We are a board game family and today was no exception

Whenever we get together, board games are a part of our entertainment. Quirkle was on deck when I took this photo. SWAC Son has a stock of games that could entertain for weeks and always comes up with some new and interesting varieties for our gaming pleasure. And the tradition continues....

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
Easter 2014
April 20, 2014

Another window on the world ... spring flowers, trees, quiet corners

 A stroll around my parents' corner of the world was a walk into spring with green grass, flowering trees, and blooming flowers. The palate of blues, purples, pinks, reds, and yellows were typical of this time of year in Virginia.

 Their wisteria has been blooming through the cold temperatures of last week and is still a vivid show of color.

 I don't know what these are but they certainly were pretty.

 A quiet corner amongst the flowers and trees.

 The kids got together one Christmas and gave the flag and pole to our World War II Navy veteran step-dad, and he added a light for night viewing.

Their own Narnia lamp post.

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
Easter 2014
April 20, 2014

Easter 2014 ... family, food, fellowship

 We didn't have our entire crew this year so it was a small gathering for dinner.

What's Easter without jelly beans?

This bright scarlet cardinal was in my sister's back yard.

The red buds blooming in Mom's back yard.

Mom's garden gate.

The very unusual trunk of this flowering plum that has finished blooming.

The Easter Eve sunset from Mom's back yard.

It's a riot of spring color as seen from this view out Mom's door at the flowering dogwood and red bud trees.

A package arrived at my Richmond sister's house from SWAC Daughter and Son-in-Law in Nashville that was to be shared over dinner. Since they couldn't be with us this year, they sent goodies for the crew. The box was addressed to "The Easter Peeps." LOL.

Lots of varieties of chocolates from Nashville chocolate companies including these Mexican Style Chocolate and Buttermilk White Chocolate bars from Olive and Sinclair Chocolate Company ...

... GooGoo Clusters (peanut and pecan) from Standard Candy Company ...

... and toffee from Nashville Toffee Company.

Card and candy bars from SWAC Daughter ... flowers from Texas sister.

Beautiful Easter flowers from Texas sister Gail and husband Bill.

On the sideboard ... spiral ham, roasted turkey, deviled eggs, yeast rolls, macaroni and cheese, very veggie garden salad, steamed broccoli, and roasted carrots. Chocolate pies. Assorted Easter candies.

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
Easter 2014
April 20, 2014

Random acts of love from Nashville

So the mailman (thanks, Mike!) delivered an unexpected gift today from SWAC Daughter and her husband in Nashville ... a little care package that came out of the blue for no occasion at all except it's fun to surprise with spontaneous and random acts of love. Angry Bird cookies and cheese biscuits ... yum! I'll be baking those biscuits in the next few days. Meanwhile, the timing was perfect because I had been a little blue yesterday missing SWAC Daughter who lives so far from home so this was a day brightener. Thanks, kids!

Random acts of love ... pass it on!

Photo by Lynn R. Mitchell
March 20, 2014

Family birthdays and the Depot Grille

 A recent birthday lunch with our son at Depot Grille in Staunton was his choice of restaurant to celebrate his special day. He had his pick of Harrisonburg and Staunton, and he picked Depot. It runs in the family....

Photos by Lynn R. Mitchell
February 2014

Valentine's Day: Henry Hager surprises wife Jenna who is working with Today Show in Russia for Winter Olympics

Imagine being on assignment halfway around the world on the most romantic day of the year. Now imagine an on-air Valentine's Day surprise that brings tears to a young wife's eyes.

That was what happened this morning on the Today Show, in Sochi, Russia, to cover the Winter Olympics, when Jenna Bush Hager, daughter of former President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush, and her fellow female hosts were surprised by their significant others in America.

Standing in an NBC studio in the States, each gentleman held a bouquet of red roses and expressed love and appreciation for their wives. Included was Henry Hager, Jenna's husband and son of Virginia's former Lieutenant Governor John and Maggie Hager, whose wife has been in Russia the past week. The surprise brought tears to Jenna's eyes, maybe because not only has she been away from her husband but also her five-month-old daughter Mila.

This will be a Valentine's Day to remember for the young Hager family....

A Valentine's Day message to my children

A Valentine for my children ... “If ever there is tomorrow when we're not together ... there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we're apart ... I'll always be with you.” (A.A. Milne)