The flowers are here!

Pictures -
1. My creeping phlox are starting to bloom
2. Flowering bush in the back of our house (the name escapes me!)
3. Hyacinths
4. Flip flop socks (or flocks) described in knitting section
5. My daughter modeling her new "flocks"
6 & 7. A Phoebe, I am very proud of these pictures! It is very hard to get pictures of these flighty birds! I love them, but is so hard to get close, and I got within 12' of them (there were two, I only took a picture of one.)!
8. Mama Robin
9. Purple finch

What's happening - Glen and I did yet some more yard work! We have 2 real nice apple trees at our barn property, but they were both so over grown. So we did some trimming (major trimming), we better get some good apples this year! I also did some more flower garden work. Saturday was 89 degrees! Sunday in the low 80's and Monday got up to 92! The rest of the week is suppose to be back down in the 60's. The kids helped clean out the birdbath and we got that set up for the birds. Of course the birds were so thankful. Our church started what they call "The Contemporary Service" It starts early 9:15 (which is real good for us). They play contemporary christian music (instead of hymns). It is alot more casual, no announcements, no bulletins, just singing, preaching "the message", and prayer. I like it! It is only once a month though, wish it was more.

Knitting - I found some patterns for "flip flop socks". I wanted to try them, they looked simple and cute. I didn't really love any one pattern so I combined about three to my liking. I have named them "Flocks". My first pair I gave to Ashley, I thought she would love them. I was right, she did! I made the pair in two days. Now that I have my basic pattern I can add details like cables etc. Let me know what you think?

Books I have read - Autobiography of a Face, by Lucy Grealy. This book is so good and so sad. Lucy at age 9 finds out she has cancer (Ewing sarcoma) and has most of her jaw removed at 10 yrs old. She under goes years of radiation and chemo therapy, years of disfigurement and taunting. Then finally thirty reconstructive procedures. The saddest part I did not find out until I was finished with the book and looked her up on the internet. She died in 2002 at age 39 of a drug overdose! When I read this I just sobbed. She had been through so much, lived through so much. I also found out that her best friend Ann Patchett wrote a book about Lucy's life and their friendship after she had died. I plan on reading it as soon as it comes in from the library. Boy, talk about how a book can affect you. I don't think I will forget this one very soon.

Reading through the states - I have decided to put my list on my blog only once per month, the first week of every month. So I will add the list next month.

Top 5 - Things you collect
1. Bookmarks (if you didn't know this, these make nice cheap gifts, and my birthday is in May! I have - too many to count, over 50)
2. Tins (I have 25)
3. Books about Alaska (I have 14)
4. The little ceramic animals that come in Red Rose Tea (I have 12)
5. Hello Kitty items (I have many! socks, shirt, earrings, tins, pez, toys, purse etc.)