Welcome to Spring!

We are finding a lot of excuses to be outside this gorgeous March.  One afternoon last weekend we went to Mom and Dad's so we could study outside.  It was the longest study session I've managed yet!  We also went for a 5-mile walk on the Perkiomen Trail last weekend and went to the park to throw a baseball during the week.  Mike was invited to join a summer baseball league which he's very excited about.

The trail follows a branch of the Perkiomen and winds
 through woods and towns 

I saw a snake and it made me so happy.  I think it might've been this guy--Northern Brown Snake.  

We also randomly heard bagpipes playing Amazing Grace somewhere. It sounded beautiful.

On the Perkiomen trail

Franconia Park - still no life on the trees

Mike and Brandon playing catch

Trying to throw left-handed LOL

Always watch out for dismembered animal parts when walking in a park

Saint Patrick's Day we...did nothing.  Actually we walked the trail that day, then we plopped down and watched basketball and drank our homemade Belgian triple for around 5 hours.  I said I thought 1hr TV per 1 mile walked wasn't that bad.  Mike made a delicious shepherd's pie - you gotta try using Dublin Irish cheese in the mashed potatoes, it made the dish. 

Mike's clan shirt

Shepherd's Pie

Mom took me to a cooking demonstration Wednesday night.  It was really interesting and it definitely made me want to make the dishes (especially the cheesecake).  The 2 1/2 hours went by quickly, even though I went without dinner!  (We were expecting more food samples.)  There had to be over 500 people that showed up for the event.  The AC was broken (of course :p) but it ended up not being that hot. And after telling Mom how lucky I am at winning door prizes, we didn't win anything. We got free goodies though - magazines, subscription to Taste of Home, a pot holder, keychain, and a piece of Naan.

Mom found us good seats

and brought me lovely daffodils - yes, they're already blooming!

Thursday I went to the used book sale at the library.  We've been trying to read before bed instead of watching TV and it's been extremely enjoyable.  I made some great finds and am excited to read them (hence why they merited getting a photo in the blog).

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Come on, how good do these sound:

A tale of madness, genius and obsession that lead to the making of the Oxford English Dictionary

The lives of two men--a murderer and the inventor of long-distance radio transmission--during "one of the greatest criminal chases of all time"

A memoir of an unwanted Chinese daughter

The story of the architect of the 1893 World's Fair and the serial killer who used the fair to lure his victims.

And throw in a few less exciting biographies and history books.  I told myself I need to finish the book I started (a biography of Thomas Jefferson - I am TRYING to learn all the history that I have always blocked out) before digging into these *sigh.*  

Friday (today) I did super heavy duty cleaning and made cookies.  We're going to have a spontaneous night I guess since we don't have plans.  Maybe some tennis?  Honestly I would like to continue working on job apps and studying (not much time left!).  Tomorrow Mike plans to brew another batch of beer with Brandon.  One of these weekends we are going fishing (yes I fish - Mike bought me my own pole!).

Oh, and I got a call this week from the chair of the ME department at Villanova to tell me I was awarded the Outstanding Graduate Student Commencement Medallion.  :D  So if you missed my other 2 graduations, here's yet another opportunity to see me walk!  For the 3rd year in a row! HAHA

Have a good weekend!