Two Celebrations

The girls.....Shirley, Lisa and Lynn

 

We had two celebrations tonight.  My dad turns 85 in a couple days, and tomorrow is Mother's Day!

 

So nice to spend time with my twin sister Lynn, her son Tim and her hubby Pat.  A night out for pizza with the family was a truly a joy.  Back home tomorrow....these weekends go way to fast!

Over the River and Through the Woods

 To grandma's house I go!  I always enjoy my drive down to southern Wisconsin.  Couldn't help myself, but I just had to stop and take photos of the Sandhill Cranes out in the farm fields.

At the time I took this photo, I didn't see the geese hovering down in the grass....those sneaky devils!

 

My route takes me alongside the Pine River in Richland County.

 

Was amazed to see the leaves on the tree really opening up here in southwestern Wisconsin.  The spring flowers are all above ground and blooming....wow.  The Magnolia tree is also blooming.

 

 

Found a patch of Bloodroot growing in my parent's yard behind the garage.  Love this spring wildflower.  Just a short visit to see my parents and celebrate Mother's Day and my father's 85th birthday.

Mango Salsa





Mango Salsa  (Food Network)

After a great sunny and warm day, and a little run for exercise, I came home and made a batch of Mango Salsa.  Oh so yummy.  While I was making the salsa, Bike man was busy making a batch of bread.  Homemade, what can I say!

Ingredients:

1 mango, peeled and diced
1/2 cup peeled, diced cucumber
1 Tblsp. finely chopped jalapeno
1/3 cup diced red onion
1 Tblsp. lime juice
1/3 cup chopped cilantro leaves (dried cilantro works too)
salt & pepper

Directions:
Combine the mango, cucumber, jalapeno, red onion, lime juice and cilantro leavws and mix well.  Season with salt and pepper, to taste.

The Clean Up Began

So the work began today.   Picking up tree limbs and branches from our recent snow storm took all day.  Thank heavens Chris and Trisha decided to come over and help.  Actually, we lucked out as many people down the road  had much more damage than we did. 

The snow finally melted over the last three days, so Trisha and  I spent several hours raking, while the guys moved the yard waste and did other spring yard work during the day.

Of course we had to take a little break to visit the Cottage Winery for a little wine tasting!

We tasted five different wines while taking our time just enjoying the countryside view.  The sixty degree temperature today was so appreciated.  After our freak snow storm dumping a foot a snow......life just has to get back to normal.  Bring on spring.....