True Statements

1. Up until an hour ago, I had no clean socks folded and in my sock drawer.
2. Ryan may or may not have just purchased new white socks out of "necessity"
3. Ryan and I have been putting off folding socks for a few weeks
4. Tonight I folded....(wait for it)

....72 pairs of socks :/
5. My sock drawer is no longer empty.

~Ashley

New Tree

A couple weekend ago, Ryan and I splurged a little on a new tree for the backyard. We were sick of looking at this

where a dead tree used to stand.

I bought a river birch from a little nursery that's just down the road from our house. The purchase price included delivery and planting!! Score!! So glad that we didn't have to dig the big ol hole to fit the big tree as we didn't buy a 5 gallon bucket tree. Here is the new beauty! We are just waiting for the leaves to open more but it's looking great!

This tree makes our backyard more complete!

We planted a little garden this year. Can you see the white little seed labels?

View from our bedroom. The tree will block our neighbors view perfectly :)

~Ashley

Growth Spurt!

What a difference a week makes!

A week ago - just a few blooms and still pretty small.

This picture is from tonight. Tons more blooms and a lot more height and fullness.

Not to shabby for only watering it twice after a transplanted it :) Green thumb I guess :)

 

 

~Ashley

Heat Wave!!

Woah - talk about a heat wave. Just two nights ago we had a frost advisory. Now this...

Well, actually this...

But the picture didn't turn out as well {red lights are only red for so long}.

I think Zoey has the right idea...



 

~Ashley

I'd think he were meant to be an outdoor cat....

I woke up one morning this weekend and this is what I found Cooper doing - daydreaming about being outside.

He HAS to be where the fresh air is, regardless if he fits or not.

....if I didn't catch moments like this

~Ashley

Spring is here!

It has been raining here for what seems like forever - in actuality, it has only been for a little over a week, but the cold temps make it feel much longer. Yesterday, we were able to mow the lawn for the first time (the yard has been way too wet) and save it from becoming a jungle. I also got around to removing some gigantic thistles that look like they belong in a cow pasture somewhere but not in someones residential backyard :/

Meet Giant Thistle #1

And Giant Thistle #2

The first lawn clipping of the season!

The lawn is going to need a little TLC from the hot, dry summer that did a number on it last year.  {Do you seen where our dead tree used to stand? Our dead tree that blew over in the wind this past fall. Well, it is soon to be replaced - more details when its replacement arrives.}

I transplanted this Bleeding Heart from my parent's house last year and it came up strong this year :)

Lots of blooms already. I looked at this plant a week ago when it was cold and rainy and there where just a few centimeters of plant coming up from the ground. This plant grows super fast! I must have picked a good location for it!

I hope the nice weather we've had the past two days is here to stay :)

~Ashley

May Day!

We definitely received a May Day surprise here in Nebraska. I big 'ol snow storm. Here this whole spring as Hillary and Ryan have been getting pounded time and again with snow up in Duluth, we've been having beautiful spring days here. That is until May 1. It started with rain and turned to a sleeting mess and full out snow storm by the end of that time. I was on call that evening and {of course} got called into work for one of the busiest "home call" nights ever. Those snow storms really mess with preggo bellies! Anyways, here are some pictures I snapped with my cellphone to capture the May Day rarity.

May 1, 2013 - Three solid inches of thick slush!

May 2, 2013 - The slush is starting to melt, the plants are wondering what on earth just happened!

May 3, 2013 - Almost all gone. It is crazy to see green gas, blooming trees and snow all in the same picture.

~Ashley