First Dandelion Day

Today Maeve and I found the first dandelion of the season. I think they have their own kind of beauty, even though they can become a nuisance for people who are really serious about the condition of their lawns. I say anything that makes it look like a sunny day the way dandelions do, has to be a springtime bonus!
We also had our first picnic on the deck today. Maeve called it a "pink neck"! It was just sandwiches and crackers and juice, but it was so nice to be outdoors in the sunshine and fresh air. That's one benefit of keeping Maeve, I spend lots of time outside because that is her favorite place to be. We blow bubbles, and swing on the swings, and she rides in the wheel barrow, and can almost reach the pedals of the big tricycle. She has figured out how to pull the pedals forward with her foot, so I know she will soon have the pushing knack too.
Our bulbs have finally made an appearance! We have tulips, crocus and grape hyacinth poking out of the earth, but it's not time to show pictures of them yet. The chives, irises and columbine are beginning to grow, as well as bleeding heart and Jacob's Ladder, which were just planted last year. I love going from one place to another, checking to see how things are progressing in the flower beds. Isn't it amazing to live in a climate that goes so quickly from deep freeze and banks of snow to warm air and growing things?
This beautiful plant is blooming in my kitchen! It is a hibiscus which I have had for five years, and although it has flowered before, I have never seen it with so many blossoms. It seems to enjoy living in my kitchen!
This is a dessert I made a while ago when Jen and Rich were here for supper. Jen has always loved tapioca, and I found this recipe for "Blueberry Wine Sauce" in a light-hearted (healthy-eating)cook book. The ingredients are 1/2 cup sugar, 1 tablespoon cornstarch, 1 cup dry white wine, 1 tablespoon lemon juice and 1 1/2 cups frozen (or fresh) blueberries. Mix together the cornstarch and sugar, then stir in the wine and lemon juice and cook until it thickens, clears and comes to a boil. Add the blueberries and simmer for about a minute. You can serve it with ice cream or cake. It really added an elegant touch to a dish of tapioca!
My two daughters and I had a very special date a few weeks ago. Jen, Amy and I went for supper to "Isaac's Way", a neat little restaurant in downtown Fredericton where we enjoyed a nice meal together, then we went to the Playhouse to see a production of "Beauty and the Beast". It was tremendous! The actors were all very talented high school students. The costumes and scenery were amazing and the music was very well done. I was singing "Be Our Guest" for weeks afterward! This has always been my favorite Disney movie, and I was certainly not disappointed with this production of it. We all want to have lots more of these girls' nights out!
It seems I will have to publish this post without photos, there are some technical difficulties! But I will try to add the pictures later.