Pat, Robert and I braved snow flurries to attend the Grand Opening of the Bend Trader Joe’s. The doors were open by the time we got there so we didn’t have to wait to get in, but we did have to wade through the crowd and wait in the checkout line. It was a fun experience at one of our favorite stores!

In celebration of the spring equinox (and a slight improvement in weather) we had Springfest with friends on the deck. Robert and Keith grilled hot dogs and we had an afternoon of conversation sitting in the sun.

The two brothers, Jesse and Charles. Known to friends as Jumbo and Buster.

We got back to Bend on March 7 and found lots of snow still on the property! Everything survived the winter and thank goodness for Robert’s foresight to cover the hottub with sturdy corrugated metal! We discovered evidence of wildlife use of the deck and shed while we were gone.

Several of our friends staged a “party” on the deck on a freezing winter day and Alastair took this great picture, blew it up and framed it for us. It was wrapped and waiting in the shed for our return. What a great Homecoming!