Marolynn has been pushing me to rebuild the sprinkler valve manifold, removing the valves from the rosebush garden, so here it is in process of being built. Maybe I should have been a submarine engineer, given the look of this setup, with individual supply valves and union fittings so that in case of a leaking sprinkler valve or pipe, any of them can be isolated and physically removed for repair without having to turn off the house water or otherwise cut the pipes.

Yesterday as it warmed up after the rain and snow, the lawn was mowed for the first time this spring -- the lawnmower started right up after being stored 6-months for the winter on the roofed patio. My advice is to buy a really good lawnmower (in our case, a Toro) and it will last many years and will start up anytime on demand. The grass is nice and green and looks quite good now that it is mowed.

Nothing quite like Springtime in the Rockies, the weather forecaster noted, as another storm formed over New Mexico and left an inch of precipitation (more than April's norm) and 2 inches of snow in Santa Fe on Friday. It snowed all day at work, and if it had been a couple of months ago, I would have been contemplating leaving early to beat the interstate icing up, but this late in the year, the ground and roads are warm enough to just stay wet through it all.

On Saturday the mountains were white with a foot of new snow, but temperatures rebounded into the 60s at home.

The gaming goes on, but at a slower pace as Spring has me out doing yardwork and building a sprinkler valve manifold. Greysward is level 70 and owns a flying mount; wonderful for picture-taking in the virtual world.

Carma Mineer celebrated her 92nd birthday on March 26 with her husband Art, and daughters. From left to right, Marolynn Griffin, Susan Goodsell, Carma Mineer, Karen Kilpack, and Barbara Butler.