Spring has sprung ..........................

First of all, I want to thank everyone for the best wishes on my hubbie's retirement. We've been busy trying to get things set up before the middle of May. Hubby will receive his pension in a lump sum, so we need to find some place to invest it. We've been to see several investment companies and still have one more to meet with. I hate making important decisions, especially when they involve the little bit of money we're going to have to live on for the rest of our lives. I have a basic knowledge of investments from working in banking for so many years, but I don't trust my knowledge. We're still looking for health insurance. I won't get into that subject, since it would be a major rant.

We are having simply gorgeous weather. My bleeding heart are blooming, the radishes and lettuce are coming up, and everything is green. I had a dental appointment and an appointment to get my hair cut today, so I didn't have a chance to get outside. But, tomorrow I plan on spending the day in the yard. We have already cut the grass twice and it needs cutting again, I've also got some onion sets to put in the garden and two new perennials to plant. It's time to move my Norfolk Island Pine tree back outside to the deck - if I can get it through the door. Lots of springtime work to do, but I love doing it.

If you're having beautiful weather like we are, I hope you have the opportunity to get outside and enjoy it.

Plans change ...........

I've spent the morning catching up on blog reading. This week has been so busy, I haven't had time to get on the computer. My husband got a call Tuesday evening from his place of employment to come in Wednesday morning with his spouse for a meeting. Several of his coworkers got a similar call, so we were curious as to what the meeting would be about. They offered a Special Early Retirement Program to anyone who was 54 and had 20 years of service. 23 employees qualified.

Hubby was really happy with the deal. He had planned on retiring in September anyway, so the special incentives were icing on the cake. May 15th will be his last day to work. I think almost everyone accepted the offer. Now we need to get busy and find health insurance and decide how to invest his retirement so we have money to live on. Hubby is only 58, so we have a few years before he gets Social Security and Medicare.

I've told him that he will have to get a part time job somewhere, if for no other reason than to get him out of the house a couple of times a week so I can get things done. I had planned on going through the whole house and decluttering, cleaning, and redecorating before his planned September retirement. That way when he retired we could enjoy doing other things. Well, I have just started and there is no way I can finish by May.

We bought a new bedroom suite and new leather sofa last weekend. (Part of my redecorating plans.) They were delivered yesterday. I spent all morning emptying the dresser and armoire and moving everything out of the bedroom. Then we had to set everything up and put things back. The set I had was almost 35 years old and was not in the best of shape, so I gave the bedroom set and sofa to one of the aides who stay with my Dad. She was very appreciative and came to pick it up last night.

Everything has turned a vivid green outside and the trees have got tiny green leaves. Ahh, I love spring! Will have pictures soon. Took the picture of the daffodils last week.

Been busy with yard work .......................

Gosh, it's been a whole week since I posted. We've had some beautiful weather, so I've taken advantage of the opportunity to get outside in the yard and work. By the time I've gotten inside at night, I've been too tired to even turn the computer on.

I spent two days raking up all the pine needles, sticks, and debris that accumulated over the winter on the front and side yards. I have two acres of yard, so I didn't do the back yard. I was exhausted and my arms were very sore by the time I finished. It took me another afternoon to load all the piles on the "buggy" and take them away.

Over the weekend, Hubby cut the grass and then put fertilizer down on the front yard. While he was doing that, I weeded and then worked my garden squares. I planted some radishes and lettuce. I've also got some onion sets to plant as soon as I can get back outside. Some of my herbs came back from last year and are looking good. I'm looking forward to fresh veggies from the garden.

I also got my flower beds cleaned out and weeded. We still need to put fertilizer on the back yard and lime over the whole yard. I may regret it this summer if I have to cut grass several times a week. But the yard really needed fertilizer.

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We got a little rain this morning, but the sun is back out now. Another beautiful day - I love this time of year.

Spring is popping up all over the place .............

Come on out and play with us Mr. Mole .....................

Maggie May and Mazie Grace have been hunting moles. Since all the snow melted and it got warmer, the moles have been busy little creatures. They've dug tunnels all over the yard. Mazie Grace has caught a couple this week. Maggie May has never caught one, but she wants one bad. She will sit and stare at a mole hole for hours waiting for it to come out. If she ever manages to catch one, she will be one proud and happy cat.

I've been trying to do a little spring cleaning. I've gotten one bathroom scrubbed from top to bottom and I'm working on the other. I spent the morning removing old grout and putting down new in the hall bathroom. Since I tend to be a perfectionist, anytime I attempt a job like that it takes me forever. Once the grout dries, I will scrub down the walls and woodwork. ( I lead such a glamourous and exciting life.)

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It's cloudy today, but it's still suppose to reach the mid 70s. We're finally having some nice warm weather. I have a lot of clean-up work to do in the yard and I'm anxious to start planting in the garden. It's really beginning to feel like spring.

The albino is a buck ....................

The albino deer was back tonight with his three friends. It was too dark when they showed up for me to get any pictures. The picture above is from the first night I saw them. I was calling the deer Lily White, but after watching tonight that name isn't very appropriate. I believe the three normal looking deer are girlfriends of the albino. I need a masculine name - any suggestions?

I got my binoculars and watched through the window for about 45 minutes. It was so dark it was hard to see the regular deer, but the albino stood out so I could watch as he grazed over the backyard. They came up to the house and went across the front yard. He is really a magnificent creature. I'm surprised he survived hunting season. I'm already worrying about him and the crazy gun toting hunters. All of my land is posted, but I'm sure he travels on land that is hunted.

I'll keep watching and will try to get more pictures if they come by when its still light. The possum has gone back to being a nocturnal animal. I haven't seen him during the day, but I could tell he'd been back to the house.

It's an albino ..................

Last night as it was getting dark I went outside to find Maggie May and bring her inside for the night. I went out the back door and something caught my eye. There were four deer grazing in the back yard near the fields. One of them was the purist and brightest white I've ever seen on an animal - he almost glowed!

I slowly crept back inside and went to get my camera. I had to stay near the house because they had seen me and were ready to run if I started toward them. I am not a photograher - all I know how to do is turn the camera on and push the button to take a picture. I never have learned to change settings and make adjustments. I'm purely a point and shoot girl. The picture above is not very good, but you can see the albino deer - he tends to stands out.

They will probably be back again, so I'll keep an eye out for them around dusk. Maybe I'll be able to get a better picture.

Today felt like SPRING! ...........................

We had a lovely day. It was sunny, the temperature was in the mid 50s, and it was not windy. I really feel like spring is on it's way. I've never been a fan of winter, and this winter has been unusually bad. We've had more snow than I ever remember us having here in Southside Virginia. We're suppose to get rain again tomorrow night with the chance of a little wintry mix. I predict that the snow is over for this winter and we will only get rain. I'm thinking positive - does anyone believe in the power of positive thinking?

The tulips on my entertainment unit are a cheerful reminder of the season to come. Last fall I planted 50 tulip bulbs around a post in the back yard. I was really looking forward to having a colorful display this spring. I've checked the area several times recently and I don't see any little shoots coming up. I do see lots of mole tunnels in the surrounding area. I guess the moles had a feast with my tulip bulbs. Mazie Grace has been slack in her mole hunting lately. She's got to do a better job.

The possum was back every day around noon for several days. I haven't seen him recently. I think he's back to traveling at night.