What are you doing for fun??

Thx for the tips, brandall!! May sound kind of maudlin, but would love to make a really nice scarf for DH and each kiddo to remember me by. Although my 16-yr old son probably won't wear it for many years, if ever!!



How long would u guess it would take a beginner to do a VERY basic scarf?

Caryn - as the mother of a first grader, I can say that teaching first grade is an accomplishment in an of itself!  You must be exhausted when you get home.  I know that I'm exhausted at the end of the day because my little first grader is quite the talker!

Glenna - When I lived in the DC area, I LOVED walking the Tidal Basin when the cherry blossoms were in bloom, so beautiful.  Didn't like all the tourists that crowded up the metro, but loved the pretty blossoms.  I also loved that it usually wasn't humid yet, just beautiful weather.  Happy 40th anniversary!

Marymoir - I think if you dedicated a lot of your evenings to a basic scarf that you could easily get one done in 2 weeks or less.  Scarfs are actually quite easy because there aren't any increases or decreases, it's a great project for a beginner

Marywh - I love planning trips, it's so exciting.  I hope that when you actually take the trip, you have a lovely time.

We are hoping to do some geocaching with the kids this weekend.  They love hunting for "treasures" and it's a good way to get our whole family out of the house and outdoors!  The snow from our 14+ inches is finally melted (love the sun in Colorado) and we have to get out and enjoy the nice weather before the next round of snow hits on Monday and Tuesday.  Where is spring?

I live a couple of miles from a beautiful arboretum. (Just like Joni Mitchell said, they took all the trees and put 'em in a tree museum...)



Anyway, it's my favorite place to get away from it all. There are lots of trails of varying length, so even if I'm low on energy I can still handle one of the short loops.



I decided a couple of weeks ago to walk the same prairie path at the arboretum once a week, in order to watch it change through the seasons. They burned the prairie off last fall, so right now the path winds through an empty field that's mostly bare and brown, with just a few shoots popping up. Soon it will be green and lush.



I also have plans to take up birdwatching. Last week I bought a field guide from Amazon that includes bird illustrations as well as recordings of all their calls. At this point I barely can tell a robin from a blue jay, but once the weather warms up a little I think it will be fun to sit out on the deck and try to identify some of the birds and their songs.



In the meantime, the bird recordings have been providing quite a lot of amusement to our cats.

MartyMart - the arboretum sounds delightful!  So nice you are able to get out and endjoy the various trails and will be taking up birdwatching.  I'm laughing at the comment of your cats enjoying the bird recordings, too funny!

Susan - sorry for the rough time you've been through the past couple months, but so happy to hear you are celebrating your daughter's graduation with a party.  You should post photos and recipes (you sound like a pretty amazing cook and entertainer).  Love the idea of ordering some of the food, then making the rest.  If cupcake daughter doesn't feel up to it, you could always load up on goodies from Costco (do you have Costco in MA?), I think they have some pretty amazing desserts and their cakes are to die for.

Caryn - loved reading about your Relay for Life event.  So uplifting!  Thanks for sharing.

Spring has finally sprung in CT. At least today! Sunning on the back deck with my steroid enhanced body and my bald head! . But still enjoy the sunshine...so there!

Don't really care much for Turkish coffee, Ebru, but LOVE the food! Just took my friend out to the Turkish restaurant where my daughter works for her birthday. We shared imam bayildi...my favorite! And yogurt and kazandibi as a complimentary dessert for her birthday! Can't wait to go back. My daughter often brings me leftovers..usually just bread...but I love that too!

Mom's the Master of Imam Bayildi, you HAVE to taste it, trust me, not because she is my mother! Come over..:) And she cooks great cancer-food, with my swollen lips & mouth ılcers, I was able to eat anything she prepared for me last summer while on Taxotere. I push her to publish her recipes, it would be bestseller in the cancer-world!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY TO ALL ! Hope you all have a wonderful day.

I'm going out to brunch and then going to see the touring production of Billy Elliot in the evening. Nothing makes me happier than a Broadway musical!

Caryn

I went out today and bought a bird feeder with my Mothers Day gift card. I put it in a spot where I can see it from the deck and the cats can see it from the bedroom window.



The salesman made me laugh when he asked me whether I wanted a one that was squirrel-proof, or one that was "equal opportunity."

I'm in Rome! We're overdoing it and having a blast.

The weather is sunny, warm and breezy. Even though it's not yet summer, there are jillions of tourists here, so we try to get off the beaten path as much as possible. That's fairly easy because there are so many things to see and do, and many fantastic museums, galleries and interesting sites that are not at all crowded.

Tina

Chele - so excited for you and Blue!!  Please share how it goes and pics if you can.  What a cool life you have, living with horses.  We talk about the bucket list...when I was a little girl I was obsessed with horses, but was always too much of a city girl that it was never an option.  Love living vicariously through you!!!  If you get a chance, please share photos.

Tina - enjoy Rome, it sounds so exciting! Love to see your photos when you get home too!!  

Tina,

I love Rome. It is one of my favorite places and I never had a bad meal there. The Pan Am crews stayed at a little hotel very close to the Coliseum. Enjoy your trip.



My union is in contract negotiations with our school district and it's not going well. Our leadership planned for us to show up en mass at the school board meeting last night, protest signs in hand. Not only do I believe in the cause but I was very proud of the strong showing by so many of my colleagues. Mostly, I felt thrilled to be doing exactly what I would have been doing had bc never entered my life. For me, the most fun things are the most normal things. Still, I paid for it. After teaching all day and standing around a packed board room for a few hours, I was achy and exhausted when I got home. Every bone in my body was screaming. I was so wiped out that I forgot to walk my dogs, take my meds and fell asleep with my make up on. Fortunately, I woke up about midnight and took care of those things then swiftly fell back to sleep. How I love normal!

Caryn

Nbnotes- I'm so sorry you had to miss part of your Cirque show! Those tickets are so costly. I hope your issues clear up and you are able to enjoy the rest of your stay.

Where are you staying in Vegas? It's one of my favorite places for a fun weekend.

Nancy, we did great!  We only placed 3rd out of 6, but the times were tight!  My neice won barrels with 20.10, 2nd was 20.13, and Blue and I did 20.4!  He was so enthusiastic!  On poles we did well, but it was just my neice and I, and as always - she beat me!  I might have won if I hadn't blown a stirrup.  As we came around the last pole Blue dug in for the power launch and a stride or two after that my foot slipped out of the stirrup.  Since I had weight on it while I leaned forward and kicked I kind of landed on Blues neck and he slowed down.  No matter how much I kept kicking as I tried to straighten myself he just stayed steady and under me "I'm not going to lose you Mom".  Oh how I love that horse.  He has no idea how much he does for me.

No pictures though.  Nobody bothered to take any!