Ah spring is coming...somewhere

As most of you know I have posted (okay, bragged!) about having two bluebirds since the end of January. My Uncle Ken made me bluebird boxes and I cannot wait to install them in our yard. The photo below says it all....
Its quite a mix of objects- a snow shovel and snowshoes as well as the boxes sharing space.

I took this photo this morning. The temps today were in the mid 50's which is approximately 50 degrees warmer than the start of the week was. Buddy took advantage of the warm porch to soak up some sun.
He was soon joined by Ashton. We are all experiencing spring fever here in the household. I noticed the boot is missing from her foot, lets hope she was just trying some "heat" therapy on it. About two more weeks to go then she gets rid of the boot and then will have a brace. She says she can't wait to drive soon. Its been 5 weeks since she last drove, in teenager years it is probably seems like 50 years.
I found Ashton her "Easter" socks recently as well as Easter decorations for her bedroom window. Now that she is graduating from high school I suppose she will want to forgo all these holiday traditions I have done for her since she was probably 1! She always has had to have pretty decorations for her bedroom window and of course, the socks. A few weeks ago I read on one of my very favorite blogs travelerswife.blogspot.com about capturing photos of icicles as well as a photo she snapped of her husband patiently awaiting a drop from the icicle. It intrigued me so much that I thought I would try it....its no easy task but I enjoyed the challenge. Now all the icicles are gone and the snow is slowly going...

Seven wonderful years

Seven years ago today Mark and I were married at Sandals in St. John's, Antigua, West Indies. We had planned a trip to Antigua in September 2001 for March 2002. We had no idea at the time we booked the trip that we would be engaged in January and marry while in Antigua. We took a chance planning on this trip as we had only been dating for 3 1/2 months, we may not even had been together when the departure date rolled around! However, all worked out well...I think we both knew deep down that our story would have a happy ending...

We were married in the most gorgeous place on earth. The temps were in the 80's, warm breezes and sunshine every single day. The flowers were so bright and the colors of the blossoms and bushes so vivid. The water was a blue I'd never seen before and as warm as a bath...And here we are today, close to a foot of snow on the ground, the furnace is running, the temperature is in the 20's, maybe. More light snow predicted for tomorrow. But we celebrated our seventh wedding anniversary on a grand scale tonight....
Mark brought me home (surprise) a bouquet of seven red roses, one for each year and a pretty pink rose signifying the future. And of course, chocolates and a sweet card. After a long day at work for the both of us we got ready to go out for an anniversary dinner.... Yup, its true and after dinner....a trip to Wal-Mart! Who knew that after seven years of marriage that celebrating our wedding anniversary would consist of Pizza Hut (hey it's one of our favorite places) and shopping! And it doesn't matter where or how we celebrate, as long as we are together. P.S. We did go to Jamaica two years ago and renewed our wedding vows while there so we do get out and about once in a while! A very patient man....

BuddyTheElf, bluebird,books and yarn

Here's BuddyTheElf looking out at the snow today, hoping against hope that he won't have to go snowshoeing today with his "mom". (He didn't!) On snow days he likes to lounge around. The site of him looking out the window always makes me smile, all I can think of is a little elf standing there...He stands at the window quite often watching the goings on. I recently finished reading "The Friday Night Knitting Club" and its sequel,"Knit Two" by Kate Jacobs. I so dreaded seeing the stories come to an end, as I was completely smitten and touched with the storyline in each book. I highly recommend both books, they're heartwarming and left me wanting to visit a "Walker and Daughter" shop if there really was one!

The circular knitting needles below show the 90 stitches I cast on to knit a "Georgia's Afghan" that is featured in both books. I loved the pattern for it (very easy!) and having recently purchased several skeins of Red Heart Cherry Chip to make an afghan for myself I decided I would try the pattern from http://walkeranddaughter.com instead of my usual afghan pattern. This pattern called for circular needles whichI have never knit on before. I struggled for a while (actually quite a while!)last night with them, they twisted and turned, curling this way and that way but I got the stitches cast on! I am hoping that the needles will cooperate when I pick up the project again. We had another snowstorm from last night into today. We received about 10 inches of the light fluffy snow. My dependable bluebird was back today, keeping up his daily pattern of appearing. In the photo below, the bird appears to be standing on one foot, almost as if it was too cold to put them both down at onceHe was very kind to share the suet with a couple of woodpeckers as well.
An Ashton update: Good news! Ashton got the okay from her orthopedic surgeon to go back to her CNA job. She can only work a few hours at a time and can only do light duty as she still has the boot for another two weeks. She went to work this afternoon for four hours. She was looking forward to seeing her special people. Update: She just got home from work and said it went well.