Spring has Sprung

I can't believe how long it's been since I posted.

Spring has finally sprung in western NY. It's hard to believe that last week at this time a huge storm was rolling in bringing with it enough snow to cancel school the next day.
Ah what a difference a week can make - now it's in the 70s and gorgeous. Yesterday, we all went to Ontario Pathways and mountain biked/walked nearly the whole trail.

I haven't been doing a lot of arting lately, but yesterday I took the opportunity to take lots of digital pics - enjoy the eye candy!

Sludgy water along the trail.

Me and Jody and a little fun in Photoshop.

A lone flower in a sea of fallen (now brown and ugly) leaves.

Water along the trail - the algae is a really great shade of green. I love the reflection in the water on this photo.
The Sumac blossom hung on all through the winter.
Toad discovered along the path.
Me (it's a rare curly haired day) and my son-shine.

Emily found a baby salamander.

An old birdhouse along the trail.

There are a few bridges over the water (the outlet from Canandaigua lake runs along/under the path). I love the texture of this rust.
Not being a biologist, I'm not sure what the official name is for this - I've always called it "forrest lettuce" since it looks just like lettuce growing.
It's fascinating to me how some leaves just don't fall.
Emily biking down the trail. Most all of it is very flat. The beginning part has a lot of gravel which is good for preventing mud, but a bit rough on the riding. Later in the trail it's much more "wild".

My new favorite blog to visit

I thought I'd also share a link while I still remember my blogspot password....
Notes from a Cottage Industry is my new favorite blog. I don't know the person who writes it, and I really want to send her an email that doesn't sound like I'm some blog-stalker (gee your site is great, I feel like we could be sisters if I had one !! ewwww).
She reminds me soooo much of when I was first divorced and discovering I could do ANYTHING I wanted to my house and didn't have to ask/barter/beg/get permission to change things...paint any ole thing I wanted and no one could complain about brushes being out or a project that stumped me being unfinished.
Her taste - impeccable...warm, yummy, gorgeous and with more personality than I seem to have time for anymore.
Her new cottage - to die for. Every change seems perfect. I've no idea how she does it.

Most days I try to remember I stayed in my house because at the time it was really enough change for the kids at one time (with the divorce) and finding a 3 bedroom apartment to keep them in the same school district, but not add to my 40minute commute was impossible. Some day I'll have this place finished enough to sell it and get a house that really feels all mine. Until then, I'll live a bit vicariously.

My Two Best Creations

The "Easter Bunny" brought Travis and Emily some bunny teeth this year... they came in this cool package with gum to chew and use as polident to hold them on. Pity they don't have some bunny ears to go with them ! (shame on that slacking Easter Bunny)

Bev's Journal

Bev is a sweetheart and one of my very favorite people in the whole world. She makes me want to jump on a plane and travel cross continental to get to Canada and visit her. I'm sure we'd laugh so hard my cheek muscles would hurt.

Unfortunately, the timing of the arrival of Bev's journal coinsided with "my crappy life" and I can't get the pages to come out as I'd like...you know, in my head. I imagined soft, multilayered, gorgeousness with the old Girlscout song "Make new friends, but keep the old...one is silver and the other's gold." It's silver and gold alright, but I'm just not thrilled. My time visiting with and working on her journal is up though. So, no more procrastinating and send it on I must. I'll just have to come up with some good way to make it up to her...