today i tried a project that caught my eye last year.
i made a cement leaf casting. i worked with rhubarb leaves. tomorrow night or the next morning they should be dry and it will be interesting to see if i have a knack or can develop the touch... if they turn out at all well it will be a fun project for me.
i had a little concrete left and so i made the flat one in the pan with the leaf pressed into the surface which is an interesting alternative.

mother's day

mother's day. i had phone calls from my kids. here, you see my son jacob and his wife kate. they're living in connecticut. kate was studying for finals today and jacob was on his way to a kickball game.
and naphtali and her son, aidan. along with hubby, james, they live in the minneapolis area. they were working out in the yard today. james is leaving for a trip to china next week.

we're proud of them all and their phone calls are always a treat. love you guys.

tulips made it

the tulips survived the hail last night. aren't they just a lovely shade??

another tuesday

this flower bed is the latest addition in my campaign to mow less grass. part of this existed as a narrow strip against the fence with a few hosta, which i repositioned,and some lily of the valley.
i've increased the depth and added virginia bluebells, blue flax, yarrow,lupine,a sweet pea,

and room for a couple something elses one of these days.

we had a plant exchange at garden club today and i came home with a few goodies that i was able to get in the ground before it started to rain. we had a storm pass through. some wind and hail. and just this morning i looked at the tulips under my mail box and thought i should take a picture. but no i decided that one more day and they would be perfect. perfect. we'll see what the hail left for me in the morning.

a break in the action

i saw a bald eagle - on the wing - tuesday. it was just above the other side of the road flying parallel with me, so i had a good long look at it. it happens so rarely that its a thrill when it does!!
got some plants in the ground yesterday. and i have time this morning to put in the last few but it is supposed to be cold/rainy (some say snow) tomorrow so i think i'll wait for saturday when its supposed to be 60 again.
tim surprised me with 2 bits of information last night. 1. he ordered the bathtub yesterday. it should be here wednesday of next week. 2. he's taking friday off.
with rain forecast for friday i had planned (and told tim this earlier in the week) to do some sanding and prep work in the bathroom that day. and you know how the dynamics of a free day change when you have to share the 'space' with someone else......so we'll see what tomorrow brings.
i finally have a color for the bathroom. so many different color schemes having been considered that i was beginning to think i'd never pull it all together. but i have. it started with a wallpaper. then a framed print . tim wanted a narrow tile border. he didn't care what or what color. i went to pick something out on tuesday. it was a daunting task. natural stone?? venetian?? colored ceramic?? i had no color at that point so i wasn't sure what direction to go. aargh!! i decided on a white 'chair rail'. it has a swoop to it - not just a flat tile. we had long ago decided on an 'effect' for the bottom part of the wall (but what color??!!) and with the chair rail - how about a wallpaper above?? and i found one. so with the color established i can begin to see the room in my mind's eye. something that's eluded me thus far. i'll stop and buy paint on my way to work after while. and now the details are just filling in......