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We had a splendid Memorial Day weekend, with all of Jen’s family visiting.

Sarah marched in the parade with the Rhinebeck Soccer league.

The locusts were blooming.

And we celebrated Lew Burleigh’s 75th birthday.  Happy birthday, Lew!

Sarah would not let gray skies, low wind, or high grass deter her from trying out a new kite on Saturday.

She got it pretty far up there.

We celebrated Mothers Day in customary fashion, with breakfast in bed for mom.

This year, we decided not to burden Jen with another tree she would need to plant — although the Redbud, Jen’s 2009 Mothers Day present, is now thriving.  Here it is in 2011.

On Saturday, Sarah, for reasons best known to herself, decided to dress up and fly a kite.

The Rhinebeck Soccer League does not pause for Mothers Day.  The Fireballs took on the Red Hook Storm, and lost seven zip.

During the game, this Red-tailed Hawk soared above Baptist Field.

Afterward, we stopped by the Rhinebeck Farmers’ Market, which opens on Mother Day and gives complimentary seedlings to moms (Jen got a snapdragon and a daisy).  After a falafel lunch, we headed to Northern Dutchess Botanical Gardens to buy flowers for various urns.  Sarah got a peppermint plant, which she planted by the back door.

Sarah had soccer games both Saturday and Sunday.  On Saturday she squared off against the Minisink Jaguars (pictured) at Baptist Field in Rhinebeck, while on Sunday she played an away game against the Carmel Cyclones, in the hamlet of Patterson, New York.  Both the Jaguars and the Cyclones were large, and in charge, and the Rhinebeck Fireballs did not prevail.  However, they scored in each game — their motto is Fireballs Never Give Up.  Daisy attended the Cyclones game and was a comfort to any Fireball whose spirit flagged.

During the brief period we spent at the farm, we saw this beautiful Oriole.

Sarah rejoined the Rhinebeck soccer team this weekend, and is now a Rhinebeck Fireball.

She had a very promising practice on Saturday, in which she scored the above-pictured goal, before taking on Cornwall on Sunday at the Baptist Home field in Rhinebeck.  The Fireballs did not prevail, but they take on the Carmel Jaguars next weekend.

Back at home, we had several visits from the herons, which seem to be occupying a number of nests in the swamp.

Daisy got plenty of exercise.

Although Spring is upon us, Sarah, remembering the long winter, stuck to her knitting as Daisy recharged.

Outside, the daffodils are blooming, but it’s still early days for lilacs and most other spring flowers.

The Ring-necked Ducks are on the pond, signaling that our seemingly endless winter is in fact behind us — although there remains a bit of snow on the ground next to the barn.  Other reliable signs of the coming season include the Spring Peepers in the swamp, the Herons in their nests, and the Daisy in her pond.  All is right in the world.

Daisy, fresh from her victory Saturday evening over a cheese plate, took on a stinkbug today in a fireside bout.  The bug, just above Daisy’s right paw, battled to a draw.

Because the Northeast is now more or less inhabitable during winter, we mostly stayed indoors this weekend.  Jen worked on a puzzle, while Sarah rehearsed for the tryouts tomorrow for the school play: Willie Wonka.   She is hoping to be Veruca Salt.

While packing the car, I spotted this Pileated Woodpecker.  Actually, I heard him before I saw him.  He sounded like a door knocker.

Presidents’ Day weekend was frightfully chilly.  Even Daisy thought it was cold.  We stayed indoors and made soup, baked, and watched movies: The Pink Panther, funny, but perhaps not as good as some of its sequels; the completely delightful Sabrina; the still hilarious eighties time capsule Ghostbusters; and the much creepier than I remembered Escape to Witch Mountain.