Our Logan turns TEN this week!  It may be a cliche, but time DOES fly by!  We spent the afternoon in West Alexander helping him celebrate with family and friends.  The kids played bad mitten (spelling???), flag football, and softball down in the field, and everyone took a turn saying hi to the pigs: Second Breakfast, Yoda, and Bacon Bits (who are growing quickly!)

After dinner of yummy burgers and hot dogs (sorry, piggies!!!), mac/cheese, cheesy potatoes, and strawberries, Logan opened his gifts.  Lots of fun Star Wars ‘stuff’ which everyone enjoyed.  Chase really enjoyed the BB8 (which I had not clue what or who it was!) so he held onto him while Logan explored the other gifts.

We sang and had cake – of which Logan had 4 pieces and was trying to beg a fifth piece before he was shut off.  His parents  got him a fishing pole – a very nice one! – Nate, Jen, Autmn and Chris bought the BB8 and a huge bed pillow, along with a card that lit up with light sabers on the front.  Who knew?  Lots of wonderful gifts for a great little boy.  Have a great year, Logan!  Good things ahead!!

Yesterday was so lovely.  The day started with an early morning walk, complete with a full rainbow in the sky across the road.  The dark sky was the perfect backdrop.  It was a reminder of the promises that God makes and keeps – we are His and were redeemed through his blood!  My little Sunday School class learned that when someone says ‘He is Risen’ that they should respond with ‘He is Risen Indeed!’ 

Lunch was at 2:30pm, and we had way too much food.  Everyone (except Chase!) always eats too much but always has room for dessert.  The big kids hid the candy-filled plastic eggs and the younger kids went in search. 

Before they received their treat baskets I had them sit on the steps for a family photo.  This year we took two: the first one was identical to the picture we took last year.  Matt and Jen joined the photo for the second picture.  So rare that they were all together!  The day ended with my packing away all the decorations and tucking the boxes in their place in the garage. 

I was so exhausted that I wasn’t sure if I’d make it to bed.  But then I was up about 6 times during the night!  It was such a great day with my precious family that I just kept reviewing everything in my mind.  So blessed – to be part of the family of God, and to have my kids/grandkids share in the day!

As dusk was falling tonight, I was walking around the yard, seeking out the flowers that are in bloom.  When spring arrives, and when Easter lurks right around the corner, I always look for my flowers.  The hyacinthsare about done blooming, but they were popping up all over the yard.  Every year I purchase one (or two or three or four in various colors and shades!) and when they have bloomed out I plant them in the yard.  The result is a mini- paradise in my gardens! 

Tonight I found some new ones that I hadn’t noticed on the weekend, including the bright fuchsia/yellow ones by the chair, and the orange/red tulips on the hill. The tulips came up the first spring that I lived here – 26 years ago when we moved in! – obviously planted by previous owners. 

The grape hyacinths are growing in thicker clumps this year than ever before. I’m not sure what this bush is – mock orange, maybe? Seldom does it bloom so I was happy to see it bloom this year.  

I ‘planted’ some little colorful eggs on sticks and they add a nice touch to the season.  (PS – mommy bird is very diligent about sitting on the nest, which now contains four eggs!)

And when I came inside, there was Snoopy with his palate of paints and his painter’s cap, ready to brighten the landscapes even more.  Only a few more days and we can celebrate all the reasons for Easter – Hosanna!

As I type, Chrissy and her friend Daveina are helping the Easter Beagle out and filling plastic eggs.  They got a little aggressive and put too many pieces of candy in each egg, so now they have to readjust their packing procedures.  Gives them something to do and helps me out as well.

I’m playing catch-up today.  Wanted to post the picture we took at Mom’s last weekend.  Our early morning walk in the drizzle of rain took us down to the spillway, which – true to its name! – was spilling rapidly.  We always enjoy our walks together, my sister and I, even when the weather is less than ideal.

We were still at mom’s when I got a text from my daughter.  The baby pigs have arrived!  Each year the Hanchers get two or three baby pigs from local (and sometimes not too local!) farms for the boys to raise for their 4-H projects.  They take care of the pigs all through summer, then show them and hopefully sell them at the West Alexandria fair during Labor Day week.  Peyton and Logan have both done very well with their prize-winning pigs.  This year we have (from the bottom up) Yoda, Bedtime Snack, and Bacon Bits.  Yoda belongs to Logan, Bacon Bits is Peyton’s, and Bedtime Snack is an extra just in case things aren’t ideal with either of the other two.  I give those guys a lot of credit.  These pigs are NOT pets, and they are a lot of work, and it takes determination.  Good luck, guys!

This morning I took another picture of the robin’s nest on the deck.  There are two eggs in the nest. (Update  4pm- 3 eggs!) I’ve seen momma bird on the nest several mornings, but she’s easily spooked and I haven’t been able to get her picture.  I’ll keep trying! (Hard to see, but here’s one…)

I think that catches me up.  More later!

Just a quick update – there is one, perfect robin’s egg blue robin’s egg in the nest on my deck!  So the bird sanctuary is going well.  It wasn’t there this morning.  I’ll look again tomorrow when I go for my walk! 🙂 

This is the story – at least it starts with! – of William and Clara.  William promised his bride Clara that he would build her a castle on the edge of the cornfield where they stood.  And he made it happen.  It was a hand-built labor of love, and it indeed was their dream home.  But the dream didn’t end there.  Over time it became a restaurant, and ended up back in the hands of William and Clara’s daughter, Barbara, who is the current owner.

My brother-in-law, Paul, found the castle online, and took my sister Kathy there for dinner on St. Patrick’s Day.  The charm and character of the place was amazing and strikingly beautiful. The winter wonderland of the surrounding landscape was the literal icing on the cake.

Hyeholde Restaurant is in Robinson Township – close to Pittsburgh and the airport.  Check out all the quaint details on their website – and according to Kathy and Paul, it’s very worth the trip!

Today I used the last few hours of holiday credit and left work at noon.  I had a few errands to run, but also needed to get my 2 mile walk in.  With the rain, outside wasn’t a comfortable option.  And I didn’t relish the idea of 30 plus minutes on the treadmill, either.

On a snap decision, I changed shoes and stopped at Westmoreland Mall.  It only takes about 3 loops to get in two miles.  The danger there is of course that you see a plethora of delightful sights, some of which are beyond tempting!  Thus was the case when I saw a rack of turtle neck sweaters in front of JCPennys for a ridiculously low price. I altered my path and walked back out to the car for my money, then after I hit the two miles, well, let’s just say I’m set for next fall and winter! 

The walk itself, though, was also fun.  Everything was so festive; store windows sporting clothes and goods in bright spring colors.  I stopped for a few seconds to watch the little ones ride the train in center court.  The Easter Bunny was on duty for photo ops.  It was a little nostalgic, as I don’t have any little ones to put on the train or visit the EB.  It was still fun!

On a loop past the food court, I was tempted by the giant cookies with enough icing to spread a bed! Look at the colors on that giant, pizza-size chocolate chip cookie!  Yum! Thankfully I resisted that and escaped with just my single little JCPenny’s purchase. 

The flowers in my yard have been popping up right and left, and last night there was a robin sitting on the nest under the bistro table on my deck.  Just now there were two robins having a major pecking match in my flower bed.  Yes, it’s spring for sure!

Today I skipped out of work at noon.  I still had a whole credit holiday to take from the Christmas holidays, as they were on weekends.  I did some errands, took a long walk outside, then played in the dirt for a couple of hours.  That was so nice, and it was very hard to come inside and be an adult for the rest of the evening — cleaning and paying bills, etc.

It was so very nice to clean in the daylight, and in the sunshine as well!  Seldom am I home at that hour and it was a blessing.  Makes me see what a difference there could be in my life when I finally start cutting back hours.  One little step at a time!  Soon, I hope!

Doesn’t look like any progress on the bird’s nest – nothing else added and no eggs in the nest. I am careful to stay clear of it and no touch it or anything near the nest.

Saw my first snake of the season this week when I was walking.  Flatter than a pancake, smushed on the road and dead as a doornail.  Why do the SAY that??  Of course doornails are dead.  Anyway, I was totally glad it was dead but it freaked me out, none-the-less.  It was probably about a foot and a half long and about a quarter size round, had it not been pancaked.  Yuck.

What will be the next adventure in the neighborhood???

If you have been following Ron’s A.T. hike, you will see that he is now in North Carolina.  But after I got back from Wal-Mart, (reference:  see AT page post for today) I was pulling into my garage and happened to look up on the top deck.  For the second time an aggressive little bird decided to build a nest in my bistro table. It’s right outside my kitchen door. That happened about 5 years ago, and I left the nest there until the eggs disappeared. 

I don’t know yet what type of bird is living there, but the nest is very creative.  Looks almost like the tips of wheat stalks poking up around the edge.  I guess this is a high-class bird.  I’ll keep you posted if I see the bird or if eggs appear in the nest.  But they certainly do make a total mess out there!!!

I am so excited that Spring is actually here – it’s sunny and warmer, and the little plants are shooting up out of the ground.  In a garden walk over the weekend, I found crocus, hyacinths, and budded daffodils.  There’s a little pine-like plant with delicate purple flowers that I have no idea of the name.  On my walk later in the day, I spotted a tiny clump of mini-daffodils – I think they are actually narcissus! – growing by the road.  All happy sights!

I have been on the hunt since last fall for a new deck table/chairs set.  The old wicker set fell apart, and hadn’t included a table that I could use to eat meals outside.  I searched online and looked at local department and specialty stores, and finally found what I wanted.  It’s a bar height table, with four high chairs, and the table will accommodate my purple deck umbrella.  There is even a little row of glow lights around the umbrella holder that will look super cool at night!

All in all I am anxious to get outside and start cleaning out the flower beds and enjoying the yard.  My neighbor cut his grass today.  Yikes!  So bring it on – I’m totally ready!