Camping fun!

In June, the big guy and I went to Perrot State Park.

we camped with Kona

The big guy kayaked with Kona!

Okay, in all honesty it was a little stressful for him, but I had a great time!

:-)  Kona was a good girl, sitting in the front...

until a duck flew up from the river...

then I heard some stern and loud commands.

She did listen and remained int he kayak.  

We'll pause for a relaxing flower picture now

and a bit of a lie down

and perhaps a glass of wine

yes, that's better.

 

Now, we'll take her hiking

 Good girl.

the dog, not me

 Really good girl.

Mississippi river scene

 

and a sneak preview...



Some HOUSE work going on at the green mansion

Here we have dad and "son" working on tiles.

It sort of looks like they are doing some weird yoga doesn't it?

I was teasing Trevor that he really looked like that. 

It was great having his help, and some good father son time for them.

 

Think someones back was getting tired?



 

Meanwhile the flowers are flowering nicely and I hope to get some more good pictures of them all.

This particular basket was given to me by some lovely ladies I work with.

My clinic sites were combined so I will no longer be working at their site to do my records and they said they will miss me.

Gosh I miss them already too!

Just a picture of the gardens as a sort of before, I plan to take pictures throughout the summer again to see how much things grow and fill in.

These planters are already much fuller and lovelier.

 

The big guy and I are headed out for a week long camping trip and leaving the cat babies and the plants in the charge of the lovely Miss V.



Happy May Day

 

I wish these pretty flowers were from my yarden this year already,

but since we still have a wee bit of snow in some of the shady areas, it's not

even likely any time soon.

The grass is starting to green up, and the trees are budding.

 

the birds are busy with nest building so we know

it won't be too much longer.

My wrist and elbow are healing, a bit too slow for my taste, then I remind myself that

as long as I'm still healing I get to be off work.

 

yup, that helps! 

This past weekend we trimmed our bridal wreath hedge WAY WAAAY back

to encourage some new healthy growth, and we raked and raked the yard.

and of course by WE I mean the big guy did 99.99% of the work.

I discovered rather quickly that one armed raking is not comfortable.  My back began explaining

this to me by the next morning.

But I am nothing if not supportive.

I can hold tarps, fetch tools, make dinners, make tea and bring ibuprofen for his aching back!

I'll attempt some one handed picture taking soon. 



A big fat thumbs up

A big fat thumbs up for recovery.

My thumb is so swollen it only goes up!  hopefully soon I'll be able to bend it again.

This was 2 days after surgery.  I got most of the Ooompa Loompa color rubbed off, most of it

 

 Here we go, Doesn't look too bad, though I do seem to be the queen of bruises this year.

In February I slipped and tore my hamstring, and the entire back of my right leg was black and blue.

 

I'm learning to type one handed... spell check and the arrow keys are my best friends!

I won't mention how long this one weeney post took me.

Meanwhile, waiting for spring & the swelling to go down & missing my sewing and crafting!

Busy times

These were taken two weeks ago at St Anthony's.

Just look at all that snow.

I hiked back to the woods and down to the grotto.

I did get stuck in the snow several times.  But I think I had it better than the deer whose

tracks I saw.  Their tiny little hooves went all the way down to the ground, and the snow was a good 3 feet deep in many places.

How ethereal Mary looks.

 

 I always want to wrap her in a blanket when I come here with snow all around.

 

 

This is a pond made by damming up the little stream that goes down to the Rib River.

It's a bit hard to see, but those are deer tracks leading out to a little open area for drinking.

There are other animal tracks following the deer there.



 

I didn't take many pictures of Easter, darn it.  I meant to because Miss V and I had

lots of fun fixing and decorating.

 



 

But here is a picture of last years deviled chick eggs.

 

I do think spring is on the way.  I'm going to be so confident in this fact that I'm putting my winter coats... well not actually away, but at least BEHIND the spring jackets.



Well, apparently we have somehow gone through the Wardrobe and landed in

Narnias never ending winter.

We got at least 5 more inches yesterday, and with the wind today, the driveway was blown shut again

about 15 minutes after our wonderful neighbor plowed us out.

Timidity and reason being the better part of valor, I will be staying home

today and doing double duties tomorrow.

Which means, back to "The Room of Happiness and Creativity"

But obviously I won't be lonely in that special room. 

Several furry beings love to keep me company there.

 

Also, I am in the process of reviving my Bag Lady shop.

I am working diligently on my inventory so I can have a really good booth at a craft fair next spring

 



Bags.

 



 

I love them

I love making them

 



I love giving them

 

 

I love experimenting with patterns for them

 



 

And I really love using them

 

 

In 3 more sleeps I'll be back here.

St Anthony's.

 

I wish spring would come, but no matter.  I love everything about

St Anthony's retreats

even when we are totally snowed inside, like this picture from about 5 years ago

also in March.

I have much to pray about, much to be grateful for and much to think about.

 

I just wish the weekends had an extra day between Saturday and Sunday.



Will this winter ever end?

 

The weatherman, who no one likes anymore, says more snow this afternoon and tonight..

and...

more coming on Monday.  Could be a "significant amount"

 

Which, in reality means...

they have no idea.

Most of us are hoping a "significant amount" is actually significant in the fact that it will be

INSIGNIFICANT.

 

oh we can dream can't we?

Then to add insult to injury, he points out that

 "last year on this day the temperature was 75!"

 

Gosh that sure helps the attitude, when today the temperature is 17!

Could someone out west where it is warm please send some warm dry sunny air our direction?

please?