MCR's thoughts...: April 2017

Sunday, April 30, 2017

Reading in April...

This month I have been reading the following books:

Term Limits
by Vince Flynn
This is a re-read for me. I really like Vince Flynn's books and will often pick up one as a light, easy, engaging read. Also, if you are feeling especially frustrating with Congress or your Senator, this book can feel particularly satisfying.

The Book of Hygge
by Louisa Thomsen Brits
I enjoyed this book but it isn't my favorite book about hygge. I would probably recommend the one I read last month, How to Hygge: The Nordic Secrets to a Happy Life.

The Shoemaker's Wife
by Adriana Trigiani
I really enjoyed this book. The story is of two Italian families and their journey to America and is supposedly based on the lives of her grandparents. I enjoyed it because it spans generations and tells a complete story for several of the characters.

Scarpetta
by Patricia Cornwell
This was a re-read for me. This is book #16 in the Kay Scarpetta series. I liked this book, not my favorite in the series. I have been reading this series for so many years that I will continue to read the books she writes, even if they aren't my favorite. You become attached to characters in books, and Kay and Benton have been part of my life for many years! I first became interested in her books at the beginning of the series when they were set in Richmond, the town I lived in. I also had the pleasure of meeting the author a few times.

A Man Called Ove
by Fredrik Backman
I really enjoyed this book. It is a beautiful story and may just make you think differently next time you encounter a curmudgeon!

Love Warrior: A Memoir
by Glennon Doyle
Such a raw, honest book. I love Glennon's inspiring words for bravery and love.

Chaos
by Patricia Cornwell
This is #24 in the Kay Scarpetta series. I am a dedicated Scarpetta reader so I will continue to read until the series in finished. However, I did enjoy this book more than some of the other recent ones.

'til next time...

Sunday, April 23, 2017

Egg hunts, a visit from the Easter bunny and crepes at DelFosse Winery...

I love it when Easter falls later in the year. Everything is blooming, the weather is warmer, just so spring-like.

This year was fairly low key for us. I had plans to incorporate more Easter-type activities into our school work, had a whole stack of Easter and spring themed books to read, had some Pinterest decorating ideas for eggs, had an Easter craft idea, planned to decorate my mantle and buffet with an Easter/spring theme...you get the idea. We did read the books and we bought a dye kit from the store for the eggs.

So, close. Right?

Despite the lack of crafts and seasonal decorating we still had a great Easter. The kids did get to participate in a couple egg hunts. On Saturday there was an egg hunt at the beach club. It is a great event, the kids run around looking for sugar and the adults drink beer and wine.

Fry's Spring Beach Club Easter Egg Hunt 2017

Ainsley loves bunnies...so not much is better than a visit from a big, white, friendly bunny!!

Fry's Spring Beach Club Easter Egg Hunt 2017

The big kids group....eager to go.

Fry's Spring Beach Club Easter Egg Hunt 2017

And they're off!

Fry's Spring Beach Club Easter Egg Hunt 2017

Taking your kids out in public can always be risky. As a parent there are times I've considered pretending I don't know who those little heathens belong to. And then there are times when your mama-heart just about bursts with pride. This was a heart-full-to-bursting moment, watching my son share his Easter eggs with a kid who had lost all of his eggs.

Fry's Spring Beach Club Easter Egg Hunt 2017

Of course, the Easter bunny made a stop at our house too. The kids had been worrying that he might not know we had moved since last Easter, so they were relieved to find eggs in the yard that morning!

It was a beautiful day to visit a winery so we decided to spend Easter afternoon at DelFosse winery again.

DelFosse Winery, Easter 2017

We haven't explored many wineries in the Charlottesville area yet but we have been to this one a few times and we really enjoy it. The setting is lovely, there is plenty of room for the kids to run around and best of all...crepes. Yep, crepes. Real, handmade French crepes. Several times a year they serve crepes and they are fantastic! They are quite possibly the best crepes I have had outside of Europe.

DelFosse Winery, Easter 2017 - banana and Nutella crepe

DelFosse Winery, Easter 2017 - chicken, artichoke and sundried tomato crepe

DelFosse Winery, Easter 2017 - sweet cherry crepe

When we arrived, they were preparing to have an egg hunt for the kids. We came unprepared but the staff was kind enough to provide bags for our children to join in. Long after the egg hunt was completed we were sitting on the patio drinking our wine and we were discussing how many places there are to hide eggs. We "may" have suggested that there might be an overlooked egg or two way up on the hill, or maybe he was just feeling adventurous, either way, that tiny person you see is Wythe making sure all eggs had been claimed.

DelFosse Winery, Easter 2017

A quick dash to get a picture with some lovely azaleas in our neighborhood.

And to end our day...

Easter dessert

'til next time...

Friday, April 14, 2017

A visit to Roanoke, Virginia

Peter decided he would like to spend his birthday exploring Roanoke. After such a warm spring we had a brief cold snap and his birthday was very windy and very cold, thus...winter coats in April.

We started off with a visit to the Virginia Museum of Transportation. They have a variety of exhibits; vehicles, buses, air and space, model trains and more.