Honestly, the month of April was miserable. Then again, so was March. April was consistent. Rain day after day. That was a good thing for us as we had our DIY project to work on. The rain kept us inside. Our installation deadlines also kept us inside, focused and on track.
Then the weather changed. We had nice weather.
It got warmer.
The last few days, the sun has been shining. [And as I write this, it is gray and raining outside.] We had been spending time outside.
The kids had fun playing kickball, wrestling, throwing baseballs and footballs around and just being outside.
We have been biking.
We've been playing in the dirt. I weeded and turned the soil in the three small flower beds out front. We also planted some flower bulbs in the one bed. The Big Guy tilled the garden.
We planted our onions yesterday - in the rain. We have other plants to plant; however, we'll wait for the Memorial holiday weekend to get them in.
The kids constructed their bird feeder kits and painted them. Both have been filled and hung out front.
It did not take the birds long to find the free food AND it did not take Monkey, our hunter-cat, long to notice the feeders and all the activity around them. The other morning I watched her lay in wait and then run and jump and grab the blue feeder. Good and bad news. The bird flew away but the bird food was thrown to the ground. Bad cat!
The hummingbird feeder was cleaned, filled and hung last weekend. We patiently waited for the “hummers” to return. They found it two days after it went up. We enjoy their flying skills and dive-bombing “fights”.
The water level in both ponds has gone down some. Their waters are full of life. The salamanders and fish have warmed up and can be found swimming along the perimeters of the lower pond.
The upper pond:
...is home to some fast "slip-in-the-water-before-they-see-us" painted turtles. At the ponds' edge, the water bubbles as the tadpoles scurry from the shore. We, however, come armed with a net. We scoop them up and admire their size, their cute little faces with their pouty mouths and their ever so small developing legs.
Every year we are awed by these life-cycle miracles.
Our rhubarb plant is growing well this year.
I believe I’ll have enough for a pie and muffins this year. We purchased 5 more rhubarb plants this weekend and have planted them over in the field. Hopefully in a few years, we'll have a well-established rhubarb bed. Each year, we cut rhubarb from a local garden and enjoy it. Yesterday, I made a pie for my Big Guy as he planted the last row of onions in the rain.
In the making:
Time to cool:
Our daughter crimped the edges and did a wonderful job! I have to plan a trip to cut more rhubarb as I have jam to make. I'll be able to store it in our new pantry.
The hillsides have lost their red glow as their leaves burst forth in vibrant shades of green. It looks so green and lush outside. Just beautiful!
My Little Big Guy loves our bleeding heart plant and I can see why.
It’s a wonderful time of year. Life is renewed. The breeze carries the smell of fresh cut grass and the scent of freshly turned soil.
Each evening the peepers sing loud and strong to us from the nearby ponds and wetlands. They are among the first frogs to call in the spring.
Lots of activity around our home and yard. I’m waiting for warmer evenings to sit outside and relax.
To enjoy the life around us.
The many gifts from God.
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