Crazy, Fun, Good.

It was one of those crazy couple of weeks where there is something good every day on the calendar. This is always a plus. It also makes you really long for a quiet day. But let's talk fun. The magnolia and apple blossoms are beginning to fall but it's all green and all good!

I had my last board meeting for Friends of Theatre. There will be a brief annual meeting but basically, my term is through and I will miss it. (I could have run for another but I told them to hold that thought for another year!) Leading into that was our annual gala. The entertainment was a musical written by students and targeted to children with autism, with puppets, music and fun. Our gala audience was adults and we all loved it.

Sailing through the week, I recorded pledge breaks for WKAR and had a friend for lunch. My dessert (and this photo isn't the best) is Sarah Anderson's Lemon Pie, the recipe for which Jenna of The Painted Apron shared HERE. If you love tart lemon (and I do), this is the easiest, tastiest pie you will ever make. (Note: I made mine in graham cracker instead of regular crust and if you do that, it's fine but cover the edge of the crust or bake a little less. Might be my hot oven!)

And my friend Barb created this fabulous herb basket for me. It smells wonderful!

Then into the following week, a road trip to IKEA, Trade Joe's and my favorite Italian Grocery to celebrate friend Kate's belated birthday. We didn't get one of these cakes -- but it was tempting!

Then Southern Exposure and our log planter. My friend Jan and I were in a celebratory and reflective mood. Jan's birthday was the day before our workshop and it was six years to the day I said farewell to my Marmelade Gypsy. It was a good place to be. (More on our Southern Exposure visit soon.)

Thursday found a friend and I helping one of our Corkies pack for her move to Savannah. Pat had recalled our make-and-take tea and gave Barb and I each a tea cup from her wedding china. The most thoughtful thing ever. And later, Rick and I went to a travelogue produced by a friend!

That brings us to Friday, which started with a mani-pedi for Lizzie when my wonderful vet stopped by to clip her talon-like nails. A little wedding baking was followed by a wonderful massage and then a retirement party for my "work brother" Tim.

I've known Tim since I first started working at WKAR. We worked in side-by-side offices, then he was later my boss. I danced at his wedding and we traveled to many PBS conferences together. His was a long and creative career and deserved celebration. This event was held at the local ballpark (because Tim is world's biggest baseball fan and possibly world's biggest Cubs fan, too!). Not only was it a terrific celebration for Tim but fun for me to see loads of people I'd not seen in eons! (Thanks, Dave Brown, for taking the photo!)

And then, the Royal Wedding. Up at 5 a.m. Scones in the oven, tea ready, table set...

Amal Clooney rocked it in the wardrobe department. I loved her dress, even more than the brides! (More on that soon!)

Immediately after the wedding, I took a robin that was injured to bird rehab. They think they can help it.

And on their grounds on the way home, spotted this.

Apparently they know what they are doing. Birds flock to them!

The end!

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Southern Exposure Bird Planter

A few weeks ago I told you about our first visit to Southern Exposure (and I still haven't found a place for my Huge Sun Face yet!) Not much was blooming but last week it was an entirely different story!

Tulips were in full bloom. I loved the pink ones!

We were greeted by the Southern Exposure bunny. He looked just like Peter Rabbit, waiting for us to head to dinner so he could go make mischief!

I always get a bit of a thrill when I begin to enter the garden path, wondering what I might see.

There were loads of bleeding hearts, a favorite that reminds me of my grandmother's garden.

Even the lilacs were in bloom.

They do wonderful things with sculpture, whether it is poured...

...or stacked.

We checked out the herb garden.

Looking healthy!

Have you seen chamomile? I hadn't. Loads of tea to come, I think!

The greenhouse is a favorite spot. These pansies are in full bloom!

And I loved this heart with succulents. I suspect this is for a workshop that unfortunately I am not taking. Rats! I would have loved this!

My companions for the evening were my friend Kate and sister-in-law Kim.

As always, we paid respect to the chickens.

The rooster was in good form, chasing the ladies and making plenty of noise!

Our project was a three-pot metal planter with birds. Our work spaces included a bin of dirt, a spoon and gloves and the metal piece, along with basil, violas, kale and thyme.

There were 60 of us and it was, as usual, set out on hay bales which made clean-up easy!

This was super easy -- basically filling in the pots with the dirt. I love how they have everything set out for us! The end result was lovely.

And even better, I got to see a friend from junior high school! We have seen each other since we were 13 or 14, but not often enough. This was a bonus!

After the workshop we had time to take another quick look at the gardens (ask me how much I love Daylight Saving Time!)

I have one more coming up (actually, by the time this one posts, that will be over!) And I'm anxious to see how much greener and more developed the garden is.

No matter what, I know it will be beautiful!

And here, the finished product! I will probably rig to hang on my fence, but I do love how the light picks up the bird shadows!

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A Dear Ditchy Spring! (Or do I mean a "Deer" Spring?)

Oh, what a site to see these days as you approach the Ditch!

Check out all those blossoms!

Blue sky, white flowers...

What's not to love?

 The Ditch is on the quiet side this year. There aren't too many ducks or ducklings yet.

We think the rough winter took care of some who couldn't get food. And the females may well be nesting. But the boys were taking it easy on the banks!

Whenever I see the deer it feels like a gift.

And on this day, it felt like Christmas.

In the "third" pond, this one was grazing.

Then she crossed over to the land. She was harder to see -- the reeds covering her face.

So, I moved on, enjoying the lily pads...

...and the other ponds.

But then, this. Two of them.

Oh, their faces!

I thought I was pretty lucky in this bit of Eden. But then I saw this!

Three! Can you see him in the very back, just to the right of the deer on the left that is grazing?

That's better...

And check this out --

Did you see four? Yes, there were four, though one seemed to keep her head down. But she looked up here. (Another went out of range.)

Camera shy perhaps, unlike the others. Or maybe just hungry.

The deer always seem to have a message for me. They were clearly aware of my presence, other walkers, a barking dog.

Yet they knew we were no threat. "Be aware," they seemed to say to me. "But trust. Have faith in the people."

Wise thoughts to remember.

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