Baking with Ben

Ben and I had an extra day together last Friday - and we celebrated by making M&M cookies.  Ben said if we were short on chocolate chips then M&Ms would do fine.

Ben is very good at measuring - he would say "scoop and level" every time he measured . . .

Adding ingredients . . .

Monitoring the mixer - he calls it a "maker" . . .

The maker is making dough . . .

We snacked a little from the bowl of M&Ms - every time Ben added another ingredient he ate one M&M . . .

Scooping the cookies out onto the pan . . .

And of course every little boy likes to lick the beater . . .

Ahhh, cookies and milk outdoors after a baking adventure . . .

Ben says that baking is hard work, but worth it - I agree . . .

A Few of My Favorite Things

What fun - stop over and see Laurie and more Favorite Things.  

There is a small beach in town - not very busy and a grand place to look out on the water and think fabulous thoughts.

There is a small beach in town - not very busy and quite pleasant for viewing the bay . . .
and do you see the fairies dancing on the water?

A lovely view of some of the islands in the bay . . .

Sailboats in the bay - more  fairies dancing on the water . . .

The small beach - great for walking in the sand or looking for pretty rocks . . .

There is a long pier out into the bay - I'm not sure what it is for . . .

Here is a close up of that lonely rock . . .

Don't you think this log looks like a seal sunny on the rocks?

And my favorite thing - Don, looking out to sea . . .

Thanks for stopping by - see you next week!

Mother's Day

 

What a glorious day - the girls and their families came for brunch - we had lots of food and lots of fun . . .

My great aunt's breakfast dishes - perfect for a brunch . . .

Lovely fork handles . . .

Scones and homemade raspberry jam - I didn't think to take photos of the fruit salad and breakfast casseroles - until we had eaten them all up.  Believe me - they were delicious!

A pretty bouquet from our youngest daughter's family . . . bright, just like our day . . .

Alstroemeria close up . . .

I've been collecting milk glass lately - this little basket was from Jahn's family . . . isn't it the cutest little thing?

Close up of the ruffled rim - I love that clear glass on the edge . . .

From Don - a milk glass cheese dome . ..

Close up of the roses . . .

A wonderful stone for my garden - from Ben's family - Ben picked it out.  I have just the spot for it in the garden, right next to a fairy. . .

And Ben picked out this plant stake - the ball glows in the dark . . .

There is a metal ladybug on top of the ball . . .

Our son and daughter-in-law sent this darling Fimo Clay quilt pin - you can judge the size by the safety pin it is hanging from - the pin is about 1 1/4" long.  This is the cleverest thing!!!  Don't you wish you had one?

After brunch we played in the yard and did some planting - that's for the next post - be back soon.

Yard work today

In springtime our lawn grows so fast we can barely keep ahead of it - and sometimes it seems taller than us.  My job today was to weed whack - and whack I did.  It is gorgeous out today, sunny, a little breeze to make the wind chimes sing and birds all about. 

A bird was enjoying the birdbath - I actually got this photo from inside the house - the birds kept flying off when I tried to take a picture when I was outside weed whacking.
 

 This flicker wanted to try the seeds in the feeder that is stuck to my studio window.  He's a little big for the feeder - but diligent at trying to get the seeds.

I filled the suet feeders - here is Ben, earlier in the year, helping with the suet feeders.

A vulture flew over - they are so graceful in flight.  Did you know that as a protection, if you get too close to them, they can vomit an unbelievable amount, and a long distance - so beware.  Still, one of my favorite birds - watching them in flight - and thankful that they clean up things we wouldn't want to.  Thank you vultures.

I could hear this fellow off in the woods.  I was lucky and got this picture of him last summer.

 

And then there is the squirrel and crow story - all the photos were taken from inside - you know how skittish crows are.  The squirrel would climb up onto the suet feeder and begin digging around. Being somewhat of a sloppy eater, he would spill some of the nuts and seeds on the ground . . .

And along would come a crow - hopping quickly in to pick up the dribbles.  They have been doing this for several days now - and I've never been able to get a picture of them together.

Squirrel taking a break - and not sharing with his friend the crow. . .

I could hear bees buzzing about in the flowers - and caught this one as he worked at the White Bleeding Heart . . .click on the photo to see the bee . . .

The wind made the chimes tinkle - it is a glorious spring day - with scent, sights and sounds . . . 

This is one of my favorite wind chimes.  Someone was going to throw it in the trash at Don's work - and he brought it home to me - it has the sweetest chime . . .

This is the pretty hook it hangs from . . .

As graceful as a real heron . . .

And for fun - a sign in the back yard . . .

I'm glad the weed whacking is done - I sure enjoyed the yard and our wonderful spring day.

What did you hear or see  in your yard today?

Ben registers for Kindergarten

On Monday we were invited to go along with Ben and his parents to the Kindergarten registration and tour - and what a good time we had.

First thing - it was cold and blustery so Ben had to zip up  his coat - don't you just love those cow boots?

 A welcome sign just inside the door . . .

Getting a name tag - written on a school bus . . .

And a book bag - three styles to pick from  - Ben decided on a penguin . . .

In the classroom the kids wrote their names and then found a table with something interesting on it. Ben picked the table with foam shapes, so he could build a shape train.

 

Touring the school bus - where each child got a snack . . .

Running to Grampy after the school bus tour . ..

Listening to the principal speaking . . .

The hand washing station - discovering how the foot controls work . . . such interesting things in school . . .

And running around the circle at top speed on the new indoor playground - the end of the tour.  What a fun day!!!