We're Home

We left NOVA around 1:00 this afternoon and had nothing but smooth sailing all the way home.  The girls watched a little "Bugs Bunny" and I listened to more Bill Bryson.  Ellie napped for about an hour which was lovely because the moment she awoke, she started complaining.  She just doesn't feel well.  She either has really bad allergies or a cold on top of getting four teeth--her canines are finally coming in--and is just miserable.

The girls had a fun time playing with their cousins this morning and I hated to break up the party, but Lil has school, and I have a dentist appointment tomorrow.  Joy.  *mumble grumble* stupid spooty cavity 
 

We stopped and got these guys kitted out with Timothy hay, a litter pan, Care Fresh and some grub.  When we stopped at the Feed and Seed (I just love "feed seed" stores!), the guy took one look at the girls, looked at me and said, "You have to go see the ducks."  Sure, why not?  We went back to the chicken coop area and there were the most deliciously delightful mallard ducklings.  Ellie kept saying, "It's a quack! It's a quack!!" while Lil looked at them longingly. 

We left the room and the man said, "What? No box?"  Ha!  As if I need ducklings to add to the menagerie I have going on... I had finally culled things down to a single dog (from a high of two rats, a rabbit, two guinea pigs, two lizards, and two dogs), and suddenly I'm back up two cats and two bunnies.  Sheesh. I can't seem to help myself. :oS

Lissie called this morning to let me know my relative is quite ill and this is most likely the end.  If you could please say prayers and send up thoughts of peace and comfort I'd be grateful. 

We made it home around 4:15, just in time to take a quick skeg around the backyard to see what changes had occurred in the past two days.  Quite a bit as it turns out!

The jasmine isn't blooming as prolifically as the neighbors', nor as it did last year, but there are definitely blossoms there.  And, it smells heavenly. :o)

It is also putting out bunches of new growth, starting to climb the trellis in earnest.  Yay!  One of the hardest parts about gardening is reminding yourself that sometimes it takes years for things to get the way you want them.  This jasmine is a case in point, as is the wisteria.

 Speaking of the wisteria, check it out!  New growth all over the place!  Excellent!

Morning glories, anyone?  I'm going to have to weed out so they don't all kill one another.  I have bunches and bunches waiting to take off so I need to get some trellises going so they have something to climb. 

Over in Lil's garden, we have bunches of volunteer sunflowers and morning glories coming up.  It's going to be fabulous!

Our sugar snaps are starting to grow and will need to be trellised as well.

I planted bunches more than I did last year since the girls would go out to the garden and have a snack.  :o)

The transplanted irises made it and are getting ready to bloom.  I'm so glad they are happy where they are and that they are no longer taking over Hannah's garden.

These chives wintered over.  How exciting!

One of my pots of super bells is greening up all over the place.

The spirea are gorgeous--simply gorgeous.

As are the azaleas.  This bed has come so far and I couldn't be happier with it.  It really came into its own last year and this year is sure to be better.  The vinca have really gone gangbusters but, alas, the Johnny Jump-ups have been crowded out.
 

Over in Hannah's garden, the annual dianthus have continued to winter over.  This makes four years for these guys.  Incredible.

We also have the rose that refuses to die.  ARGH!!

Lil's daylily bed is looking magnificent and should be a profusion of red blooms by June.

 Looking at the back of the house, I'm so pleased with how that perennial shade bed turned out.  I'm so happy I extended it around the gazebo last year. :o)

The azaleas are so intense they almost hurt to look at.

I have fifteen columbine plants ready to bloom.  I'm sure they can be split this year.

This red azalea should be bursting forth any day now.

Hostas are beginning to peek out.  These guys must be divided this year.

I just love my hucheras.  This lime green one is such a nice contrast to the green of the vinca.

How about this lovely purple one hiding out under the azalea?

Another little hosta.  I'm so glad this guy made it.  You can also see the vinca blooming and the beautiful spirea.  Aaaaaand, drat it all, more oak leaves.  Gr.

Oh, wait, here are the Johnny Jump-ups! I removed all the dead ones last year and Lil used them to make a "nest" on the playground (anyone remember that?). Obviously they decided to spread a little sunshine by seeding the playground. 

As I adore these little faces, I have nary a problem with that.  :o)

I've not done a thing around front yet this year.  I must, and hope to do so over spring break.

Oh yes, two last shots from around back.  This is Brien's black grill.  That powdery stuff?  That's pollen. 

And a bit more for good measure.  It's everywhere.  I'm sweeping it up in the kitchen, wiping it off the counters and window sills and vacuuming it out of the carpets.  We track it in off the deck.  It blows in with the breeze.  It's insidious.  GAH!  No wonder we're all suffering with our allergies this year.  :oS

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Sparklies:

1.  Alicia came over as soon as she realized we were home--Bev came with her and she brought over Shawn and Sally so they could all see the bunny boys.
2.  The buns are all settled in.  Holly has stopped whining and crying and is chilling upstairs.  The cats seem indifferent.  Good.
3.  I think I might get away with not grocery shopping until next week--yes, this is a GOOD thing as you mothers with small children in tow know.
4.  I got in a good run on the elliptical this evening.  I can feel such a difference in my body and health just in the past couple of months.  It's incredible.
5.  Seeing Brien again.  Yes, yes, there are those who go for much longer periods of time without seeing their SO, I know that, but I don't, and I miss him when I'm not with him.

Milestone:
Naming the bunny boys Ron and Pablo has brought back so many happy memories of my silly Monkey.  She still has such an impact on our lives, it's amazing.