Cindy has found a new activity for Alli - bowling!  Cindy did some work with a local group of Special Olympics, and they invited Alli to their twice weekly bowling activities. The first time was a success- she was even rolling the ball herself, but the second time not so much (Alli was grumpy before she even started....) We're hoping she will continue to want to go, it's one more way to keep her active and increase her social activities.

We had a lightly foggy morning the other day, and one of the shrubs in my front yard is blooming.

More pictures from my Phoenix trip, but this was not the fun time I had planned.  I ended up in an accident (my fault, no less).  Not how I wanted to spend my vacation.  Luckily, no one was seriously hurt (though the other driver did lawyer up, and the first correspondence to the insurance company was asking how "much insurance" was available...it's all about this insurance money for "whiplash".)  Still, not my finest moment. 

The other car's damage:

Pat and I took a drive out to Tortilla Flats - in the Superstition Mountains - while I was in Phoenix.

 

While I was in Phoenix, Pat and I took a couple of long drives around to see the sights (and the desert!)  Monday's weather was beautiful - sunny and warm. 

We had snow on February 19th, not a lot, but enough that it was sticking to the roads.  I love snow when it comes for a bit and then goes away, no shoveling needed. 

My favorite photo:

A couple of weeks ago, my black hen escaped from the chicken pen and Luna found her, leaving me with just two hens (the Welsummers I got last year) so Cindy and I were talking about either getting eggs and incubating them (running the risk of getting roosters), getting checks (already sexed) and raising them, or buying full grown chicks (getting eggs that much faster).  We decided to go with chicks when the rancher that has Araucana hens wanted $100 for three of them.   Cindy had seen some Sapphire Gem chicks at Tractor Supply which sparked her interest, and we chatted briefly about getting chicks at dinner Thursday night, and she was going to start watching for chicks to come in.  Fast forward to Friday afternoon while I was walking the dogs - she was at Tractor Supply and which chicks did I want?  We got 6 chicks in total, 4 for me and 2 for her (she has a larger flock than I do now).  Here are the breeds we got:

1 Mystic Onyx

3 Sapphire gems

1 Starlight Green Egger

1 Easter Egger 

Cindy is keeping two of the Sapphire Gems, the rest are mine.  I forgot how cute chicks are - just little fluff balls!!

Here are the three colors - the black one is the Mystic Onyx, the light grey one is one of the Sapphire Gems, and the light brown one is one of the Eggers.

 

And I have a watch cat on duty.....

 

I spent the last weekend (plus a few more days) in Phoenix, visiting Pat and Debbie.  I had a hard time getting my suitcase to close though.  Jessie though she would fit in my bathroom case. 

If not that, maybe my carry on?

James just said forget that - I get dibs on the suitcase! 

I got a Valentine's gift!  Alli's program gifted me one of the art projects that they made (not Alli's class, one of the more advanced groups).  (And yes, James photo bombed my picture...good thing she's cute!) 

 

These photos were taken before the rains blew in.  I know we need the rain (or more accurately, the mountains need the snow due to the melt from the unseasonably warm weather we had) I, for one, am ready for Spring! 

Just in time for the next pattern to be dropped, I finished Block 4 in the RBD quilt.  This was a fun one - the blocks are a bit more complex looking, but still not too complicated to do, if you read the instructions, that is.  I had to re-cut a few pieces for this one after I put them together wrong (not the instruction's fault!) 

Since I finished the potholders, I made up a few "mug rugs" - quilted coasters.  Pretty cute, if I say so myself! I think I need to get back to quilting before I bury myself in these.

Ripley looks so sweet, sleeping with her toy.  She makes me smile.