Spring is in the air

I love finding beauty such as this in my own backyard.

Sprung...has spring

Seeing these delicate little beauties always brings a smile to my face.

The most wonderful time of the year.

I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday weekend. Mine was jam packed with excitement and festivities! We got things kicked off this year by having our first annual 'cousins' dinner on Wednesday evening, on the Eve of Christmas Eve, if you will. When I found out Eva was coming to town, I thought is would be fun to get as many of the Shifferli cousins together for dinner at my house. The response was great, and it turned out better than I envisioned. Nedra, Eva, Angela, Katie, Theresa, and Tim were the cousins who were able to make it.

Eva and I prepared the meal for the evening; the menu included lasagna, garlic knots, salad (prepared by Eva), and cheesecake with a berry compote for dessert (prepared by Angela). Eva and I made the lasagna noodles from scratch, as well as the ricotta cheese. We also used some homemade marinara from my tomatoes that I saved. The meal was wonderful and the company even better. We even watched Mary Ann's choir on television, so it was almost like she was with us. I wish I had pictures, but I was kind of exhausted by all the cooking and I just wanted to sit back and enjoy the evening.

The following day was Christmas Eve and we had a get-together at my mom's house in the evening. Aunt Sue and Uncle Steve were in town and we were lucky enough to celebrate Aunt Sue's birthday with her. Theresa arrived in a pink Santa hat with gifts for the kids. Ari loves his little wooden car, by the way.


Laughter was in the air.


Memories were made.

A perfect lead in for the Christmas festivities to follow.

Deciduousness

Every year since we've lived on Main Street, I guess it would be about 5 years now, the tree directly across the street from us is the first tree where I notice the leaves changing color. It's always somewhat shocking to see it the first time. All the other trees in our neighborhood are still almost all green, but this one is in full swing of the abscission process.

I do enjoy this time of year. I love the autumn leaves, the crisp, cool mornings and evenings, and apples and pumpkins galore. Now, if there could only be a way to go directly from autumn to spring, I would be a happy camper. But I guess there wouldn't be an autumn or spring without winter, so I should be grateful for that, too.

End of Summer Party

This past weekend, Valta hosted the first annual 'Sunspot End of Summer Party' and it was a rousing success. After we got there, Valta showed us around and we immediately spotted the paddle boat peacefully floating next to the dock. Valta said we could take it out and Angela and I were all over it. Valta got some life jackets for the kids and we were off.
Ari got to steer and he even paddled a bit himself. We went all over the pond and then decided we had better let someone else have a turn. It was tremendous fun, and Ari and Piper really enjoyed themselves. As we were waiting for the food, the kids took advantage of the hill that lead from the house to the pond and played on it for quite some time.

Ari had a blast rolling down the hill; and watching him brought back a lot of memories from my childhood. This was the first time he rolled down a hill successfully; we tried to show him how to do it on the hill at Jackson Morrow Park last year, but he just couldn't figure it out. He got it on his first try this time, and it was hard to get him to stop so that he could come eat dinner. After we ate, we were treated to the musical stylings of the Eleventh Hour.

It was an awe inspiring, rocking good time! It's always fun to watch them, and they put on a memorable show. The kids were dancing, spinning, and running to the music; they were having the time of their lives.

It was a wonderful party, and I was happy to hear that Valta said she would like to host it every year. Looks like the start of a tradition to me!

Welcome back lilac

Our lilacs bloomed for the first time in a couple of years and what a welcome addition they were to our spring. Last year a late freeze did it in; zapping all of the budding flowers. The year before, it was taken over by a renegade vine that had plans for world domination and was looking to take over everything in its path. By the time we realized what was happening, Valerie and I thought the vine may have suffocated the lilac bush to death. That's another reason why I was so happy to see those tiny light purple flowers welcoming the spring. Only after opening the dining room windows to let the wonderful aroma waft in with the breeze did I realize how much I missed it.

Sprung

Spring has sprung, as they say. Signs of new life are springing up all around and I couldn't be happier. We have plans this week to take the dogs to the park and I'm planning to start riding my bike to work again. The mornings will be cold, but it looks like the days will be warm. Hooray! What an exciting time of year.

Ari is anxious to get out the house and play on his swing set and go to the park. We were outside the other day taking pictures of nature in the warm mid-day sun, he with his camera, and me with mine. He took some pretty good photos as well. Keep the beauty coming spring, we are ready!

Go away

I like winter just fine, but enough is enough. I'm ready for at least some 50 degree weather, and not the kind that comes with 25 mph winds and rain.

I shouldn't complain. I will do my best to find and appreciate the beauty of the season.

Best of the season

I have been experiencing this Christmas season from a different perspective. With Ari turning three in January, this is the first year he has shown real joy and excitement regarding Christmas. He was thrilled to see presents under the tree, he points out Christmas lights as we are driving down the street, and he wants to listen to Christmas music. I am starting to see the magic of Christmas in his innocence, and it has brought back so many memories of Christmases gone by.
I have also been intrigued by A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens this year. Not that I am a Scrooge (I think of myself as more of a Bob Cratchit type or Scrooge's nephew Fred). I think I have been so captivated by this story because the resurfacing memories of Christmas past, coupled with these new feelings of Christmas present, have been quite sentimental and almost spiritual for me. Also, the thoughts of all the Christmas's yet to come as Ari and Emilie grow, fills me with a sense of wonder and excitement all my own.
Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas!

Gone is the Butterfly

I've been missing the warm weather quite a bit lately, so I thought I would post a couple of summery outdoor photos to cheer me up.


I spent more time outdoors this summer than I have in a long time. Afternoons at the playground with the kids, lunches in the park, evening bike rides; it was all so reenergizing.



Here's to summer and to a wonderful season in which I redisovered my love for the outdoors. I will try to enjoy the winter and appreciate it for what it has to offer; but I will still be looking forward to spring. Boy, it's way too early to be tired of this cold weather, isn't it?