So many things have started this Spring off for us... both the expected and the very unexpected.
(another early morning shot I sprung on us some Sunday morning)
My flowers, herbs, and vegetables are growling like banshees. I've been transplanting them from the smaller pots, into the larger ones, and thus far I've had just two major casualties as a result of the this move, and they remain in intensive-care. They may not make it. But others are just blooming from the larger potting space.
Meanwhile, the real focus this past month has been on celebrating Ray's birthday at the end of the April. Which also coincided with his neice's birthday Emily, her first communion, and the surprise development of his nephew's appendicist.
The night before Emily's communion, the whole Vlcek family found themselves in the waiting room while poor Eli went into surgery. Emily, Ray, and I passed some of the time drawing pictures and playing Hang Man - which she prompted to beat us each rather handily.
And she was a very good sport about all the rearranging that had to be made when poor Eli's appendix needed surgery late into the night.
She and I took turns drawing some pictures together...
And the other main event for last month was the 1940's party we held for Ray's birthday.
Here are some of the pictures from that Friday night at the California Clipper...
(Ray and two of his sisters, Rebecca on the left and Larrisa on the right)
Ray with two of his main technical/stage building crew, Ruppert (pic-left) and Brad (pic-right)
I will probably say that it was the preparation and planning to outfit Ray and myself in these genuine vintage attire, that became my favorite part of the event. We look dashing, yes? My hat is genuine Beaver fur. LOL.
And this is my most favorite picture of Ray from that evening...looking so dashing and handsome and sexy. I think I got a crazy crush on this guy.
So next is next... we are gearing up (literally and figuratively) for a short camping trip and then a long camping trip in the upcoming Months. For memorial day weekend we'll be spending the entire time in Westfield again. My first spring camping experience! But I understand it will still likely get in the 40's at night. At least we're above the freezing mark.
And then a minimum of TWO weeks camping, starting June 30th thru July 13th (for me) and Ray may then pick up a good friend to accompany him for an addition week of camping during his vacation time while I have to return to my work.
With a very good collection of gift certificates to the best Camping store in town,
Cabela's, we went last weekend and picked up a bunch of very necessary gear - upgrading from gear going bad (like a new boat seat), to getting more essentials (like a life vest for me!). My job in the next few weeks is to go through our gear, organize and prepare for our trips. I'm so psyched about it, I talk about it nearly everyday!
Meanwhile, Ray is finishing up his technical needs for the last show of the Court Theater season, and I am way actually ahead of my musical director requirements with a bunch of student songs already in the Can and ready for the student graduation shows coming up at the end of the term.
Yeah life and stuff.
Ray and I are getting close to our one year anniversary. We don't know the exact date. We just know that we had three dates last year before he left on his 2-3 week camping vacation by himself last July. Those were tough weeks for me while he was gone. We had just started to hit things off and I was very sure I wanted to progress with the relationship as it showed such potential. And then he leaves with the understanding that we won't touch base again for a few weeks. I started to get it into my head that he likely had some previous girlfriend he was going to meet and stay with while he was gone. Having been in the dating world for awhile, I knew too well the anxiety that comes with being in a holding-pattern before you really know where something might lead to.
And I also remember how nice it was that Ray called me repeatedly while he was camping. I never expected to hear from him, and he called me about every forth day or so. It got me so very excited. I loved hearing his voice.
Then he returned.
And we have been pretty much inseparable ever since.
Yeah!
Each little pot contains some potential herb or vegetable. Honestly, I don't know what it will be like to actually eat any of the stuff that is growing. I'm reading that "early cuts" will help the plants produce greater bunches for longer into the season. I'm enjoying it all so much, I'm not ready to think about cutting them back.
Who knew that Bean plants have some of the most beautiful and interesting leafs?
He's a pretty kitty, even if he is "dumb as toast".
These little early buds have there own beauty to me. All about potential. I'm capturing them now with the hopes that someday they'll be so big I won't remember back when they were just small seedlings. 
Salvadore liked getting his picture taken frequently.
Our doorstep greeters.
