Sorry - I got "busy"  - Alli has been getting up earlier than normal, so I haven't been posting.  Here are a few random photos..

I needed a change of pace in my sewing/quilting, so I made a pouch for my sunglasses.  The instructions called for quilting the fabric using a tool I didn't even know I had for my machine, so it was more about the process than the finished product.  Not too bad!

I finally decided to buy a new skimmer for the pool.  Margene had given us one when she moved, but the motor burned up in our Snow-mageddon (the pool was covered in several inches of snow, and the skimmer was trying to push through the snow....note to self made....)

I now have two quilts (at least) to hand-sew the binding on, so started back on that project - with a little help from Koo.....

A work friend noticed a lot of bird activity at her front door and investigated - only to find there was a nest in her wreath on the door.  They are now committed to using the back door for a while...

 

One more room painted!  I got the main bathroom painted this weekend.  Seeing the nice clean white walls inspired me to update the décor as well - a new shower curtain and towels were added.  I love the soft color in there now.

 

And the last of the pictures from Lassen...

 

Some of the views on our hike

 

Manzanita Lake is one of my favorite walks - the trail around the lake is short - but beautiful.  The views of Lassen are great!

 

More of the wildlife we saw on our hike.  None of the ducks we saw had babies, but they were all paired up into couples, so they must hatch later than geese.  

These guys were quite interested in our snack we had at the top.

And lots of birds around - we saw several eagles at the lake, but no photo ops.

 

Here's another goose family - mom and dad actually took them out into the lake for a swim, and brought them back up to the land.  They didn't seem to be too concerned that they had several groups of people watching, either.  Proud parents!

Cindy M. and I went to Lassen for a hike yesterday.  Our original plan was to hike to Kings Creek Falls, but...the road through Lassen wasn't open, and the trail to the Falls was closed, even if we got that far.  (In my defense, "someone" told me it was open - I just didn't verify if myself...)  So...we went to Manzanita Lake and the Chaos Crags trail.  The geese were showing off their babies at Manzanita Lake.  

 

I passed my CCW shooting test!!!  Usually it isn't a shock, but I did not go out to the range to shoot for well over a year, so - no practice!  The training class was done through Zoom - which was odd, but it worked.  Shasta County requires 16/20 in the 9 zone, and I got 17/20.  I think the instructor would have cleared me anyway...he could see I was shooting in an "under fire" situation, lol.  He stopped by to check in with me just as I caught a spent shell from Ralph....down my cleavage (and I was not wearing a low-cut shirt!!!).  (Ralph was shooting to my left...).  While he was there, both of us caught spent shells from Ralph.....when we are at the range, I make sure Ralph is to my right......

 

 

And the garden is growing!   I have zucchini blossoms (well, I have ONE blossom.....) and peppers!  It's a start!  Our temps are up in the mid-90's now, so it should take off.  I don't have a lot of height on anything - I probably need to fertilize again.  I's on my list....

 

I bought and put together something to organize all the "stuff" in the bathroom - we had almost no counter space (small bathroom!) between my makeup, et al, and Ralph's prescriptions (too many for the medicine cabinet) the counter was full!  I bought this at Bed Bath and Beyond and put it together - not too bad!  I'd rather be able to store everything out of sight, but.....the reality is that that won't happen.  So, next best thing is to organize it.

I didn't tackle any huge projects this weekend - it was Mother's Day after all - but I did take on a couple of small ones..  Now that the camellias are finished blooming, I cut them back so I can walkdown the sidewalk again....

This:

Became this:

And my rose bush was all bloomed out....so I cut it back (except for the few remaining buds).  I didn't get it trimmed back this winter like I should have, so it started out pretty bulky - definitely overgrown!

This:

Became:

 

More playing with the camera again....

And this is why I keep playing with it - most of my pictures come out like this - the auto-focus is NOT on my subject....

And the rabbit was showing off his ears today...

 

Busy weekend!  I impressed myself, and mowed on Saturday, AND painted the hallway!  Alex helped with the rolling of the paint, but I couldn't talk him into doing any of the cutting in.  I put a second coat on Sunday, and the hallway is done!  
 

I went a little whiter than the original, and will paint the door trim of each room when I paint the rooms (that's the plan anyway...)  Here's the before:

And the after:

Now I "just" need to do the rest of the house......it's going to be a long summer....