The Merry Month of May

Let me try to sum up how May played out in my corner of the world with a few pictures...and a few words.

Lilacs. Irises.  Peonies.  The flowers of May!

The first crop of grass came in off the fields.

I have a 'front row seat' to the action from my kitchen window.

(click on photo)

 

When I walk my usual route on the country roads, I am quite accustomed to meeting tractors pulling all manner of farm equipment.  But on this particular evening I had no idea what was coming towards me.   This was a first!  Three young ladies on a tractor and one skate-boarding behind.  And that is what my granddaughters and their friends do for entertainment.

Marg hosted the MGCC gals for a lovely brunch early in May...the eight of us who live nearby.  The sun was shining and we moved the party outdoors for dessert and tea.  Good food, good friends and good fellowship!

The tulips were in full bloom...and so some of us stopped at the tulip fields once the brunch party was over.

Such beauty in our backyard!

An appointment in Vancouver found me at a window with a beautiful view of the harbour.

Later that week, I joined a busload of farm gals heading to Chemainus on the annual 'Ritchie Smith  Ladies Get-away'.  As always, it was a great time...from checking out the murals in Chemainus, to taking in the dinner theatre production of Kim's Convenience, sharing a suite with Lovella and Mary, shopping, chatting and taking in the beautiful scenery of the west coast.

On Mother's Day we packed along a picnic and  went to Silver Lake in Hope for the afternoon. Though the Skagit River was wild and turbulent the lake was calm and peaceful...the perfect place to relax with a book.  We spent the evening with all the kids and grands at Kris and Lina's...a great way to end the day.

We attended a fundraising party which included the premiere showing of the new Himalayan Life documentary at Highstreet Mall a few weeks ago.  Who knew the venue would be standing room only?  Heidi (daughter) has worked hard in sharing the work of this organization in our area...and was thrilled with the outcome of the evening. They raised $100,000 for the 'forgotten children' of Nepal that evening. We were blown away!

The cornfields were prepared and planted.  Dust clouds in May are not the norm over here!

We have had next to no rain this month and things are really dry.  It has been the driest month of May in history.  It would be nice to have a good downpour...and then a return to sunny days!

Lucy is playing violin...her first year. She did a little 'practice run' before heading out to her spring recital last Saturday.  She takes it quite seriously and is  playing so well after just a few short months.

We took Ranen and Ryder on a little outing to the putting course at Cultus Lake earlier this week.  What fun for all!

And that is a sampling of what went on here this past month.  Besides that, the front porch was re-stained, the back patio has a new sealer, the beds have all been mulched.  Bring on the summer!

Thanks for visiting!

 

April remembered...

April was a good month to get outside and kick up our heels a little...

after many months of being cooped up indoors.

Let me start back at the beginning of the month with easter celebrations...

...family gathered around the table...

and a scavenger hunt for treat-filled balloons for the grands.

Brrr...it was cold outside and no one stayed out there for long!

The daffodils and white heather bloomed beautifully all month...

...and didn't seem to mind the snow showers early in the month.

When do we ever have snow in April?

 

We had our fair share of dreary days...

but there is always a bright spot if one looks hard enough.

The sun is shining somewhere...

and the forsythia glows gold even on a grey day.

And then came the sunshine...

...and tennis with my faithful tennis partner.

Truth be told...

we had not been at the courts since last summer.

And not too frequently then!

Maybe we'll do better this year.

Our beautiful Hannah tree bloomed on April 4th, as it always does...

a reminder of the grandchild who was with us for such a short time on April 4th, 2008. 

She will not be forgotten.

The star magnolia planted when Maggie was born...
also put on a lovely show for us in April!
It's our Maggie tree.

The tulips fields of Chilliwack are now in their glory

...and I plan to visit them this week.

This photo was taken a few weeks ago...

on a Sunday afternoon drive-by.

Last Sunday afternoon we went in search of a waterfall not too far from here...

 one that we had heard about but never visted.

It is not to be found on any maps...

and the trailhead is poorly marked.

But we eventually found the trail...

and followed the sound of the rushing water to the prize...

Bosumarne Falls.

Such a lovely spot...

about 40 minutes from home.

We'll be going back!

The grands had a day off school on Friday (ProD Day)...

and so we planned an outing for all the girls.

High tea at Tracy Cakes in Abbotsford...

with all my granddaughters and their moms.

They may not care for tea...

or even fancy sandwiches...

...but they all found something to their liking.

Their cousins!

'A cousin is a little bit of childhood that can never be lost.'

There was actually a reason for our tea party.

Ranen and Auntie Broni are having a birthday this week...

and so we started the celebrations a little early.

It seems to me that we have many photos of Ranen sitting on Broni's lap.

Not this year!

After waiting patiently for spring to arrive...

we went right into summer weather last week.

The temperatures soared...

and we broke records that had stood for 121 years in our area.

And on the farm...

the first of the cropping for this year has begun.

They will be busy out there this next month!

Sunshine, dandelions and snow-capped peaks.

And that was a wee glimpse into April 2018 at 'my front porch'.

Thanks for stopping by...

and happy spring to you all!

March 2018

Has spring arrived...or is it still winter?  In March it is often hard to know.

The snow on all the surrounding peaks makes for beautiful photos at this time of the year. Those are cranberry fields just down the road from our place...in case you were wondering.

And next to that...a field of pyramid cedars for the nursery.  And the red barn...that always looks great with Mt. Cheam in the background. Since I walk this same route often, I have many photos of this scene...from every season of the year.

The Easter bunny has been hanging around our yard all winter.  He sits in the bushes and watches me through the window when I work in the office.  I'm hoping he moves along after Easter...before I plant a garden.

Lucy was a sweet cricket in the spring concert at her school.  They put on an excellent program to a packed out crowd.

After Lucy's concert we said our farewells to Pauline, who was returning to Switzerland after spending the past six months living with Tim and Heidi and the girls. It was so nice to get to know her this past while.  She will be be missed...especially by two girls who have become quite attached to her.

Ranen played twice at the 71st annual Chilliwack Lions Music and Dance Festival...a month-long performing arts extravaganza with more than 3,800 participants from across the southern end of the province.  It is always a pleasure to hear her play her violin. 

On a day that truly felt like spring...

...we walked the trails of Cheam Wetlands Park just before sundown.

The trumpeter swans arrived on the lake...as they do most evenings.

It is such a tranquil spot so close to home.

Why do we not visit there more often?

We always enjoy the view from Dad and Marge's eighth floor condo...but this spectacular rainbow was a rare treat.

Though the last few weeks have felt more like winter than spring...I have proof that we have already had lunch on the patio.  That was a few weeks back!

The first blooms of the year are always a treat. The daffodils are just beginning to bloom...and the tulips will be right behind.

Emme and Spencer were on a missions trip to an orphanage in Mexico with a group of youth from our church during spring break. The orphanage happens to be Children's Haven International in Reynosa...the same orphanage where my sister worked for over three decades.  It sounds like it was a wonderful experience for them!   We scheduled our annual spring break wiener roast for the night after their return...so we could hear all about it.

The weather didn't really co-operate but we managed to cook our food in the great outdoors...and moved the party into the garage.

A little cold...a little rain...and a lot of wind...all made for a memorable wiener roast.

The boys did the dishes!

And the girls have been busy in the kitchen.  Maggie and Lucy came for their annual 'peeps-in-a-nest party'. 

Emme fried up a big batch of Rollkuchen while I rolled and cut the dough.  Now that she is a pro...I know who I can call on for help next time!

And that was just a wee peek into what March looked like in my corner of the world.
 

Today the sun was shining and the pink magnolia is in its glory.  I love spring and the beauty of the season...and especially Easter.  Because He lives, we have hope beyond this life!

Blessings to you and yours this Easter!