Welcome Back, Joe

For the first time this season, Joe Mauer is back behind the plate at the Dome. It's currently the bottom of the third, and although the Twins are lagging, Joe homered on his first at-bat.

It's spring and life is good.

Band Silliness at 331

Great time with the Band last night: cocktails at the Peacock Lounge, dinner at Erte, a fantastic Zenon dance show (music by Handel, Joy Division, Lyle Lovett, Chopin and Jelly Roll Morton) at the Ritz Theater, then a bit of the Twin Cities Ukelele Orchestra (their cover of "Hey Ya!" was really fun) at the 331 Club.


After the photo below, ETC asked, "I tried to look really angry. Did I look angry?"

Ladies and Gentlemen ...

... this is Ema, in all her awesomeness.

Flashback to March: Out with Meghan

Mason's cousin and god-daughter Meghan stayed with us on her Spring Break from Gustavus; we had a great Saturday night downtown. We started with appetizers at Key's ...


... then sushi and s'mores at Zahtar ...



... followed by Too Much Love at First Avenue ...



... and finally, because we happened to be dog-sitting, home for snuggles with Sam.

Perennials Peek Through

Just took these this morning. It finally feels like spring is here!

Here are buds on the lilacs, which were a law school graduation gift from Mason's Grandma Sue.
A peony stalk.

Sedum (I forget whether this is "Autumn Joy" or "Indian Chief").

"Golden Jubilee" anise hyssop (agastache) -- a favorite of the bees.

And you can tell what the last one is (and where I got it!)