Happy Mother's Day Eve!

Well, we finally got a weekend with some nice weather. It actually got up around 70 degrees today, and for a Minneapolis spring - that's right where we should be. I'm hoping there's more of that dry sunny warmth to come in the next few weekends.

This is the first Saturday when it's not cold or rainy and I think everyone and their dogs were out working in the yard today.  I actually got to get my hands dirty and I've got some battle scars to prove it. No, literally, scars on my wrists and forearms where the reeds and thorns scratched deep into flesh.

We have some beautiful tall silver feather ornamental grass, and other ornamental grasses that looks lovely all winter long, until the snow clobbers them. And, then they don't look so good. Well, it was looking very sad - and so I cut it all down, cleaned out around the day lilies and roses, and broke off old brown and tan stems from the mums and echinacea on the outside of the fence. Trying hard not to break off pieces of that Korean lilac that's starting to bud. I only had a couple of hours, so I didn't get a chance to pull weeds or fill in mulch, but much of that grass that I removed will either make for some good mulch or the dry brown layers we need in the compost pile this summer.

I ran to work for a bit in the afternoon, and then came home to a relaxing dinner that was almost ready to eat as I pulled into the driveway. The weather was still so nice at 6:30pm, that I asked the kids if we could eat outside on the deck. We washed down the table and chairs, and relaxed with all the dishes and food coming from the kitchen to the table outside.  There are no mosquito's or gnats at this time of year, a gentle minimal breeze was blowing, and we grabbed some sweatshirts to keep the chills away.  It's also too early for crickets, so we listened to the sound of the traffic on the street, and some sweet music on the radio.

My hubby grilled pork ribs to perfection, my daughter made a beautiful salad, and my son gave me a homemade card and bookmark. My daughter was so excited to give me my Mother's Day gift of chocolate and a beautiful bracelet she picked out. I loved it! After dinner, my kids headed to the swing set in the backyard...and acoustic guitar music played from the CD player in the background. What a great night to relax and enjoy each other, and the simplicity of life in the suburbs.
I am so blessed!