Baking, baking, baking

L is helping out with a bake sale Saturday for the upcoming Japan trip. We have lots of things we want to bake so we started today. I made mint chip brownies while she was at school ...

... and a dozen blueberry muffins with streusel topping.

I also baked two cakes that L is busy turning into cake balls.

My farm

The man who's planting my farm sent some pictures of how the crops are doing. Looks good. Makes me a little homesick though.

It's getting real

We received the information for Mayu's flight home. Only a month to go. Seems like she just moved in yesterday.

One of those days

It got a little windy this morning so that means the pparkway trees will be dropping branches. This big branch fell and fortunately (!) none of us had a vehicle parked under it.

Then I was taking L to a friend's house and opened my Carmex and most of the tube came out with the lid.

Burning her book

With just finals left of her sophomore year, L cleaned out her backpack and burned the papers and books she no longer needs. She didn't like reading "Dorian Gray" so burning it was a little cathartic. It's becoming her end-of-the-school-year tradition.

Japanese farewell luncheon

Today was the lunch for parents prepared by the senior Japanese class. Mayu is only a junior, but being a native Japanese speaker she was placed in the fourth-year Japanese class. The menu was the same as past years and sensei came over and insisted L eat a green pepper. You can tell from the picture that didn't go over well. Sensei says L has to try all the foods in Japan.

Andy was golfing so he missed the luncheon, but all the kids came with me, as did L's friend T. (T is a senior and active in Japanese Club but never took Japanese as a language. We had her sit in Andy's spot at the table.) This was the third Japanese farewell lunch for us as E and B both had theirs.

Sensei gave Mayu a big hug ...

... and I got a picture of them together. Everyone was crying, as usual.

This morning, Allison came over and brought me a delicious iced coffee. We were going to hit a neighborhood garage sale, but L and her friend T had already been there and said it was a lot of baby stuff. We certainly don't need that. L, though, noticed on Facebook that a woman in town was having a garage sale in her apartment and she had lots of crafting things. She used to work at Archivers. We decided to go and see what she had. She was moving and wanted everything cleared out so she let us fill bags of stuff and charged us $5. I got lots of scrapbooking paper and Allison got some cute things. Good way to start the day!

Maximo gets its head

Andy and I dropped the girls off at school and went downtown to the Field Museum for breakfast (bacon, eggs, potatoes, scones, fruit and, of course, coffee) and to watch workers install the head of Maximo, the new dinosaur that is replacing Sue in the main hall.

Here's a shot without its head, just to show the size of it. You have to be on the museum's second floor to get a picture with the head. At the base of the African elephants, you can see several TV cameras set up for the event.

Bringing up the head ...

... and working on the installation.

That looks just right. The head was smaller than I expected, but it is the largest plant-eating dinosaur to be discovered. The work is expected to be done and open to the public June 1.

Meet Maximo.

It's huuuuge!

The museum is still working on these "plant clouds" that can be raised or lowered, depending on what event the museum is hosting. Can't wait to see them when they're finished.

Climbing plant

We didn't have any luck getting a plant to grow onto our trellis last summer, though it did keep the graffiti artists away. This spring, a plant (we're expecting it to be clematis) is climbing on each trellis. And the wedding flowers are sprouting.

Looking good

We planted this nearly dead flower last year around the electrical box in our parkway and it looks surprisingly good this spring. A decorative grass we planted also has been growing well.

New glasses ordered

The optometrist gave me a prescription for new reading glasses. He also gave me the option of getting bifocals that would have improved my distance vision, although he said if I can drive and watch TV I'm probably fine for another year. Thanks, doc. I think I'll wait on the bifocals. My new reading glasses should be ready in a couple of weeks.

Host family

L got an email from the girl whose family will be hosting her in Japan this summer. The girl is 15 years old and attends the school L will be at. They've begun texting each other.

Prom night

Mayu went to prom last night with some friends. She looked so pretty.

We gave her a wrist corsage to match her dress.

Meanwhile, L left the house looking like this - yes, she's wearing boxer shorts - to go to an anime convention with her friends. She's promised me more pictures later. Apparently, people were stopping her and her friends (all in costume) to take pictures of them. Guess they looked pretty good.

Royal wedding

Allison came over early this morning so we could watch the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

She made chocolate chip scones and we had tea, coffee and ...

... crumpets. I didn't even realize you could buy crumpets here. They're a tasty cross between an English muffin and a pancake.

This princess slept on the sofa last night so she could get up to see the wedding. The ceremony started here at 6 a.m. and she was awake. She got up early to watch Prince William's wedding, and then went to school. At least this wedding was on a Saturday.

Here are some pictures I got off the BBC broadcast.

I thought her dress would be more ornate, but I loved the long, lacey veil and the Queen Mary tiara she wore.

Andy and I toured St. George's Chapel and went to Windsor Castle when we were in England in 2000. Maybe it's time to go back.

Taking it easy

Lilies and Bridal Wreath

The wild Lilies of the Valley have bloomed in our yard so I made a little bouquet.

And the bridal wreath are blooming!

Happy Sweet 16

We were shopping at the Carson's going-out-of-business sale and L found this purse she had to have. It's her early 16th birthday present. She says she won't be asking for any other presents. We'll see.

Spring has sprung

Internship, Day 1

She not only gets paid for the internship, but they bring in lunch every day. They gave her this T-shirt and some computer stickers today. She has an office-issued laptop, and beverages to drink all day for free.

Mother's Day

Mother's Day started with E and B making me breakfast.

L and Mayu said they were walking to Walgreens - I'm not sure where they went - but they came back with these flowers that Muffles loved!

I had to move them to the mantle with the rest of the gifts they gave me - Sharpie markers, a balloon and a silver heart crystal necklace.

At church we were asked to bring an item that reminded us of our mothers. I brought the baby quilt mom made with the fabric we gave her when we told her we were expecting with B!

A Mother's Day miracle! I had all four kids at church. It's hard to see, but I'm wearing the necklace Mayu and L gave me.