Out in my yard today… a very chilly spring day!  Windy, rainy, and 44 degrees.  It’s so cold and gloomy that the tulips are closed for business this morning.

New in the yard are some pretty hanging baskets and a planter filled with daisies (my favorite flower), all gifts from my hubby for Mother’s Day.  Aren’t they beautiful?

The fruit trees finally bloomed last week and I have a lovely crop of dandelions to deal with once the weather stays nice enough for spraying.  Oregano, spearmint, and chives are all growing like crazy.  Now to plant the vegetables.

I’m grateful for… a family that knows how to make special occasions even more special just for me.  Between my birthday and Mother’s Day I have been positively spoiled during the past 10 days. Lots of hugs, loving words, good food, thoughtful gifts, and time spent with those I love.  I am blessed!

One of my favorite things… is this cute little devotional book that I received as a gift for my birthday a couple of years ago.

I saw the author on a morning talk show a couple of months ago and I was intrigued by her story.  The daughter of immigrant Chinese parents, Ms. Chua decided that she would parent her daughters according to the Chinese tradition, rather than follow American parenting norms.  She is quite honest about both her successes and failures.  Very interesting! 

I’m looking forward to… watching my girls perform several times throughout the next two weeks.  Band night, Orchestra night, and Choir night.  By the time we are finished I really should have my own reserved seat in the auditorium with my name on a little gold placard.  We also have a debate team awards banquet and a National Honor Society induction ceremony for my oldest daughter.  Just 3 weeks left of this school year!

Simple life tip for the week… rather than tossing out those used coffee grounds, reuse them as plant fertilizer.  Sprinkle the grounds around the base of plants, or even directly on your lawn.  Add water to the grounds, let them stand for a couple of days, drain off and use as liquid fertilizer.  Placing a ring of grounds around sensitive plants acts as a deterrent for ants and other pests.  Not a coffee drinker?  Inquire at a local coffee shop.  Most places, like Starbucks, have free bags of grounds available for the taking.