Spring Snow

When I opened the shade I was astonished to see a heavy blanket of snow on the ground and weighing down the trees. A good two inches of heavy, wet "heart-attack" snow fell in the early morning hours. Sadly, the sugar maple lost yet another limb to the elements. Judging from this morning's drive to Mass, it could have been a lot worse. Many damaged trees along the way.

When Arianna and I returned home from Mass, the card sharps were at it again.

Sharon roasted a chicken for supper, which was early due to Bruce's need to get on the road at a reasonable hour.

Arianna returns to school tomorrow. And so begins her last quarter of 3rd grade.

Visit from Iowa

Uncle Bruce, Alex, and Jane arrived this morning for a weekend visit.

In Bruce's honor, Sharon even baked a pecan pie.

Much pinochle playing at the dining room table (Bruno, Bruce, Alex, and even Sharon), while Arianna and Jane imagined all sorts of games to amuse themselves.

Picnic

Yesterday was sunny and 55. More than an invitation to clean up debris from the flower beds. After a couple hours work, Arianna called me in to lunch. But, she led me to a white table cloth spread on the backyard grass. Our first picnic for 2009!

My Little Monkey

Arianna is not naturally athletic. This, combined with a high degree of timidity, has been difficult to overcome. Yesterday and today Arianna and I went to the local parks to "practice the monkey bars". And with great success.

Yesterday, at Sabatino Park, Arianna was persistent and -- in time -- succeeded in hoisting herself up to the top the bars. She was very pleased with herself.

Today, at South End Park, she succeeded in traversing the rings.

These activities require a degree of strength and fearlessness that challenge Arianna. I was happy and pleased to be able to share these triumphs with her.

Academic Fair

Much to be proud and happy about, but unfortunately Arianna disagreed.

Although the effort she put forth on this year's story was considerable, her failure to win a blue or red ribbon dampened her spirits. She believed that since her story was long -- 28 pages -- that this automatically meant that it would be received by St. Catherine of Siena faculty as "the best".

And so expectations went unfulfilled.

A hard lesson for an eight year old girl.

Imagine that!

There were times in my life I never thought I'd live to see 40. And here I am -- 50 years old -- argumentative, irritable (and irritating) as ever. I am now a bona fide Alter Hund. (Just don't tell'em down at the office.)

Home from the office today and tomorrow . . . and why not?!?

A quiet day. Mass. Drowsing over GK Chesterton and an afternoon of browsing seed catalogs, photographing the garden, and strumming the ol' Guild.

Chicken pot pie for supper with surprises afterward.

Blah

After yet another night of wheezing, I decided to avoid the cold and work from home today.

Arianna is back on schedule after her week of illness, but has a lot of school work to catch up with.

Bruno is now showing signs . . . .

Meteorological Spring

February may have past and ol' Tom Skilling (yes that Skilling!) may hold out hope for warmer days, but the Rudorf household is not yet germ free.