Favorite Photos from April 2023

Below are some of my favorite photos from April...or at least ones that I want to remember what happened in April. 

On April 1st, there was a major snowfall. The snow, by this point, covered half of the doors and windows on the barn. This has been a nightmarish winter, to say the least. 

One of the things I like about the winter, though, is that I can see tracks in the snow. It amazes me how much "traffic" there is around the yard by different mammals and birds in the winter and early-spring.

Once the snow melted a bit, I took the dogs out for a walk. I need to get into the routine of walking again.

The dogs love to walk along this road. There isn't a lot of traffic or walker/bikers, which is nice.

These photos are of Easter Cactuses that I got this year. In April, there was continued snow and it was becoming more challenging to deal with the never-ending winter and dreariness of the snow and ice. Bright, cheerful flowers were what I needed.

  

As the month progressed, the ice and snow melted. The seasonal pond was getting larger each day. The ducks and geese were returning which was uplighting. Spring was finally getting here!

Paige and I visited Olivia at college one day. We all enjoyed dinner together.

Afterward, she showed us the drawing studio. This is one of her pieces she did with charcoal.

The red-winged blackbirds were returning to Minnesota in earnest. The tough thing for the birds is that there's not a lot of food for them since the weather has been so cold. Only a few trees have buds on them. I love to hear the birds sing and call to one another in the trees.

Ashley (one of Sophia's roommates) had her final concert. There was a wide variety of music and everyone played beautifully. Sophia played the harp and Olivia played the flute. 

Sophia and Olivia along with Nessa (Sophia's roommate) came home for Easter break. I asked the girls if they wanted to dye Easter eggs and they did. 

They used crayons to create designs before soaking the eggs in dye which they enjoyed.

I had fun shopping for Easter baskets this year. This is Olivia with her Easter basket. She had more nature- and dog-themed items in her basket.

That sunlight was bright on Easter. We enjoyed having breakfast together. Paige requested pancakes and Sophia wanted blueberries in them. It has been a while since we had fresh blueberries in pancakes.  

This is Sophia's Easter basket. She was excited about the different items - some practical and others not so practical. 

We went to my brother's home for Easter. The girls were eating with two of their cousins at this table (one is pictured and the other joined later). 

The rest of us ate Easter dinner at this table. We had an untraditional taco dinner for Easter which we all liked.

For dessert, my brother got big decorated cupcakes. Here's Olivia and Sophia with their cupcakes. 

 

Sophia made a cheesecake since Paige had to work on Easter. He loves cheesecake.

On April 15th, I coordinated and held a Service Project Sampler Day. The event took about four months to create and relied on many volunteers from the Lions and community to make it happen. We had 199 people attend the event - up from 137 last year and about 60 the year before. We had 15 hands-on projects and 21 collection drives. It was the largest one to date.

My sister is working on the Sole Hope project - creating shoe kits from blue jeans for children in Uganda who had and were treated for jiggers. 

Another project we did at the Service Project Sampler Day was knit and crochet hats for newborns in third-world countries. The hats are one of many things we made and donated, and are used as incentives for women to get pre-natal care and to deliver their babies in clinics/hospitals. 

These were pillowcases that some of the volunteers made for children living on a reservation in California. The sewers made 55 pillowcases! 

At the museum where I'm doing marketing/PR and now have become the Associate Director, we have a new exhibit called Swedish Folk Painting: Tradition and Innovation. This is one of 37 pieces that are being shown. The cupboard/case opens and has two shelves that hold tiny glasses.

This is another painting. I like it because it has two animals in it. 

There are five historic buildings at the museum, and this is one of them. Originally, it was the pastor's house and then it was sold to a family back in the 1800s. One of the children who was born in the home lived there until the 1970s. There was never central heat, air conditioning, or a bathroom in the home. It was heated by a wood stove in the living room. It just amazes me that a woman in her 80s was hauling wood in the late-fall, winter, and early-spring to keep her home warm.

The last week in April, I attended the Minnesota Association of Local History Museums in Austin, Minnesota. I went on the Tree Trek that featured over 75 trees and shrubs that can grow in Minnesota.

Here's another sign of spring.

At the Hormel Historic Home in Austin, there was an old treadle sewing machine that was set up.

This was another display at the Hormel Home that I thought was clever. I liked how the trunk is on one end and displays various linens. 

One of the activities at the MALHM conference was to find rubber ducks that had been hidden around the conference area. On the underside of each duck were raffle tickets. I found four ducks - each with a different appearance. It was a great way to add more fun to the conference.

This was a small lake with a dam in Austin. 

My sister and I went to the Como Conservatory to see their Spring Show. It was beautiful with its purple, white, and yellow flowers. 

I love the colors on these flowers.

There were brightly-colored flowers tucked in little spaces throughout the display.

The smell of the conservatory was amazing! It was just what I needed in April when things still were not in bloom yet outdoors.

This flower had tons of little tiny flowers on it. I've always wanted to grow them, but the cost per bulb is so expensive. 

There was an orchid section in another part of the conservatory. 

This was one of the flowers in the bromeliad section. These flowers collect water in their centers.

My sister stood next to one of the bonsai in the bonsai room. This one was the most impressive one because it was covered in flowers. It's an azalea. 

This was one of the little waterfalls in the Como Conservatory. 

After going to the Como Conservatory, my sister and I went to Hmong Village to look around and then have some lunch. I got three spring rolls at Hmong Village. Before I realized that I didn't take a photo, I ate one of the spring rolls. It was delicious!

At Hmong Village, Mary ordered a sesame ball with her chicken pad thai. It was huge!

There was a long aisle of Asian restaurants - each with a slightly different focus. We ordered at one all the way at the end of the aisle. This was the first available table...that's how popular this place is!

Afterward, we had some bubble tea. 

That wraps up April. 

Wednesday Hodgepodge - April 19, 2017

From this Side of the Pond

1. Tell us about a time you felt like you were "flying by the seat of your pants."

By definition, flying by the seat of your pants is "to do something difficult without the necessary experience or ability." Anything that I have done for the first time has felt like that in my life - like simple things around the farm: ordering and raising rare and endangered chickens; starting and raising a flock of sheep; or repairing a fence.

Babydoll sheep that Sophia, Olivia, and I saw

at a sheep and llama festival.

I didn't raise babydolls.

Mine were cross-bred sheep....nothing fancy.

(Taken on May 12, 2012.)

One of the ongoing areas that comes to mind is being a mother. There is no plan because life is different each day. Yes, I can have goals for what I want to do as a parent and have a parenting philosophy to direct my actions.

The girls and I watched a ship

move towards the dock in Two Harbors.

(Taken on June 4, 2013.)

In reality, those are only guides. What is presented to me on a daily basis by Sophia and Olivia as well as the world around us, determines what happens and how our lives unfold.

Donating food to the food shelf.

(Taken on December 8, 2012.)

I can only hope that the job I am doing as the girls' mother is a good one and that helps prepare them for the future - as participants, leaders, and contributors to making the world a better place.

2.  When or where would you most like to be "a fly on the wall?"

I don't know if I would want to be listening to information that I shouldn't hear - especially if it is about me. Sometimes it is better not to know what people are saying about you or how they truly feel. It can be quite hurtful if they don't have your best interest at heart.

Gretel as a puppy listening

(Taken on March 28, 2008.)

The only thing I could think of where I would want to be a fly on the wall would be in the future in a situation that could help me and/or my family now. Could there be something we could be doing differently now that would help us later? Learning information like that would be helpful and positive.

3. "Happiness is like a butterfly: the more you chase it, the more it will elude you, but if you turn your attention to other things, it will come and sit softly on your shoulder."-Henry David Thoreau 

Would you agree? Why or why not?

There is truth in each part of the quote. If you are so focused on creating that perfectly happy life, it can backfire because you're only looking in the future and missing the present. There are moments in each day that are happy and positive, yet those could be overlooked if one is only looking into the future - towards a "greater" happiness.

Sophia and Olivia having a tea party on Christmas Day.

(Taken on December 25, 2007.)

Conversely, if there is a darker or harder time in one's life, trying to schedule activities or do things that bring happiness can make difficult days more palatable. It's creating happiness and happy memories despite challenging times.

Olivia doing therapeutic horseback riding.

Riding helped her overcome a lot of

developmental and speech delays.

She loved the weekly sessions, and

I am so grateful for the improvements and skills

she gained because of the experience.

(Taken on September 11, 2007.)

Sometimes - when you're not trying at all - just being in the moment...fully present...you can find yourself incredibly happy and grateful for the life you have - however simple it is.

Girls by the leprechaun trap.

(Taken on March 16, 2009.)

4. Share a favorite movie, book, or song with flying in it's title, lyrics, or theme somewhere.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles is the only movie that comes to mind that refers to flying or air travel in the title.

My Dad by a plane in Colorado.

I took him there to visit his brother who also had Alzheimer's Disease.

He was impressed with the size of the plane.

(Taken on July 6, 2010.)

I've watched this movie many times. It's a classic comedy about a man who wants to get home for Thanksgiving (played by Steve Martin),  and who has to deal with the company of a shower ring salesman (played by John Candy) along the way.

Although it is a comedy, the movie does touch on the loss of a spouse and the difficulty of going on with one's life; and the generosity of strangers/friends in welcoming others to join them for the holidays.

5. What is one task or chore you tend to do "on the fly?" Is this something that really needs to be done another way?

Sometimes dinners are done on the fly which isn't the best or most thoughtful way of making food for my family. There have been many times when - in the middle of the afternoon - I'll hear, "What are we having for dinner?" and I'll realize that I didn't take something out to thaw in the morning.

My response - typically - is, "I haven't gotten that far." In other words, I didn't plan ahead like I should have done.

Sometimes I have done meal plans for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. During the late-winter and spring, we have been trying to use what we have on hand rather than purchasing a lot of new ingredients for recipes - so I haven't been as diligent with meal planning. I should get back to doing that. It makes life much easier.

6. What was happening the last time you thought to yourself or said aloud, 'Wow, time flies when you're having fun', and you meant it.

Whenever I am on vacation or taking a short "field trip" the time seems to fly by.

The girls feeding the chipmunk in Grand Marais.

They named it "Chippy."

(Taken on September 8, 2010.)

Spending time with family doing something special always feels like time goes by way too quickly.

A pelican flying at Lake Shetek State Park.

Sophia, Olivia, and I stayed here when we were

exploring the southwestern part of Minnesota and

southeastern part of South Dakota.

(Taken on June 9, 2012.)

It seems like time in general is going by too quickly. Days go by and it's as if I don't even know where the hours went. It's like everything is on a fast speed at this point in my life.

Days are full and the time goes by at a pace which I'd like to see decrease. Maybe that happens when you get older. Too much that you want to do and accomplish...and the reality that there isn't enough time left.

7. This Thursday is National Garlic Day. Will you add garlic to your menu on Thursday? Do you like garlic? What's your favorite dish made with garlic?

I like garlic. However, I'm going to be at a homeschool conference starting on Thursday so I don't think it would be a good idea to eat a lot of garlic that day or sweat it out on Friday.

Olivia making the sauce for lasagna.

(Taken on April 27, 2012.)

My favorite dish made with garlic is lasagna. My mom made the best lasagna and I continue to make the recipe. It has about 15 layers of sauce, noodles, and various kinds of cheeses....and, of course, garlic.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

In the past, Olivia and I always made and decorated a lamb cake for Easter. This year, Sophia wanted to make a cake for Easter that she saw on YouTube. It's a geode cake.

 

Sophia with the geode cake she made; and a close-up of it.

It's a four-tier cake that has homemade frosting between each layer and on the cake. It is topped with a blue and white fondant and decorated with three colors of rock candy (to look like a geode).

She tried a new cake recipe (which turned out well), learned how to use fondant, and did a cake design that was new to her. It was very time consuming, yet the result was beautiful and delicious.