179

Do you remember the scene in Legally Blond when Elle Woods receives a 179 on the LSAT exam that easily gets her into Harvard? What you may not know is that 180 is perfect. "What like it's hard?" Dione has been studying at a feverish pace and took the exam last Monday afternoon. On Tuesday morning I took her to the airport for a summer internship at Georgetown University and Law School. She will be taking classes and working for the law school. Pretty cool right? As Friday was her 21st birthday it was a big week for Dione. We had a wonderful dinner with friends and family the night before the big test. I went all out and fixed fresh Alaskan salmon with wild mushrooms in a phyllo crust, warm French Brioche, a lemon and fresh herb couscous and a lovely garden fresh salad straight from the back yard. Dinner was followed by a coconut layer cake with "179" on top. Love you Didi...hope you have a great summer in DC.

Never a straight face out of Dione.

A very common occurrence with the sisters, it's piano
duet time. An all time favorite..."Triple Dip" done
with 6 hands. Missing the "red one" I stepped in
and made my best attempt. Miss you every day Jocie!

Elegant piano player hands, the girls all have them.

Uncle Chi-pod as Cass lovingly calls Chet posing

with Dione...he will miss her this summer.

This is what happens when I say "picture time".

Even Sammi wanted to get in on it.

This is one of my favorite pictures ever of Dean...

there is a rare hint of a smile across his face.

It wouldn't be a family photo without Izzy.

She's her Mother's Daughter

Cass came up over Memorial Day weekend to hang out with the family while Bob was hanging out in Canada for business. I spent some time teaching her how to machine quilt. She was working on a baby quilt she had pieced for her friend Jayme who just had a beautiful baby boy. I was so impressed by Cassandra's "I can do this" attitude. She has such great confidence and quickly learned to make the machine meander through the layers. It was a wonderful "mother moment" to watch my daughter create something fabulous for someone she cares for dearly!

Here is the mad scientist turned quilter for the day.

Dione doesn't quilt yet...she is studying crazily for

the LSAT, which is the entrance exam for law school.

Cassandra's dogs Maggie and Sammi are never far away...

content to sleep at her feet as she quilts her project.

The finished quilt. I absolutely loved

her choice of fabrics.

Bee Update

"Umm Dean, I think your bees are at my house, they seem to be lost!" "I think I may have been stung by one of your bees when we were down in Ogden." In response to these neighbor comments Dean asks what color legs they have, because his bees only have pink legs. Haha! The bees are actually doing fabulous. Dean has added a second story to their home and they are busy filling it up. He hopes to add the honey supers (our honey cache) within the next two weeks. All of this rain, has brought the blossoms out and the bees are literally busy bees! Dione was very brave and geared up to go play in the hives with her Dad one day.

Dione in the suit...a little creeped out at first but

became more comfortable after a bit.

Dean and Dione looking for Queen Caroline.

Caroline is at the bottom of the wooden frame, just
about in the middle. She looks more like a bug than
a bee. Isn't she cool?

Our first dip of fresh honey from Queen Steve's hive.

Official honey expert Chet weighing in on the taste.

Yummy!

Getting to know you

A gift from Mark and Ronnette Anderson and family, Jiggy's tree stands serenly in our backyard. It is a beautiful weeping cherry tree. Quite a unique tree, it has fabulous Spring blossoms and strong branches that reach for the ground. I have been anxious to try out the new camera and capture the blossoms in delightful early evening light. When I look out my kitchen window Jiggy's tree is the first thing I see...and it makes me smile.

Zest away girlfriends!

If you do not have a Microplane zester you need one! Go right now... do not even finish reading this entry, and buy yourself my favorite new kitchen gadget! I promise, you will not regret it. I want to zest all the time and find myself dreaming in lemon yellow. Cassandra and Dione were even jealous of my zester, so I made sure they each got one for Mother's Day. Yes, a gift for my girls on mother's day. After all, they are part of the reason I am a mom! Seriously, what are you still doing reading this...GO!