Well, it was nearing the end of April when I started composing this post in my head.  Somehow we got here to the third of May before I put it together on the computer and made it a post.  Where does the time go?  Whew!  Well, let’s get down to it, shall we?

Favorite #1

I follow @thatcheeseplate on Instagram and have been inspired to have a cheese plate grazing night in place of dinner from time to time.  One night in early April I was in the mood for one, but Big Eagle just wanted a salad, so…

 

…I made myself this individual cheese tray!  It was definitely a favorite of mine.

 

Favorite #2

I actually got the following news in my email on May 1st:

(drum roll, drum roll, drum roll)

(cymbal clash)

MY FRIEND LYNN AND I WERE DRAWN IN THE LOTTERY TO PARTICIPATE IN RAGBRAI!

You can read about what that means by reading here where I wrote a post about it.  What makes this a favorite this month is the special time spent training together with my friend in April.

 

On this particular day we stopped so Lynn could snap a selfie of us with the bluebonnets in the background.  Biking is much more enjoyable with a buddy to chat with along the way.

 

Favorite #3

My favorite event this month was the Senior Breakfast and Clap Out that was held at the elementary school where I used to teach.  For the last few years near the end of the school year, the district in which I taught invites all high school seniors, their parents, and their former teachers to revisit their elementary school for this event where we are all reunited.  Everyone is treated to breakfast, and a slide show is presented in which pictures are shown of each senior as a young child alongside a present-day picture.    A label accompanies each slide telling where they plan to attend college and what field they plan to pursue.  It can be quite emotional, but it’s such a thrill to see that little 8-year-old (as I remember them) all grown up now.  It’s also very encouraging to see what wonderful young people we will have to lead us in the future.  Here are a couple of pictures of some former students and myself:

 

 

It’s called a Clap Out because all of the current elementary students line the hallways and clap for the seniors as they parade through the halls of the school with their parents after the breakfast.  My friend Lynn retired at the same time as me from this school, so we attended together.  At the end of the event, one of our former 3rd-grade team members, Malisa, gathered the other teachers that were on our team the year we retired, so we could have a picture taken together.

 

Unfortunately we were missing one team member who has moved out-of-state.  Shout out to YOU, Andrea!  Wish you were there to complete the picture.  We all did make a great team.  This is the last year that Lynn and I will be attending this event, as the students we had in 3rd grade the final year we taught (2009-2010) make up the last class to graduate from high school for us.

 

Favorite #4

 

It’s always such a source of joy to see my flowering friends return each spring.  This month only one of my irises decided to bloom for me, but it was certainly a gorgeous one.

 

The other beauties that came back to bring us cheer this month were these amaryllises.

 

These were actually gifted to me a few years back by a neighbor down the street who was thinning hers out.  What a great gift!

 

Favorite #5

 

My sister Susan is here visiting from out of state.   When I was telling her how much trouble I have getting my dog Annie to take her Trifexis every month, she told me how her dog gobbles it right down if she wraps it inside of one of these pill pockets.  So I trekked myself up to the local Petco and bought a package.  It worked like a charm!  Yay!  Previously I’ve tried slathering the pill with peanut butter, enclosing it in a hunk of Velveeta or cream cheese, crushing it into smithereens and mixing it into egg salad and then later chicken salad.  All of these worked for a while, but each time Annie eventually caught on to the trick and would no longer fall for it.  I sure hope THIS trick has staying power over time.

 

Favorite #6

Our snow peas and sugar snap peas are all ready for harvest!  We’ve actually already done a couple of pickings so far.

 

Here they are in all their glory waiting for eager fingers to pluck them from their vines.  We’ve enjoyed them in stir fry and in salads.  Tonight we’re going to use them in a new pasta dish we’re trying.  It’s a lot more fun to pick peas when you have a helper.  That’s who my next favorite is about.

 

Favorite #7

 

I’ve saved the best for last again this month.  As I mentioned above, my sister Susan is here visiting.  She’s really here to see our mom, but we are getting to spend a lot of time together, as well, and I am loving it.  There’s nobody quite like a sister, and we all live so far apart from each other, that it’s really a treat whenever we can get together.  We got Big Eagle to take this picture of the two of us outside this morning.

 

I’d better add here that by posting this as a favorite, I’m not saying Susan is my favorite sister.  I have two other sisters, and all three of them are my favorites.  But I AM saying that having her visit is my very favorite thing about this past April.  And she’s a heck of a pea picker, too!

 

I hope you have enjoyed your April as much as I did mine.  Did you have a favorite event or discovery during April?  I’d love if you would share about it in the comments.  Or share about whatever happens to be on your mind.  Now…let’s see if those April showers really do bring May flowers!