Egg-cellent Easter

Our three day Easter weekend was egg-cellent!!!


Friday 4/3 - Courtney and Ava were in route to our house, from Murfreesboro by 9am.


Meanwhile, I was frantically trying to finish last minute cleaning.  


I got word that they had made a pit stop, which thankfully bought me a little more time.  






After an early lunch, Courtney took Ava to the Library Park while I packed up supplies for dinner and bonfire at the ranch.  We were stalling, waiting for Dan, Vale, and Layla to arrive, to watch Ava during her 'pony' ride.  







At the ranch, first it was a visit with the chickens.  

Ava threw them some vegetable scraps.

We collected some eggs.  


Our egg-cellent hens have been laying 8 to 10 eggs a day.

Ava fed them some chicken feed before we moved on to our next activity.

Collecting wood for the night's bonfire.

Ava was a great little helper (video).























We got word that Dan and Vale (with Layla) had been delayed because of work and also some business, so we went ahead with our ride.

Ava was more than ready to go.  Papaw took her to the barn in the gator while Courtney and I led Zorro and Rico down.  


Aunt Patty and Wanda met us down there.

Wanda was a little apprehensive about this smaller version of a person, but did pretty well with Ava.  













With Zorro saddled, Ava got a 'pony ride' while Courtney led him around in the round pen. 

There was no uneasiness on Ava's part to get up on Zorro this time.















What a cute little cowgirl.

Then they ventured out through the back gate and down the trail (video).  



Returning back to the ranch.  








Courtney and I then headed out for a trail ride (video).


Joe, Patty and Ava, in the gator, were in hot pursuit of us.  








Actually they weren't, but they came down Hathaway and we rode out from the trail to meet them and desensitize the horses to the gator for a minute.

Courtney and I had a lovely 3½ mile ride.  

Back at the ranch, Ava and Papaw fed the catfish.



Amiga was happy to have the boys back in the side pasture with her once we got back.

 


I was glad to 'take a break' with Ava.










Dan, Vale, and Layla had finally arrived.
Come to find out, their 'business' was a big transaction; purchasing a lot, making final arrangements to build a new house, and choosing floor plans, etc.  Wow!    

Layla really gets into eating, literally.  





Pugsley looking for handouts. 




Patty grilled hamburgers and hotdogs, we also had bake beans, potato and macaroni salads, coleslaw, veggies and dip, chips, strawberries, and Debra contributed a cheesecake sampler tray.

Ava eating her cheese cake by the fire.


It was a beautiful night, the perfect temperature for a bonfire.

Dan and Vale left early with Layla to get her bathed and to bed ahead of the rest of us.

Below is Jem's yard light at what looks to be the horizon.  It's not the sun setting or the moon rising.






We cleaned and packed up everything by 8pm.  

I was the last to leave the ranch.  By the time I got all the food and drinks carted home and put away, the granddaughters were in bed.  So I too was soon in bed.

Saturday 4/4 - Today was Daniel's Birthday.  We were blessed with another beautiful day, although rain was expected later in the afternoon.  I enjoyed some sunshine, tea, and Layla out on the screened porch.  


Joe and Ava came with me to the ranch, to help me with chores.  There was nothing to do in the lower paddock because Jan and Bonnie have been taking turns feeding their boys an extra snack in the morning.



Ava was great help with several little jobs.  In this (video) she was helping put the feed buckets away.  

Once back from the ranch, I got out Courtney's old doll house and a bin of Playmobil furniture and dolls.  Ava had a lot of fun setting up and playing house.  It was up on the balcony, out of the way, and where Layla and Cookie could not nab any parts.  





Speaking of Cookie, she did great with all the excitement and guests.  This is the first we have let her loose in the whole house (especially the carpeted living room).









When needed, she was put in the crate you see in this photo.  She has learned to go in it when asked and settles down right away (no barking or whining).  






Of course, lots of dog photos were taken throughout the weekend, especially of Cookie.  

Having had surgery on Thursday, we needed to keep her calm (no running or jumping), so play was limited to short amounts and not too rambunctious.  





Ava was very gentle with Cookie, and likewise, Cookie with Ava.







We explained the reason to be gentle and showed Ava the incision site (which I was to check and monitor every day).  



Cookie was even very gentle with Layla.  This young dog had been given (pushed onto) the previous owner by his grandchildren so it was obvious she was used to and loved youngsters.  










Kids and puppies, what could be cuter?  








The only mishap was when Maggie's wagging tale smacked Layla right in the eyes.



I think Daniel really took a liking to Cookie also.





Courtney taught Cookie some tricks, but sitting on Maggie's head was not one of them.  He, he, he.




Cookie is good at sit, but I couldn't get the 'lay down.'  Courtney worked with her and before long, had her laying down when asked.  She needs lots of work on 'stay' however.  



Showing off our socks, while the dogs chill out.  








The dogs, especially Cookie, were a big part of the action.
Naps and rest time were observed by all during the duration of the weekend.  

Miss Layla Bell.

Don't pull the birthday boy's hair.

Ava was chomping at the bit to go for another horsey ride. After lunch while waiting on Patty and I, Courtney took Ava back to the park.  

Then once to the ranch Courtney and Ava checked on and fed the chickens.  


Finally we were all ready for the day's horse ride.  It was overcast, but the rain held off.

Once Zorro and Rico were tacked, Courtney did some work with Zorro, then Ava got a 'pony' ride in the round pen (video). 

Then I led Zorro out into the woods so Ava could have a little trail ride (video).  

Over the woodland cavalettis.  

Back out of the woods we came and into the ranch barn yard.




Karen had arrived and had Cash tacked.  








Soon Patty, Karen and I hit the trail, going 3½ miles on a perfect spring day.  

Courtney, with Ava, had returned home to our Flossmoor house and hung out with Dan, Vale, Layla, Joe and the dogs.

After Patty, Karen and I finished our ride, Patty dropped me off back home.  



A quick shower and then all us Villhauers and Karen went to The Cabin for dinner.

While waiting for our food, Ava and I went outside.  We played the alligator (or lava) game... stay on the stepping stones or the alligators will get you.  

A picture of Courtney's food.  We all ate heartily.  

Once home it was time for desert and to celebrate Dan's birthday.

  

Cookie looks more like Cookies & Cream ice cream than she does an Oreo cookie.  


We had sung Happy Birthday at the restaurant, but sang it again (video).





And then we all enjoyed a tasty treat.  I ate a small portion, but it was still too much sugar after being off sweats for over 40 days.  











No time was wasted getting into our PJs/loungers for the evening.  Once the girls were in bed, the cats came out from hiding.

Sunday 4/5 - Happy Easter.  
Mama Styx enjoying some quiet pre-dawn time before anybody but the dogs and I were up.  








Just after sunrise, I got devastating news from Bonnie.  Her husband Rick had died from a massive heart attack very early this morning.

Along came trouble while Ava was reading.  

What a cutie patootie!

Something caught her eye up in the balcony.  Probably her dad doing something silly.  

We had gotten some rain overnight and the temperature had dropped considerably.  No more open doors and windows and we even turned the heat on.  It was a slow relaxing morning.  






Mid-morning Joe grilled sausage, eggs, and pancakes for everybody.



Vale put on a pretty Easter dress and got the girls dressed up.




We went out to the pretty azalea in front of Brian's to get some Easter photos.

I love my silly family. 

Next we moved over to our back deck to get a few more shots, this time with the white flowering dogwood to add flair.

I got Easter dinner started, putting the turkey in the oven, after Courtney prepped it with a tasty herb rub she had made.  Ava helped me harvest the asparagus that was ready for cutting.  

I later added the stalks to the bags of asparagus I had bought.



While Ava was out on the back deck blowing bubbles, the 'Easter Buddy' came and hid many eggs.

Ava proceeded to hunt and find most of them.  The balcony was the last place she looked, with one hidden in the doll house.  


Ava brought her basket down stairs and opened each egg, most of which were filled with candy.  






Ava kept hoping to find a toy in some of the eggs, so that was a disappointment.  



But she did get some money.







Later, Daniel took her to Family dollar to do some shopping and she got herself some toys.





Ava had also bought her Mom and sister a gift.  Layla loved the eggs in a carton toy Ava had picked out for her.

Layla had lunch before time for our Easter dinner.  Cookie knew right where to lay in wait.




Patty came over and joined us for Easter dinner.  

I fixed turkey, ham, corn, asparagus, gravy & dressing.  Patty brought potato casserole, bread, and brownies.  Courtney's photo of her plate.  

The day turned out pretty and sunny, but it was still jacket weather.  Patty getting some Layla time.  










Courtney and Vale posing for a photo I was too slow to catch when they were discussing Google Photo Share.

Ava helping Papaw walk Cookie.  

Soon everyone was packing up to head home.




Patty and the kids all left by 4pm.  
Joe went to the ranch with me to help with chores.
Once home, I picked up toys, did dishes, and started guest laundry of towels and sheets.
Maggie was on the look-out for more company.
It was a way too quiet evening at home, but one with many happy memories of an egg-cellent Easter weekend.