Bloggers are Really great

I received a huge gift from a wonderful blogging friend, Laura. She is one of my favorite reading bloggers and has recommended some great books, as well as passing some on to me. She is also a wonderful homeschooling mom and a knitter. These two pack, below, are some colorwork sweaters she passed on to me.

They are gorgeous, soft and rich colors, wonderful wool.
The yarn is so luscious, it calls to me. While I haven't begun the projects yet, I will!

Thank you so much Laura!!!!

The Day After......

The Easter bunny came today instead of yesterday. He was in the backyard when I was taking photos of another creature, below. Isn't he cute.
This was the creature I was outside photographing....can you see what he is holding?
There...can you see it better now? I guess we forgot one. Ha!He was very happy gnawing away.

Happy Easter!!

Redbud is the name of this tree above, the purple/pink one. It is everywhere here...Spring beauty.
This last photo begs to be clicked on to see its photo quality. Apple.

Joker One

Donovan Campbell's book, Joker One, subtitled A Marine Platoon's Story of Courage, Leadership, and Brotherhood is a first-hand account of a marine platoon in Ramadi at the beginning of a local Jihad there in 2004. It was the first time I read any book about our work in Iraq and it was gripping, insightful and revealing. Not knowing much about soldier's lives and work, I found myself admiring these men greatly. their job, after arriving in Iraq was to befriend and protect the city dwellers, but to put down any active insurgents who might harm the people or the platoon. This proved nigh impossible because the insurgents and the rest of the population appeared the same. It was impossible to tell the difference between the two at a casual glance, or even a careful look...the only different is the rocket suddenly hoisted onto the shoulders of a man and launched at the men.
Danovan Campbell himself is revealed as an articulate young man, untried and unsure, but sharp, and carefully honed to his task of leadership. The devotion of his men staggered me. I was unprepared for their willingness to put themselves in danger for their leader. My admiration for them rose.
The difficult decisions a leader needs to make here stateside can be heart-wrenching, but the decisions made in the middle of a firefight can be devastating...and Donovan Campbell made them and his men followed him without hesitation....following the course of honor and protection of the innocent. They put themselves at great risk for a people who might be targeting them. It was terrifyingly sublime.
The platoon was named Joker One because someone higher up named them so. The supplies for the platoon were not always adequate, and the leadership from headquarters was not always viable or wise, but the perseverance of these men under harrowing conditions was a story I was honored to read. The reality of war in the modern world is one more thing I am trying to grapple to understand. This book is well worth the read.

Friends Going Away

Here is my friend who is moving to Maine. Can you see how glad she is to go? We are glad along with her, and also her hubby...who didn't get photographed. Lucky guy.

Happy birthday, dear friend, and I am glad you will enjoy the warm scarf.

More on the b-day

Yesterday's post started with my men, working happily and tireless in the snow for my present. I couldn't get blogger to work very well for me....so that's all I ended up with.
But there was more. Much more.

First was the Enchiladas my eldest made (with fatherly shopping help). They were so good. A Pioneer Woman Recipe, one of many which have graced our table this year. Thank you so much #1!

Then we had Cream Puffs a la my MIL. #2 made them with her recipe...it is a super hard thing to make. Again, hubby stepped in and helped when the pastry didn't cooperate...and made another batch which rose correctly. Cream vanilla filling and chocolate sauce on top. heaven. Marvelous, dear ones.

My birthday began with snow and with my men beginning my birthday present. They are making me a garden.
















They are such good gift givers.
I am blessed. More birthday to come.