90 years young......

Dad was born on April 30, 1922.  His health is good and his memory is clear.  He reads a newspaper everyday and is up to date on all newsworthy matters.  What a joy that he is in my life!

Whenever we are together I ask many questions about his life, esp his WW II career as a sailor in the Pacific on a destroyer.  He has amazing stories to tell!  I write it all down.  In his head are all the little stories about my growing up, and about his childhood.  I want to be this sharp when I am 90!!!

Since we could not find a balloon that said "90" we had to settle for a "50" and a "40"!

In the dining room tonight, Dad blows out his candles on a cake that he shared with everyone.

Hearing greetings from David.

Here we are with the birthday boy.....great day!

Highland Park on Sunday

Highland Park is known for its lovely lilac bushes.  The Lilac Festival is celebrated every May when these beauties are in full bloom with a week of music, food, and all kinds of arts and crafts vendors.  Last weekend's snow and frost damaged many of the blooms on these bushes.

This park showcases the largest celebration of lilacs in North America!  Over 1200 lilac bushes.

I am happy to say that these photos are mine!  Tulips were lovely today.

Very proud of this shot.....

The color combinations in the tulip beds are awesome!

This is Jim's shot.....a real winner!

I love the white lilac blossoms.

Last time I stood inside a tree was  in a redwood near Yosemite in California a few years ago.

Smell memories

I can smell my lillies of the valley, close my eyes and be in my grandmother's garden...just like that......a time traveler.  My garden has many of these lovely ladies....all transplanted from another's garden.  They snuggle up to my irises that grow under the squirrel's tree in the back yard. 

My grandmother's side garden  was full of these flowers and I knew that when they bloomed, her roses were about to bloom also.  What a fragrant yard!

Winterthur

Yesterday I joined a busload of ladies for the two hour ride to Winterthur near Wilmington.  We toured  the grounds and then two floors of the mansion of Henry Francis DuPont who lived there for the 99 years of his life.

 Map of the grounds

Henry was a horiculturist and the grounds he created all those years ago were beautiful as we rode the tram through them.  Azaleas were in full bloom.

Inside, flowers adorned one of the sun porches.

Henry was a collector of American antiques and architecture.

One of many elegant Japanese maples on the grounds.

Dazzling stair case

Just one of many beautiful chandeliers

Wedding in Baltimore

We traveled to Baltimore this weekend for Rachel Benjamin's wedding to Stephen Swatkoski at The National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary...The Baltimore Basilica, America's First Cathedral. Weather was perfect, the church exquisitely beautiful, and the bride was lovely....all good.

Pipe organ solos and the sweet music from a talented violinist....

Spent the afternoon catching up with old friends, then dined at the wedding reception at the Belvedere Hotel.

Flower shopping

Our friend Len has returned from Florida to spend the next 5 months at his home in our neighborhood.  Our tradition is to go to East Coast Nurseries to buy hanging plants upon his return.  Today we added irises to our cart which I planted in one of our front beds.

Hanging baskets

Yellow iris

Season's first

We have had occasion to drive by one of our favorite eastern shore fruit and vegetable stands twice this week with another trip planned this weekend.  To our surprise, strawberries, small and sweet, local and delicious are ready!  This is a month early.  But who's complaining? ..... we are just eating these juicy morsels.

Now out come all the recipes for cobbler, muffins, pie and shortcake....what lovely eating!

Around town......

Our little town is getting a new streetscape......power lines down and buried and these cool new light poles take their place....love it!

Finally, no power lines in the background of our photos.

Such a pretty little town....flowers in planters everywhere.

Waited all year!

Ahhhh, asparagus!  Worth the wait to enjoy eastern shore asparagus fresh from the ground.

Now for the next six weeks I shall eat it in all different ways:  here it is being roasted in grape seed oil and then topped with grated Parmesan.