Busy month of May

May has been go-go-go for us...

a lot of work around home and

extra days away from home!

This past month has been productive

but exhausting!

We've been doing a lot of spring yard/garden work!

We finished clearing this area of sumacs

and love the open clean feel it gives this part of our yard.

Our riding lawn mower reached the point of needing

retired so we sold it ... and bought a used push mower

giving us two so the boys can double team mowing

until we are able to get a new riding mower.

Our pumpkin patch did well last year and was fun

so we added to it this year!

Prepping the garden soil for planting was no easy

task this year with all the stubborn weeds

that had taken residence plus dry soil...

but we got it worked up and planted!

We plugged away at the chicken coop.

Matt and Grace put the finishing touches on it

two weeks ago!

And the girls like their new home.

And Grace likes her "chicken boots"

that were handed down to her!

I'm loving this yardsale find of an old milk

bottle from a local dairy farm.

I had a lovely Mother's day!

Grace and I made scones and we all had breakfast with

my mom.  Then after church, the four of us spent

the afternoon at Maymart - a plant festival.

Nathan has been helping a local farmer and one of 

the jobs was cleaning out buildings on property near us.

Nathan found this birdhouse and knowing I love birdhouses,

asked if he could have it then cleaned it up and

gave it to me for Mother's day!

Grace shares my love for good chocolate.

She sent me on a treasure hunt, clues included,

to find chocolates she'd bought and hid.

Matt added to my chocolate stash too!

Grace had her 6th piano recital and performed marvelously!

She played a compilation piece of  Moonlight Sonata

and It Is Well With My Soul.  Then she played Passacaglia

with her teacher accompanying her on the violin.

Above:

Both grammas were able to come hear her play.

Below:

Grace with her piano teacher, Ms. Kristi.

And it has been exciting picking and eating our first

crops of spring ...rhubarb and asparagus.

Grace and I made these lemon rhubarb scones with

some of the fresh rhubarb. yum!

The craziness continues into June for us, but

then we are hoping to have time to catch our breath...

or at least for a nap!