Backyard Maple

A hard rain finally arrived this afternoon. As much as I wanted to get out in the garden, this was just what we needed around here.

Gardener

We spent much of the day buying and planting plants. This is Lemon Thyme, which we have just learned is a great herb to use in cooking. We are putting it along the side of the house next to some new stone steps. It smells great when you pass by, and the fact that we can eat it is an added bonus.

The Answer

I guess I wanted to play "stump the blog readers". 

This sign went up last week, announcing one of the many road construction projects in our area. I searched Recovery.gov (located in the righthand column of my blog) for specific numbers about how many of these road projects were being funded in our state. While I couldn't find specifics there (and I think one should be able to find specifics there), I did find some good information here.

Garden Envy

The man who owns my favorite local nursery has an incredible variety of plants. Unfortunately, this Trillium is not for sale. It's in his personal garden, through which customers are welcome to walk. It's a wonderful place.

What is it?

Time for Guessing on the 9's! Be specific.

***OK - You don't have to be TOO specific.

My kids say this is too hard.

It's not a common object, but it IS something you might see

during your travels.

Photo Mojo

Duluth hit 79 degrees today, something we haven't seen here in quite a while!  The boys and I celebrated that, along with Calvin's last Thursday of school (hey, we like to celebrate) with a little ice cream and a walk in Canal Park.  I took about 100 pictures this afternoon, more than I've taken at one time since our trip to Disney World. These were two of my favorites. (though I see now that I needed to step back a bit on that first shot--I'm learning, and that's what this is about)

Bird Watching

Construction Season

Three major road projects in my area are underway as of today. The detours may be a temporary hassle, but the work really needs to be done.

I could be wrong, but I'm assuming the daily pothole reports on the local news will end because of this roadwork. Really, it was getting a little silly.

I guess there ARE some things I don't miss about my old job in the news biz!  

Bog Walk

When I think of a relaxing place, this is it. Can't you just smell the pine trees & mossy forest floor?

This is what we call "the bog walk" out to our lake. It took us about three weekends to construct the 100-foot meandering path over the bog. (It took another three years to get the floating dock completed, but that's another story for another time).

We built this back in 2004 with 4-year old Mason and 8-year old Calvin. It was a lot of work, but we all pitched in and did it together! (Of course, grandma & grandpa K were huge helps!) Great memories.

I snapped this photo just before leaving our cabin this afternoon. Paul and I talked about how the weather always seems to be just like this on the day we leave. It just makes us want to stay longer...or head back real soon! 

A Beautiful Weekend for Fishing

Riverside Pizza

It takes about 45 minutes to get to our favorite pizza spot from the cabin. SO worth it!

Everything But the Kitchen Sink

Have a wonderful Memorial Day weekend! We're off to the cabin!

The Final Hurdle

Middle School Track season is over as of tonight, and I'm so thankful Calvin never had to compete in this event!

***note***Mason's cast is off, but he's wearing the bottom part of it (cut lengthwise) wrapped with an Ace bandage as a splint for a week or so.

Classroom Crayfish

Twenty-one crayfish have arrived in Mason's 3rd grade classroom. The kids are taking care of them as a science project. Today the students tried feeding them bits of hot dog, apples, and bread, but the crayfish only wanted to eat dried fish food.

No Surgery Required

The latest x-rays indicate Mason's elbow is healing just fine. In fact, this new cast will only stay on his arm for a day!  The doctor was unavailable to see Mason in person today so this cast went on -  just until tomorrow. In the morning, this cast will be removed and the doctor will look at his arm in person to determine whether he needs one anymore or not. 

Demo Time & A Winner

So, this is what my house looks like today. Scaffolding, ladders, and plenty of workers (usually). This was supposed to be a painting project, but as we're learning, one job usually leads to another in an old house. The painters found the soffits are rotting, so we're having them removed and replaced. Since the soffits are out of the way, our insulation guy is returning to air seal before new ones go back up. It's always something.

And congratulations to my friend Carol, who correctly guessed the glove. It's my gardening glove, that got no use today because the high only reached 44 degrees! Maybe tomorrow.

What is it?

For those of you who haven't played before (Linda), today has a 9 in the date, which means it's time for "Guessing on the 9's!"

Is anyone able to guess what this is?

I'll post the answer later tonight.

Outside Reading

Calvin is working on Romeo & Juliet for English class. I remember reading it as a 7th grader, too. One of my favorites!

Sa-wing Batter!

OK. It's not the greatest shot from practice today. I had to shoot into the sun, AND I had to remove a telephone pole from the top of his head, (pay no attention to the mysterious floating wires) but this was the first time Mason has tried batting this season. He's able to do it as long as his hands are reversed. It does look strange, but he managed to make his allotted five hits in fewer than ten pitches!

It's Water Under the Bridge

I spent the day scrapbooking, but took an afternoon break to get a few shots of the nearby Lester River.

Fritillaria

I went to my favorite nursery today looking for things to fill up my new backyard space. I didn't bring anything home with me, but put a few things on hold (including one fernleaf peony!) and I have Joe, the owner, coming out to the house to offer more suggestions. 

I spotted these fritillaria growing in his garden and had to snap a few photos. I just love the checkerboard pattern!

Waiting Room

Not a bad view from the clinic waiting room is it?

Mason was hoping to get his cast off today.  Instead, we got some bad news. After looking at x-rays (taken with his cast on) it seems the break in his elbow shifted a bit, so the cast needs to stay on for another week. Next week we'll remove the cast and x-ray the elbow again. If it's moved some more, there may be a need for surgery. UGH.

Stay tuned.

Untitled

Went out to take shots of the birch tree, but the clouds and the roof were so intriguing I had to "shift my focus". I don't know what to title this photo, but I did a little antique-ing in the editing process. I think it's is a cool effect for this photo.

Anyone have a title for it?

It's Here!

When the new Guitar World arrives, Calvin's world stops.

*and yes, I was monkeying with some photo-editing

First Game. Ever.

*click photo to enlarge

Mason has never played baseball. He's never even played t-ball. But this year he decided to give it a try.  All the players on his team have been together for years...they even won the league championship last year.

Because of his broken arm, Mason chose not to bat tonight, but the coach put him in to run for his teammate who was injured when he tripped at second base, so we got to watch him score a run!

Final score? 11-1. We had 11.

This might be fun being a baseball mom! (except washing the team uniform...you'll note "our" team got the white shirts. ugh.)

Gerbera Center

Just one of the flowers waiting for me when I woke up this morning!

Happy Mother's Day!

My mom and dad

Paul's dad and mom

Happy Mother's Day to all you moms out there!

Since I am not with my mom or with Paul's mom today, I thought I ought to wish them both a Happy Mother's Day through the blog.

This is a double whammy for my mom...it's her birthday today, too! Her gifts will be late, in typical fashion...but she expects that, right mom?

Love you both!  -Kim

Shiny Spoons

Laura is correct!

What is it this time?

Blooms at the Bottom

This is the first bloom from my magnolia! You might remember I was concerned about its survival after an ice storm.

Last year this tree bloomed from the bottom up, and it took a very long time to complete the cycle. The bottom branches bloomed, and the petals fell. Then the middle, and so on. I'm not sure if that's what magnolias are supposed to do, but I think I might prefer it to bloom all at once.

Down Time

Mason and I had fun with the iphone camera while waiting for Calvin's events in today's track meet. I forgot to put the SD card in my "real" camera, so the iphone image will have to do! 

Emerging

Hoping to get in the garden in the next couple of days to get rid of last years' growth. I usually keep it around for winter interest. Now it's time to say goodbye to the old and welcome the new!

Simon Marley, at it again

The rain started up again shortly after we left the house for pizza. We left Simon in his kennel, but he does NOT like rain. 

When we returned...THIS is what we found.

We're not sure how he pulled this one off. He busted out of his kennel, but the kennel is door-side down in the middle of the living room with no obvious exit point. How does he do it? I think we need a hidden camera to learn his secret.

Simon Marley Houdini Kosmatka.

Hail Yes!

We had a little hail storm this afternoon. It only lasted for about five minutes, and most of the hail was small like this, but after I took this shot (and my camera battery died) some of the hail was about quarter sized!

Gimme a Break!

What a day!

We started the morning with a visit to the clinic for an x-ray. Mason hurt his arm falling off his scooter on Saturday and it still hurt this morning. The x-ray showed nothing, so we left with a little splint so Mason could protect his arm a bit from further injury.

A few hours later, Paul called saying the radiologist noticed something in his elbow area and thought we needed a couple more x-rays. So back we went to the clinic, and sure enough, there's a little crack in the subcondylar something or other (his elbow region). The doc thought he ought to have a cast for a bit...just long enough to give this crack a chance to heal so he doesn't reinjure it and really do some damage. Considering he's fallen on it four times in the past two days (including once today at recess) I think that's a fine idea. He'll have it taken off on the 14th.

Fence Removal Brings Neighbors Together

We had a Christmas tree & wreath burning, fence felling ceremony tonight...and yes, the kids are still up at midnight!

(Thought I'd get the blogging out of the way early today. This photo taken at 12:05am!)

"Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"

We were out errand-running today and arrived home to find our neighbors cleaning up their backyard. Paul and Calvin went over to chat, and before I knew it, they had the hammers out and were tearing down the fence between our yards. The fence has been there since we moved in. It was a little wobbly, the end section was missing, and there is a door for it leaning against the neighbors' garage. It either needed to come down, or it needed some upkeep. I'd always visualized my garden with tall flowers or even some clematis vines growing up the fence wall, but we like our neighbors (welcome, new blog reader neighbor Kay!), so this will be fine. I just need to change the visual in my head.

News Quiz: can you identify the speaker in the title quote?

Today is the Day