Sunday Salon...Happy Mother's Day

View of our back deck and the wisteria in full bloom 

Weather: It has been gorgeous in the Pacific Northwest for the past few weeks.  In fact, one day this week our area was the warmest in the whole country, which, if you look at the map of the USA, is quite odd.  Today, however, the weather is changing and it even rained a bit over night bringing the temperature down to a more normal range.

Today: Is Mother's Day.  Happy day to all you mothers and grandmothers out there! I have a wonderful and generous mother who is still very active and vital in her 80s. I am continually blessed to have her as my mother.

Yesterday:  Each year for a gift my husband takes me to a favorite nursery and helps select plants for all our deck pots. Then, and this is the best part, comes home and helps me plant them. We didn't quite finish all the planting yesterday so part of the day will be dedicated to more time together in the garden.

Last Night: We attended the Youth Programs Auction for our church to raise money for youth programs, camping, and mission trips. I ended up with six homemade scarves, and a cross stitch picture that is amazingly detailed of a Thomas Kincaid painting. Money well spent.

This evening: we head up to Seattle for dinner with daughter #2. We spent the evening with daughter #1 and her husband last night at the auction.  I am getting my requisite visits with daughters on Mother's Day weekend.

Books read this week:

• Dr. Bird's Advice for Sad Poets by Evan Roskos---a possible Mock Printz selection for 2014. I had one student read it this week and he says it definitely should be on "the list."
• Saving CeeCee Honeycutt by Beth Hoffman...an upcoming book club selection and an audiobook. I'll be interested to see what kind of discussion this book generates. 

Currently reading:

• Mr. Penuumbra's 24-hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan...several people have told me that I HAVE to read this book, so I am. It is an audiobook selection.
• Ten Poems to Change Your Life Again and Again edited by Roger Housden...the last of his poetry books. I read them out of order, so it is not really his last, I have just read all of them so far.

Scripture: 1 Peter 4:6b "...live according to God in regard to the Spirit."

I'm praying for my daughter who lost her teaching job and now is looking for a new situation.

From the kitchen: It was an Italian-food week for us: Eggplant Parmesan and Chicken Cacciatore. I received high praise for both from my husband who eats everything I cook whether it is good or bad. :)

Yard work on Mother's day:  Instead of being ticked, I am delighted that I have help and that there will be summer color in the year.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY