Bob and I stopped down at Thicut on our way out for dinner at the Gelston House and Annie Get Your Gun at Goodspeed. Bob fed the fish and I looked for a book I'd lent Anna Ruth (Anya Seton's Foxfire). Probably in Bethesda or Great Falls... The show was GREAT and the food was Delicious. The river was beautiful, too. We live in a beautiful part of the country.

Yesterday, Bob and I went down after work and mowed the (very) high grass. It was sad to mow the beautiful purple and white wild flowers poking out of tall tufts of grass, but it had to be done. No sign of wild life (i.e. snakes, etc) in or out. The fish are swimming merrily around and I fed them, but the pond is in dire need of cleaning out. MANY tiny tadpoles, too! We found a few stalks of (is it wild now?) asparagus at the edge of the front field and cleaned out a bit around them. We made ourselves pasta/sauce and ate in the quiet evening, then headed home. A slightly muggy but breezy 80 degrees F.

Anna Ruth left this morning back south for Yale alumni trip and grandchildren concerts. Bob and I will try to get the lawn mowed before her return! It's been hot and muggy the last two days, so it seems summer has arrived early.

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.