I love this picture of them

Boy, Miss Julia, Bubbagail

Tonight we were invited to a bonfire at the house of the Monge clan, including the first barbque of the season and then an evening of playing Pitch. Much fun.

Jessebear by the fire

Blooming Bloodroot

Tombo feeling lovey

Finished the girl's capelet today. Just have to weave in the ends and then I'll post a picture.

Met with the Yarn Goddess - she has given me good input on DH's sweater - I'll start that in the next day or so.

Almost done with the shawl to be gifted. I think I have chosen who it'll go to.

Started knitting a heatpack - had to do something easy with the odds and ends of yarn. I'll see how it progresses and post a picture.

Life is moving along. Jessebear is back on doxy - we're hoping it pushes her lyme into remission. My roof is failing - we find a new leak almost everytime it rains. I'm not sure how much longer we can continue to patch it. At some point, it is going to be all patch and no original roof - but I guess we have quite a few years to go before it is that bad. I just worry sometimes. I suppose that's normal. If only we could win the lottery and pay off the real estate taxes and reroof the house and pay off everything else. But, I guess I would have to play the lottery to win it, wouldn't I?

Riding along lately, I can see firsthand the damage done by the flooding last month. Bridges washed out, sections of road completely gone. Even though the water has receeded, there's still potent evidence of when the waterways substantially overran their banks wherever I look. The ground is bare in those spots, it looks naked and raw. I find the power of nature to be so intimidating, so awe-inspiring.

I had to pick up Bubba from her martial arts class tonight. The traffic was heavy and I was standing by the car watching the traffic pass and waiting to open the door and get in. A convertible with two guys, younger than me, drove by, and they whistled at me. Long and low. Wow, do you know the last time I was whistled at? (by someone other than my husband?) Let's just say it was before I got obviously pregnant with my first daughter. That was 21 years ago. I'm just so amazed. Floating a little here.

I'm down 24 pounds in 8 months. Not bad. I've been exercising five days a week and eating healthy, but no dieting. I want to be healthy and not strain my systems. I've gone down from a size 16 jean to a size 12 . I'm starting to notice subtle differences in my body. Pretty cool. Wonder what the next eight months will show?

the feel of sun warmth on my skin

the smell of blooming things, warming earth, the sweetness of newly cut grass, the rich wet smell of a passing river

the sound of birdsong wafted on the breeze

baby goslings bobbing along behind their mother

bright splashes of color as I pass a field of dandelion blossoms

Spring feeds a deep hunger in my soul

I successfully wormed the horses tonight.

Six simple words.

Have you ever tried to make your cat take medicine? Try it with a 1200 plus pound animal. Yeah. I'm so excited, so proud of myself, I just had to boast a little. I've always had Jessegirl do it before because I was quite intimidated and she is fearless. But not tonight. Just me, all alone in the pen. I feel about ten feet high. And you know, considering how wild they were three years ago, I am surprised at how well it went. Cherokee was, of course, convinced I was going to kill her. Once abused, always fearful. As a reward, I picked fresh grass and dandelion flowers for them. Dessert after Sunday night bran mash. Happy horses, happy Cynthia.