[gja1000]

Hi Judy, I've missed you! Sophie is absolutely adorable! She just looks like a little puff ball. I've always heard that female dogs sometimes have a hard time getting used to another female. I hope it all goes well, I'm sure it will in time.

Oh dear, you are caught in the middle with Brandon, aren't you. I think you have it pegged, with what is going on. He's got a good thing going and he knows it. I think it is called "secondary gain" and there is a fancy word for it, but I can't remember what it is. The illness creates attention and after awhile the "patient" can't stop being the "patient" because the secondary gain for being the "patient" is so good. You are right, the crisis is being "created" and you are wise to not be a part of it. He does need to catch up in school, but like you said, he doesn't do his work for you, so it's best for you to not even try. Jesse needs to do something though, if not he'll have to repeat the grade. Wait, does she home school them? I can't remember - but anyway, it is her issue.

I worked out in the yard all weekend. I had been gone for the past 5 weekends with Gary and my yard was looking pretty shaggy. Also, we had accumulated a lot of "stuff" in the garage and back yard that needed to be put away or thrown away and I did a lot of that. I cleaned out some plants in my garden from last year, and it looks good now. I only have tomatoes planted, I'm not sure if I'm going to plant anything else. We'll see.

My backyard is absolutely teeming with birds and squirrels. I'd rather not have the squirrels eating from the bird feeders, so I got a couple of squirrel feeders. I hope they take to them and leave the bird feeders alone.

I fixed beans and cornbread for Easter lunch (Gary's request) and mom came over to eat with us. After lunch mom and I sat on the back porch and watched the birds, then I took her to Walmart for a bit of shopping, then I took her on home. She is doing so well in the assisting living place. She has friends and I think she is finally adjusting to life there and I think she likes it. She asked me to come in and go out in their courtyard to see the roses. They were gorgeous! A lady at the center made her a little cloth thing to go on her walker to carry stuff in. It is so cute and she embroidered her name on it. Mom is still using her walker, but she pushes it ahead of her like a shopping cart, rather than actually leaning on the walker. I think she could go back to using her cane, but I think she feels more secure with the walker, so that's fine with me.

Well, it's back to the busy work life. I have a very long day tomorrow, but the rest of the week doesn't look too bad!