I cut down a scrubby mulberry tree so that I could see the foxes better. Now I can see them playing in and around our old shed. They were born underneath its concrete slab and must have a hole in the rear door that they can go through to their den in back.

I did a lot of weeding in my big perennial garden today. I kinda neglected it last year and am now paying for it. I found this snake skin threaded through some of the grass that I was pulling out.

I went out to see if the foxes were around tonight. I hadn't seen them for a few days but we hear them almost every night. They make an eery squawking sound. We assume they are out playing in the dark, they come very close to the house late in the evening. All four kits were out tonight chasing each other and playing, I didn't see the parents.

I found this very interesting plant at Lowe's today. It looked as if it was made of plastic and I had to touch it to see if it was real. It is similar to a caladium. Of course, I had to have a few and will put them in the ceramic pots on the deck for the summer.

When I got home today, I noticed that Spitty looked like she had stepped into a mud hole. One front paw and one back paw were coated in what looked like mud. Knowing that she NEVER gets that dirty, I started to investigate and discovered that she had found an old can of black paint and broken through the lid. She could not figure out how to get the now dried paint off her paws!

We received this graduation celebration invitation in the mail. It is from Sam, a long time BMX friend. We've know him and his family since 2002 when the BMX track opened here in town. We've had some great times together traveling and racing. This is one graduation party that I definitely will try to attend!

I was walking by the lilac bushes when I saw this Tiger Swallowtail butterfly. I ran to get my camera and managed to get a few photos before it flew away. This one was the best of about 5 I took.

My miniature yellow re-blooming iris is one of the first flowers to appear after the daffodils and hyacinths. It lasts a lot longer and then will appear again in the fall. I need to divide them up and spread the springtime color around the rest of the garden. I'll try to remember to do that when they are done blooming.

Our fountain developed a crack in the bowl so we emptied it so we could repair it. The cats have used it as their water bowl ever since we brought it home. Miss Kittie seems as though she is waiting until we fill it up again for her.

Oh, how I love a good garden center! It is a happy time of year. Becky and Denny came down tonight for dinner, so while the boys were cooking, we went flower shopping!

All 4 kits and Momma fox were out tonight. They came out at about the same time as last night, 7PM. I'm going to have to get brave and mow some of the grass and weeds so I can see them better.

AND.........they're back! Rich was out back yesterday and saw the 2 parents sitting by the back of the old hog shed. I went out tonight and waited. About 7PM, Momma came out and then 2 of the kits. We'll see how long they stay, the kits have grown quite a bit and are almost as tall as Momma but their tails are not nearly as full as hers.

This is where you need a scratch and sniff computer screen, hahaha! Can you smell them? The lilacs are getting ready to burst open. There is a slight hint of their wonderful fragrance in the air. Soon, their aroma will be everywhere!

Sierra sent me this photo today. It is from Sunday's bike races. The women's team decided to dress in theme before they rode their race. The theme was '80's workout. Sierra is the oldest of the women, born in 1986. The rest of them were barely there in the 1980's! From the left is Becca, Sinead, Anna, Sierra, Anna, Jackie, and Megan.

I'm starting to plant my garden flowers but trying to be careful what and how much I put out. There is still the chance that we might have another frost so I don't want to get too crazy and have to try and cover it all up. These verbenas should be OK to take a chance on.

Today, the Midwest Collegiate Cycling Conference Regional Criterium was held at Ross-Ade Stadium on the Purdue University campus in Lafayette, IN. Sierra's race was 60 minutes long. When the race started, it was sprinkling and then half way through the race, it was a steady rain through the end.

Here's Sierra getting ready for the last Collegiate Regional Road Race of her career. It was in Lafayette, Indiana. It was supposed to rain all day but held off until the 52 mile race was over.

I left work a little early today and headed over to Indianapolis with the boys (Chase & Charlie) to visit Kristin and Sierra. They do love to travel! Sierra has regional races this weekend at Purdue, so I'm going to watch her race in her last collegiate regional road and criterium races.

I just had to post another photo of the parent foxes. They are so beautiful, I feel so lucky to have had them right here at home. I hope for good health and safety for them until we meet again!

As much as I am in denial, I have to realize that the fox family has moved on already. I am disappointed but will anxiously await spring again in 2011 and hope that I will have a new family to watch. I have seen one adult and a couple of kits on my way to work the past 2 days. They are up the hill, maybe they had to move up there for food. I sure think that they would be safer here on our land!