There was a family event to celebrate over in Utah. Great Grandson Dimetrios graduated to Middle School...

Shoutout to Big D: Congratulations! Well done. I love you. And many thanks to his wonderful family, friends, helpers, and for God's abundant love.

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This week the raspberries are blooming here in Pennsylvania. We look forward to fresh bowlfuls.

Keoni and Aidan woke early Saturday morning from their teen years' torpor to join their dad putting up more goat fencing to stop the clever boy goats from escaping their man-pen.

It didn't take the entire Saturday. Wendy began prepping a room in the barn for the chicks. The dust of their scratchings in their boxes has layered the living room with the finest pulverized dust imaginable and the aromatic mingling with that of wet dog is difficult to describe. It has to be experienced.

But, they are still cute...and ever so much fun to watch.

This one has six toes. Not to worry. It's normal, but I can't remember the name of the breed.

The hens that came with the barn have been basking on top the patio table that once stood in my condo patio until I started more of my down-sizing.

Little do these ladies know what awaits them in their near future that is now growing in the living room

Wendy is sure one or two of the chicks are cockerels. Though I'd rather they were all pullets, my chief concern has to do with Toby's now well-developed predatory nature. He still hangs with the dogs, but his cat nature rules when it comes to rodents and birds (his bug education happened in Tucson). Often, he appears with a suddenly very wide belly. I captured his hunting success on video, but will spare you. Aidan says, "Toby, don't play with your food!"

This last Thursday I was at Jesse's BBQ joint for a lunchtime.

Buddies of mine. Dick, Jimmy, and Dave. Sarah who is usually with us was away celebrating her daughter's school event.

I'm starting to feel about the grasses like I feel about the trees. The variety and prolific growth continue to amaze me. Just as the spring buds and flowers burst forth on the cacti in the Desert Southwest with some unfathomable, vibrant energy, the growth here in its own way is rocket-fueled out of the wintery cold into the season of growth and completion before the next long sleep and renewal. Walking through has become a privilege and a grace at the same time.

The beautiful old Mulberry tree recently trimmed by the arborist (who rescued Toby from its heights) is leafing out, but it may not prosper anymore with a disease it has. It was especially beautiful early one morning as the sun rose.