April in a Nutshell

Hmmm, maybe I'll get better at this as we go along. Too much happens in 21 days to blog about all at once. Well, let's see how far we get with the abridged version!

1st, meet Erica and her foster cat Princess. She's my cousin that's been staying with us. It's made life very interesting. It's hard trying to get 4 people around with one car, but we've managed. Erica got her financial aid reimbursement this week and it's looking like the dorm is a go for next semester (needed $300 down payment). I hope things work out better than I'm expecting. This semester is over in about a month and we'll see what her grades look like then.

On the 9th, Leanna had her 2 year check-up with her bariatric surgeon. It was an overall uneventful trip (6 hours roundtrip) with the exception of Bowman Lake State Park. We were on our way back home and I really needed to stretch my legs, sooo as I'm prone to do, I spotted a sign for a park and decided on an impromptu detour. Well, 25 miles (yes miles) later, after many turns and thinking we were lost a few times, we found Bowman Lake State Park, and it was beautiful. This is one of the many streams that flow into the lake. There's a big beach and lots of camping. It might be on our camping list for this summer.

Easter on the 12th. Everyone say cheese. It was a very nice day at Aunt Sher's (Erica's Mom) and Uncle Bruce's. It's just nice to spend time together as a family, small though we are. From left to right Uncle Bruce, Aunt Sher, Erica, my Mom, Leanna.

My birthday was on the 14th, but I got a nasty bug and so we celebrated on the 15th. This is the fake blowing-out-the-candles picture. No one remembered the camera until after I had already done it the 1st time. I got a bunch of stuff for my new garden, the stuffed penguin I've been eyeing forever and a 6'x6' beach towel blanket (finally a beach towel that my feet don't stick off of!) Oh, and my new bread machine that Leanna got me at the beginning of the month. Woo hoo!! Love that fresh baked bread smell!

On the 19th, we took a walk down at the lake. The sky was beautiful. There are a bunch of old trees by the water's edge and this shot just caught my eye. I love true spring in CNY when the daffodils are in full bloom and the wind always smells fresh like rain and cut grass. There was a light breeze off the lake and it was perfect for our 2 mile walk.

And last, but not least is a stitch update. Those of you who are familiar with my Mother's Day Project may think this is a regression. It's not. This is "Take Two". The biggest lesson I've learned from this project is, never do a project twice. I've had to frog an "M" and the dress on the fairy already. All because I thought for sure I knew what I was doing and made assumptions and counting errors. I cannot wait for these to be done. "Take One" is almost done. I'm still undecided about the backstitching and I need to add the beads. Wish I had a picture to show with the border and all. Oh well, next week. Hopefully by then this one will be to that point too and then I can move on to Castles In the Air, the mystery SAL by Pappillon Designs.

TTFN!