Last weekend was a nice time out with family. Virginia, Cedric and the boys came on Saturday. We were able to view pictures of their Australian adventure on computer and the extension trip they took to Thailand, Cambodia and Viet Nam. They took a cooking class in Thailand and a biking tour in Viet Nam. Great memories and getting acquainted with different cultures? What an education. Here Theo practices his juggling. He is good at it.
We took a walk around the neighborhood. It was chilly but nice to get outside. The boys are 13 and 15 now, but still willing to keep company with we adults.
Daffodils are blooming everywhere in my yard.
One neighbor has a tulip tree.
I had never heard of them until I moved to California. Spectacular.
I have a stunted one in my yard that didn’t take well to being transplanted from my former yard. It might get two blossoms, sometimes none. This is what they are supposed to look like.
After my mailbox project, I was charmed by this little postal box birdhouse. People can be so clever. Kind of reminds me, sadly, of the carrier pigeons. To think they were of such valuable service to us in WWI and no one thought to protect them.
Our neighborhood has many redtailed hawks. Majestic and beautiful.
Beautiful plumage and adept hunters. A very young hawk makes passes over my chickens as though sizing them up for a future meal. I don’t cut their wings so they have some natural protection.
Ken and Laurie joined us on Sunday and we all went to brunch. Not Bix and Coco, though. None of the pictures I took of the adults turned out. Its okay. I’ve got a lot of pictures of them anyway.
Yesterday was a grand marker day. I’ve gotten my heating and air conditioning heat pump contracted. The new mini-split heat pumps operate efficiently without ducting. Doug moved in a dumpster and did a major clean-up around the place getting ready for inside installations. Cabinets are chosen and drawn. The cabinet installer will measure the house on Friday. Today, I’ll shop for flooring, to get an idea of types and costs. The electrician will come in and do his wiring after the heat pump tubing and wiring is finished. Everything should move along quickly, now for the house. Then Doug will start on a garage/storage building. There is still much to do which keeps me absent these pages. But, taking time out was a welcome refreshment.
Que Sera, Sera... Whatever Will Be, Will Be... 
I’m exhausted just reading about all you do! ;->
Virtual hugs,
Judie
I keep thinking down the line my time will come to just quilt and read and take it easy. Probably never happen.
Probably not! Always something more exciting/stimulating to do!
So true, so true. Life is good.
We have tulip trees here in the GNE. They are some version of poplar. Your photo looks very much as a magnolia.
You are right, they do look like magnolias and may be a genus of that plant. They are fairly common in California and all I can say is I’ve always known them by the common name of tulip tree and the nurseries sell them by that name. I’ll try and remember to ask the next time I’m in a nursery what the true name is.
Thanks for stopping by.