Turning Toward the Light, What's for Lunch?, Where They Are Going

1. The sunshine irresistibly draws everyone outside to bask for a bit.
2. There was a baked potato fundraiser at church today. Huge, steaming, foil-baked potatoes were set out on a table ready to be loaded with topping choices. We each built our own favorite and took them home in Styrofoam containers. We had a salad on the side and it was delicious and filling. It also gave us a carefree day from cooking.
3. We traced our fingers over the map, marking out their route. We traced across many states, so far away and yet so exciting!

Emerging From Hibernation, Looking About, It's Convenient, His and Hers

1. It's a sunny Saturday morning that promises to be an almost-spring-like day. I feel an awakening pulse as we turn from the cold, dark days of winter and look about with sleepy eyes at what must be done. It motivates me to make a list of things to do...for Steve. Because he likes to cross them off.
2. The snow covered mountain tops of yesterday are now bare. I see Tinker Cliffs in the distance and I picture Chelsea hiking there right about now. (She put an invite on Facebook to hike there this afternoon.)
3. Our route home takes us by Breuster's. It's past lunch and we haven't eaten, so with guilty pleasure we heartily agree on ice cream for lunch. Butter Pecan for me, Cotton Candy Explosion for her.
4. He and I both want to use the kitchen tonight. He mostly needs one side and I, the other. It's a well choreographed affair with him brewing a rye IPA and me baking a coconut cream tart. I just hope the flavors don't somehow intermingle. Ew.

A Good Egg, Not Much Longer Now, A Boost

1. Peeling a hard boiled egg and the shell comes off in large pieces.
2. I switched from garden clogs to boots because the snow was getting down into my socks. All the while, my thoughts were on the 64° forecast for Monday.
3. Nope, nothing fit right in the first two stores. Feeling discouraged and with time running out, I tried one last place. Everything fit just right and in a size lower than I normally purchase. (They must be cutting them bigger this season.) I needed that!

Happy Day, Snow Day, Saving the Day

1. Daughter #3, Audrey, turns twenty today! She's having a very happy day and I'm glad. A Todd Rundgren song goes through my head with the line, "The days and the years will go streaking by, but the time has stopped within my dream."


I've shared this before, but it's a favorite of mine so I'll share it again : )

2. We expected a snow covered landscape by morning, we expected school closings, we expected to stay in and read all day, and perhaps cook a pot of soup. It's nice when everything goes as expected.
3. Poor starling has flown down the chimney and pecks at the metal door for escape. I use gloves to pull out the bird, but the one I "saved" has long expired. I can't reach the live one, so Tess and I call our neighbor friends to help us. We get the bird released into the basement and then the four of us wave arms and shoo it out the door. We all give ourselves a pat on the back for our success.

A Perfect Day, Goodies, Peeps on Fire

1. B. arranged a day out for us in Charlottesville. It had been ages since I'd gone out for a day like this. We walked in and out of all the shops, tried on clothes, critiqued the fit for one another, bought chocolates, and had a relaxing lunch in the Mediterranean restaurant. The grand finale was a stop at Trader Joe's, where I had never been before.
2. She recommended the bag of blood oranges, the coffee and lots of other goodies. I found a bottle of wine for $3.29 which I have to try simply for its cheap price. It will never go to waste, even if only for use in my sauce.
2.a. The peeled blood orange reveals a beautiful ombré interior of red, pink, and orange.
2.b. Claire phones while we're at lunch to tell me that Mari is asking to go to Nonni's house. Oh my heart!
3. Steve emails me this photo of chicks on a stick he saw at CVS. He knows I love to roast them : ) The sticks aren't intended for roasting, but he does bring home some regular Peeps for our wood stove fire tonight.

In Common, Bittersweet, Candy, Treats and Other Indulgences

1. Three of us in the family have March birthdays, so we gather here for the weekend to celebrate. Saturday's dinner is the family's homemade meatballs and sauce with ravioli.
2. We also celebrate Chelsea's new job and we take this opportunity to all be together before she and Chad leave for Denver.
3. Mari tells her cousin, "I'm going to Nonni's house!" It warms my heart that she says it like it's something wonderful and exciting.
4. While walking and rocking Jonathan, he finds his thumb and calms right down. I think it's adorable.

Go To Sleep, A Visitor, The Forest

1. Mari's cry awakens me with a start. A glance at the kitchen clock shows midnight as I shuffle toward the guest room. Everyone has gone to bed with all the lights on. I have the privilege of shushing Mari back to sleep, then I turn off all the lights and tumble back into my warm, down blankets.
2. Sitting in the lobby at the elementary school, a child smiles shyly at me as she walks by.
3. J. has sent this beautiful time lapse video of a forest which I had to watch over and over. I'm especially surprised at how lush and green summer becomes.