We have been here at Hood Park for a month now. The weather has improved, but we do have rainy days - to keep the grass green... When we came, the trees were bare; now the leaves are out, almost from one day to the next. We've settled into the 5-days-on-5-days-off routine, though it still takes me at least 2 days to "recover" from five early-morning get-ups! I'm no Spring Chick any more!

Carl's 75th birthday was on April 26th. We went out for dinner at one of our favorite restaurants in Ahtanum (just west of Yakima), the "Ranch House". Besides regular good food (Carl's choice: Prime Rib), they feature a Chicken Gizzard Plate (ah,yes, I know) which is my favorite. Also for his birthday, Carl bought me a new Camera. Now I'm trying to take pictures of any of the red squirrels that we have quite a few families of here at the park. There are several pairs of Canada geese that just had chicks, and the cherry and dogwood trees in the park and surrounding area make for good photo ops. Check out my "Hood Park" album, and come back occasionally since I will be adding photos to it throughout the Summer.