Wednesday, May 6, 2026

The Perennial Flower Bed Awakens

It seems like the temperatures this spring have been more erratic than usual. We have had a couple of days of near 90º followed by days in the 40ºs. Most days are somewhere between those two numbers, closer to the 50ºs and 60º. There was very little snow this winter, and very little moisture in our area this spring. 

The first grouping of photos from my perennial flower bed were taken on April 22nd.


The pasque flowers (2 of the 4) I planted last spring survived the winter. My big, older pasque did not survive the summer/winter. 




When I looked at the flower bed the week before, I did not see any peony shoots and was thinking that gifted plant did not survive the lack of snow/moisture this winter. But 3-inch shoots were appearing on April 22nd. The Columbines were making an appearance, also.

I went back to check the progress on May 2nd.

one of the Columbines


the peony shoots have doubled in height


the pasque keeps blooming





This is why I was concerned about my peony plant! These are a neighbor's peony bushes. Her bushes have been growing for at least six years longer than mine.

I don't have any tulips as the rabbits get them before I get out to spray. Because of my broken elbow and 'useless' left hand, I have not weeded or transplanted or planted anything new this spring. It is early as most of the flowers arrived in the greenhouses late last week. As I write this, we had frost/freeze warning two nights last week.


I took a picture of the hyacinth blooming at City Hall earlier in April. A colorful reminder that spring is coming!










Monday, May 4, 2026

Update on the Broken/Healing Elbow

 It has been two months since I broke my elbow (February 27th) and five weeks since the 'brace' and stitches were removed (March 26th).

March 26th


May 1st

With physical therapy, I have made good progress. I can touch my face, wash my hair with two hands, etc. I still cannot reach behind my back higher than my waist. 


wrist brace

But another issue has surfaced: carpal tunnel. I was/am experiencing tingling, numbness, throbbing, burning in my left fingers. Sometimes, it is shooting pains. There were nights I was awake longer than I slept. X-rays showed severe arthritis in my thumb, but no physical damage anywhere in the hand.

I had a nerve study on Thursday. I will meet with the orthopedic surgeon on Tuesday to discuss the next steps for the carpal tunnel. It is impeding further progress in regaining full elbow function. Sometimes the pain in my hand and fingers has been more intense than it ever was in the elbow. 




Saturday, May 2, 2026

And There Was Music...

 The grandkids are nearing the end of another school year, and that means music concerts.

First, Miss W's Ensemble Dessert Show:

announcing the Ensemble and their first song


arrow to show where she was standing


her solo


the six Ensemble groups for the last song






Next, McBe's Inventions Friends and Family Performance:

arrow to show where he is standing


Inventions is the Edison Middle School Show Choir
comprised of 7th & 8th graders


signing "Leave a Light on"


Miss W behind McBe for the final number, "I'll Remember You"
this song often brings on tears for the 8th graders


it is a tradition for Invention alumni to join the
current group on stage for the final song
(that includes grade 9 students through parents of Edison students)


they present carnations to their parents


The last song on the program just so happened to be the last one performed 
by the Lincoln High School Ensemble groups earlier in the week.
Both groups had a good time singing "Get Up, Get Down, Get Funky, Get Loose"


McBe's final Middle School Band Concert:



he played Marimba or Xylophone for the first song


snare drum for the second song
he is one of ten 8th-grade percussionists


chimes for the third song
and bass drum (no photo) for the final song


the 8th grade band members




There are two more chorus concerts in May to round out this school year.








Saturday, April 25, 2026

Miss W is 16!

 Happy Birthday to Miss W who is Sweet Sixteen today! It is a flashback day! Those 16 years have flown by! (The following photos are in no particular order!)