It's here! Sigh.......

Every year I watch and wait and wonder.
When will the crab-apple tree blossoms peak?

I think yesterday was about the perfect day.
Isn't it beautiful?
(Yes, we will pay dearly come fall- when the crab apples cover the lawn!)

Maybe I should call in sick tomorrow- so I can just sit and stare at it!
Just kidding.....


Speaking of the lawn.......

With all the rain and a little spring fertilizer, our lawn has grown about 8 inches
in just one week!

If I did call in sick (cough, cough) which I won't, this is the view from my bedroom window.
Tempting, isn't it?

P.S. Tonight we went to Thanksgiving Point's Tulip Festival.
It was amazing.
Since it is already past my bed time, I will save the pictures for another day.

But, I think you will enjoy them.

♥
JoAnn

"The day the Lord created hope was probably the same day
he created Spring."
-Bern Williams

Broccoli Pasta Salad.....Yum!

One of my favorite (non-diet) salads is
Broccoli Pasta Salad.
(I think you could substitute the mayo with a low fat version, but I haven't tried it.)

This recipe makes a HUGE salad, but it could easily be cut in half.

Broccoli Pasta Salad
cut up 2 bunches of fresh broccoli into bite sized florets
dice 1 medium red onion
cook 2 packages of pasta (I like the colorful curly noodles)
cook 1 package of bacon (break into small pieces)
Add optional ingredients like:
red grapes (sliced length-wise)
cashews
sun flower seeds
sliced mushrooms

Dressing:
2 cups mayonnaise
1 cup sugar
4 tablespoons red wine vinegar

Stir the dressing in the salad and refrigerate.
We usually don't add the bacon and nuts until we are ready to serve it.

It is a tasty treat and people always ask for the recipe.

Did you enjoy the sun today?
My tulips did.
It was great to do some yard work!

P.S. I couldn't resist posting this picture.
Isn't she cute?

♥
JoAnn

All fenced in....and restless

It's that time of year again!
The taste of freedom is coming...

but,
the classroom is fencing me in.

The drudgery of testing is upon us......

The boredom of students is contagious...

Oh, summer. Where are you?

Click your heels.....time for some magic

Maddie's been sick.
First, she got pneumonia.
Then she got the flu.
She spent Sunday at the emergency room because of dehydration.
Now she is covered with painful, itchy hives.

IT'S TIME TO GET BETTER, MADDIE!

Click your purple heels together and repeat after me,

"I will get better now! I will get better now!"

We are all praying for you!
Love,
Grandma Jo
XOXOXOXO

It's garden time....

Are you a flower gardener or do you like to grow vegetables?

I have to admit, I'm not very good at getting vegetables to do much more than sprout.
Maybe it is the soil (clay).
Maybe it's the snails.
Who knows? Whatever the reason,
I can't ever seem to get enough produce to have enough to eat at one sitting.

Today I discovered a blogger (This Blessed Nest) who swears by this:

Cow manure!

It's cheap and easy to use. I'm going to try it this year!
(Yes, I grew up with all the free manure we could ever want-but I just didn't appreciate it then!)

Aunt Mardene knows how to garden! She grows the best vegetables, strawberries, and flowers!
(She stays young by working so hard.)
And...
She shares!

(Mardene and my sister Linda)

I'm still more of a flower gardener, but maybe I can get enough tomatoes to actually do something this year.
♥
JoAnn

P.S. If you like my carrot font at the top of the page, check out this site:
Lettering Delights

(They are having a sale!)

Also, check out Mosaic Monday at The Little Red House. I enjoy seeing all the different mosaics.

Looking ahead (but really behind) to Memorial Day

It has been a long, busy week and I don't have a single thing to say.
Nada.
(I'm actually speechless!)
Nothing exciting is going on here.
No projects to show off.
I can't think of any good recipes to share.
I've already posted my spring blossoms from last year and this year's show is still a week or so away.
Yup, BORING!
So,
I was looking back over some past Memorial Day holidays and thought I'd share this photo
of my son Robbie and my nephew Shane.

We always seem to migrate to this little cemetery in Southern Idaho where my parents, paternal grandparents, great grandparents, and many aunts, uncles, and cousins are all laid to rest. (Other near-by cemeteries have our maternal grandparents and a lot more kin.)
Usually it is a nice holiday where we spend time together, visit, decorate the headstones,
and catch up with each other.
Sometimes the weather is cold and gray, but the year we took this photo it was a beautiful, crisp spring day. The grass was green and the sky was full of heavy storm clouds, which thankfully cooperated and didn't interfere with our plans.

It is always a time to remember and appreciate our heritage;
a day to give thanks for our loved ones.

And....
Sometimes, we even manage to act silly and have fun!
(I kind of suspect the people resting here don't mind.)


(This picture goes way back!)

Yes, I always look forward to Memorial Day!

P.S. Our two grandchildren (and their parents) came for the weekend.
We love their visits!
Poor Maddie decided to get the flu and has been quite miserable.
If she feels better tomorrow maybe we can capture some fun moments.
Cross your fingers!
♥
JoAnn

What's better than a warm, sunny day,
colored chalk,
and a huge canvas?
Not much!

(Thanks for sharing, Liz!)

XOXO
JoAnn