spring -- don't ya love it?

I took a vacation day today to "enjoy" the 75-degree weather. And, even though I spent the entire day working in the yard, it really was quite lovely.


This was my main project -- to clear out all the brush underneath this juniper shrub (hell, I don't really know what it is, but I think I'm close) and trim it back with the hope that, given some light, space and food, it might flourish once again. We'll see. I used a saw to trim it back and cleared out about five year's worth of dried leaves, pine needles and mulch. If it doesn't come back, we'll pull it out and replant with something else next year. Anyway, much sweat was produced during this task.


Here's some of the debris from the yard and under that shrub.



Barney loves having me at home, and spent a good bit of the day threatening the squirrels (this one is high up on a branch.)


I stuffed eight bags full and two trash bins full of debris.


Self portrait in the late afternoon.


My reward was to plant some pansies to bring some color to the back yard. Despite my cleaning efforts, it's pretty austere back there still.


Another reward at the end of the day -- a glass of wine and the feeling of ibuprofen settling into my bones.

Gonzo Grill

Dale and I went to the Gonzo Grill last night with some friends for a fantastic Haiwiaan-themed gourmet meal. We went there about a year ago with some of the same friends, and this dinner was even better than the last one.


We had 14 people, and we were the only ones being served this night. The owner and his wife are the only employees of this "restaurant," which is located in a house close to where we live. They are booked solid almost every weekend, catering only to smallish parties likes ours. At the end of the night, patrons pay whatever they think the meal was worth, leaving their cash in a glass vase near the door. We brought our own wine, based on the recommendations of the chef for this particular meal, which included an appetizer of scallops with a caramel sauce, coconut chicken soup, shrimp-papaya salad, pork tenderloin and a flourless chocolate cake.


Our dinner was interrupted by the wail of tornado sirens, and Nick kept us all informed by checking the weather map on his iPhone.

Carrie with her best guy, Joe.

Leroy and Tina, who introduced us to the Gonzo Grill and got into the Hawaiian theme with their attire. They eloped two years ago on a Hawaiian cruise.


Carrie and Denise enjoying some post-dinner convo.


Dale and I. He was sweet enough to tell me today that my simple dinner of grilled salmon, rice pilaf and Ceasar salad was better than our gourmet meal Saturday night. The guy has simple tastes.

Ashley and family

My niece Ashley and her sweet family came to visit this weekend. It was wonderful having some quality time with her amazing children, Harper, 3, and Hudson, 1.


Harper and me at the breakfast table, with one of her many dolls, most of which are unclothed.



Happy Hudson and pancakes.


Harper and Red.


Ashley and Hudson at breakfast.


Harper and yet another nekkid dolly.

Harper and her daddy, Kyle. He and Ashley both work in the Bonner Springs school district.

My sister Lisa with grandkids.