April hot and cold

Crazy weather.  In April we had a couple beautiful weeks with sun and warm temps when nearly everybody wanted to be outside.  The last week of this month has been so cold I've had to cover my garden to keep it from freezing!

In early April we attended the 20th Anniversary Celebration concert of the Nebraska Chamber Players.  The musicians are lovely people who excel at their craft; Rusty has played with all of them.  We heard Robert Jenkins play the English horn in a beautiful Concertino, the premiere of Aztlan by Daniel Baldwin, and the Quintet in f# minor for piano and strings Op.67 featuring Mark Clinton on piano.

NE Chamber Players

Rusty and Mark Clinton, the amazing pianist.

Becky gives Mark a hug after his wonderful performance.

Becky, the instigator of NE Chamber Players, celebrating 20 years!

For my blog readers from Nebraska, check out the Chamber Players website for Concerts on the Creek in late June and late July.  Tickets always sell out, so order early.

Ramona Rabbit kept watch as the sunshine in the second week of April inspired green grass, flowering trees, and tulips.

Olivia, Reece and Pierce joined us for an extended Easter weekend.  What fun!!!  On Friday night we went to the Kiechel Art Gallery for a special showing of Keith Jacobshagen's paintings.  He was in the gallery for the showing and spoke about his work.  He says, I’m a Midwesterner who has stayed put to make sense of where I live. My interest in the land is crystallized in my paintings about it.    Since I love the prairie, it's no wonder he's one of my favorites.  The boys picked out their favorite paintings too.

On Saturday afternoon we rode our bikes to Pioneer Park and made our own prairie picture.

Rusty, Pierce, Reece, Olivia

Saturday afternoon I introduced the Fishers to DeLeon's.  While we were there an artist was painting a taco on the wall freehand with spraypaint.

The boys were very good about playing with Gretchen, but sometimes the electronic gadgets seemed more interesting.

"Hey, who wants to play ball with me?"

Saturday evening I gave up my ticket to the Nebraska Jazz Orchestra/James Valentine Concert so that Olivia and Rusty could attend.  I heard it was very good!

James Valentine.  Local boy done good.  Guitarist for Maroon 5.

See LJS.

Instead of a concert, the boys and I had great fun coloring Easter Eggs.

Easter Sunday is always a special day!  Church, Easter egg hunts, pretty outfits, good food, and FAMILY!

The Fishers!

Celeste and GiGi in our Easter bonnets.

The Fishers

Me and one of my gorgeous daughters!

Papaw, GiGi and Reece, Pierce and Ramona Rabbit.

Di & Rusty

Grandkids hunting for eggs.

Celeste on the hunt.

Where are those eggs?

I think I see one!

Three years ago I planted an asparagus bed.  We got our very first harvest!

some purple, some green

Biking season is upon us, so I had my annual tune-up done at Monkey Wrench Cycles.

new handlebar tape, new chain, rotated tires, all clean and ready for the summer

I led a ride for Great Plains Bicycle Club to the buffalo and back.  Great turnout!

I also led a ride to Ceresco and back.  

We were supposed to join friends in Hastings this last weekend in April for the annual Hastings-Superior ride.  It's 60 miles each day with an overnight stay in Superior.  Forecast: high of 52, 90% chance of rain or snow, high winds.  We decided to cancel.👅


Our home-built canoe has been on the back burner for months and months.  Finally the inside sanding is done enough to dampen the surface to see what it will look like when it is finished.  Next step will be a little more light sanding and then the precarious job of putting cloth and resin on the inside.

It feels good to get this project moving again.

March, a pretty rainy, cloudy month compared to February

I watched an indoor agility show, sponsored by the Greater Lincoln Obedience Club.  I wanted to get a little insight as to what I hope is ahead for Gretchen and me.  Gretchen is now beginning her sixth agility training class, each class being six weeks long.  She is having a great time and knows how to do all the obstacles, but I don't think we are ready for competition just yet.

The donut ring, tunnel, dog walk and jumps are all part of the requirements for competition.

Anna and Gretchen became great friends during Anna's stay with us.

I found some free furniture on a neighbor's curb and sat next to it until Anna could pick it up.

Rusty said that Ronny would appreciate me sitting next to a sign that says "Free."

Moving day for Anna.  The two weenes are in the foreground.

Anna with proud Poppa in her new digs.

My Loveknotters group meets each month, but sometimes we can't all be in attendance.  It is truly a time of sharing, rest, and renewal for each of us.  With any luck, all six of us will be together in April.

Chris (post knee replacement), Lorraine, Linda

I was able to get a piece of artwork from my second cousin, Michael Huston at Blueberry Gallery.

Pretty cool, huh?  I can't wait to get it hung on a wall.

Michael, standing next to his kiln.

This is one of my favorite recipes.  It's called Splothcock chicken.  Simply scissor the chicken along the backbone, splay it out on a cookie sheet on top of good bread, rub a little butter on top and bake until done.  Squeeze fresh lemon juice and herbs on top.  Yummy--especially the bread!

Rusty and I joined others on this beautiful Mo-Pac trail ride to Eagle, NE where we celebrated St. Patty's Day.

We are a pretty goofy group.

Me, posing with the costume contest winner, David Quade. (I blame David for inspiring me to get a tattoo.)

It was wonderful to spend a couple of days with Olivia and Pierce and Reece in KC.  I watched as each boy practiced lacrosse with their team.  Mostly we just hung out and talked and played.  Good bonding time for all!!  Reece and Gretchen couldn't get enough of each other.

two cuties!

The boys and me at Visitation School

enjoying a little ice cream at Betty Rae's

Gretchen had fun chasing geese and squirrels at Loose Park.

While I was in KC, my Mom was enjoying life in sunny CA with my sister, Dar.

You go, Mom!

I'm looking forward to Mom's  and the Wagner's visit to the midwest at the end of May.

Two days after K.C. I flew to Philadelphia to be with the Caviezels.

a little mani-peddi time for the ladies

Ruby with her new apron and chef's hat

I helped Felicia figure out the serger and make a few dresses for Ruby.

Ruby reminded me of myself at a young age playing with fabric scraps.

Felicia finishes her first twirly dress for Ruby!

We did puzzles...

...played dragon...

...and enjoyed the sun along the Schuylkill River.

One morning we went to the Philadelphia Art Museum.  They are currently doing a major renovation and this was a special day to show off the renovation project to the community.

Felicia and Ruby and the outside art.

Ruby on the red carpet.

Ruby & GiGi

Always get a photo in front of your favorite picture!

And take getting knighted very seriously!

Ruby and me in our Rocky pose.

Ruby and I made strawberry and blueberry shortcake--Frank's favorite.

Felicia and I were able to have a little one-on-one time at this cute place.

It's always a special treat to hear the Philadelphia Orchestra.  This time I heard Bernstein's Prelude, Fugue, and Riffs for Solo Clarinet and Jazz Ensemble.  This was very fun and perhaps a little unusual for the orchestra.  Next was Imaginary Day, Duo Concerto for Vibraphone, Marimba, and Orchestra.  So amazing!  The audience loved it, so they also played an encore.

Ruby and Daddy at intermission

After intermission we were treated to the well-known, and very lovely Symphony No. 9 in E minor, Op. 95 by Dvorak.  Lay-person that I am, I refer to it as The New World Symphony.

 The Kimmel Center usually has a special art exhibit in the lobby.  This time it was a creation by Devorah Sperber.  It contains 5,024 spools of thread hung on metal chains.

If one looks through the acrylic viewing sphere, the art appear right-side up.

My lovely husband greeted me at the airport with this beautiful bouquet.  I think he missed me!

With so much travel I had no time to get in any aerobic exercise.  The morning after my flight home I bundled up and rode 45 miles in the cold with this group.

Seemed appropriate that on April Fool's Day we ate at the Ding-a-Ling bar.