We are very busy here in NW Ohio. We are coaxing our prettiest spring blooms out of the ground and asking for BETTER weather for the weekend. Why? Because this weekend we will be seeing family from all over the country---Texas, Virginia and Indiana----and we will be celebrating a very special birthday. Dan's Mom, Lana will be having her official 90th birthday party.

I love Hostas---I am sure I mentioned that before. But----I don't really understand why I feel this way---all I know is that once I see an unusual leaf, I am on a quest until I find the plant for my garden. I especially love the way they appear in the Spring---shooting out of the ground with leaves ready to unfurl.

It is official. We had the old muddler out and made the FIRST MOJITO of the season. Life is Good.

Kudos to the University of Toledo for bringing Nobel AND Pulitzer prize winning author Toni Morrison to Savage Hall last nite as part of the Shapiro Lecture Series and the price of admission------Free. She was wonderful but I have to vent here at the sake of sounding old. She is a world respected Nobel and Pulitzer prize winning author and the University did not charge admission. There were quite a few students who got up and left, notebooks in hand, after about 15 minutes. Very inconsiderate to the speaker and those in attendance.

I've been tempted to do this for awhile---lay the camera on the ground and take a picture. Kind of like an ant's eye view of the world. Truthfully---I kind of like the results!

Last night, the Hallmark special was about this extraordinary women, Irena Sendler. This video tribute tells her story better than I can, but I can't get her out of my mind. She will always be my hero. And-------I cannot believe that after being nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, she lost to Al Gore. What the video doesn't tell you is another extraordinary story. Her story stayed unknown until a group of high school students in Kansas read about her, wrote a play called Life in a Jar and brought her life story to the world stage. The video also doesn't tell you about how she was captured, tortured almost to the point of death and at the last minute was rescued by a bribed guard.

It's a good thing I snapped these pics while I could---because it is COLD and RAINY and GRAY. Spring is such a tease here in Ohio. But do notice there is a tenant in the birdhouse AND the beautiful windchimes that was a present from Jonelle and her framily when my Mom died.

Unless you live in a depleted economic area like ours, you may not understand the excitement we feel when we see our downtown area coming alive. Last nite the draw of the Mud Hens Home game brought a wonderful crowd downtown and although we didn't go to the game----we ate at my new favorite restaurant, Pizza Papolis. And we ate outside on the 2nd floor Taverna.

Gorgeous day! First bike ride of the year. I got creative to document the day and took a picture of myself taking a picture-----reflected in the pond from a bridge.

How I spent my birthday--
1. Took Day off of work
2. Stayed in PJ's till noon.
3. Wore favorite long underwear shirt that is 30 years old.
4. Watched the heavy rain from comfort of home.
5. Sewed and watched rain
6. Started a daily yoga practice, made difficult by dog. But hey, he was really good at Downward Facing Dog.
7. Enjoyed the funny birthday text messages from friends, family and co-workers.
8. Recieved the gift I had been hinting for---a KINDLE.
9. Felt really sad when a telemarketer called in the morning and I remembered that my Mom always was the first phone call I received on my birthday---and she would sing Happy Birthday to You.

Once again---I am fascinated with Glass! We went to another wine tasting last Friday at the TMA and wandered through the gallery. This is a large piece by Dominick Labino. We are proud to call him a native son of the Toledo area who has pieces on display in museums both in the states and abroad. This is a large wall piece called Vitrana which is composed of 33 panels. You can read about him here.

Jesus Christ is Risen Today--Hallelujah!...This was the the view from our window(with Venus reflected in the pond) this morning as we were waiting to go to Sunrise Service at Maumee Bay Park. I hope you all are surrounded by love and have a Blessed Easter Sunday.

The Joys of Grown Sons

Hope you are enjoying this Blessed Easter Weekend and are among those you love. We are reaping the benefits of grown sons returning home. Matt made crepes for our brunch tomorrow and Adam pitched in and helped Dan in the Garden. Yes, I finally think Spring is here.

Holy Thursday

Dan, Matt and I observed solemn Holy Thursday by attending St Stephen's Catholic Church in the Hungarian community of Birmingham. OR if you are Hungarian, you could say Saint Istvan. It always feels like "going home" when I am in this beautiful church. It was the church of my grandparents and where I received all my sacraments. And it is the the scene of the happiest day of Dan's life---his wedding! And then--to keep traditions intact, we had dinner and a beer at Tony Packo's.

Springzapoppin! I couldn't figure out what this emerging plant was in my side flower bed and briefly considered pulling it out. But---then I recalled planting Giant Allium bulbs last fall and here they are! Although they are pretty, the real reason I planted them is because I saw Toledo Botanical Gardens spray painted the spent woody blooms PINK! I am going to try that---although it doesn't seem right to spray paint a flower, does it.

We just got back from visiting Adam in Warsaw Indiana. It is a beautiful drive---along the Maumee River. Anyway--I always notice this cemetary and decided to take a picture. It has all the tombstones(and they are REALLY old) all lined up shoulder to shoulder in a semi-circle facing the road. The picture doesn't do it justice but you can get the idea.

Easy Pain Au Chocolat

It has been a busy week and continues into the weekend. We are heading to Warsaw to trade vehicles with Adam-----and I don't like to go empty handed. Adam fell in love with Pain Au Chocolat on a high school trip to France and I have a VERY EASY recipe. If you are interested, here it is
2 sheets Peppridge Farm Puff Pastry -thawed
1-3.5 oz imported milk chocolate---cut into 2x3/4 inch strips(it is okay if it is broken)
Cut puff pastry into 12 rectangles(6 per sheet). Put chocolate on edge and roll up. Place seam side down on parchment lined pastry sheet. Brush with beaten egg and sprinkle with sugar. Bake 400 for 15 mins. Nothing could be easier and it looks quite impressive.

Again, my favorite holiday decorations are homemade. Aren't these chicks sweet. Matt made them in grade school out of cotton balls and brought them home in an egg carton. I put them in a basket my sister Kathie made and-----sweet. Matt is probably going to post that Adam made them-----but I am SURE it was Matt.

Make way for Ducks! I was going through some old stuff and found this book, which was a favorite of Adam as a child. I added this broken metal toy that I bought at an estate auction and threw in a marble egg that belonged to my Mom. Instant Easter decoration. And then I noticed the real thing on the pond-----a sure sign of Spring.