Thank God It's Friday!!!

Hello, Friends!  Can you say T-G-I-F?!?!?

Today is not much of a day for sitting out on the porch, unfortunately.  After a pretty mild winter and lots of beautiful spring-like days in February, we took a turn for the worse here yesterday.  Drizzly, cold, even a few snow flurries here and there.  But, thankfully, we did not get a hard freeze last night!  What a relief because the trees here have been blooming like crazy and I would hate for them to get set back.  I am actually praying that the cloud cover doesn't clear tonight so it will help hold the temps up!

Since it was so muddy, I have been taking the dogs out into the front yard on a leash to do their business.  (The backyard is pitiful right now and the task of wiping a dozen muddy paws after going out there in the red mud is just overwhelming at times.)  This morning, while I was out there, I took the opportunity to really study the front flower bed, which we worked so hard on this past year.  Remember when we put in some new shrubs and lots of mounded mums out there at the end of summer this past year?

Things are actually looking pretty good!  The mums have already started putting forth new greenery.  This will make it more difficult to cut back back the dead growth - should have been done at the end of the last season - but it is a good sign that they have survived the winter.  The hawthorn bushes are loaded with tiny buds, ready for more warm, sunny days to help them bust out in bloom.  The "fire bush" is already blooming.  Although it is a bit scraggly, the color is beautiful and I will take it!  There are some weeds encroaching where they shouldn't and a bit of that dang monkey grass we worked so hard to take out is sprouting.  The mulch is seriously depleted.  But, overall, a nice afternoon working in the bed spanning the front of the house should take care of all issues!

I am so ready for Spring to arrive and stick around! 

On the personal front, I went to McDonald's and got a happy meal today for lunch.  So, I guess that makes me happy! 

Although the skies are still gray, the temps are cold and work and home projects have me feeling stretched pretty thin, I have so much for which to be thankful - 

I have this evening and tomorrow off with my better half and 

we are going to put away the cares of the world and enjoy this time together.  

I have a cozy home to snuggle up in.

I have enough business at work to make me feel a bit stretched, 

much better than no business in this "feast or famine" line of work. 

Speaking of that better half, he just walked in the door and the pups are going nuts.  So, we're going to head off to pick up a couple of rental movies and something for supper.  Then we'll have some quality down time. 

What are YOUR plans for the weekend?  Whatever you've got cooking, I hope you have some quality time for yourself and your loved ones!