Just a week ago, we were soaking in blue skies and warm sunny 70 plus degrees.  This photo is probably the last of my cherry blossoms.   It was so nice out that we move the last surviving plant (an Angel Trumpet) out of the garage and I pruned my roses. 

My husband and I decided to finally get rid of some shrubs that I was never a big fan of.  I have no idea what they are–except they have to be pruned back every year and they don’t bloom or change color.   I’m sure one of my readers will tell me these are terrific plants and I just didn’t show it the right love.  Alas, they’re gone now (we did keep one)!

Our home older and the garden is a little over crowded. We replaced the four "green shrubs" with a variegated hydrangea and two black lace elderberries. A week earlier Gardening with Cisco raved about black lace elderberries and so I was thrilled to find a few at our local nursery.   I’ll follow up with an "after" post assuming our new plants made it through our bizarre freezing weather this weekend. 

Here’s a tip from my husband: don’t scratch your back using the wrong side (or should I say write side) of a ball point pen.

They’re buying contingent and are having a difficult time getting their current residence sold.  (Wink wink).  Their agent promotes the property as:

Unique, west facing, mid-century modern waterfront home with lots of water views and private spaces. Many bedrooms, baths & kitchen. A must see!  Click here for the website.

Hat Tip to Lisa Wallace-Baker.  I needed a laugh today!   And no, this is not her listing.

On a more serious note, Friday’s rates are posted at Rain City Guide.  I’ll post rates here a little later as rates continue to be very volatile.

I have to thank Todd Carpenter and Morgan Brown for pointing out Ben Bernanke’s Twitter.  Following Ben on his Twitter has provided me chuckles throughout the day.   My husband says this confirms I’m a nerd.   Twitter allows people to post short quirps (140 spaces) on what they’re doing at that moment. 

Some of Ben’s recent Twitter entries are:

It’s the question I get at parties: Will there be a surprise rate cut next week? Well, if I told you it wouldn’t be a surprise, now would it

Busy day, saving the world from itself by herding central bank cats. A saintly man like me can never sleep. But squash league tonight!

Pay no attention to the Fed chair behind the curtain. I should have been a magician!

Someone is having too much fun "being Ben".  To see Ben’s Twitter, click here.  I’ve subscribed!

I "Twitter" too.  If you subscribe to my Twitter (by clicking "follow me"), you’ll get updates on various rate quotes I’m providing, breaking news that impact mortgages and perhaps some oddball details of what I’m currently doing.   My Twitter updates are posted on Mortgage Porter under the green Mortgage Market Guide button.

Here are some of my recent entries:

Mortgage rates improving: 30 year is back under 6% with 1 point.

preparing GFE for $285k sales price 690 score 30 yr: FHA 6.25% (APR 6.536%) and Flex100-LPMI 6.875% (APR 7.054%). Rates improving.

registering my husband for The Big Climb benefiting Leukemia. He’s doing this on my b’day… sponsor?

Do you Twitter?

BTW I do know that this is not the "real" Ben Bernanke!