We've been home 9 days now. Spent most of the time going through mail, doing our taxes, and watching the Masters. We went to the range today to do some target practice at the Busch wildlife preserve. They have a great range there. After shooting we went for a short hike on one of their trails through a pretty hardwood forest just leafing out. You never realize how many shades of green there are until Spring bursts forth. Hiked past fields blanketed with wildflowers, ponds still and serene. A beautiful day. 80s. And it was the St. Louis Cardinals home opener today which is always neat because they bring out the Clydesdales (8 of them) hitched up to a vintage beer wagon complete with a Dalmatian. They are such huge, magnificent animals--beautiful and proud as they prance around the perimeter of the field. Gives me goose bumps.

Red bud in bloom in Sugartree