AnnaBelle Turns 2!

We were plenty busy last week, well, maybe me. Shopping for the Easter bunny and getting ready to celebrate Annie's 2nd birthday. She was officially 2 on the 26th and we celebrated with a party on Saturday the 27th.

Yes the past two years have flown by and I have enjoyed every minute of it. From crawling to running, she is one active little girl. She reminds me of a mini-me by picking up any available ball around the house and throwing, kicking or chasing it. And I'm almost certain she is going to be a lefty, too!

We had a princess themed birthday party and I baked a tiered cake and with the help of one of my sisters I think we created a masterpiece. AnnaBelle was very excited to see the cake and sample a taste of it. She received plenty of spring/summer clothes, one gorgeous dress that I cannot wait to take outside pictures of her in when it warms up, a tricycle and lots of books! Miss chatterbox can now tell you she is two! (while holding 2 fingers up)

The moon is almost full and last night while I went out to feed the cats I spied this shot in my camera. The farm bell here at Woodland dates back to the 1800's and came from a bell company out of Ohio. We like to ring it every now and then and it can be heard from quite a distance.

Yes, the saying is true, kids say the darnedest things. Nathan had trouble with his seat belt this afternoon and asked me when he could be old enough to say "sh*t." I was floored and responded, "Never, and don't say it again, try something like oh butter biscuits like we said before." He laughed when I said it and we laughed the rest of the way home. How could you not laugh? And it's not like he hasn't heard it come from both me and George. Oh well, as one friend said, at least he asked.

A Milestone is Reached

We took down the kiddies crib on Thursday and my heart ached a little. It's actually bittersweet because I am proud of AnnaBelle graduating to a bigger bed, but the crib that has adorned our upstairs for the past 6 years is now sitting in the barn. I remember when I decided on the furniture in '04 after shopping Babys R Us online. It was just what I wanted. It converts to a daybed as well as a toddler bed, but we were lucky to get a full sleigh bed from my Dad and as you can see.....

Little Miss AnnaBelle loves it and the new found freedom that comes with it. Now that she can come and go as pleases I have had to enforce new rules at bedtime. So far she has adjusted but that won't last for long, I'm certain because she tests my every limit.

The warmer weather this week awakened the trees, flowers and honeybees. The blue birds are busily making their nests in the houses and the woodpeckers fill the air with knocking while the mocking birds go through their various calls. We took advantage of the warmth nearly every day and gathered the fallen branches down the lane.

Miss Ellie Mae trotted down the lane with us hoping to find a wayward squirrel and chase it up a pecan tree.

This year I have really felt like a hibernating bear awakening to the change of seasons. This past winter was a record breaker here and we did enjoy the measurable snow we received, but something about spring makes your heart as well as your body warm. An awakening of the senses that is one of life's simple pleasures, and I am so grateful to be sharing it with my beautiful family.

Can you Feel It?

It's in the air and the smell is why Spring is one of my favorite seasons. I admit I love the smell of dirt. And soon that loamy smell of freshly ploughed earth will fill the farm air.

The local farmer will start on the fields around the farm soon and then he'll run the plough through our garden and add some more rows. George will go back over it with a smaller tractor and then the tiller.

I'm looking forward to digging in the dirt and this little girl enjoys eating a little bit, just a taste to satisfy her little craving of the loamy stuff!

Signs are popping up all over Woodland. A little late this year, in the past 10 years we have been living here these guys usually start blooming the 3rd week in February. But we had a harsh winter this season, with plenty of snow and rain and they have never bloomed this late before.

Don't forget to set your clocks ahead this weekend!

Spring's Anticipation

Nature's first green is gold,
her hardest hue to hold,

her early leaf's a flower,

but only so an hour.

Then leaf subsides to leaf,

so Eden sank to grief,

so dawn goes down today,

nothing gold can stay.

~Robert Frost

Welcoming the Lion Called March

Well the magic of the Winter Olympics has come and gone. It was amazing to watch Team USA make such huge advancements in almost every event. We walked away with the most medals won (37) by any country to date. Vancouver to me will be remembered by the awe inspiring performances by an of array of athletes from the USA as well as other countries.

But the most memorable of all performances will be the one displayed by my son. He immediately fell in love with the skiers and snowboarders achieving their daredevil stunts and maneuvers, as well as the devastating wipe outs. They have helped reinforce values I have been teaching him about staying fit, active and the love of competition. I have really enjoyed the costumes and skiing equipment that he has come up with, such imagination!

It was nice to get outside today and walk around the farm. Nathan jumped on the trampoline, AnnaBelle ran around everywhere, and Miss Ellie kept a watchful eye on everyone.

A beautiful bluebird couple has a nest in this birdhouse. In a couple of months I'm sure we'll be hearing the chirps of hungry babies.

This is the calm before the storm. They are calling for a mixed bag of precipitation tomorrow evening into Wednesday. C'mon spring, I am so ready to work in the garden again!