School picture day is always tough, especially with young kids. You never know exactly what they are going to look like by time it is their turn to take a picture.

The first walk around the yard as the weather breaks is always eye opening. It’s a chance to survey the winter impacts which ultimately results in daunting to do list to get the yard back in shape for summer. I am not intimidated about the work because I accept the fact that I cannot work as hard or as long in the yard as I could in my younger days. I deal with the to do list with patience and know that I will get through it, one item at a time. I also know that I cannot rush it. It is not about how quick I check things off as complete but more about how well I complete each task. It is the old quality, not quantity mindset.

We all know that cooking is an art, not a science. It’s why recipes passed down from generation to generation are never quite the same. Those who have religiously watched Everybody Loves Raymond may remember an episode where Marie gives Deborah her recipes as a gift. She also gives her a box of spices that have been intentionally mislabeled so that the finished product doesn’t taste nearly as good as her own – of course to ensure that Raymond remains loyal to her cooking. Some will find this story line incredibly relatable, others, not so much.