The Graduate!

Maddie's cousin graduated from UNL (University of Nebraska - Lincoln) last month! As with so many things, there was a lot of uncertainty about graduation in the pandemic age! But, it worked out well - Yay!

The graduation was outside; the graduates walked and picked up their diplomas and it was a happy occasion - even though it was a bit chilly that weekend. I'm sure Grace got used to the crazy Midwest weather though I think the minus 30 degree winter and excessive snowfall may have convinced her that Nebraska, while nice and all, does not have the best year-round weather!

Before she graduated, she got together with Maddie so Maddie could take some photos on campus! Grace and David both graduated. Grace's boyfriend, Clayton, has one more semester and will graduate in December.

The blooming trees on UNL campus were gorgeous for graduation photos!

And those columns you see in some photos - are called The Kissing Columns (not sure why) were removed the day after graduation so that the football training area can be expanded. Of course - football! So happy to have these photos before they got moved!

We had loads of fun celebrating Grace's graduation! She's back in Florida now working at Ernst & Young. Those 4 years went by so fast!! Congrats Grace! We'll miss you!

Landscaping Club!

Did you know there's a Landscaping Club

in high school?

So many club options these days - not 

like in the dark ages when I was in high school 

and the only club was Pep Club!

Maddie and I helped design a decal for 

members to put in their car windows -

a trend that is very popular in high school . . .

at least around here!

Options 2 and 3 were available.

The Vice Principal nixed Option 1 -- I think

it reminded him of my wild and frizzy hair! 

:)

Last week the club members pulled weeds in the courtyard area.

Spring cleanup of school grounds is scheduled in a few weeks.

At the club meeting the other day,

they learned how to make wrist corsages!

What a great talent and so useful with prom coming up soon!

Speaking of landscaping, I've started spring cleanup in our yard!

OH MY WORD!!

The heavy snow this past winter really

hammered the yard!

Leaves are packed down deep

and very, very, very dirty!

There's a lot of work to do

but happily I finished most of the front yard.

Super happy to see so many signs of spring!

Happy Spring!!

Happy Earth Day -- Hug a Tree!

Is there anything as 

lovely

as a tree blooming in the spring?!

The flowering trees have been incredible this year --
but are now starting to fade fast!

Last weekend, Maddy and I hit the
outdoor mall on a rainy day
(yes, my hair was a disaster)
but the girl loves to check out the books at B&N,
so I talked her into a quick iPhone
photo with one of the gorgeous trees there.
Quick -- run and enjoy their beauty before
the blooming season ends!!

Happy Earth Day!
and
Happy Arbor Day this week in Nebraska -
we celebrate trees! :)

Tee Time!

Spring is here and the grass is greening up, 

so you know what that means --

time for golf!

For Maddy and me,

that means putt-putt a/k/a mini-golf!!

Last Sunday, it was warm and sunny 

and the mini-golf course had opened for the season!!

The water hazards were not ready yet -- probably a good thing

as I have hit a ball into the water a time or two . . . or three!

We grabbed our putters and set out

to dust off the golfing cobwebs!

Guess who got a hole-in-one on

the very first hole she played???

Maddy!

Sadly, I didn't make any holes-in-one!

But we had lots of fun!

Maybe by the end of summer, I will have accomplished

the elusive hole-in-one!  Fingers crossed!

We love mini-golf!

Hello Spring!

I am a little bit late welcoming spring 

because I've been busy

raking and bagging leaves

and assorted gunk from the yard!

A little pretty among the the layers and layers of dirty old leaves!

And now that we've had a bit of rain,

everything is turning green and budding

right before my very eyes!

In celebration of spring and all that jazz,

Mr. Tennis decided to get a 

new ride!

Last weekend was sunny and up to 70

so a convertible made perfect sense!

Isn't he just too much sometimes!?! 

He loves it and says that with a little practice

(it's a stick shift), I can drive it too! 

So happy that Lincoln is very flat!

Last time I drove a stick shift - I had to be sure and make 

a plan ahead of time

to avoid hills!

Now that I'm a more experienced driver

and it's a lot flatter here, I really am not 

worried at all.

My biggest concern is . . . 

my hair!!

Seriously, we've just entered into the season

of bad hair days!  

You know:   rain + humidity = frizz and big hair!!

Add a convertible to that -- I'm a little afraid! 

Make that very afraid!

I noticed some robins eyeing my hair last weekend 

when it (my hair) was only slightly out of control!

Bring on the hot rollers and flat irons!

Only 2 years from a learner's permit!!!

Warming Up to Spring!

Hello Friends!

Are you enjoying spring?

Time to get the scooter out!

We're having some warmish days

and it is lovely and so cool in the mornings that I have 

re-started my early morning runs!

Ok, I admit, I do have to talk myself out of a warm and 

toasty bed at 5:15 am,

but once I am out running

 (or run/walking is more like it),

I never regret it.

So sweet to hear the birds singing and greeting the morning.

Muffy - wishing for a side-car on the scooter!

Mr. Tennis planted some pansies and
put up some new little solar lights!
They look so cool twinkling at night!

The decluttering project is in full force for
the flooring project that starts on Monday!
Yikes -- will I be ready??

Movers are arriving on Saturday morning to
move all the furniture from the living room, dining room
and kitchen to the garage!
So, I had to clean the garage too to make space for the refrigerator
and hope it can be plugged in --
 you just know I'm
going to need some liquid refreshment!

Hello Spring - Hello Weekend!

Wishing these were blooming in our yard,
but these were from last year!

Are you as excited as I am about spring!?!

We've been having some warm temps

now and then . . . but a little snow

is forecast for next week! :(

So, what's on your weekend agenda?
I am trying to find a new little combo
sink/vanity for one of the baths - yes, the one
with the new shower/tub sliding glass door (love it)!
I think there is one at Lowe's calling my name -
we will see.

In other weekend news, we are each
attempting
to throw out 10 items a week in an effort
to get rid of stuff that has been clogging up the house
and my brain for way too long.
I'm not sure that we will get the Lenten 40 bags in 40 days
accomplished, but we're making a small dent in the "stuff."
Some weeks we get more than 10
items each and some less.
Always good to have a goal, right!

Keep watching -- daffodils will be blooming
in your yard soon!
Happy Weekend Friends!

A Day Brightener

Lately, we have been faced with what seems to be a never-ending parade of day-after-day dreary and chilly days! Plus, here on the plains, it hasn't really greened-up a whole lot yet. Where, oh where, are the sunny and warm days that the arrival of spring should bring?

Isn't it amazing how sunshine can improve a person's mood?

Hey, I'm not asking for 60-degree temps here -- just seeing the sun out again would be an incredible boost and day brightener.

So, having been in a bit of a funk lately, I decided to buy myself some flowers.

There were so many to pick from at our new Trader Joe's -- love, love, love their flowers.

And daffodils really say "spring" to me.

How about you? What's your favorite spring flower?

Spring is in the Air!

Signs of spring are popping up all over and it just really makes everything better, doesn't it! I was so thrilled the other day on the way home from work to see some trees greening up already!! The warm sunny skies just make all the stresses of work, collecting stuff for tax prep and tidying up the ever messy house simply disappear. Even though there may be snow forecast for tomorrow (!!!), Maddy and I headed to our neighborhood school yard tonight so that she could practice some of her climbing. I swear that girl is part monkey!

No fear -- the girl has no fear!



Kind of a scary-looking apparatus, isn't it?! She loves to climb it.

Those front teeth are finally starting to come in! I almost hate to see her sweet toothless smile change!

Spring and fluffing and stuff!

Finally -- spring is officially here!! And get this, the hub allowed me to take down a Christmas wreath that was still hanging on a door to the backyard/garden! Oy -- I'm sure the neighbors were thinking of sneaking over and removing it!

We are definitely ready for warm weather, though I did hear a forecast that said there may be snow on Tuesday. :( So, guess we're not quite out of the winter woods just yet!

And Maddy is finally starting to feel better. She had sinusitis over a week ago and after a few days of antibiotics, she started to sound and feel even worse instead of better! Took her back to the doc and evidently she had caught another virus! Poor baby! She still has such a gunky nose and coughs quite a bit a night, but is feeling more like herself. So much so that she modeled a bit for me yesterday! Don't you love all the pieces of hair in her face!!

The Rickster and I raked up about a ton of leaves from the back by the garage and there are still a million left to go. I'm calling in help to get all those since I just don't have enough time to get all the yard work done. Heck, I barely get the housework done, yard work has to wait and wait and wait! But look, some little daffodils are thinking of blooming!!!

Inspired by a few decorating blogs that I visit, I did a little bit of spring fluffing in my foyer! It's not much, but it is my first try at putting something besides a pot of fake flowers there. Now, if I could just get moving on the rest of the house!

Look -- a flying bunny!!!!

A Bear Like No Other!

As a little reward for helping out with the party and littler kids last Saturday, I took Maddy to Build a Bear workshop last Sunday. I know, I know, we have more than enough stuffed animals, but I had a feeling this bear was going to be special. We were spending the afternoon with my Mom and went to the mall to shop a bit and visit the workshop. Perhaps because it was Mother's Day and finally some lovely weather, it wasn't very busy -- very nice for us, indeed. Maddy picked out a sweet brown bear, stuffed it lovingly and kissed its little heart before putting it into her bear. Of course, then it was on to clothes and accessories. Maddy Bear (as she was named by Maddy) is a very special bear. She has a hearing aid too! I learned that the Build a Bear workshops had hearing aids for the bears from one of Maddy's teachers. One of the things that does seem to bother Maddy sometimes is that she is the only person in her whole school and daycare with a hearing impairment and a hearing aid. But now, having a little bear with a hearing aid too seemed to make her feel better about hers.

And we've finally been enjoying some warmer and not so rainy weather. Maddy and I have been going to the park or school playground in the evenings. But, where is everybody else? The last couple times we've gone to the playground, it's totally empty. Weird, but nice since Maddy has the run of the place. Here she is -- enjoying some fav activities.

Ahhh spring!! Achoo!!

Well, spring is finally here! Yay for that and for being outside more. . . . but, aaaachooo!!! My allergies are really bothering me! But no, don't worry, I haven't sneezed so hard that my eyelash extensions have come off!!

Maddy and I did tons of yard work/clean-up last weekend and enjoyed looking at the neighbors' yards. Not exactly snooping -- just enjoying their flowering plants!. Next door, our neighbor's forsythia is blooming and is so pretty -- but, oops, they missed it -- they're out of town. And behind us, another neighbor's magnolia tree is blooming! OH. MY. GOSH -- that is one pretty tree! And oops again -- they missed it -- they are really out of town, as in out of the country in Shanghai, PRC. I was a tad worried that I might make them homesick by emailing a photo of their lovely tree. But, the wife said she was so delighted to receive it on a dreary, rainy day in Shanghai. We hope they will be back home this summer with daughter no. 2 from China. Their no. 1 daughter is 4 and Maddy loves to play and visit with her. New and different toys, you know -- and we have missed them this past year. Fingers and toes crossed that all goes as planned and they return with two darling girls in the summertime.

And it just wouldn't be a good trip to the school playground or park without Maddy climbing around and doing flips! She's little, but her upper body/arm strength is amazing! Truthfully -- it always worries me a bit that her hearing aid will fall out -- but it hasn't yet, so I am just going to give up the worrying about it. More nice weather forecast this whole week -- we are so, so lucky!