the horrible holes

I know, I know. Our kids keep reminding me. The holes on the wall of our stairwell are utterly ridiculous. They clearly reflect that champion procrastinators live in this house. I blame them on the builder, who neglected to build an access to the tub plumbing.

When a plumber had to cut into the wall to repair the plumbing about two years ago, trouble resulted. For about a year, I covered it with - I am not making this up - a piece of Christmas wrapping paper in a poster frame. Well, that was acceptable for December and part of January, but by July it was just stupidly pathetic.

So the houseguests/relatives who were here last September are coming again in two weeks and I absolutely must find an acceptable alternative to disguise the holes.

Look out. I have an idea and it doesn't involve wrapping paper. But I'm also taking suggestions. Please hurry!

welcome, spring

Oh, Wordsworth, Browning, Dickinson.

I've searched your poems of spring

but found them a bit stuffy.

So I share my spring photos ...

as I carefully tiptoe into the shade beds,

discovering lily of the valley,

bleeding heart,

the tiniest hycinth,

and of course the hearty hostas, returning hale and healthy! 

A warm welcome to you, spring.

You've really, truly arrived.

Betty

My church, Delaware Christian, served around our

community over the weekend.

Simple stuff, really.

Raking leaves, weeding, planting flowers, washing windows, stuff like that.

Some were helping at the Common Ground Free Store,

others fanned out to the homes of the elderly.

 My husband, another couple and I

went to Betty's home Saturday morning.

What a charming lady! 

Betty can't see well, so she appreciated our work around her yard.

But she also talked with us, laughed with us, and gave us gentle direction.

I really don't know who received the greater blessing on Saturday:

Betty ... or us.

I hope you get the chance to serve someone like Betty and

that it makes your day, as it did mine.

wedding fit for a king

I stayed up a bit late last night, so I was tardy for the royal wedding. Thankful for DVR and Diane Sawyer, I tuned in exactly as the queen arrived at Westminster Abbey. Glorious in sunny yellow! I do wonder, though. Why does the queen carry a purse? I doubt she'd be stopping for a cup of carry-out tea.

The ladies' hats were out in full regalia! Some, like Camilla's, had elegantly lovely lines. Others, like Princess Beatrice (on the right in this photo, with sister Eugenie), comically resembled reindeer antlers. How did this girl keep a straight face?

And Victoria Beckham's maternity outfit: excessvely formless. You'd think she could smile on such a happy occasion!

The procession. The hats. Kate's dress. Pippa's dress. The balcony kiss(es). The groom's military dress attire. All fabulous and fascinating.

But then I began hearing about the 10,000 canapes. I've never been much into canapes, I don't believe. While I don't doubt the food at the royal reception was scrumptious, after reading the description, I realize I am clueless when it comes to royal food:

"They included pressed duck terrine with fruit chutney, roulade of goat's cheese with caramelised walnuts, quails eggs with celery salt, bubble and squeak with confit shoulder of lamb, grain mustard and honey-glazed chipolatas and miniature Yorkshire pudding with roast fillet of beef and horseradish mousse."

Bubble and squeak? Oh, yum. OK, my mom used to make Yorkshire pudding. Love that.

Then there's the cake. A gal the very same age as me was the royal cake-baker. Wow. Can you even imagine? Good job, Fiona. Looks like you hit a home run.

Though I don't know you, nor you me ... I am proud of you, Fiona.

Proud that you, a 56-year-old sister, baked the cake of the century.

Not a 25 nor 38-year-old, but a 56-year-old.

Age has its privileges.

And your cake looks stupendously beautiful and delicious.

Thank you, Britain, for a day of pageantry. Thank you, William and Kate.

Happy honeymoon, happy life!

what's your wedding guest name?

A friend posted this as her status on facebook:

In honor of the royal wedding on Friday, use your royal wedding guest name. Start with either Lord or Lady. Your first name is one of your grandparents' names. Your surname is the name of your first pet, double-barreled with the name of the street you grew up on. Post yours here. Then cut and paste it into your status.

I AM HENCEFORTH ... Lady Ona Kate Tippy-Fernwood

Hilarious! Come on readers ... follow the directions and tell me what your royal wedding guest name would be!

royal wedding

Alright, I admit it. I'm a little excited about the royal wedding in two days: Prince William marries Kate Middleton in Westminster Abbey. If I want to see the live broadcast, I'll be sipping coffee by 5:00 a.m. on Friday.

I remember the wedding in 1981 of William's parents, Charles and Diana. I got up in the middle of the night, not having the advantage of DVR. Theirs was the first royal wedding I ever watched and it was magnificent. Diana's train was 25 feet long. Wow.

Of course, their marriage didn't last: the victim, perhaps, of a too-public and unrealistic lifestyle. Is it true Charles and Diana were together only 13 times before they married? She seemed sad from the start, the 19-year-old bride thrust into such a public life.

I hope Kate and William forge a committed, happy and lasting union.

egg-cellent Easter!

We cooked up a delicious Easter meal,

though not all my "chicks" were here.

You'd think after the last ten years or so of

an emptying nest, I'd be used to holidays

without everyone ...

but still I miss them.

But it was super to have daughter Katie home from

college, Bill's mom here, and son Mark and

daughter-in-love Jill. A lovely day.

 

Mark showed his awesome turkey-carving skills to his dad.

Cooking is fun, fun, FUN!
(apron from Grandma Haller's estate)

And the girls are just cute as ever.

(missing: Jenny!)

Katie and I put together the table decor ... how do you like it?

And finally, the clean-up crew.

After skyping with little Ari while she ate her lunch,

we enjoyed Katie's masterful chocolate silk pie. Oh, my.

I hope you, too, enjoyed Easter Sunday

with family and good food.

And with thankfulness for the risen Savior.