Earth Day 2012 - pre- and post-

I've been busier than the proverbial one-armed paper-hanger the last couple weeks.  My daughter, her husband and 3 friends arrived from Germany, my youngest son and his girlfriend arrived shortly after, and my oldest son, his wife and two boys arrived shortly after that.  We had a lovely big gathering last weekend - lots of food, lots of fun, and Sunday was Earth Day.  I thought it would be very nice to plant a tree with the grandkids for Earth Day, so my youngest son (who is a horticulturalist) and I made a trip into town and he picked out a Magnolia Jane - one of the "little girl" magnolias.  Deciduous, spring-blooming, fragrant, not a huge tree, just right.

We picked a spot, and started in.  First we dug day lillies from the chosen spot, then my son and the grandkids got to work with shovels.  Actually, my youngest grandson is a bit young (2) to be captivated by the process, and my oldest grandson, (5), was really in it for the worms, but they had a good time.  We got the tree planted, watered, mulched, done and done.

I sang a little Earth Day tree planting song while we worked, and the tree looks just lovely in its new home.

My company is now down to my oldest son and his family, and today I cut the blanket piece off the loom and wet finished it.  I'll sit down with my calculator tonight and figure shrinkage and width and ends needed for the final pieces.  I may try to get that warp wound at Shannnondale Craft Camp
this weekend.  My task between now and Thursday evening: get some sleep, pack the truck, check my lists many times, and go have FUN!