invalid-ish

all prepped and ready to go
(they gave me my own private pre-op room! luxury.)

I spent last week practicing my old lady impersonations after having surgery.

This weekend I'm at least twice the speed I was last weekend, but that's still not even half the speed of normal...

My respect for multi-surgery survivors has grown immensely, and I'm so thankful to be feeling better and stronger each day.

I have some amazing friends and family who brought me everything from fresh flowers to pain medicine and all sorts of goodies in between to hasten my recovery :).

Prolific

The climbing rose bush in Sam and Sara’s back yard.

Berries, Berries, Berries

It's one of the most wonderful times of the year around here:

strawberry season!

On Saturday morning, I went went to two you-pick strawberry farms and picked about eight quarts of berries. Then, I set to work baking some crusts and cooking some glaze.

Very few things in life compare to fresh strawberry pie.

I wish I could have shared the pleasure of eating said pie with each and every one of you.

But, since you weren't here, I managed to find a few local pie-loving friends to appreciate the deliciousness (Sharon and I shared the mini pie).

Big Boy

Abel doesn't look like much of a Big Boy fan here!

Big Boy isn't a Pennsylvania thing.

People here think he's funny.

And when I read the Wikepedia stats, I realized why Pennsylvanians don't know who Big Boy is: 

69 of the 77 Big Boy restaurants in the U.S. are located in Michigan!

Who knew!

yellow

When we bought our house, Amy and I agreed this dead-looking, overgrown thorn bush was "SO going bye-bye" unless it wowed us away with its blooms the next summer...

Seven years later the unbelievably thorny rose bush continues to hold its premier garden space near the front of the house. It was a gift to finally be home to enjoy an abundance of its charmingly delicate yellow flowers this season.

they were only playing leap frog...

One evening when I was home last week, Mom, Lauren, Naomi and I took a stroll through Dow Gardens. 

Lovely as always.

Highlights of our meandering included rhododendrons, incredibly luscious peony blooms, and the Ribbit Exhibit art on display throughout the gardens.

Sunday Dinner

Last week I had the privilege of being home for Sunday dinner.