A week has gone by and I have not posted a thing. I think Spring has sprung here on the desert and in my heart because I have a feeling of wistful restlessness and a lack of energy to go with the emotion.

I saw these desert beauties on one of our walks. Bob and I walk the dogs most days out onto the desert behind our home. We have a number of acres with dirt paths that take us to a bike/hiking trail that meanders through the south end of town. I makes for a pleasant 45 minute walk and the dogs love it.

With Easter around the corner and with the twins having three grandmothers to spoil them, Kristi and I decided that it would be wise if I forgo a basket and bought spring outfits instead.

This seemed a reasonable suggestion at the time, but I wasn’t entirely comfortable being the Grandmother not having any fun. Somehow, even though it was my own self-sacrificing idea, it bothered me.

I bought 3 sets of tee shirts and shorts for each. Then I went to the dollar store and bought a small bunny, a small duck, and two plastic baskets. I rolled the tee shirts and the shorts and arranged them in the baskets adding the little duck and rabbit just to make it a little more “Eastery”.

This has been a quiet week. I finished reading a book for my book club meeting tomorrow, made some games and flannel board stories for the twins and drove to Mojave for lunch today with Theresa, Kristi, and little Danica. (Eric is with his Mommy L and his Grandma for a few days.)

Bob and I also saw a dermatologist for our yearly skin check on Tuesday. The doctor definitely Irish and full St. Patrick’s day blarney told me I had very healthy skin. His comment made feel great until I realized he simply meant there was no strong evidence of sun damage. He didn’t MEAN I had few wrinkles and great elasticity as I initially had hoped. Sigh. . . .

Bob did not fare as well. He has a lot of sun damage and one spot that needed a biopsy. This diagnosis doesn’t come as a surprise for a guy who once owned and managed a golf course. He took it all in stride and we stopped for McShakes on the way home.

As I mentioned I spent most of the week making and laminating games for the twins so I could hardly wait for Wednesday when I would meet Theresa, Kristi and Danica for lunch. I was so looking forward to showing the games to my grand daughter. I wasn’t disappointed. Danica loved to play the games. . . both the ones I made for her and the ones I made for her brother. She was fascinated by the felt board stories and I was in seventh heaven watching her expressions as she listened to the stories.

If you want to see the results of my game making, check out the video clips that Bob has posted on his new blog Main Street USA. He took these just before I left to meet the girls for lunch. I have to laugh at the teacher voice in them. I have said it before but teaching is like riding a bike it all comes back when you try it. . . even after years of not riding or in my case, not being in the classroom.

The dogs and I went for a desert walk this afternoon. Yes, I managed to control all three. The young Maltese like to walk out in front and Sammi, the old Doxie tends to plod along a few paces behind.

It was a beautiful early Spring afternoon filled with sunshine and a soft desert wind. The most exciting event on our walk was a loose tumble weed that rolled down the path toward us. Lucky and LuAnn were ready to take it on and fight to the end.

This meant we had to wait until there was no wind and we could walk a circle or two around the monster while the puppies sniffed and growled until they were convinced of its submission. All the while, Sammi stoically waited for the walk to continue. Thank goodness the wind cooperated and we went on in the hope of more exciting adventures.

Home again, it was treat time and then all three dogs curled up on the couch for a nap and I took time to write this short blog. I love these easy days of Springs arrival on the Mojave.

Added early on Friday morning:

The delightful writer Joy over at her weblog Joy of Six has some beautiful photos of art done on feathers. So I thought I would share this one of mine. It was a gift from my daughter-in-law Rhea. She brought it back from a trip to Costa Rica. It sits on my desk shelf and I treasure its beauty and uniqueness. I can not even imagine the difficulty and precision needed to paint on a feather. Please go see the beautiful examples that Joy has posted on her site.

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Today was a fantastic day… an awesome day for me. Kristi drove all the way from Santa Clarita (at least a 2 1/2 hour drive) just because she wanted to share the movie Milk with me. This in spite of the fact that she had already seen it two weeks ago and that she had to leave before the end of the movie in order to make the long drive back to pick up the twins from Nursery School.

I do not know if she realizes how much it meant to me to have a daughter who wanted so much to share with me the history of Gay Rights and both the joy and the sorrow that came with the struggles of the 70’s.

Watching the movie brought back so many memories for me. I remember the fear that spread though the country as the Religious Right led by Anita Bryant spewed hatred and intolerance toward the Gay Community. I remember that Homosexual teachers, social workers and police officers had to remain closeted or lose their jobs. Looking back I realize strides toward equality certainly have been made.

However as I write this, the Evening News is filled with the battle over Gay Marriage and California[s infamous Proposition 8. Today, the Court heard the first arguments over the legality of same sex marriage. I pray our State Supreme Court will make a wise and honest decision. One of fairness and equality for all.

The sun is setting on my wonderful day so I will close for now and simply bask in the warmth of a daughter’s love.