I had a very nice Mother's day.   My oldest son appeared the day before and spent the night.  Rebekah buoght me flowers and a pair of beautiful earings.

Jess bought me some wonderful smelling spritz, Buttercreme Vanilla, and a nice frame that I am going to put the top picture in.

Ken bought me the newest Eagles CD.  I love their harmonies!  And Hubby bought me a really nice smelling perfume, Enchanted. 

Although the weather wasn't great outside, it was cozy inside.   We had to build a fire to fight the dampness....look what happened.   A few of us were lolled to sleep. 

Things are growing!  I have transplanted the eggplants and various pepper plants.   Jessalyn helped me and marked all the rows.  I see the potato tops coming through too!

Tom surprised us Wednesday night.   He had called me when I was in town and said he saw a "puppy" that was out in the Jumbo Woods, apparently dropped off.   Of course I said, "Whatever...".   This is no puppy!  He looks like he may be golden retriever/St. Bernard.   He isn't very old, and still losing baby teeth.   eek!

So we gained a dog temporarily, but lost two yesterday, temporarily.   The boys were out with me when I was doing second seeding when Jack decided to run.  He has been going into a small area in the woods behind the garden and then coming right out, but yesterday he decided to go further in a blink of an eye and take Bob with him.

Rebekah and I took the talkies and walked the woods and road for three hours.  Finally they came back, wet and stinky.   Grr     It was nice that Tom and Jess gave them baths while I was away taking Rebekah to work.  

I found the key (at least it works for now) with the bread flour I bought.   I was having a horrible time getting my bread to rise with this store bought flour that I got when it was on sale at the grocery store.   We can't afford the bulk from the Amish store anymore as it is up to $20 per 25#.   Gold medal had a sale two months ago  for .50#,  or 20# for $5.   I picked up many and also got rainchecks.   It was awful for a while and I tried everything.   Finally, I added an extra egg and it seemed to work!   We like our fresh bread!

the girls and I went out and put up a temporary fence in the side yard.   We left the horses out early before the flies got bad.   The girls did their reading to me outside while I hemmed the curtains I am sewing and the horses grazed for three hours!   They were HAPPY!

You can see how nice the flowers are blooming.  And because the summer bug has bitten early,  I put my flower boxes up already.   Don't you love the flowers?   I am very impatient so I bought  a swag and put it on the box.  It flustrates the bees, but at least they aren't near the house.The flowers may not all be ready, but my garden is!   I had tilled it up last week and started planting.  I have lots of room left, but I know it will be filled quickly!

getting all the yard work done.    All of those trees that came down during the winter storms are slowly getting cut and burned.  I think Ken wanted a good workout while he worked.  The chainsaw was only a few steps away...

  The larger ones I am going to clean off and use for outlining the trails, or maybe the new driveway.  Tom was getting the chains on the tractor so he can use the drag rake on the field and get it seeded.  I don't know what Jess is doing?

Speaking of Jessalyn,  she had her closing cerimony for Awana Wednesday night.   She recieved a ribbon for finishing the first book, and they gave her the blue book to work on, even though it was her last year.   I think she will like doing it anyway.

Another sure sign of spring is the ladybugs!   This is only a few that I found in our mudroom window.   I can't believe how many we get!

wanted to add that Ken had his bowling banquet Saturday.   His team came in first for the second session this year, and he recieved a trophy with his high score of  180 on it.   He did improve average by one pin,  from 122 to 123.

What you see in the background was his score sheet for the year.  It didn't come up as well as I thought.

of what it would be like to be sitting on the edge of this lake.   Rebekah painted this a short time ago when she stayed with her Grandma.    I framed it and it is on my wall.  It is the first time she tried anything like this!

Because of the internet being so slow,  I can't always get pictures up when I want.  This was one I took early in the morning before the snow storm.    We had days of ice beforehand.  I thought it was really pretty.

We have had plenty here,  measuring about 23".   Saturday was heavy,  and not having the snowblower working meant the snow shovels went to work.  Having cleared the driveway in the afternoon, by Sunday we had more to move.   Tom did get out to get a belt for the blower after all was said and done.  

It was a good thing too, because we had the dogs out playing and had just put Jack inside when Bob thought it was a good idea to take off with the neighbors shepard.  They stick her outside and she just wanders all over the place.    She had made it back to the chickens and goats at one point.  She isn't a threatening dog at all,  In fact, she is a very nice dog.   But I wish she would stay home or at least go home when we tell her.    Well, Tom and I spent an hour in hip high snow  trying to find these dogs that had gone into the woods across the street.   Finally,  he came out.  Unneeded exercise there!

Now, back to a tale about the amount of snow.   In previous posts I mentioned how the ice would hang on the fence and we would have to go out and check it .    Well, the amount of snow we had buried much of the fence, leaving only the top line above the snow.  It wasn't enough to intimidate the horses, especially Dusty.   That tank.  She decided that the sunshine felt good enough to run in.  So, out she came with the others to follow.  I wouldn't have probably seen it, but we had all just sat down to dinner.   The girls jumped up and ran out with leads  (mind  you, the snow is still about 2' deep)  with Tom following.   There goes rosie following Dusty.  I covered the dinner plates and came out too.  By that time they had hit the road. They wanted to stay where the run was easy.   Unfortunately,   Mathias was last in line and when the two girls came out of the neighbors driveway,  he hit the ditch and tried running in that.  He went  a good 15'-20' in that ditch that came up almost to his wether.    I was affraid he would freak out and have a heart attack.   I tried calming him down and then hooked the lead and Tom and I tried pulling him out to the road.  He stumbled a bit, but came right up.   He saw the others down the way and was calling to them.    I think that is what stopped them.  The girls could get a lead on them and we walked them all back to the house, Tom following in the car.     Who needs a gym after two days of this?