April Draws to a Close!

It seems like this month has passed by in a blur...guess one reason is that I haven't felt well for about half of it...but months just seem to be passing by faster than they used to...I have been told that time seeming to fly by has something to do with one's age...hmmmmmmm not sure if I claim that reason or not!!!!! We have had a busy day. Woody got up super early. His major accomplishment of the morning was to complete his mulching task...a good task to have behind him. The gardens look great! He has worked so very hard. He is glad that he is finished as his knee is a bit gimpy today...now he can rest it some and not have to get up and down off his knees as he does when he is mulching. I had school with Abigail, Esther, and Joy. Graham and Nathan are getting closer to having their storage building finished...the door is up and today they worked on windows. This afternoon they got Kathy to sling a bit of paint. As soon as I finished with the girls and their school work, Woody and I headed out the door to go to Murfreesboro. Woody had an appointment with his dermatologist. He has, what he thinks is a wart, on his nose. It is in a very bad place and was constantly getting hit and thus usually had a big scab on it. Today he got it looked at...it got scraped/sliced off for a biopsy...and is being sent for a pathology report. Woody made tuna salad for our supper tonight after we got home. After eating supper, I headed upstairs to sit and rest in "my" recliner...well, next thing I know I am waking up! I guess the day wore me out! I definitely did more than I have in a long time. Tonight's photo was taken on a back road between Murfreesboro and home...the road that we often took when we were making our treks to Vanderbilt in the early days of Woody's melanoma treatments.

Drier Day!

Wow! Did we ever get rain this weekend. Our rain gauge wasn't working, but today when I went for my six-month check-in with my neurologist, he said that he had measured 6 inches! I will say that the growth of our plants that are out is phenomenal...my hanging basket plants more than doubled in size over the weekend! Our April showers (deluge) should be very good for our May flowers! Woody walked about three miles this morning running errands. I had school with Elijah, Esther and Joy this morning and then Abigail came over this afternoon to work on some of her lessons. Woody has worked more in the yard today...rather mucky under foot...so very wet

Saturday Showers

Well, if April showers bring May flowers, then we should have a lot of May flowers! We have had LOTS of rain today. Woody walked seven miles early and only had a few sprinkles fall on him. Not long after he got back the heavens opened up and it rained a good part of the rest of the day. We did see a few moments of sun around 5pm. Woody made some yummy treats for us this morning. I actually cooked supper for us this evening...the first time in more than two weeks when I actually prepared a meal. I'm glad to be feeling better. I did nap for a short time after supper. I have spent most of the day preparing for tomorrow's Sunday School lesson (I have something different up my sleeves for tomorrow's lesson!). Woody did run an errand or two today. But mostly we stayed in and tried to stay dry.

Friday Fumblings!

I write this to the sound of rain on the rooftop and a bit of thunder rumbling in the background...guess we have a forecasted storm approaching. Another sign of Spring...pretty day...stormy day...cooler days...pretty day...warmer day...stormy day...another change in temperature! Woody got up early and decided to run some early errands...but his plans were foiled...dead battery. Nathan and he jumped the car and then Woody was off to buy a new battery (not part of his planned errands!). So we once again have two running cars! Now if I just felt like going some place! The only place that I have gone other than our house and Nathan and Kathy's in the last two weeks (or more) has been to church. I am feeling better...but still not 100%...though it does look like I am back to being able to eat normally...or at least easing back into "normal!" My left knee (original knee that was hurting) is definitely much better...not hurting...mainly still swollen a bit. My right knee started hurting because of overcompensation due to the left knee. Well, it seems much better today too...though I am treating it like the hurt knee now when climbing the stairs, etc. (up with the good and down with the bad). I slept in our bed for the first time in weeks last night and slept well. I have spent a good portion of the day working on Sunday's Sunday School lesson for my ladies' class. Late afternoon, I knew, wasn't a good time to nap BUT...my eyes wouldn't stay open so slept hard for a while...still don't feel awake...probably will wake up about bedtime! My nap foiled my plans for making supper (slept through supper!)...perhaps we will have that plan tomorrow! Cooking has been put on the back burner for a while since I haven't felt like eating or standing! Woody does a good job fending for himself...I'm so thankful that he can find his way around the kitchen! After getting a new battery, Woody was all set to run his original planned errands. He went to the library and he stopped for specials at the grocery stores he didn't go to yesterday. He has worked quite a bit in the yard...planting a big fern in one of our gardens, making a new "flower bed" using an idea that I had some time back and sowing some seeds in it, mowing the lawn...all kinds of outdoor jobs to be done before the rain settled in once again. Which brings me to the present...the rain has settled in and is supposed to be with us for a day or so.

Mr. and Mrs. Cardinal

I have finally gotten pictures of cardinals with my new camera...I was pretty far away when I snapped these so hoping for a closer shot in the near future. I look forward to another warm spell when I can sit out on the front porch and take photos of birdie visitors to our front yard. Woody and I both got up really early this morning. Woody was a great help in doing some household chores that I really can't do at the moment because of my knees...like vacuum. The downstairs is ever so much more presentable now! Abigail came over this morning and helped me put away some toys in the toy closet...again, something that I can't do due to my knees...crawl into the toy closet! After she picked up the toys, we got back to work on her sewing notebook. We got stopped on that project the other day because we ran out of ink in the printer. We got the pictures printed and got one project page ready for her notebook. We still have to add the pictures and info for jumper and capris that she made her doll...next time! Woody went to the grocery store. He has also done quite a bit of mowing today. He is now next door taking care of the kids while Nathan and Kathy have a date night. Nathan and Kathy and the children are busy getting items collected and ready for their big yard sale for their mission trip to Africa. Nathan and Woody went to pick up some items today and then others dropped items off. Their garage has quite a collection of various and sundry items in it! Their yard sale will take place next Friday and Saturday (May 3 & 4). One man's junk = another man's treasure!!!!!

Frog Legs, Anyone?!?

Important science lesson for Graham today...and, a lesson for all (except for Isaac...he was napping)! Today was the day that Graham got to dissect a frog. I love the photo that shows what several of them thought about the smell...a Norman Rockwell moment?!? Elijah, Esther, Joy and Graham had a bit of Grammy school today on this rainy day. Elijah sounded out some more words. Esther read a bit more in Dick and Jane and then I read poetry to her out of one of my old Childcraft books. Joy worked on her addition and subtraction facts with flash cards and then we read a couple of stories. Graham came over we chased several rabbits while we came up with a plan to catch his sewing notebook up-to-date. After I took a few pictures of the dissecting lesson, I headed to the church to work for several hours in the library. Once again we accomplished several things...getting on with taking inventory. I actually managed to print some of the shelf lists that I had been having trouble with. Woody walked eight miles today. He did some mulching before the rain arrived. His major "task/experience" of the day was taking Abigail to buy her mother an early Mother's Day present...a pretty red geranium for their back porch. Goosey (Woody) had told Abigail that he would take her shopping on the next day that it rained...Abigail saw to it that he kept his promise! The rain brought cooler temps once again. Wonder which "winter" this is for Middle TN! I haven't been able to keep with the "winters" this Spring.

Mulchin' and Shuckin'

Woody started mulching (and weeding) pretty early this morning. He met his goal before the end of the afternoon so he continued on. He can "almost" see the light at the end of the tunnel for this job! I had Abigail, Graham, and Joy come over and have a bit of Grammy time. After lunch I headed off to get my hair cut. After I got back Esther and Elijah were so "into" playing outside that they decided to pass on school time today. I didn't push the issue as it was a beautiful day...perfect for playing outside...and tomorrow it is supposed to rain...plenty of time to do school on a rainy day! I sat on the driveway in the shade for a little while, trying to catch a photo op of a cardinal pair. I did get a try or two at the mama cardinal, but still waiting for a good shot at a daddy cardinal. I did manage to get a picture of one across the street this morning, but I would like a bit closer shot. Woody found me the photo op of the day...Joy and Esther out by the compost pile shucking/husking corn for their supper. Esther learned that corn has long silk rather than long hair! I spent the rest of the afternoon resting in the recliner upstairs. I'm still not a 100% after all my ailments of last week...but definitely better. My knee definitely seems to be on the mend. Woody left a while ago to walk to the prayer room...his walk of the day.