To celebrate the arrival of spring (although I guess technically it has not quite yet arrived), Ava and I planted wheatgrass and some herbs. Amazingly enough, the picture of the wheatgrass was taken only 1 week to the day after we sowed the seeds. The herbs are so slow in comparison with only the basil barely sprouting above the soil's surface. As you can see we also had a lot of fun smudging dirt on our faces and pretending to eat it since we were using spoons as makeshift shovels. I even tricked Ava later by eating an oreo and convincing her that it was dirt. (I'm sweet like that.)


Yep, we're Roman Catholics now. Really we go to an Anglican church which does have an Ash Wednesday service because as our pastor would say, "we look like Catholics and preach like Baptists." (He also likes to say that "he dresses up like mother to play 'father.'") So on Ash Wednesday we looked like Catholics. It turned out to be a really good, humbling service and we're both really glad we attended it, but there was a lot of debate over it beforehand (in our house, not in the church) based on this passage from Jesus' sermon on the mount:

Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. Matthew 6:16-18

Unbeknownst to us, Matthew 6 is the gospel reading for the Ash Wednesday liturgy! We understand it better now though. And our pastor just advised us to go home and wash our faces. (But here I am posting pictures for all to see. Our countenances are not sad, so maybe that helps??)



Last weekend we decided to mow through our jungle of a backyard with the knee-high grass as we finally saw a break from the rain. I decided to wear my Wellington boots, and from the looks of the picture it's a good thing I did! Besides the grass clippings, I was trying to guard myself from all of the spiders, beetles, potato bugs, slugs and other creepy things that could have crawled up my pant leg if I had not been wearing those boots. Our lawn doesn't look so hot in the after photo, but it at least looks so much more tame than it did. And, it reminds me that summer is on the way!! I cannot wait for the barbecues. (Paul takes over the making of meals!) =)