Eggceptional

 

One of those eggs is not like the others…

More about this on Friday. 🙂

Can it be?

Can he be… 23?

Happy birthday to MusicMan, who will be graduating from college in less than 3 weeks.

 

Hey, Bud!

I knew that Spring was coming when the tight buds on the little tree outside our church began to release their grip.

 

I was away from work for nearly 2 weeks while we took our trip to Yosemite and Tucson. Upon my return, I was very glad I had brought my camera to work with me. The difference was nearly an astounding surprise.

It made coming back to work a bit sweeter.

 

 

 

Flashbacks

Once upon a time, there were 3 little boys:

From left: EB, MM, and H-J — Germany, 1997

And then they grew up.

MusicMan went off to college 3,000 miles away from home.
The following summer, we moved much closer and Encyclopedia Blue  joined his older brother at college a mere 80 miles from home.

From left:
MM, H-J, and EB — August 2012

In a few more weeks, MM and his wife will graduate from college. One month after that, Humorous-Juniorous will graduate from high school and begin his own journey to college.

My four boys, summer 2000, El Paso, TX. Note the very tan hand around the baby’s middle.

The baby of the family will be the only one living at home with Mom and Dad.

SM, July 2000

Although he’s not so little anymore!

SnakeMaster hiking at Yosemite National Park — April 2014

 

And the answer is…

 

Last Wednesday I asked you what this might be…

Many of you guessed it was some sort of reptile, and in a way you might be correct.

It is thought that this critter might be related to the dinosaurs.

And here is the photograph from which I cropped the first image:

The exquisitely formed foot of a swan is the answer to my question.

 

Childhood revisited

Yosemite Valley

My grandfather told the story of visiting Yosemite National Park as a child, how he and his brothers had to get off the wagon so the horses could continue uphill on those dirt roads that led up the mountain and then down into the beautiful valley.  His own father and uncle took him to this incredible place, and he carried that experience forward by taking his own children to Yosemite. My mother was equally struck by the beauty and took my brothers, sister, and me there when we were children.

As I walked past these rocks, I was suddenly jarred by the memory of playing in this very spot with my siblings.

This past week, my husband and I took our two youngest children to experience the beauty of Yosemite.  None of them had been there before, so it was with joy that I watched the wonder in their faces.

Bridalveil Falls, Yosemite National Park

 

Our campsite on the Merced River in Yosemite National Park

 

Yosemite Falls

I think they liked it, too.

 

Thank you, Hilary, for the POTW award!

 

Hmmm… What is it?

Can you guess what I was photographing?  Leave your guesses in the comment section.

Hint: It’s not easy to figure out!

Answer revealed next Wednesday.

Y is for…

Count your blessings, name them one by one…

It’s back — and almost at the end! After a hiatus of several months, I’m following through on my promise to use Thursday posts to focus on thankfulness — and instead of counting blessings, I’ve challenged myself to come up with them alphabetically.  (You can find the rest of the posts in this series here.)

Welcome to Y week.

 

Y is for Yellow, the color of pollen for this happy bee. Note the full pollen sac

 

It isn’t the Yellow Rose of Texas, but a yellow cactus bloom in the Arizona springtime is a close second.

 

September 1992: MusicMan holding 2-day old Encyclopedia Blue for the very first time

Y is also for yell.  Most of the time, we don’t wish for children to be yelling but when it comes to a newborn, a lusty yell is a happy sign of health.   (Sneaking in a Time Warp Tuesday / Throwback Thursday pic here, too!)
Bonus: EB has yellow trim on his “going home outfit.” 

 

 Y is for yardage…

Me, peeking over the quilt top

I have plenty of hobbies — definitely more than I have time to do on a weekly basis — but nevertheless, I was bit by the quilting bug a few years ago.  I can’t tell you how much yardage is in this quilt that I made after MM & Rapunzel were married. (Answer: a lot!)

Now it’s your turn:

Please share some things for which you are thankful…

Spring hath Sproing