While Rene was in Miami on business this week, I had the opportunity to go to visit Joseph, Tracy and Afton. Afton is turning one this week. We didn't do anything special. It was just fun to spend time with Afton (Joseph and Tracy, too.) Afton is a cutie--a very good sleeper and eater and very good-natured.

We dressed her up in a fancy headband, which she normally wouldn't stand for, but this one seemed to be okay. Don't worry, Shannon, we got one for Afton's new cousin, too. Also, Tracy bought her some Crocs and she was so funny walking in them.

One of the words that Afton says really well is "Coco." Coco is her best buddy.

It was rainy in the DC area, but spring was definitely underway there. The forsythia was out and some of the flowering trees. Grounds crews were already planting spring flowers.

Tracy and I tried to make a cute bathtub birthday cake for Afton. We had a few problems. If it turns out, I'm sure Tracy will post pictures of it. Happy Birthday, Afton! Grandma had a great time visiting.

So, now I want to share my happiness with you all so you can be warm and happy like me. We've had two very nice days in a row, with more in the forecast. Our outside thermometer says 49 degrees right now. The fifties tomorrow!

The sad thing is that I don't think there's one of you faithful readers who hasn't been much warmer than that already this year.

I'm not really a big squirrel fan. Apologies to Luana Byington and to Ben and Ryanne Roberts, but I find them noisy, messy and not afraid of humans at all. I think the lady who lived here before us fed them. Maybe it's because our house is surrounded by woods on three sides, but we have lots and lots of big squirrels. We have gray squirrels and black squirrels.

Ever since last fall, the squirrels have been on overdrive. And they don't hibernate. They are pretty good at going from tree to tree around our yard, but they also run across the top of the snow and dig little tunnels.

One day recently, I looked out the patio doors in the dining room and thought I saw a giant squirrel running back and forth on a path we've shoveled back into the woods. Then I took a closer look and realized it was one of our cats. Haha...well, some of the squirrels are almost as big as a cat.

One day in the fall, I looked out of Janet's bedroom window and there were SIX squirrels in the front yard. This is a poor picture, but I can see five of them. The black and gray squirrels hang around together.

Our family room windows are right at ground level. They always doing something right out there.

They also come right up on the deck and come up to the patio doors.

Here's a black one going headfirst down the tree.

And finally a little video of one on our deck.