Beautiful Day on Maryland's Eastern Shore

Spring might not be here yet, but we had a beautiful day yesterday. Look at how blue the sky was in Salisbury, where we attended church. We were glad they had an 11 a.m. service, as we wanted to get a little extra sleep. The switch to daylight savings time is a killer every year.

We had lunch at the Golden Corral, which was a big hit with Amanda because of the cotton candy. It was a big hit with me because of the coconut macaroons, which I dipped in chocolate! I had to go back for a second one, as it was so good!

Ed had taken some pictures of the bell choir on Saturday, and I thought I'd post this video of Gloria Hodie, our first song. You can't see us, as we're five rows back directly in front of Ed. If you try to imagine it you can see Mickey's hair. She's the third from the end (right of the aisle). Listening to the bells makes me wonder who thinks of these ideas, and how do they get their friends to join them? Either way, it was a good idea, and we're having fun playing handbells!

Ocean City and Shelbyville

I had just enough time to take a peak at the famed boardwalk in Ocean city today. It was quite pretty and I can imagine it in the summer teeming with vacationers. It made me glad I saw it in the off season.

Ed and Amanda joined the members of our bell choir for lunch. The were surprised to find out it was a good 3 hour drive from home. It seems like they should have built it closer!

We practiced most of the day for the  mass bell choir concert. We had a small audience, consisting of family members who came along on the trip to keep us company. This is the Sykesville bell ringers.

To finish off the night we drove into Deleware to see Debra's (Ed's Administrative Assistant) new beach house. It was so nice, and then, to sweeten the deal they even made us dinner! We loved it.

Debra and Jim had done such a great job at remodeling and updating the house with cute colors and unique fans, They even added on this entire room. It made me wish i had another house just so I could have the chance to decorate it from scratch.

Ringing Chimes in Ocean City

My bell choir is participating in a big festival this weekend, which gave me the opportunity to see the famous Ocean City on Maryland's Eastern Shore. We got a great hotel with a room that has a balcony facing the beach. The ocean is beautiful but very cold and formidable looking!

The Sheppards gave me a lift down with them, and we enjoyed going out to dinner together before our first practice.

Our fearless leader, Linda, had everything set up for us when we got here. There are a lot of bell choirs participating, and they have all practiced just as hard as we have, so the sound is pretty incredible.

There are also some nice vendors, and I have picked up a few momentos of the trip. Ed will have to wait till tomorrow when he and Amanda join me to see what he bought me!

A Cushioned Life

Who knew there was such a thing as a floor cushion? I found them on the internet, and they are the perfect thing to sit on while I'm practicing my guitar and sitting on the hearth by the fireplace. They're nice and poofy and keep my keister from getting cold while sitting on the tiles. They're so comfortable that I believe they will keep me practicing longer, as well!

While it was much easier to buy cushions ready-made, I found I had to make my own cushions to fit specific places. Coda got a new cushion for the mud room this week. It's just right for her bench. She can take a little nap on it while she waits for us to come home.

And since I was in a cushion making mood I just kept going. I made two cushions for the arch benches in the basement. They were much more difficult, complete with piping around the outside edges, but they turned out great.

I stuffed them with foam, wrapped in a layer of batting, so they are nice and full. I used a pretty upholstery fabric, and they look great, framing both sides of the couch. Come on over and have a seat!

What a Difference a Day Makes!

The daffodils are just about to bloom here. Suzanne and I enjoyed seeing this harbinger of spring when we were out on the fire road with the dogs on Monday.

And today it snowed! It was our biggest snowfall of the season. I think we have about 3 inches, but it is melting fast! They had predicted up to a foot, but it was too warm and we ended up getting a rain snow mix. Hopefully it will keep those daffodils fresh for us when we get over to see them again next week!

Harper Finds a Bone

Suzanne and I took the dogs for a walk this morning. Harper was thrilled to find a deer bone (complete with hoof and hair). She stopped to chew it along the way, and brought it all the way home to my yard. Suzanne refused to let her bring it home with her in the car. I thought maybe she was a mean dog mother, but something smelled bad really (think skunk), and I wouldn't have wanted that smell in my car either!

More Missionaries!

We had the sister missionaries to dinner Wednesday night. I say 'we' loosely, as Ed was out of town and Amanda was working. Sister Brand, on the right, is the first sister missionary in our ward to be under 21 years old. Sister Crawford has been out somewhat longer, but I think most of the sisters in Baltimore are training now with so many new sisters entering the mission field. As a result of the lower age limit for missionaries, the Baltimore mission will double in the next few months. Our ward is going to get a set of Elders as well! That can only be good for the growth of the church in Carroll County!