Scooter is back, Zoo blooms, Wee Wednesday @ CAM, landlord lessons, cornhole, day with Paula Maureen & Lucy and Mt Adams Clean Up day

 Monday afternoon we retrieved the scooter from the storage unit.  Miss A thought it was interesting to learn about tire pumps and helmets. She is still talking about this days later.

She also looked like an overdecorated Easter egg in this outfit.  But in my defense it was cooler and I kept adding layers.

 Tuesday morning we went to the zoo.  Another odd outfit I dressed her in... snowflake vest over spring flower jacket.  We also took (and wore) gloves as it has recently cooled off again.  The Zoo looked fantastic with all the tulips in bloom.

 Audrey listening to  the zoo keeper (picture below) explain about the owl.

 Tuesday afternoon we went to Barnes and Nobel to pick up a book we ordered.  Miss A was excited to find a stage.

 And she performed and took a bow to an audience of one ... just mama.

 Wednesday morning we attended Wee Wednesday at the Art Museum.  It was a beautiful day so we were able to walk.  In this picture she is playing in the kids room on the ground floor.

 The theme this month was Water, earth, Sky.  I found another book I think I will get for Audrey, Olivia Goes to Venice by Ian Falconer.

 A typical expression.

 We had lunch at the museum afterwards.

  Wednesday after A's nap we had to take care of a plumbing issue at one of our apartments.  Above picture shows her watching Chitty Bang Bang. 

 This portable DVD player has been really useful.

  Friday am I found out the plumbing issue wasn't completely fixed (small washer issue) so we had to meet the plumber again.  We also had plans to meet up with Paula and Lucy, so they met us at the apartment.  Below, Lucy and Audrey are sunbathing on the tenants roof deck.

 And then we walked to our house to play corn hole on the back patio before lunch.

This afternoon we are planning on walking up to the art museum to see Monet exhibit and of course Nick Cave's sound suits.  Miss A loves Nick Cave.

We are soon taking this blog private so if you are interested in reading in the future send me an email for the password.

  Miss A mesmerized by the Nick Cave Soundsuit dance videos.  She often dances along with him too.

 Our traditional Friday night family dinner at the Grill.

  With our favorite waitress Em who predicts Audrey will be the Asian Oprah.

 Graeter's vanilla ice cream with chocolate drizzle.

 Saturday morning we participated in the Mt Adams clean up. Above picture taken at Bow Tie where we all met for breakfast.

 The poster for the neighborhood art walk posted on Bow Tie's community corner.

 With Auntie Paula Maureen.  Paula prefers her name Maureen so we are converting by calling her both names for now.

  Miss A carrying a "tree" during clean up on Hatch Street.

 I sent these last 3 pictures to the Mt Adams garden club president who has forwarded them for consideration for The Grapevine (our neighborhood quarterly newsletter).

Garden, Crusade Castle, Findlay Market and Pregressive Dinner Party

 Miss A hanging out on the kitchen banquette, or as she calls it "couch".  She is wearing one of the outfits Paula gave her this week. 

 While John was traveling in Texas last week Audrey and I weeded a lot as well as put in 12 five cubic feet bags of dark mulch.

  After her nap Friday we went to the art museum andI had planned to run a few errands but she fell asleep in the car.  So I just drove around and stumbled on this interesting home in Mt Lookout. I  was curious enough that I had to look up info online when i got home.  There was plenty.  Most of these pictures and info are from Mt Lookout Community Council website.

 Which also had this interesting info about this building:

In the 1840's an unusual Italian villa style building was constructed known as "Crusade Castle."  It was the national headquarters for the Catholic Student's Mission Crusade, and was a center for organized promotion of Catholic missionary work throughout the world.  The property was reportedly surveyed by George Washington, and the structure included a massive bed that, according to legend, was slept in by the First President of the United States of America.  The land in the surrounding area was very fertile, and was used to harvest large vineyards which inspired renowned poet Henry W. Longfellow to write "Catawba Wine."  Perhaps those vineyards prompted Longfellow to write the famous lines "The Queen of the West in her garlands dressed on the banks of the beautiful river".

  A picture of the current owners who aren't Catholic and are selling the vineyard, apparently as a fsbo which is why I couldn't find out more info online.

So back to us...

John came home late last Friday night from a week in Texas, Oklahoma and Kansas. Saturday morning the 3 of us went to Findlay market.

Miss A has chocolate on her face from the Shadeau Bread croissant she had for breakfast.

  This 25 cent horse ride near Silverglades is not only cheaper than most but also way more fun the your average ride.

  Audrey unwrapping gifts from Aunt Nancy that arrived Saturday morning.  One gift she ended up wearing to a neighborhood progressive dinner party that night.  We were hosting the dessert part of the dinner party and ironically were ready early so we took Audrey up to Bow Tie to kill time.

  We also ordered a smoothie for her as the dinner was starting later than she is used to eating.

Ready to go to the diner party!

 Our neighbor Tom B. giving Audrey a Barbie (this time cheerleader) at Patti W's house.

  Audrey was exhausted at this point but still stimulated by the energy of the party.  I took her home shortly after this and put her to bed before guests arrived at our house for dessert.

The party was a blast and we always learn so much about our neighbors.

The next day we were ready early for church, which isn't hard since it starts at 10:30 and is only  15 minute walk from our house.   So we killed time in the garden. 

In this next picture she and I are pulling "helicopter" weeds... "roots and all Mama".

 

Sunday after her nap I had planned on taking her to a play at the Art Museum but she slept too late so we missed it and instead sprayed buttermilk on the garden stone walls.  I read in Garden Gate that this will encourage moss to grow.  If it works on this tier we will apply it to the next wall.

Audrey used a watering can as she can't manage a squeeze bottle yet.

  This lovely , I assumed dead, snake was on one of the stepping stones in the grass area.  To my credit Audrey never saw it or recognize my issues with it.  It wasn't there the next day.

Just another cute picture so this blog entry doesn't end with the snake.