It is Peak Spring color time here in NW Ohio----and it is gorgeous. Chilly---but gorgeous. Normally, I keep my distance around bees, but the camera made me just a little braver. As my wise mom used to say "if you don't bother the bees, they won't bother you". That woman was a bee worshiper! We were never allowed to kill a bee. Not even when a whole bunch of bees(hundreds) swarmed down from the attic! She caught them in jars and took them outside---and never got stung. Me----I spent the night at a friend's house and took no chances!

This post has a happy beginning and a happy ending but the middle part is kind of less-than-perfect. This pizza had all the beginnings of perfection----the dough for the crust was pliable, fragrant and just the right consistancy when rolled out. The topping ingredients were fresh and delicious. I even celebrated by sipping wine while putting the finishing touches on the dinner. I was so proud, I took this picture and that's when things started going downhill and FAST. As I was putting the pizza in the oven, it kind of plopped onto the stone in one clump. I yelled for Dan to order a pizza on the phone. He calmly came over, grabbed a spatula and told me it wouldn't look great but would still taste good. And he was right---we had a mishapen pizza that was a little too done in spots but the wine made it all worthwhile.

The most important part of this picture is not the fact that it is Friday and we went out for dinner------what makes this picture so special is the beverages. The ice cold liquid in the glasses! At 5am this morning(right after my shower) we lost our water due to a broken water main! And by 5pm we were very, very thirsty!! And notice the stairs in the picture. We were seated at the upper level and the poor server had to go up and down the stairs to refill our glasses because we were very, very thirsty!!

I know I have posted this picture before, but it is definately worth looking at again. Especially since tomorrow is the Tigers Home Opener and our Basset Hound is named Magglio--after Tiger's outfielder Magglio Ordonez. This dog will do anything for food---even wear a silly little toy hat and a scarf around his neck!

Today was full of summer. It helped that I took the day off and the weather cooperated. Included in the list of "summer things" are--

1. A bicycle ride in (not to) Oak Openings. We hardly ever use this "jewel in Metropark Crown" because it is not real convenient(made worse by highway construction), but when we do, we are always amazed. Included in the pics is a "restored Oak Savannah". Now that sounds downright exotic!

2. The first lawn mow of the season-----courtesy of Dan.

3. Dinner on the patio----leftover Easter dinner tastes so much better al Fresco!

4. Watching the season opener of the Detroit Tigers. Seventh inning and we are ahead--nuff said, because I don't want to jinx it.

5. Windows open, breezes pouring in and they are staying that way!

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Easter 2010 is winding down and it was a good one! Good food,good company,good weather and too much chocolate. This concrete bunny belongs to Dan's Mom. My father in law used to move it to a new location every few days-much to the delight of the grandchildren. Today one of those grandchildren returned the favor and moved it to the daffodil patch!

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I came home from work and found a package by my door!! And inside----an Easter Basket that was filled with delicious homemade Macaroons drizzled with chocolate!!!!! It was from the Easter Bunny--aka Ed and Lisa!!!! It was almost too pretty to open and eat---but if you look closely you will see a chocolate smudge on the ribbon. Well, I HAD to try one and then retied the ribbon for the picture!! Lisa and I decided we were going to do a cookie exchange for each holiday and so far---so delicious!!