Bob and I had a very nice visit yesterday! Cleaned out gardens where all kinds of flowers are blooming or promising to bloom, Bob mowed a bit (but NOT the violets). Had a comfortable tea and girl scout cookies: mmm, thanks Katie!

Anna Ruth is in residence for the next week or so. I'll update after I visit her! Happy spring.

Cloudy and 50 degrees F. But you should see the FLOWERS! The yard is carpeted with purple violets, there are bright red tulips next to the pond, and the yellow daffodils and forsythia and pink quince are still blooming. The magnolia is about done, but more flowers are on their way. A good time for Anna Ruth to return. I turned on the water heater, the fridge and turned up the thermostat to 60 degrees so it's not too chilly when she arrives on ?Monday. The silly bird is trying to build a nest on top of the door AGAIN, and unfortunately I found evidence of mice (teeth marks) on the soap in the upstairs bath. The mail should be delivered starting Monday or Tuesday. Love to all.

The magnolia is in bloom. BEAUTIFUL. The daffodils are all blooming, the forsythia are full of yellow and green, the flowering Quince is bright reddish pink. I cut some quince to bring inside and some daffodils that are just about to bloom. Hopefully they will still be pretty next week when Anna Ruth arrives. The fish are down deep since it was cold last night and should be cold tonight. (maybe frost). The temperature today got up to about 65 degrees F. I brought back the night blooming cereus to see if it will recover and bloom again... There was the beginnings of a bird's nest on the door AGAIN. I brushed it off with the broom. It looked like it had been started and abandoned, so I didn't feel guilty. I picked up about a week and a half's mail from the mailbox and stopped at the post office to have them hold the mail until next Monday. They are very nice at this tiny old post office.

Here are some pictures I took on Sunday, April 4th.

Bob, Lady, and I had a wonderful quiet 3 days at Thicut. It was the first time in probably 40 years that I've actually slept overnight. Bob has never. It is SO quiet during the night. No car sounds or neighbor sounds. During Saturday, we heard the dirt bikes somewhere in the woods and motorcycles on 151, but other than that, birds and rushing water kept us company.

I cleaned cobwebs and dust bunnies and chased (MILLIONS) ladybugs from sunny window to sunny front door while Bob cleaned brush from the front field and sprayed Roundup on MORE barberry. We raked some of the winter debris off the yard, cleaned out between the barn and (3/4th full of water!) Well, and even trimmed off the dead parts and tied up the rose to the barn.

Along with ladybugs inside, the TICKS are outside. Lady was unscathed, but Bob and I picked several off ourselves (is there a 'Frontline' for people?).

We walked up the Grassy Lane to the falls to marvel at the rush of spring water filling the swimming area and obliterating the slide. It was just white water all around. We walked along the brook from there to the bridge in the 'flood plain' left by the now receding water. The other swimming hole and slide (nearer the house) were rushing whitewater too. There was hardly any indication of the dam we build "every summer".

We watched the fish in the pond. Lady watched their movements so carefully, we were afraid she'd fall in. Bob agrees that there are at least 13-14 of all sizes. Forsythia and daffodils in full bloom, flowering quince about to bloom and magnolia will bloom this week.

Spring has Sprung! Aunt Sandy, thanks for letting us stay!

Here are pictures of the water under the bridge and down path. These were taken on April 1st. Bob and I are spending the weekend here to get some dust and cobewebs out and explore the woods. It's supposed to be great weather! Happy Spring and Happy Easter!