wind. My husband curses the spring wind, very literally. We've lived here for nearly 32 years and every spring it's been the same. I can't figure it out....did he really think it was ever going to be different??

My chives are coming back, so if I make the croissant sandwiches again, I'll have some fresh to sprinkle on them.

This was also something I saw this week. We've had Jude some so Hazel's mama can have a bit of a break during the day, and maybe get a rest. You can see what I mean about the Pied Piper, though. This was coming back from giving one of the horses some grain. Exciting stuff for kidlets.

Those two also turned the fountain on for me. My husband knows how much I love the sound of any kind of running water....rivers, streams, rain, fountains.....it doesn't matter.

The sound soothes me, and is the white noise I have on at night to help me sleep.

Evan's wife, Jan, is the queen of April Fool's Day. She absolutely loves pulling a good prank. This is what we found yesterday morning when we went to get Gus out of his crate. Collin's boys were very worried that he'd shrunk because "it was very cold outside."

She also switched out Marc's very alive chickens for rotisserie chickens. I'm not sure how she got into the backyard to accomplish it, but I do know she used Evan as a distraction.

I had the last appointment for the infection part of my leg with my family doctor. My dermatologist will continue to follow the inflammatory/circulation thing as he has for many years. Now, there's a story that goes with this picture. First off, notice the very attractive compression socks I wear almost all the time. Next, notice the nice, clean carpet in the picture. Just when I think things are settling down, something happens to throw a wrench into that idea. My check up was going fine. The leg was looking great, until I put my compression socks back on. I was getting ready to leave, when the doctor noticed a puddle of blood on the nice, clean carpet. I pulled the sock back down, and it was like someone had poked a tiny hole in a water balloon...a steady, tiny stream of blood literally shooting straight out from the one tiny scab still left on my leg. I must have knocked the scab off when I put the sock back on, and it must have been right over a small-ish vein. We put a compression dressing on it, but my very fastidious doctor decided to call the vascular surgeon at the hospital, who told me to come right over. I left several puddles of blood on the carpet in the exam room, making it look a little like a murder scene.

The bleeding had stopped by the time we got to the surgeon's office, but he took forceps and went digging for the vein, starting things up again. He put a stitch in it, and got another pressure dressing in place, but in the meantime with all this going on, we lost track of time. We were supposed to have picked up Isaac and Levi from school, and it was 20 minutes past the time....bad, bad grandparents. Fortunately, Marc was able to rescue them while I was on the stretcher getting repaired, and we will try to get it right from here on out. In the long run I guess a leaking vein isn't a huge deal, but haven't I about reached the end of the list of things that can go wrong with the leg??

Sent to me from the kids and grandkids this week, Marc sent this one of Evan and Hazel. My eldest absolutely loves babies. He will hold infants whenever he gets the chance. It was also during this time Jan was able to make the chicken switch. Possibly why Evan looks so chipper....that, and he's holding a baby.

I got some spring break pictures from Eric's wife, Elisa. They did the staycation version of spring break and before everyone got sick mid-week, did a climbing place.

Everyone got in on the fun.

This is Gwen who had no problem shinnying up the tall wall.

They were all feeling pretty good about the experience.

Especially since there was frozen yogurt involved afterwards.

I got some Gramma Honey cuddles from Hazel.

Her mama caught this smile and said she must be a true Allan...already enjoying the outdoors.

Rachelle says the big brothers love to just be close to her. She caught Jude singing "Jingle Bells" to Hazel. And when I say "Jingle Bells," I really mean it. "Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle bells...."