Spring Skies and Catch Up News

I saw this magnificent rainbow in the sky early last evening while I was out running errands. I don't think I've ever seen a rainbow with such intense colors before!

 Spring storms bring very dramatic cloud formations to the area, and our open skies give us a big view of them.

All the moisture has been a Godsend to this section of Colorado, as it has reduced the fire risk from lightning strikes. 

Of course, spring weather can also bring terrible tornadoes, and Colorado is not exempt from that danger. I hope to never experience a tornado, and my thoughts and prayers go out to those affected by the horrific, massive tornado that passed through Moore, Oklahoma. The devastation there is hard to fathom, and my heart breaks for those that lost loved ones. 

BlogHer has a special page devoted to communications and news about the Oklahoma tornado, and different ways to donate money to help the victims on this link.  One of the easiest ways to give is to donate $10.00 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund by texting REDCROSS to 90999. 

Meanwhile, spring also means the elk are beginning to wander back to our area...

...and so are the bears! I hope never to run into one of them!

Catching up........I have been fortunate to win two wonderful blog giveaways recently...

Teresa L. Perin of the blog "Edenhills," has written her first novel, "Consent," and I won an autographed copy! The blurb from the book's website says it all:

"In medieval England daughters meant dowries-land and money leaving the family. Richard is determined to have a male heir to keep the castle Havenhoerte in their family and forces his daughter, Emma, to marry at the age of consent, just twelve years old. This is the beginning of two families entanglement. Kidnappings, knights, battles, weddings, and witchcraft spanning three generations follow. Sometimes the most dangerous enemy comes from within your own family. Can love and chivalry overcome evil?"

Thank you, Teresa -- I was certainly spellbound as I read your novel, and I found the ending such a surprise!  Please visit Teresa's blog where she writes about her fascinating life on a 75-acre farm in Iowa. Her animals, especially her goats, have such fun personalities!

I also won another wonderful give away by Riet of the blog Riet's Photoblog in honor of her new blog called "My Life, Quilting and Stitching Again." Riet lives in the Netherlands -- a country I've always dreamed about visiting, and she shares her beautiful photos and her very talented creations on her blogs.

Riet sent this very pretty French demitasse coffee set to me, along with two doilies, a heart ornament she made and the most remarkable handmade card!

The card design on the left is stitching, and the hand stamped windmill image is multi-layered to give it depth. Isn't it gorgeous?  Thank you so much, Riet! I will think of you every time my husband and I drink our espresso from these pretty cups, and I will treasure your card!

It has been busy times here this week--my husband and I have been getting our lawn and garden in order and we celebrated the first wedding anniversary of our daughter and son-in-law! I made a chocolate heart shaped bundt cake for the two love birds, and my husband and I babysat so they could go out and celebrate.

Rocking my baby granddaughter to sleep.

I am now watching my granddaughter during the day, Monday through Friday, as my daughter returned to work two weeks ago.  I am getting into tip-top shape as my granddaughter and I take a stroller walk around the neighborhood every afternoon. It's a busy time in my life again, and I'm loving every minute of it!

If I am tardy in visiting your blogs or responding to your comments, it is because my computer time is very limited right now, but as we settle into a routine I hope that improves. I hope that Spring has brought beautiful skies your way and that any dangerous weather will stay away!

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