Spring has sprung

We have been enjoying some unseasonably warm weather this past week! It has been in the 60's and 70's which has been amazing and very early for those kind of temps in Minnesota!!! I have taken Bella for a bunch of walks this week which we both have loved. There is nothing like feeling the sun on your skin and smelling the spring breeze to rejuvenate you.

Jake and Drew have been outside more than they have been in, I think. :) And our driveway has been full of boys (sometimes Drew's friends, sometimes Jake's and sometimes both) playing basketball.

But I think the best sign of spring was seeing Jake's huge smile as he walked through the door after school today, singing:

"It's the most wonderful time of the year,
There's brackets to check,
and teams to be upset... "

 He is referring to March Madness of course! :)

Jake had some friends over to watch the games. Pete was at one of his friends watching the games. And Drew was on the driveway playing some basketball.

{I don't really 'get' March Madness...but I love how happy it makes all my boys!}

wordless Wednesday

Spring Beauty.

spring is springing

We have had some amazingly beautiful weather here in Minnesota these past few weeks. All of our mountains and mountains of snow have  finally melted. And we have been enjoying some unseasonably warm weather with highs in the 60's.

And yesterday, while I was doing some yard work, I peeked on my garden and saw that my chives were already springing up!

I am loving the spring weather!

Another Sign of Spring

The weather sure didn't feel like it today- but this morning we experienced another sure sign of spring (and summer)~ going to the Farmer's Market. It was cold and windy today~ but I couldn't wait any longer~ I had to go take all of those glorious sights and smells in. I seriously could just walk around the Farmer's Market every single day and never buy a thing (but how can you resist those flowers, plants, vegetables...) We go to the Farmer's Market many times throughout the spring/summer/fall~ it is so fun to see how the selection changes as the seasons change. Right now it is mostly plants, herbs and flowers.


I am contemplating just the best herbs to purchase ;o)


Drew and I picking out some flowers~


And more flowers~


Pete and Drew can hardly wait until we get to the stand that sells the nummy bratwursts with the onions and peppers. Today we were there around lunch time~ but they have been known to get these very early in the morning!


Drew enjoying the first brat of the year~


As we were leaving we spotted a van with a sign painted on it with exactly what I was feeling~

Flowers, Flowers, Flowers

I love this time of year~when the weather finally warms up enough to start planting those flowers!!! Yesterday, I went to one of my favorite places on earth ;o) Gertens in Inver Grove Heights is amazing!


I could just walk around forever looking at all the beautiful plants and just take in all the wonderful smells!

A few pictures of some of the beautiful flowers I brought home~

I still have some flowers to plant and I need to start my garden---oh I love this time of year!

A Walk Around a Lake

It was a gorgeous day today so we decided to go for a walk. Pete, Drew, and I (and our dog) piled into the car this morning to take a drive to Lake Harriet in Minneapolis. I love going down to 'the lakes'~there are some great walking trails to hop on and some beautiful scenery to look at. And it always brings back some great memories~ I used to spend many hours running around these lakes back in high school cross country! The walking trail around Lake Harriet is 2.75 miles, which makes for a perfect family walk.


Drew and Bella~


As we were walking along the path we came upon a famous tree that houses the 'Lake Harriet Elf.' You can see kids (and adults) leaving gifts and notes for the elf. Local legend says the shy elf responds to every single letter he receives, sometimes up to 1,500 or more a year.


A closer look at this cute little house~


From the south side of the lake you can see a great view of the Bandshell and a neat view of the Minneapolis skyline.


Drew and I enjoying the view~


And Drew, Pete and Bella~


After our walk we grabbed our picnic lunch that we had packed and we found a nice little spot near the Bandshell/Pavillion area.


A beautiful day!

Happy May Day

Signs Winter is Over

Yesterday, the temp reached 76 degrees (above zero ;o)!!! It was a day where you just stop and take a deep breath in and realize that we survived winter!!! And that spring is here!

Besides the temperature~ I saw some signs yesterday that make me believe winter is finally over...
trees budding
bits of green grass
two little girls running through a sprinkler
a man mowing his lawn
birds building a nest under my deck
tulips popping

and our first bonfire of the year~ here Pete (looking very proud of his fire making skills) is building our fire~


and me enjoying the fire~

Quiet is Nice

The past two days have been quiet...and it has been nice! It was absolutely gorgeous out today! I think it got into the mid-60's and oh so sunny!! Perfect weather for sittng on the deck and reading a magazine!


I even got Drew outside for a little bit.


And I think he is heading back to school tomorrow!!! Ya!

Happy Spring!

This is from an old email- I just totally loved it.


Today is the first day of spring! I got to thinking about all the work we put into our yard and garden in order to get them spiffed up for a glorious spring and summer.

The heather is fluffed up in all the right places and my daffodils clump together with their mouths open like quartets singing big round letter Os. The tulips aren't
up yet but I'm sure they are in the last stages of hard labor. The maple trees that line our drive-way have another week before they burst out with new leaves. It was while walking around the yard that it hit me what a miracle this thing called spring is!

What if we had to pay for it?

I imagined my husband saying,

"With the economy the way it is right now, we just don't have the money to pay for a full blown spring. So you're gonna have to make some decisions about what you absolutely have to have bloom as far as your roses go and we REALLY have a tree dilemma!"

"A tree dilemma? What d'ya mean?"

"I mean you're gonna have to pick which ones you want to leaf out and which ones we can leave bare. We can't afford to pay for them all. I know how much you love the walnut tree, but do you have any idea how many leaves have to go on just that one tree to fill it out? And then there are the birds."

"What about the birds?"

"We just can't afford to bring 'em all in this year. Do you realize how much it costs to travel these days? So again, you need to decide which birds you can do without. You can choose ONE. Pick a bird."

"Pick a bird?"

"That's what I said."

"But I need my Rufuses, and the robins and the finches and the chickadees and my quail and my crows -oh and I have to have my blue birds!"

"I wish we could afford all of 'em, Honey, but just take those blue birds for example, they ship from 3,000 miles away! And as much as you love the robins, the cost of feathers (especially red ones) has gone up 150% in the last year. Oh and those humming birds you love so much are energy guzzlers and we just can't afford to have them this year. Pick a bird."

When I came out of my fantasy dialogue I was filled with gratitude! Spring is FREE! ALL my trees get to leaf, ALL my roses get to bloom, ALL my birds get to come, ALL my chipmunks, squirrels, pheasants, and deer, will be enjoying a very free spring right along with me.

Thank you God!