Spring Sprung

We had the most glorious weather this weekend. I've had the windows open because even with the pollen on the breeze, I'd rather have the breeze!  Achoo and love it!

It was a VERY busy weekend though. Friday evening was our Home Builders meeting. Friday afternoon was also gorgeous so I baked some goodies for that evening. It was a good meeting before we break for Easter.

Saturday morning started very early for Boy Scout Troop 1577 for Mulch Delivery Day.  Dad and son worked from 6:30 am until 7:30 pm (son) 9:00 pm (dad). The girls had a different mission. Mom took daughter to Annandale for her SAT prep course. This Saturday they had a double session so I could leave her until 2:30. So I dashed back to the house, picked up the BBQ in the crockpot for the "Mulch Cafe", dropped it off at the church where the troop meets, and then went to the Library to work the Children's Sale. How odd it is to just work the sale and not purchase anything! I think it means my children have moved to a very different stage in life!  How liberating to be able to just help and not keep any eye out for "treasures" for our own household!

I have noticed something about the booklovers who frequent our sale. They're more than just book-lovers. They're book hoarders! One family was picking up a set of the Chronicles of Narnia books. One of the children told me that with this set they'd have five...I guess you need a set for each kid?

At 2 I left to go get the girl from her class and back to our house. Then I took her to a birthday BBQ for a friend, then back to get her at 5:30. The guys finally straggled in much later.

Sunday was church and then out to Annandale for class for the girls. While she was in the class (since it was only 2 hours this time), I ran to the base commissary and bought food for the week. While we were in that direction, the guys were helping finish returning the trucks and cleaning up from Mulch Day.

We finally sat down as a family for home made spaghetti dinner and everyone enjoyed being back together again.

Awoke this morning to bird song and fresh breezes with a little moisture in them. Rain and a thunderstorm are promised tonight! I'm so glad I'm not out where they've received another 8 inches of snow this weekend!

Snow is Mostly Melted

Hooray! When I look out the window I see more brown and green than white! And it's near 60 today so a beautiful afternoon.  I wore shorts to the gym and I've stayed in them all day because I didn't get cold!

Remember that holly tree that was bent over with snow?  Here's the photo to remind you.

I knew it was broken, but until the snow melted we couldn't get out there to see how bad the break was.

Here it is, first the branch end. Next the stub up in the tree.

The rest of the back yard looks like a wasteland as well. But we know that plants are resilient and the strong survive. And as if to reward me for coming out to see, look what else I found.

Sorry for the blurriness -- I have a really inadequate camera. In that same spot we used to get a row of Lenten Roses, but I don't think they can make it up through the matted leaf layer. The heaviness of the snow really packed a lot of things down.

I have seen lots of buds on trees, big fat robins and handsome cardinals, the kids are both starting to sniffle with allergies...I even noticed that the chipmunk holes out in the front suddenly look as if they're "active."

On Saturday my husband was working in the back of the house to reattach the grate the covers the dryer vent. As he put the screws in with the power screwdriver it made that rat-a-tat-tat noise that says, "DONE!" This morning while I was working I heard the noise again, but he's at work and there were no power tools currently being employed. Yep, a woodpecker was trying to embellish our external decor. How is it that a 5-inch bird can make a sound like a miniature pile driver?

I even opened up the windows and turned off the heat today to get the cooking smells out of the house.  Ahhhh....spring. Can we say happy dance?