Every child begins the world again...
Henry David Thoreau

This past weekend I took a trip to my hometown, Sarasota, for a little Florida getaway. It was a great chance to spend time with my mom and also host a baby shower for my dear friend Casey.

She is due June 3, what a wonderful reason to have a party!

Main table with gifts and the betting game.

Yummy spread!

Daisies everywhere (plus a picture of us at my wedding).

Old friends (yes, we're getting "old" but I mean friends we've known for a long time!).

Beautiful rocking chair - a gift from her mother and mother-in-law.

He'll be all decked out in his parent's alma mater!

With my mom and fellow hostess.

The clothespin game winner, Melissa, and the mom to be.

There's nothing half so pleasant as coming home again.

Margaret Elizabeth Sangster

Heading out early tomorrow morning for a mini-vacation in Sarasota to visit my mom and host a baby shower for Casey. Looking forward to a long weekend getaway and spending time with some of my very favorite people!

Dutch tulips from their beds, flaunted their stately heads.

James Montgomery

Last fall, the building manager at my office came in with a plastic grocery bag filled to the brim with Tulip bulbs. It was such a surprise but he knew I loved to garden (I always compliment him on the great gardens around the building) and that he had extras.

I happily planted all of the bulbs (about 75) in my flower beds at home. I'd never planted bulbs before so I was hoping they would come up alright in the spring.

As soon as the weather began to warm, the tiny sprouts poked through the dirt. Success!

Over the last weeks they have grown and now bloomed into beautiful multicolored Tulips. Orange, hot pink, yellow and red. So pretty!

Beginning to grow

First blooms

Finally growing tall and blooming

Spring sunset with Tulips and the blooming Dogwood.

Silent gratitude isn't much use to anyone.
G.B. Stern

Sunday gratitude:

• tulips in full bloom in my front yard.
• one week until a mini-Florida trip for Casey's baby shower.
• Trader Joe's chicken salad on Wheat Thins.
• finally finding a pair of comfortable work flats.
• fresh cut Daffodils in a vase on my desk at work.
  

You give me a gift? Bam! Thank You note. You invite me somewhere? Pow! RSVP. You do me a favor? Wham! Favor returned. Do not test my politeness.
Andy Bernard,The Office

Did you know that April is National Letter Writing and Card Month?

I love to receive snail mail. How can you beat a thick card envelope with a handwritten address? Not only has it become a special treat to receive with all of the email, Facebook, Twitter and blogging communication but notes are fun to send too!

I love sending celebration cards for birthdays, anniversaries, new babies or engagements and thank you notes for just about anything. You cannot deny the smile that creeps across your face when you receive a heartfelt note of joy or thanks. I doubt you'll ever hear someone say, "Gosh, I wish they really hadn't sent me that birthday card."

So I hope sometime this month you pick up an extra "thinking of you" card or write a note of thanks for a kind gesture.

(and what a great excuse to buy cute stationary!)

A new baby is like the beginning of all things-wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities.
Eda J. Le Shan

My colleague, Anne, had her second daughter last week. It was such a joy to go and visit her and Hannah in the hospital because this really was a little baby I spent nine months with! We joked that she knew the sounds of all of my coworker's voices because she has heard them so often.

Anne had the same due date as my friend Angie so she was very ready for her little girl to arrive.

With a pile of pink tulips we went for a visit. What a darling little girl, so alert and checking out what was going on around her. Not that I know anything about babies but her little face looks just like Anne's other daughter. So neat to see number two!

Lots of love to her and her new little family of four!

Anne, baby Hannah plus me and two coworkers for a visit

She got a very annoyed look on her face when I took a picture - oh well, still a cutie.

There is no psychiatrist in the world like a puppy licking your face.
Ben Williams

My friend's Sarah's mother is breeding Standard Poodles and has her first litter. The momma, Fanny, is a beautiful tan and black (you can see her at the end of the video below). Her puppies, born on March 12, are a mix of chocolate, black, white and tan.

I had the chance to go see them and they are so darling! Just a fuzzy, wiggling pile of puppy love! Because they were born so close to St. Patrick's Day they all have Irish names for now. I certainly can't tell them apart so coordinating ribbons show who is who.

If you just can't resist the poodles below, check out the website all about them!

Pile 'o puppies

Sarah with the only tri-color of the litter

Randall needs a DOG!

Some puppy love.

'Twas Easter-Sunday. The full-blossomed trees
Filled all the air with fragrance and with joy.
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

We had a lovely Easter here in St. Louis. I knew I just wouldn't make a big dinner for the just the two of us so Luke, Nick's college roommate, and his wife Mel came over to join us. We had a big dinner, great conversation and even a little home improvement.

Nick's Easter basket: candy, beef jerky and a matching button down shirt for his new sport coat.

Warm Brie with honey and almonds for appetizers.

Entry table with some decorations and my Easter gift, beautiful flowers.

Easter table.

Serious men. Ready to eat some ham.

Daffodils from Mel's garden.

Spiral sliced ham and green beans with orange zest and almonds.

After dinner we enlisted Luke's help for a few hanging projects.

Men with power tools.

Success!

Two grown men have a hard time balancing on a chair, measuring the ceiling.

Mel helping Nick out.

Great work (the lantern won't actually hang that high!).

A little driveway sitting on a beautiful Ester evening. We decided to start a tradition of wearing festive Spring shirts for Easter.

The resurrection gives my life meaning and direction and
the opportunity to start over no matter what my circumstances.

Robert Flatt

Hope you all have a joyous Easter!

If you can organize your kitchen, you can organize your life.
Louis Parrish

I participated in the Real Registry - Real Kitchen project that Carly at Real Gloss has been posting. Part I and Part II are posted if you'd like to take a peek.

A neat idea, I loved seeing other people's kitchens and favorite items. Makes me want to pull up my old registry and explore Crate and Barrel again!