Discerning the Difference

Shot some golf after work – well, shot photos of high school players competing in golf at TriCity. Yes, it was super windy. And no, I don't know how they did. I do know I cracked up when I saw this sign by the restroom. Man, woman, both, neither, alien... just wash your hands.

Everybody's welcome.

I'm hoping to find a welcoming neighborhood like that for our boy. Spent the evening apartment searching online. He created a list and I reviewed it with the mom eye. Thank goodness that you can narrow searches by size, rent cost, length of commute, and more. Also, thankfully there are photos online so you can see for yourself if it's a newer complex or rundown building.

And, though I was careful how I worded it, you can ask Google if XYZ is a good neighborhood in Milwaukee. And by good, I mean their report on crime and safety numbers. What every nervous mom cares about when sending their baby to the big city. 

So we'll see if we can discern the difference between good and bad places to live. As long as they welcome aliens, we shouldn't have any concerns.

Be careful out there.

Setting Schedules

Took team and individual photos of our high school athletes tonight. It was perfectly cloudy until my baseball team. Of course. Good thing they were the one group wearing hats. Of course.

There were plenty of smiles and immature moments to go around. Pretty typical for high school kids!

Got home and am whipping together a "pretty schedule" for each of the spring sports – using tonight's team photos. So far, I've got baseball and softball done. But I'm a tired old lady. Thinking track and golf might have to wait a day.

For the record, Royal fans, Thursday is full of activity for every spring sport except soccer (they scrimmage Friday). Check marawoodconference.org for the latest schedules. Or look here when I get the other ones done. Ha.

Good luck, Royals!

Spring Sports Now In Session

Our Assumption Royals baseball team had its best game in two years tonight. Also, it's first game in two years! It didn't end how we wanted, but definitely worth the wait. And even Mother Nature cooperated. A few sprinkles here and there, but otherwise she let the boys PLAY BALL!

Felt good to work the camera again – even though my fingers got cold.

And felt good to see friends cheering on their sons again! 

And felt good to see my favorite person doing what he loves, too!

Lot of new faces since none of the current freshmen or sophomores have played high school ball yet. Nice to see some good young talent. Despite our 8-2 loss to Abbotsford in the home opener, hopefully it'll make for a pretty good season. 

And any season will be better than the 2020 alternative. Good luck, Royals!

The Next Chapter

I guess two years can fly by in a heartbeat. Still, with that darn "lost year" in between, it seems like Carter's semester in Germany was forever ago! 

It's fitting that this popped up in my memories on Facebook because it was just one chapter, one journey in life. He had to move on and finish college (chapter closed in December), and then, start the real-life adulthood chapter – get a job.

And he did! I don't want to jinx anything until all the i's are dotted and the t's are crossed, but yes, our baby found out today he has a grown-up job that will take him to Milwaukee to start his next chapter in the marketing field! And just like I wrote two years ago, we're so proud of him. 

He's got about a month here to transition from one chapter to the next. Pretty sure I'll probably be mentioning it here one more time as details firm up. 

We'll accept finger crossing and prayers at this time!

Exposing Our Roots

There's something quite relaxing about spending a weekend with a sister. I think it's because you don't have to put up any guard or fake fence. They know you down to your roots – and know your roots – so they get you. And, more importantly, still love you anyway.

I was glad the clouds and rain cleared up enough for us to take a cool but sunny walk around the lake before Renell headed back to Minnesota.

I concluded I really should spend more one-on-one time with my siblings. When you grow up in a family of 8 kids, there's always so many people. Ha. And thanks to COVID and rare gatherings, it's going to be big groups again because we haven't seen each other in a year, pretty much. And that will be awesome but not great for one-on-one deep convos where you can actually catch up on each other's lives and, lo and behold, learn knew things about each other. Or just share quiet, relaxing time sharing our roots.

That's why I'm looking forward to my trip with Nell and my quickly upcoming trip with my twin Raylene to see our sister Rayna. No pretense. Just girls who grew up together as sisters and now friends. 

One thing this pandemic has reinforced: We can't take that time together for granted! It was taken away for so long. I for one will treasure these moments even more than usual. Hopefully there'll be many more to come this year!

#getvaccinated

Got Itinerary, Will Travel

Felt normal today and that was good because I had a huge to-do list! How do you hunker down at the kitchen table to plan for an Alaskan trip? The easiest way is to be at the same kitchen table (thanks for coming, Renell) and promise to reward yourself with King Cone.

Well we had lunch and King Cone around 1:30 ish after getting halfway through our plans. Then we hunkered down and got our 9 days loosely planned – just enough to know in general where we wanted to start and end each day with some possible activities or scenery in between. 

Timed our late dinner at Anchor Bay just right to see the sunset afterward and get a selfie (of sorts) in the cold rain! Yup crappy weather, but we did get a short walk in around the neighborhood and a run in when we dashed off this floating dock and ran to the car to get dry!  

Jim had a full day away, mainly visiting aunts and uncles, so he got home just in time to lose, er play, the 3 to 13 card game with us. Food, entertainment, laughing... just like a sister weekend – but with a lucky bearded guy as a bonus!

Now that we have our trip planned out, we're pretty excited to just get going. Only 51 days away! I don't doubt I'll be dreaming about glaciers tonight.

The 27-degree temps outside may really make it feel like Alaska, too. Enough of that, Mother Nature!

No Pain, No Gain

Well my lucky shirt did not hold off the vaccination side effects all that long. Did last to the 12-hour post-shot mark OK. But hours 13 through 24 were just plain awful.

Hubby and I are generally very healthy (knock on wood) so it's been years since I had anything resembling the flu. I forgot how much I hate it. I forgot what a wimp I am!

Just go down the checklist on the left up there – had both warmth and chills (fun combo), fatigue but I couldn't sleep (another fun combo), big time headache this morning, and oh the muscle and joint pain! That was the main reason I couldn't sleep. Couldn't get comfortable. And my left arm still hurts. So I slept in a bit this morning and started work late. Just couldn't move.

Jim had these side effects, too. But his arm didn't hurt as much since he exercised it yesterday. I'm going to predict one more rough night of sleep since we're definitely not at 100%. But as I said, any short-lived symptoms are worth going through for the end result. Keep your eye on the prize.

No pain, no gain!

Uno Dos Doses

If you're wondering if you can go on a date in the middle of the work day, you can! Then celebrate like this:

Yup, we got our second doses today and are fully vaccinated! Now that's something to celebrate.

My friend Cindy made me this Hamilton musical-inspired vaccination day shirt: Not throwing away my shot! Love it!

Must be a bit of a lucky shirt. So far – knock on wood – the second shot hasn't knocked us on our butts. Yet. We've heard a lot people get reactions after 12 hours or the next day. So we'll hope for the best.

Right now my only side effect is a really sore arm. After the first dose, I could sleep on my left shoulder and arm no problem. This time... not so much. But if that's all we suffer through, it's 100% – or 95% – worth it.

Since I was feeling OK after work, I did something "normal" for me this time of year. I took pictures of the middle school softball game. I'm a little rusty after two years – remember, no spring sports when the pandemic kicked off last March – but I got at least one I'm giddy about. 

Got a little air time there. That's a pretty big windmill! 

I can't wait to get back into the swing of it – as in real life with some photography, too, ha – soon, too!

#getvaccinated

Awww Wednesday

When you open a box of "stuff' and you come across Polaroids (kids, ask your parents) of your cat when she was a kitty... and more importantly, of your baby when he was just a baby, well little boy.

"Look at the camera," says Carter, squeezing her face into position!

"Smile nice," says Carter as he gently holds her in place!!

I can't tell if Sylvester actually did like another human besides Jim at one point – or liked the boy against her will (being held against her will, by the looks of it.) I mean it was Carter's cat, according to Santa. Glad there's some photographic evidence of that.

Also... this momma is just tearing up looking at this baby who will be 23 in 10 days. 

A Break in the Clouds

This entire pandemic has had another cloud hanging over it that appeared on May 25, 2020, when George Floyd, a 46-year-old black man, was murdered in Minneapolis while being arrested on suspicion of using a counterfeit $20 bill. 

During the arrest, bystanders video recorded Derek Chauvin, a white police officer with the Minneapolis P.D., kneeling on Floyd's neck for nine minutes and 29 seconds after Floyd was handcuffed and lying face down.

Today, after a trial of several weeks and jury deliberation of 10+ hours, Chauvin was convicted of second-degree unintentional murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. 

Like much of the nation – certainly all of Minnesota – I tuned into the reading of the verdict at 4 p.m. I was nervous. Could we count on the "system "to do the right thing? To service justice? I remember the Rodney King verdict well since I was just starting my newspaper career when that news broke. Police officers in L.A. beating up King mercilessly for 15 minutes – all caught on videotape as well, but the officers were later acquitted.

So today, I was hoping for a better ending. When I heard the first "guilty," I had a lump in my throat. By the third, tears in my eyes.

Tears of relief really. And sadness, too, that this is such a teeny tiny break in the clouds that hang over those who suffer this injustice and disrespect every day. There's such a long road to reach fairness and equity or even basic human respect. 

How embarrassing. How disgusting. How unjust.

I don't know about you, but I prefer sunny skies to tiny breaks in the clouds. It takes kindness first. It's such a little thing, yet so big all at once. Can we learn from this and do our best to be good humans? We can't be perfect, but opening our minds and hearts is a great start to being pretty good.

God, help us.

Bag Lady

It's Earth Week! I wouldn't label myself a tree hugger, but I do like to do kind things for the planet. I even gave up AquaNet – albeit briefly – in the '80s to save the ozone. Today, I just recycle. All. The. Time.

In my mother's day, she re-used everything from Cool Whip containers (who doesn't?) to bread bags (great winter boot liners) and Ziploc baggies (whatever the cheaper generic version was). It was all fine and good until a person crosses the fine line between frugal and hoarder.

Or us today – tree hugger or hoarder.

I know I cross that line. All the time. But then gather up whatever I have overstock of – usually plastic grocery bags – and take them to the appropriate recycling place.

My latest stockpile seems to be paper bags about the size above that are sturdy and have a handle and... I know I can use them somehow. But I haven't. And as long as I keep supporting small businesses (usually my source for these perfect-sized containers), I won't run out permanently.

But they're such nice bags. I mean no stains or rips. 

I'll give them up if one of you could use them. I mean there's not a ton of them, only like a half dozen or maybe 20. Let me know. I want them to go to a good home.

And don't lie to me and say you can use them only to take them and put these perfectly good bags in recycling. You don't want to see this bag lady cross the fine line.

On Earth Week and every week – take good care of our home.

COVID Variation

Since our juniors last year and this year didn't get a spring prom – thanks, COVID – Assumption held a Royal Gala this evening for those two classes. Basically dinner and a show (Comedy Sportz). And time for photos, of course.

I was stationed in the photo room to take both nice and fun photos. Played around with the props while waiting around for the kiddos to show up. You know I can't resist a purple feather! Matched my shirt! Naturally.

Wasn't a huge crowd of students but they were dressed up like it was a formal dinner and looked amazing. Stayed for dinner and the coronation – senior court to acknowledge Junior Prom 2020 and junior court for this spring's non-dance gala. 

I hope the kids enjoyed it. Hoping this pandemic will quit pooping on all their plans, too! 

In the meantime, all we can do is just grab our purple feathers and smile. It worked today, anyway.

Not Just Fiddlin' Around

From gearheads to gardening, I'm learning all kinds of interesting things this week. Did you know the photo above is of "fiddlehead"? If you knew that, you obviously have at least one green thumb.

For those of you also blessed with two black thumbs, fiddleheads (or fiddlehead greens) are the furled fronds of a young fern, harvested for use as a vegetable. First, no. These are replacing or accompanying my avocados. Second, I hope they live to the unfurling part!

Some friends had an excess of bleeding hearts – one of my favorites that I rarely see – so they said people could come dig some up today and transplant to their own yards or gardens or whatever. I've never done anything like this so I said yes. Ha. 

Thankfully my friend dug a few up for me so I didn't have to figure that out. She also had a few ferns growing where they weren't supposed to, so she dug those too. 

It was a long afternoon. I wasn't done clearing that landscape area that normally has bees or snakes in the summer. So I had to dig out some deep stubborn roots that I'll be feeling tomorrow in my back and shoulders. Then I planted them and watered them and will cross my fingers they're still alive tomorrow.

I also leaf blower-ed and raked 5 wheelbarrows full of leaves out of my rock garden. So I'll be feeling that, too! Took a nice epsom salt bath after dinner. Hope that helps! 

And something else I learned... Even if I'm not adding fiddleheads to my diet, I guess deer and rabbits like them. So I had to buy this for my first time...

Who knew there was such a thing? It works. The smell made me think twice about fiddling around!

TGIF (Twins Go-Ing Flying)

Just like every other business lucky enough to survive the pandemic, airlines are begging their customers to come back. At least now when there are low fares, there are actually places you can go!

So my twin and I made a decision on the fly (pun intended) and we're going to fly to Phoenix to visit our oldest sister and her husband for a long weekend next month. As Raylene pointed out, we're going Mother's Day weekend "because we deserve it!"

Well I'll second that! And to fly one of Sun Country's deals direct from Minneapolis to Phoenix, we can't pass it up. While Rayna and Paul have been playing host and tour guide to at least two of other sisters plus cousins, we twinsies are promising to be low maintenance. I mean we've both seen the Grand Canyon and the big ticket items. Just promise sunshine and point us to the pool!

Yup we're spoiled and we do deserve it!

I already got my Mother's Day treat from my baby today, anyway. Took a late lunch break and timed it just right for...

Opening Day at our King Cone! A little sunny out there, says the squinting duo!

As it turned out, the mechanic got done working on Carter's car around the same time. So it was thanks for lunch and ice cream and off he went. Still I'll take 24 hours with him for anything.

Just like my upcoming Thursday a.m. to Sunday p.m. mini-vacay to the desert. I'll take sunshine and sisters any day, too!

TGIF!

The Car Park

I may be watching too much British television. A parking lot can also be called a "car park." Taking your car to the mechanic for new tires and finding something is broken also means your car's gonna be parked. For a day.

Isn't that the way it goes? Go in for one simple thing and find out there's all kinds of things happening out of sight.

So yes, thanks to some broken knuckle – not caused by a fight – we've got our boy here an extra day. The mechanic hopes to get the knuckle – one preferably not attached to fingers – in the morning so they can fix up Carter's vehicle and he'll head back to Platteville.

In the meantime, he did ask if he could borrow my car to go get ice cream. "That's the only place it goes," I said. And smiled at how well I have him trained!

These are few of my favorite things!

Of course, I realized after the fact that King Cone opens tomorrow. But I suppose there's no law against having ice cream two days in a row. By the time they open, though, I won't have a willing errand boy around – if all goes on schedule.

Kind of think my car could drive there itself! My car might not share, though!

She Was Faking It

 

Remember awhile back – early March to be specific – I insisted Mother Nature was faking it and we were only having a Fool's Spring. We did have a cold spell after that, then warmup a la Easter, and now...

This what Third Winter looks like. Yuck. What a rude wake-up call this morning! If Mr. Deck Chair ain't happy, ain't nobody happy.

I admittedly would be a terrible farmer – or gardener for that matter. I had no concept it was supposed to snow overnight. Just a downright rude surprise. Maybe that's what put me in a foul mood all day. And I wasn't faking it!

At least the snow melted. But it wasn't warm enough for a walk after I got back from the chiropractor after work.  Thought I'd warm up with a nice bear hug from my boy, who we expected home tonight so he can get new tires on his car tomorrow. I guess he's delayed with friends, though, so Mr. Deck Chair and I will have to count on the Queen of England to warm us up via The Crown.

That's unlikely. No warmth there. Blanket, please!

9 Weeks and Counting... Down

Two months or 9 weeks. Either works for me. Just can't believe I'm already this close to my Alaskan adventure!

My sister Renell and I are meeting up in a week and half to talk strategy and set a very loose itinerary to explore as much as we can – based on a ton of recommendations, thanks – while still relaxing. We don't want this to be stressful! 

We'll be concentrating our fun in the Anchorage-Kenai Peninsula area. It reminds of when I saw the Grand Canyon and thought it was huge. Then looked at the map and realized we'd only seen this teeny tiny part of it!

This is big o' Alaska. The center of the circle is Anchorage and the oblong blob circle represents more than we'll see actually. The top half of the blob is the Denali mountain sight-seeing part. That little peninsula below Anchorage is where we'll see some glaciers, whales and wildlife, and the towns of Seward and Homer, plus the Homer Spit – which a lot of people know about apparently.

Leave 9 weeks from today and have 9 days there. Travel at the front and the back end of the trip and we still have a full week of wild time. I mean wilderness-ish. Not wild women! Well, we are veterans of the annual Hedberg sisters' Wild Women's Weekend.

But wild, really? Highly unlikely. Wild for us will be staying up 'til dark – and that's pretty late since the sun will be out 19 hours and 22 minutes per day. 

Oh this is gonna be wild! 

Find Your Spot

It's tough to not have Monday feel like a, well, Monday. Off-and-on rainy and cool. Worked all day. But I will not let gloom and doom drag me down this week!

I suggest we all take a cue from Sylvester and find our sunny spot. And let that carry us through the week. 

 That is all.

Green Jacket Weather

Since it's Sunday, it's fitting I said "Amen" a few times today. Several times watching online church and then later when talking about Amen Corner at the pristine Augusta National Golf Club. 

I don't watch golf every week. But definitely tune into the majors when I can – plus my company's Sentry Tournament of Champions – and always watch The Masters. Well, Sunday for sure. I don't like runaway victories. I like it when it's close and interesting on Sunday.

And today was again. 

Japan's Hideki Matsuyama was 5 strokes ahead at one point and ended up winning by just one. Congrats to him. And big congrats to rookie Will Zalatoris, who is just a year older than my kid and taking home $1.2 million for finishing second this weekend. 

Uhm... Perhaps I should've stressed golf over academics when Carter was growing up!

Anyway, fun to see most of the final round today. Had a family photo shoot that was a hoot and a half. We know the 5 "kids" of the parents celebrating their 60th. Jim and my sister-in-law grew up with them. I did my best to get a group shot of all 4 generations present and some smaller groups shots. Just like our Hedberg family pictures of us 8 kids and our kids, it takes a village to herd the cats. I think I got enough of them to turn out, though.

Got home by 3 p.m. and anchored myself to Mr. Recliner. I just might finish off the evening like that, too.

Can I get an "amen"?

Round Robins Return

It took a week or so, but I finally captured my first robin of spring. And pardon me, girl, but you got round!

No one's immune to the Quarantine 15!

At least she'll be slimming down soon. Hopefully they'll be bright blue eggs around here as evidence. Also hopefully Mother Nature cooperates.

That 70-degree weather was fun while it lasted. Today rainy and in the 50s I think. Before the rain hit, I did get in a walk around the lake this morning with my neighbor, plus a spontaneous shopping trip to Point, and a stop at the annual garage sale at Carter's former babysitter's house. 

Then the rain came and I didn't care. Jim went visiting aunts and uncles this afternoon. And Mr. Recliner and I were all set to watch The Masters for hours on end. Unfortunately, the rain was in Georgia, too, as they had a rain delay for more than hour. That forced me to abandon the chair and vacuum and fun stuff like that. Not fair.

Play after the rain delay was pretty awesome. Several eagles and birdies... no robins. Maybe tomorrow for the final round.

No offense, Mz. Robin. 

Duped by the Duex Dukes

What a freaky Friday. I went to bed and the Duke of Edinburgh (aka Prince Phillip) was only 40 years old. And I didn't like him. I woke up and learned the real-life 99-year-old Duke had died. Give me another 59 years – or 2 more seasons of The Crown – and I'll catch up and pay my due respects.

This is what happens when you binge-watch a show and you not only dream about it, it impacts real life. That's kind of freaky, isn't it?

It won't stop me from watching. I am one of those Royalty Geeks (besides King Cone, that is). My interest started with Princess Di and has continued through to Meg and Harry – so I'm thoroughly enjoying The Crown series on Netflix. And yes, I fully recognize I'm 5 years late to the royal dinner party!

Still, now I can buzz through the 4 seasons on cold or rainy or free nights and don't have to wait for new episodes.

If you're at all interested and haven't watched it yet, might I suggest you start first with The King's Speech – an excellent 2010 movie that tells the story of King George VI, his impromptu ascension to the throne of the British Empire in 1936, and the speech therapist who helped the unsure monarch overcome his stammer.

Basically, The Crown picks up from there, chronicling the life of Queen Elizabeth II from the 1940s to modern times. The series begins with an inside look at the early reign of the queen, who ascended the throne at age 25 after the death of her father, King George VI. As the decades pass, personal intrigues, romances, and political rivalries are revealed that played a big role in events that shaped the later years of the 20th century. I basically Google something after every single episode!

I just started season 3 and there's mostly new actors portraying the characters as they age. So, I need to adjust to that. Throw in a nonfiction death in 2021 and I'm in a state.

You know what solves that? A royal date night with hubby. Actually dining inside a restaurant – a steakhouse just down the road – and enjoying a good fish fry and dessert...

This seriously was the best piece of turtle cheesecake I've ever had – well half, since I did share with hubby. The top was almost like a thin crust of caramel and I could taste maybe some brown sugar in there? Not sure. Doesn't matter. It was just gooooood.

It was nice – and normal – to treat ourselves out for once. Haven't had a sit-down dinner with just the two of us in an actual restaurant since our anniversary last July. And no concerns about social distancing tonight since we got to the restaurant at a non-busy time between early birds and dinner dates. 

Even got the table by the fireplace. Now that's the royal treatment!

Home Opener PSA

 Today's PSA (public sweetness announcement) comes from King Cone...

Pretty sure nothing is more blog-worthy than that home opener this evening!!

Except... today was also the Twins' home opener! They're off to a good 2021 season I'd say. Defeated Mariners 10-2 in front of a limited attendance audience (hoping I can go at some point this season) and sit atop the American League Central Division for the moment with a 5-2 start. 

We'll take that anytime we can get it. Same with King Cone! But that goes without saying. Still, I had to say it! 

Hey, Bud

If you're a perennial or even occasional allergy sufferer, you might not smile as much as the next guy when you see trees budding and temperatures climbing.

To make matters worse, if you start to get that stuffed nose or scratchy throat, your initial will likely be "Do I have COVID?" rather than "Do I have Claritin?"

A friend of mine is experiencing this right now so I had to dig deeper. Well, not that deep, but deep enough to impart some knowledge...

So how do allergy and COVID-19 symptoms differ?

Some of the most common allergy symptoms include sneezing, itchy or watery eyes, congestion or runny nose. Common COVID-19 symptoms include fever and chills, muscle and body aches, loss of taste or small, nausea or vomiting and diarrhea. 

Sources say symptoms both allergies and COVID-19 can have in common include cough, fatigue, headache, sore throat, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, congestion or runny nose.  Oh. Just those? Of course, I also read that seasonal allergies don't usually cause shortness of breath or difficulty breathing – unless you have a respiratory condition that can be triggered by pollen exposure, such as asthma. So there's that.

The bad news... I sense I'll get hit with my occasional allergies this time around since historically I do when the temps really warm up early in the season – like now.

The good news... allergy sufferers can sneeze right into their face mask, which can double as a handy hanky!

Good luck, Buds!

Sounds Like Spring

During my walk last evening, I saw weird clouds like little marshmallows or cotton balls. I knew we were supposed to get rain, but I wondered what this type would bring.

Turns out, they bring thunder and lots of lightning! In the middle of the night, of course. One of my sisters in Minnesota snapped this picture earlier in the night, so I knew it was coming. We always get their weather eventually.

Since it's been in the high 70s/low 80s this week, we've slept with the windows open. That's how I heard the big boomers loud and clear. But today, dry again and sunny. I did hear thunder in mid-afternoon. Strange. It was sunny and thundery out.

Rain is supposed to be coming. We need it. We're in high weather danger here and pretty much all of Wisconsin. Probably Minnesota, too. 

Be smart out there. Hold off on burning that weekend warrior pile of branches and grass. Hold off on that socially distanced campfire a little longer, too. It's the little things that we never think are going to start something big. Think it through.

In the meantime, put out your rain gauge. That's our version of a rain dance around here. Well, the only one you'd want to see anyway! 

 

Sprung!

Big day today! Spring has sprung! Not only did we reach 80+ degrees here (seriously), but Mr. Deck Chair sprung out of winter hibernation!

He needs a serious shower, but there will be two days of rain coming so he'll get a nice spring bath.

Even Sylvester noticed the difference. Instead of finding her sprawled out on the heated bathroom floor, she was nestled in the window sill, keeping a nosy eye on the birds and the bees in the neighborhood.

Too bad it was a work day! Still, I got in a lunchtime walk and, since we didn't have the high winds today, it was nice to actually open my office windows and let in some fresh air. No fresh ideas, though. My only ideas were how soon I could get done with work and get outside! It seriously was 81 degrees here at 5 p.m.

Wow! 

I'm hoping this is the real spring and not one more tease from Mother Nature. That would be brutal to both me and Mr. Deck Chair. Well, hubby, too, since he's off golfing in the real outdoors this evening. Can't wait for my clubs to spring out of hibernation. Maybe Mr. Deck Chair can have a word with them.

Let's keep spring springing forward! 

Happy Easter

Happy Easter! I hope you could enjoy and appreciate the miracle of Easter that Christ has risen.  

Easter reminds me that things aren't always as they seem. 

Potato salad? Nope. Sliced apples in vanilla pudding for apple Snicker salad. Christ is dead? Nope. He has risen! 

And look who else rose today. Carter got on the road from Platteville before 7 a.m. to get here for 9:30 church with me. Of course, to get here on time for church with me would have meant a 6:30 departure to get here on time. But at least he was coming.

Didn't make it to in-person church but watched the livestream on TV together. So kind of the same.

He was here less than 8 hours but we made the most of it. A lot talking and catching up, some visiting around the neighborhood, then meal delivery to Grandpa and Grandma Austin in town (still social distancing). After that, we sat down to our own meal at home.

Yes, I made Easter dinner and yes, I did choose all the easy foods: mainly ham, crockpot cheesy potatoes, and that apple-Snicker salad. 

Happy to send plenty back with him. Also sent back a basket for his girlfriend, who spent Easter with her family. I'm proud of myself for not stealing too many of their peanut butter eggs while filling the baskets! (They'll never know!)

Since the weather was gorgeous again – at least 73 – I walked around the lake after Carter left. Felt like a real spring evening. Even heard the early peepers! 

All this fresh air this weekend has been amazing. I should feel springy and rejuvenated but instead am ready for bed, know I will sleep like a log, and don't even want to think about an alarm.

Hope you had a joyous Easter weekend as well!

Four, Three, Two, One...

The astrology version of numbers people sure like special dates that appear to mean something. Today's date 4-3-21 looks like a countdown.

In my mind, I hear "4... 3... 2.. 1... Earth below us. Drifting, falling. Floating weightless. Calling, calling home..."

If you know '80s music at all, you'll recognize Major Tom. Here's my 45 of it to refresh your memory. Kids, we used to play smaller records on the phonograph at 45 RPMs so we called them "45s." There's your history lesson for the day.

Meanwhile in Vegas, I saw news reports that it was a popular – and potentially lucky – day today to get married. And meanwhile back in Wisconsin, it was a popular day to do yard work! 

Yup. That's real. A super springy day where we had windows open to clean inside, then commence to working or relaxing outside.

I decided to work on this little area of the backyard. Not so little, really. Every time I tried to rake it or trim things off last summer, I was met with either ground bees and wasps or snakes. So, no. Nothing got today.

Today I crossed my fingers that neither species was hibernating and now waking in that landscaping area. I survived unscathed. Well, except for feeling it in my arm and back muscles. I figured I better just do this area and leave the rest to another day or weekend. 

So maybe it IS a lucky day. No bees. No snakes. And tonight, no loss in Milwaukee for my Twins. Good to even that series up. Now will see what Easter brings... 

Besides peanut butter eggs, that is. Happy Easter! If you get to enjoy some family time, then tomorrow's lucky, too, no matter what the date!