Early Spring Days

Good morning!  I love these early, spring days when it's still chilly in the mornings and evenings, but the afternoons are warm and sunny.  I'm on my second cup of coffee this morning, as it's a bit cool out, and thinking maybe I should've sent a light jacket to school with my daughter instead of a sweater.  We went on an evening family walk after dinner last night, and it was such a beautiful, spring evening with most of the trees in bloom and I noticed that azaleas are also starting to bud.  Thinking we will do that again tonight.  

My potted parrot tulips are blooming.  I planted a pack of seven bulbs, and ended up getting three flowers, but they are beautiful indeed.  The first one to bloom was eventually picked, of course, and brought inside to enjoy on our kitchen table. 

I've also added some things to my kitchen window ledge.  I have a basil plant up there and a succulent that I've had for a while, and a sweet photo of Charlotte in a frame that she painted at school. Thinking I might add a few more herb pots and maybe even a small potted geranium for some color.

Hope you are having a great week!  Get outside and enjoy this beautiful, spring weather!

Almost Spring

Hello!  Last week felt like Spring with highs in the seventies.  Daffodils are blooming, and my potted tulips are starting to sprout, but we are back to Winter today.  That's okay with me, as I'm not ready to say goodbye to winter quite yet.

I recently purchased The Simple Bites Kitchen cookbook, and I am loving it.  I've tried several recipes so far, and some more than once, and they've all been great.  I made the corn chowder for dinner tonight, and it was excellent.  We all loved it!  If you are looking for some new, mostly healthy recipes, I would highly recommend this cookbook.

It's the first day of March today, and it definitely came in like a lion with lots of rain and wind.  My daughter will celebrate her ninth birthday later this month, and I can hardly believe she is turning nine.  Where does the time go?  She is such a sweet girl and we have so much fun together.  We are looking forward to celebrating her birthday in a few weeks with a family party and a class party at school.  

I finally got around to framing one of my favorite pieces of Charlotte's artwork from kindergarten.  It's very special, and we love it!

Well, I'm off to make a cup of hot tea and get cozy while I watch a cooking show on PBS this evening.  Cooking shows not only inspire me to try new foods, but I also find them very relaxing to watch.

Flowers... Inside and Outside

Lately, we are spending lots of time outside admiring all of our lovely plants. My peonies have been just beautiful this year.  I currently have fresh flowers all around my house... I love it!  We also spent a day in Blowing Rock last week visiting my brother and sister-in-law. While there I came across the most gorgeous garden nursery The Mustard Seed.  I seriously could have spent all day there.  Ok, now I am off to water my plants.  

Lovely Spring and My Birthday

• Lovely tulips from the farmers market
• Zinnias just starting to sprout
• My darling girl on Easter Sunday
• Yummy Spring Ale
• Charlotte is doing so awesome on her bike
• So pretty and green outside
• Fun at the library
• Celebrating my 39th birthday in Asheville, on Saturday, with my two loves
• Gorgeous flower basket at the restaurant where we celebrated
• Asheville was lovely, and the weather was perfect. I had a wonderful birthday!

Lately...

• Spring in our front yard
• New reading glasses
• A little posy for the mantel
• Spotted this cute guy while gardening with Charlotte
• Making spinach and bacon quiche
• Lovely tulips from the farmer's market
• Painting outside on a gorgeous Spring day
• Morning books with my sweet girl

Saturday Evening

Awww what a wonderful evening we had out on the patio enjoying beautiful Spring weather!  Wine for mommy, beer for daddy, bubbles for Charlotte and treats for the dog.  Yes, the perfect evening!