THE SUNDAY GARDEN -- MOSTLY DAFFODILS

I love all Spring flowers.  Joe's favorites are daffodils.  So I was happy to plant a huge amount of daffodils for him.  Everyone is so different.  Before I began planting them I had no idea there were so many colors and kinds.

My sister Elaine gave us some more daffodils for Easter.  We planted them outside on Friday.  So pretty.

I had to cut the grass on Friday.  It finally got long enough that it needed it.  Before I cut it I took a picture of the wild violets and grape hyacinths that are all over the yard.

The tulips are up and about to bloom, but only one has so far.

I planted the pansies and violas in my long box.  They look much better now since they have had a chance to get watered and dig their roots in.

The ranunculus is planted close to the house where I can see it from the kitchen windows and back door.  I want to get some more to fill up this bed.

The parsley and chives are in the earth box.  I moved the china mushrooms there too and a few of the extra violas.  This is where I am going to put my fairy garden.  I haven't yet, but sometime this week for sure.

Hope you enjoyed seeing my garden.  Now off to make dinner.  We are having one of Joe's favorites:  salad, lamb chops, green beans, baked potato and a slice of coffee cake made by one of the ladies at church.  I didn't get there in time for fellowship hour, but made sure I had Dorothea's cake to take home.  Yummy!  She is such a good cook.

Have a nice evening everyone!

Kathy
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Sunday's weather:
Sunny
High:  62 degrees
Low:  46 degrees
(During this past winter I thought I would never see temperatures this high again!)
Sunrise:  6:05 a.m.
Sunset:  7:51 p.m.
13 hours and 46 minutes of daylight  

FRIDAY VIEWS

It has been such beautiful spring weather here lately.  This week has been just gorgeous. 

 I am still trying to get my house under control because of getting the new kitchen.  It is scheduled to be done either the first or second week of June.  I just know they are going to call and say they will be here the next day and I want everything all straightened up by then.

Nothing much has been going on here except for sleeping and working.  I am so very tired tonight.  But today I had so much energy that after work I went to the store and bought food for dinner and then planted some things and cut the grass in the yard.  It felt so good to have that much energy.

For dinner tonight we had a small salad, roast pork loin, mashed potatoes with pork gravy and asparagus.  I was going to have strawberries for dessert, but we were both too full!  It was a good dinner.

For your Friday view I want to show you the trees in front of the library where I work.  They are so pretty.

We had a big wind storm a few days ago and now most of the blooms are gone and they are a beautiful light green.

Here is a video of them blowing in the wind.  It is so peaceful and relaxing to watch.

We are supposed to have a storm tonight which is one reason I wanted to get all the plants into the soil.  The sky was threatening when I was out there.  I love taking pictures of incoming storms.  The clouds are so interesting.

I am so tired now and I have to go to bed.  Big day tomorrow.

Kathy

EASTER MONDAY

What a great day I had with my sister Elaine Monday.  I took off from work and we went to Lancaster County.  Just being out there in the country is a balm to the soul as Elaine would say.  It's so true.  And seeing all the green after this winter we had was just too beautiful!

We didn't really have an itinerary, just was driving along Route 30 and decided to stop into Dutch Haven.

This was a good move since we both found things we wanted here.  I am planning to make a fairy garden in my earth box this summer.  I found just the right fairies there.  And for 1/3 of what I saw them other places.

Next we headed for the outlets at Rockvale Mall.  We stopped in Reading China and Glass -- our favorite place.  We didn't spend much, in fact mine came to just a little over $8.

We looked in Lenox, but neither of us bought anything.  That's a first!  Their things are beautiful, but I just didn't have the money.  The story of my life!  That's OK.  I didn't need anything either.  I keep telling myself there is a difference between a need and a want.  I had already satisfied my wants with the fairies and the few things I bought at Reading China and Glass.

We ate a late lunch/early dinner at Bird-in-Hand Restaurant.

We both had the smorgasbord with the most delicious salads, brewed sweet tea, and entrees ever.  I think we rolled out of the place.

Then we headed for Kitchen Kettle to finish up the shopping we wanted to do.  We were looking for specific things.  Elaine wanted food items and I wanted plants.  I got my plants but also got some tortilla chips and the best ever salsa.

I got violas, runnunculus and parsley.  I'll show you pictures when I get everything planted in a couple of days.

I loved the waterfall.  Usually when we are here in the summer there are so many people around that we can't get anywhere near here, let alone see the waterfall.  It was full, but not crowded.  And the weather was perfect.  Such a nice day.

When we were finished there we headed home.  There were a lot of Amish buggies on the road.  Probably more than I have ever seen at one time.  You have to be careful driving around the horses so they don't spook.

We got stuck in rush hour so it took us awhile to get home, but we made it around 6:30 p.m.  It was a great day and I was so glad to get away from everything for awhile.  It was just perfect.

Kathy

EASTER -- Warning: Picture overload

It has been a long day!  I started by baking an apple dump cake for fellowship time this morning.  I wasn't ready, so I took Joe and the cake to church, then came home to shower and change my clothes.  I got to church really late!

It was fun talking with all my friends after the service.

Bud, Joe, Pastor Justin

Dorothea, Juliette, Anne

Connor was into everything!

Joe and me

 I wanted to get a picture of little Miss A, but the one I took turned out blurry.  She was being fussy today and not a bit happy to be in church and being passed from person to person.

Grandpa, Miss A and Mom

This afternoon a group of us went out to dinner at Houlihan's.  My brother Larry, sister-in-law Kim, her mom Marilyn, my sister Elaine, our friends Carole and Walt and Joe and I made up the group.  We had a great time.

Joe

Marilyn and Elaine

Me.  Yes, I know my hair is getting long.  It's even longer in the back.

Walt

Walt, Carole and Kim

Carole, Kim and Larry

Marilyn

Larry

I thought I would give you one last post of my Easter decorations.  They all go away this week for another year.

I love this bunny on my next-door neighbor's door.

I have a bouquet of calla lilies and Easter eggs.

My table by the door.

These Beatrix Potter books added just the right touch.

My sister Elaine gave me a milk chocolate bar, a coconut cream egg and a peeps pop with four peeps on it.  So cute!

One of my Easter Cherished Teddies.

And the other one.

I have still more to show you, but that's for another day.  I hope you all had a marvelous Easter Day.

Kathy
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Sunday's weather:
Partly cloudy
High:  58 degrees
Low:  40 degrees
(Even though it was chilly, it was still so much better than the winter we just went through.) 
Sunrise:  6:15 a.m.
Sunset:  7:44 p.m.
13 hours and 29 minutes of daylight