Health

I spent a few minutes picking flowers from the yard and arranging bouquets around the house Thursday evening as a mental health activity :).

Home is where...

the Cookie House in the distance

the roads are straight,

the wind is strong, and

the ditches are enormous.

414 tea

Last month we had a 414 reunion at Sara's house. It was a highlight of my month.

all four of us were there... Susanna was taking this picture

These gals are a special part of my life and it was an incredible treat to spend a few hours with them. 

(it was also a very welcome study break!)

In pop terminology, our afternoon was "hygge."

special touches by Sara :)

As we sipped our tea, we munched on miniature cucumber cream cheese sandwiches, fresh fruit, and chocolate chip cappuccino bread (warm out of the oven, compliments of Sara).

And, of course as we ate, we chatted...

What started as a four 'o clock tea ended well after dark.

spring hike

Heather and I spent a bit of time on the Appalachian Trail a couple weekends ago.

We started at Scott Farm, a portion of the trail I had been on before,

and which is home to an amazing number of wildflowers.

It was a perfect afternoon for a leisurely spring hike.

Abel time :)

working with Auntie Julie... he slept on my lap while I typed and his mommy napped :)

Abel and I had such great times in Michigan.

I couldn't get enough of his cute little face... His tiny hands and miniature cry...

soooooo adorable.

I'm definitely in love.

Asparagus

(from Mexico)

Buds

Forsythia and Lilac sprigs from the yard.

Fresh Cranberry Muffins with Oats and Chocolate Chips

Once upon a time ago I baked these muffins. I took pictures to share, but then never posted them.

If your mouth is watering and you want to bake your own batch of these gems,

I used my favorite Michigan Chocolate Cherry muffin recipe as the base, swapping cranberries for cherries. These cranberry muffins would be great with the addition of orange zest (I didn't have an orange when I made them or I would have added some).

craziness

There was a real live dressed up dinosaur who welcomed us to the youth event in Oklahoma last month!