Summer Woes

Here is a recipe for frustration:

1. Make sure your car is plenty dirty, including front and back door mats, inside doors, upholstery, storage area and windows. There should be a) tiny pieces of paper b) somewhat larger mystery pieces of paper c) items to go to St. Vincent’s d) used ink cartridges to go to the Cartridge Depot e) lots of tiny rocks f) mud g) hair h) golf clubs & bag i) golf umbrella j) golf ball retriever k) “green” grocery bags l) golf visors m) empty drink bottles…
2. Wait for a day that is not hot, not humid, not raining, and with minimal bugs.
3. Wait for a day when there are only six other things scheduled, so you have “time” to clean out your car’s interior.
4. Find your handy-dandy portable 33-yr-old vacuum cleaner (it’s in a box, wrapped in plastic to keep the ants out, in the small shed).
5. Take all the parts out of the box.
6. Assemble them.
7. Check to make sure there is a clean bag inside (whew! there is).
8. Go find the car keys.
9. Move the car next to the sidewalk for easy (easier) access.
10. Remove as much of the stuff listed in #1 as possible.
11. Take out the floor mats and smack them around a bit to dislodge some of the dirt & rocks.
12. Go back to the small shed to get the extension cord.
13. Go into the large shed to look for the extension cord.
14. Go back to the small shed to look for the extension cord.
15. Go into the utility room to look for the extension cord.
16. Put the car back together.
17. Put the vacuum cleaner back together.
18. Put it in the box, plastic wrap the box, and return it to the small shed.
19. Leave a telephone message for the person who drives the other car, and undoubtedly has my extension cord in his car.
20. Go to the computer and write this blog entry. Then smile :) Life is good :)

Summer Smiles

Looking out the west window from the kitchen this morning (working at the sink, as usual) I saw this cute little mini-sunflower that apparently shot up overnight. It's one of the wildflowers I planted a year ago that did not show up last year and so I had given up hope that any of them ever would germinate, let alone bloom. I'm sure I'm not the only one who buys those large bags of wildflower seeds that are supposed to turn 100 sq. ft. into a mass of flowers. This one little flower made my day, and a closer look revealed several buds that will be opening soon.

My Mother's Day hibiscus finally found a permanent home, and it is very happy to have root-room to grow. I'm expecting great things because I've been told that these plants get huge and bloom all summer. Since this is a "tropical hisbiscus", I doubt it will make it through the winter, but then sometimes I wonder if I myself will make it through the winter, and I always do!

I liked the contrast here between the dark green, fern-y things at the bottom of the picture and the pale green and pink of the shrub behind them. Last fall I chopped all of this vegetation nearly to the ground because it was leggy, past its prime, and ugly. It's possible that I threatened them with certain death if they didn't perform this year, because look how they responded! :-)

I took another picture of the same bush, because I am so impressed with the delicate pastel leaves and blossoms. The rains followed by a week of warm weather seemed to bring out the best in this year's growth.

These are several small evergreen bushes that keep insisting on working their way out into the pathway along the front of the house. Last fall I realized that moving them would be a major chore, probably involving more energy and more tools than I could manage, so I pruned them way back. Now look what I've done! They are back with a vengeance. (Aren't those little green fingers cute?)

Every now and then a catalog purchase pays off. This is the result of just a half-dozen tiny starts. They got stuck in the ground with not much hope that they would survive, and now they're spreading like crazy... and blooming!

The north side of the house doesn't get much sun, winter or summer, so shade-loving plants, grasses and ground covers have an area where they can survive beautifully (as you can see). We intend to fill the area with a variety of hostas and maybe some bleeding heart plants. There is already a significant amount of moss growing there on its own initiative, so I get a good laugh out of seeing instructions on "how to grow moss"!

Blimey! They're Bloomin'!

These old fashioned climbing roses bloom all summer long at the southeast corner of the house. I did have to spray them for mildew a few days ago, because of all the rain we've been having, but they'll survive.

One of the plants that Marty and Laura brought me for Mother's Day was this hibiscus, and this is its first blossom. As soon as the ground is a little less soggy, I'll plant it and wait for a multitude of blooms, which will appear on this blog later on :)

I promised a picture of the first peony bloom, and here it is, bowing down before the onslaught of day after day of rain. Now that it's drying up a bit, there are many more blooms, and larger ones. I'll get a picture of them tomorrow to share here.

This is my sturdy mock orange that I ordered through the mail several years ago. Naturally, it didn't look anything like the picture in the catalog, being only about 6" tall and severely straggly... but look what it's become! I am disappointed that it has no scent, but the profusion of blossoms makes up for that.

Now competing for space, these clematis vines have so many huge flowers that they're struggling to be seen. Come late fall, I'll split the root ball and put half of this profusion somewhere else for next year's glory.

This poor, overgrown sage plant is literally flat on the sidewalk, completely overcome by the continuing deluge of rain, but it struggles valiantly on and will be standing up straight again after a couple more warm days. (Reminds me of those awful down days that occasionally lay me flat, but I always come back!)

Joys and Sorrows

There is something wonderful about getting older; it probably starts about the time you find yourself rapidly approaching the age of 50. You will see people in their 50s "doing" genealogies and scrapbooks and putting their photos in order, perhaps even getting them all on the web. Why? I think it's because around that age we begin to become more conscious of our mortality (whoa!); we have become grandparents (egads!); our own parents seem suddenly ancient (oops!); our own retirement is closer (yea!). We start thinking about hobbies or about traveling abroad or taking a cruise. So, it's a mixed bag; part of it is joyful and some if it is sad; but in either case, it is a sort of wrapping-up of our lives. It's definitely time to start our own "Bucket List". (If you've not seen that movie, see it! It's about making a list of what you want to do before you "kick the bucket", and Morgan Freeman starring with Jack Nicholson makes for a hilarious, unforgettable movie.)

One of the joys of getting older is recognizing that we actually have a smidgen of the wisdom we've been seeking. We catch ourselves sharing that wisdom with our kids more often (who don't "get" it yet, but will!). Another joy is learning how to slow down, sometimes as a result of that wisdom, sometimes just because our bodies insist on it, and behave badly if we overdo. Another great joy (and also a reward) comes when you find yourself in good health with energy to spare, find yourself trying out the new things that come along with progress, find yourself seeking other outlets for your imagination, find yourself interested in learning new things.

One of the greatest sorrows of getting older is discovering that our parents are reaching the end of their lives, are not well, and need more care... but this is something we have come to expect. However, when we learn that some of our friends, neighbors, relatives and peers are struggling with disease and experiencing a tortuous journey through extended treatments, we struggle along with them. Talk about coming face to face with one's own mortality! Does one ever learn how to accept pain without despair? Death without fear? Loss without emptiness and the agony of depression? When those we love are trying to make it though a worrisome and anxious time, how do we help? How can we keep from feeling terribly guilty about being so glad it's not us?!

I guess this is when we dig deep down into that (however shallow) well of wisdom and call up our better selves, our kinder and gentler natures, and express our caring about and sharing of their pain. Surely we've learned something along the way that taught us to be accepting of whatever the future offers. On the other hand, maybe not. All I know is, feeling helpless is pretty awful, whether it's in relation to others or to ourselves.

"Oats, Peas, Beans and Barley Grow..."

Don't know much about oats or barley (besides the fact that I eat oatmeal for breakfast and put barley in my homemade soups), but I do know a little about peas and beans. Today I bought a packet of bush bean seeds to plant a 16' row and discovered there were only six (count them... 6!) seeds, and the instructions said to plant them 4" apart. Well, hm-m-m, they are a lot farther apart than that, so if one doesn't germinate, I'll just plant something else there. Last year, the few bean plants I had continued to produce well into October. Maybe just for fun I'll toss out some flower seed and see what happens.

On a hunch, I bought some pea seeds, too. Even remembering that the best pea crop I ever got was planted in February(!), I decided to try planting in May just to see what I might get. Even erected a trellis thing-y to support them. Next year (yup, already planning next year's garden) I'll plant some sugar snap peas, because those are the ones I really like. Thinking about asparagus starts, too, because the only way I like asparagus is right out of the garden, fresh and crisp and raw... to get that, you have to plant it yourself!

Gardens and Flowers

Here are some pictures of recent changes around the house, including the beautiful hanging plant (a Mothers' Day gift), the clematis that finally decided to bloom (and we'll have about a hundred more blooms before it's done), and the bush out front of the house that was nearly decimated by the early Spring and late frost of a couple years ago. I'm happy to see it blooming again!

Busy days with the nicer weather finally here. I've been getting the garden planted; all done but the green beans. I have to go to town and get some bush bean seeds today because I had accidentally gotten pole bean seeds. In the past, I've grown both, and though the pole beans are easier to pick, it's hard to find the best way to support them, and the beans themselves seem to be tougher. So, I'll be picking beans on my knees in the dirt again this summer, probably hoping the plants will die because they produce skabillions of beans before they're done.

Lotsa Pics

This is my "Miki Azalea", because she gave it to me years ago. It's a full-sized bush azalea, not a dwarf like the one below. Note the totally different blossoms... each uniquely beautiful.

This is another picture of one of the dwarf azaleas that borders our back patio. It's now in full bloom, and you can compare it to the picture in the previous post, where it is just beginning to flower. Such a change!

An example of how Mother Nature will have her way. You can use dandelion weed killer all you want, and mow your yard every few days, but those darling little yellow flowers will grow where they can and re-seed, too!
We had so much rain, and the grass just kept growing. When it dried out a bit and Mike and the big tractor -mower were available at the same time, they quite literally followed the old adage: "Make hay while the sun shines." Too bad we don't have a hay baler ;-)
I call this one "A Magnificent Profusion of Color".
Lilies of the valley, so tiny and delicate and shy, not to mention short-lived, but well worth it when they bloom. It's quite a sight to see their whitest white supported by their green, broad, elongated, flat leaves.
One of Nature's treasures, hidden away for eight years and finally showing itself. I disturbed the area when I removed the old electric pathway lights and some thick growth. In a few days, there it was!
A cloud of dogwood... glorious.
Almost ready! Lots of compost, bags of topsoil, hours and hours of working with shovels and rakes, and I think another couple goings-over will have the beds ready for planting. Once I get it properly positioned, the wood planks will provide a dry path between the beds... and also edge the beds to keep the soil from getting washed away during "gully-washers". The area in the forefront of the picture is where the old compost pile was, and will be where I plant the 4 tomato plants and 5 pepper plants I bought the other day. That ground is SO rich.

Azaleas! Dogwood! Dandelions?

There's nothing much more spectacular than a blooming azalea. Our red azalea insists on pouring through the patio railing, making certain we don't miss its glory, and to make sure we don't forget that it is the first of two dwarf bushes to bloom in the Spring. Then, about the time it starts looking a little tired, along comes lovely Miss Orange Azalea, not to be outdone. She pours out the other way, into the yard, where I have to surround her with bricks lest she get in the way of the mower (or the mower in her way, I should say!)
I wondered, when we first moved here, why the previous owners didn't plant two of the same variety. It's easy to understand now that having two of these lovelies guarantees a prolonged Springtime. They're both simply gorgeous, and we look forward to them every year.




Along about the same time of the year, and often close to Easter Sunday, the dogwood trees come into bloom, making splashes and clouds of white here and there through the woods and at the edges of fields. There is a legend about the shape and color of the blossoms. The dogwood has been "adopted" by the Christian religion as a symbol of the crucifixion of Christ. The legend says that a flowering dogwood tree was used to make the cross of the crucifixion and as a result it now grows as a living memory of the event. The cross is represented by the four petals; the petals' brownish marks represent the nails; the center of the flower sometimes resembles a crown. Take it or leave it, it's an interesting story.


And then, of course, there are the ubiquitous dandelions! This picture shows how obnoxious they can be, infiltrating themselves into areas where it is most difficult to dig them out without destroying something else. I still remember, though, how my children, when they were small, would pick handsful of dandelion blossoms and present them to me as a bouquet. A mom can't ever forget those dancing eyes and cute smiles. I'm certain the same tableau continues today with other moms and kids, because we've never found a permanent dandelion slayer... so that's a good thing.

Lessons from Mother Nature

Yesterday I pulled old electric-powered pathway lights and put in new solar-powered lights and got to thinking how we take for granted the changes in the seasons and the new growth in the spring, but in actuality it’s a mind-boggling transformation and a recurring miracle. I know for certain that springtime is invigorating to flowers, trees and humans alike. We have more energy; we make plans, plot gardens, start projects, do some spring cleaning; we’re inspired to dance to the music (as if no one is watching); we feel grateful for what feels like a reward for doing something great that we don’t remember doing.

We struggle along. Take a lesson from this poor little Japanese maple tree. It has been in the ground for six years and is still not quite three feet tall… a real slow-grower. I’ve babied it through several seasons, never being sure if it was going to leaf out again in the spring… but here it is again in all its glory. I really want that tree to grow right where it is, even though it does have wet feet most of the spring. There’s a lesson to be learned from its determination to grow where it’s planted.

Can you guess what this is? Looks a little like that poor, stunted tree. When it’s mature (which will happen within days), it will look totally different, and will support many very large, pink, many-petaled blooms right around Memorial Day. It’s surrounded by lilies-of-the-valley that spread in circumference every year. They’re all about to bloom… stay tuned. A lesson here? Even “ugly” has the potential to be beautiful… watch and learn… wait and see.

The Japanese maple could take a lesson from this blue fescue that has re-seeded itself from the border along the north side of the driveway into the driveway itself, growing up out of the gravel. Mike and I have guessed that maybe the ground is less acid there. Even so, it’s something of a miracle that anything other than a weed could take root in a driveway. It’s pretty there, though, so there it stays, and maybe it will continue to re-seed. I like this daring-to-be-different little guy.

Here’s an example of how unpredictable and contrary Mother Nature can be. This Washington Hawthorne tree has the most beautiful clusters of flowers in the spring, pink at first, gradually changing to white. The leaves are dense and the tree itself is quite beautiful. However! It has long thorns on the trunk and on the branches that make it very un-friendly. Also, the roots are shallow and insist on coming up through the ground, trying to make more thorny little trees. It’s a Washington Hawthorne, and I think it’s going to struggle to have its way, no matter what this human wants.

Life happens. Rejoice and be glad.

Planning the Planting

The only good thing about all the rain we've been getting lately is that the puddles show me which areas of the garden are especially in need of topsoil. As far as I know there aren't any vegetables that grow well in a bog! So, I slogged around the garden perimeter, walking off measurements in preparation for planting the garden on paper. That's the fun part.

It's not a very big garden, barely a small plot compared to the humongous garden we had at Lost River. Now THAT was a garden!

Double-dug soil, enhanced with compost and various organic fertilizers, terraced with two-foot-high rock ledges, and with grassy paths alongside each row. The vegetables were easily harvested from either side, and we never had to worry about compacting the soil because we had no need to walk on it. There was room for strawberries and asparagus and peas and beans and beets and corn and beans and tomatoes and lettuce and spinach and radishes and all sorts of herbs and flowers, as well as winter and summer squash, zucchini, cucumbers, carrots, onions, garlic, potatoes and yams...... It was a dawn to dark garden, that's for sure.

This year's garden is going to look like an old lady's hobby, which it is! I pulled out my old copy of Rodale's Herb Book and our battered, much used Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening today and set to work plotting it all out on paper. I'll buy five tomato plants and three green pepper plants. The rest will grow from seed, a little bit of this and a little bit of that, with flowers and herbs scattered throughout, partly for looks but mostly because there are plants that like and encourage and protect one another. That's why it's called "companion planting".

Basil and borage protect tomatoes against that ugly tomato hornworm. Marigolds and nasturtiums planted all over the garden deter many bugs. Green beans are happy around dill and savory. Cucs & squashes taste better interplanted with oregano and marjoram. Pyrethrum flowers protect beans and can be made into a very effective bug-killer spray. Green beans like garlic, too. Caraway protects radishes. Chives like carrots. There is absolutely no need to buy anything to kill the bugs, because they don't come around when you companion plant.

Truth time... I gave up on growing broccoli and cabbage and cauliflower because I never found anything that kept the worms out... Yuk! ...and I tried the entire spectrum of organic deterrents from mint to red pepper spray. I have to admit that there is no magic bullet, but companion planting works well for the most part, and it makes gardening kind of friendly and cozy, thinking about all these compatible little plants :D


I'll put in a packet of cosmos, too, because when I first experienced those lovely, free and airy blooms a couple years ago, it was like discovering I had a new best friend!

The Art (?) of Gardening

This clever and pretty little door hanger is going to experience some fairly heavy use this summer. My garden is going to be twice as large as last year, so this morning I was busy moving my compost piles and burning down an area of last year's leaves, small branches, clippings and garden trimmings. All last year I added to two compost piles on a regular basis; one of leftover food, eggshells and vegetable/fruit scrapings & peels; the other of yard waste, weeds, twigs, and spent flowers. Occasionally I sprinkled organic compost starter on the piles and watered them down. Probably I should have turned them on a regular basis, but the starter instructions said that wasn't necessary.

When I went after the finished compost at the bottom of the piles, I was glad to find about four bushels of rich, crumbly, dry stuff that was ready to be spread, and another couple bushels of not quite done compost that makes a good start for this year's piles. It is so easy to make good compost; if done correctly they are never odiferous; there is no cost and very little effort involved. Now if you want fast-acting, nitrogen-rich compost, you will have to ask a neighbor who has chickens or goats to donate some animal waste to add to your compost pile. We had large, steaming compost piles when we lived on the "farm" at Lost River, because we had both chickens and goats.

I'm going to get some topsoil in a day or so to add to my raised beds, and then beg, borrow or steal a tiller. Then it will be time to buy plants and seeds. Because I love flowers, there will be flowers galore, and because I like to use fresh herbs when cooking, they will have a place in my garden as well. Maybe my next entry will be about companion planting (and no, that doesn't mean my companion will help with the planting. Stay tuned!

Generosity

American Heritage Dictionary: “1. willing to give or share; munificent; unselfish 2. Lacking pettiness or meanness in thought or behavior; magnanimous”

Roget’s Thesaurus: Giving; magnanimous; tolerant; forgiving; benevolent; openhanded; bighearted

So, what does it really mean to demonstrate generosity? I believe that to describe someone as “generous” we are attributing to them all of the above qualities, for if you have ever known a truly generous person, you realize that you are in the presence of someone very special. Their hearts and hands are open; they do not judge; they are kind. They’re neither meek nor weak; they simply show true generosity of heart and spirit at every turn… and in their presence, I am in awe, and feel the lack of their qualities and the desire to develop them. They make it look easy, and maybe it is easy for them, maybe some people are simply born that way, but I tend to think that it takes a lifetime of trying and learning to give freely, to care and to share. Like many other things, it is an ideal for us all to strive for, and whether we reach it or not, it’s the trying that counts.

A very generous person opened her heart to me recently, and I am the lucky recipient of some concrete results of her magnanimity. She didn’t think it was any big deal, but that’s probably because humility is yet another quality of a truly generous person. Because of her I now have reading material that should last me five years… and I have three wonderful, matching, brand new storage chests… and I have a milk pitcher that matches perfectly with a cookie jar that I’ve had forever… and I have a wonderful antique yardstick that still has the original metal ends on it… and on and on. There’s no way you can adequately thank a person like that, much as I would like to!

New Life

Springtime is truly here at last. The first flowering trees are bursting forth, the daffodils are swaying in the breeze and the tulips are delighting my senses with their magnificent colors. It is always worth the wait, because Spring is so lovely. How is it possible that grass greens up so quickly to such a lush, deep green? Even the dandelions are forcing their faces into the sunlight. The very air had a soft feel to it as I walked around the back yard yesterday. These pictures are of some "junk trees" along the west side of our property. They always bloom very early and then the blooms are suddenly gone, and I can never tell which trees they were. These exquisite, feathery blooms make a delicate display that reassure me that "God's in His heaven and all is right with the world".

Growing Up

It's amazing how fast time goes by, and it's not just an old wives' tale that the older you get, the faster it goes. Here are some recent pictures of Naomi at age 5 and Leah at age 3-1/2. Weren't they tiny babies just yesterday? Will it be just tomorrow when they are teenagers? I guess that's a lesson on "enjoying the now" and "carpe diem", because even though we will always treasure the special moments of the past, they are quickly piled up under new moments that also, and too quickly, become memories. It gives me great joy to watch my grandchildren grow, but it also makes my heart ache. Perhaps only a grandparent could understand.

Save or Share or Sell? Keep or Give Away or Toss?

We’ve all asked ourselves these questions many times as we move from one residence to another, clean out a closet, straighten a drawer, remodel a room. All those big and little items challenge us to the point that we may feel our values and priorities are in question.

What does it mean if we haphazardly toss out what we think of as junk? On the other hand, what does it mean if we have a need to save all our “stuff”? or even some, or most of it? Are we being selfish in both cases?

“I’m tossing it just because I want to, I don’t need it anymore, and I'm sure no one else wants it”(when there is every likelihood that someone else not only wants it, but could make good use of it, or even actually needs it… and then there’s the greater good of recycling rather than trashing, and the knowledge that we should help, empathize, and share with our fellow human beings).
--or--
“I’m saving it just because I want to, I might need it/use it later on, and my kids might want it sometime”(when you know it’s just taking up space, that the possibility of using it was originally a “toss” option so you probably will neither need nor use it, ever, and the idea of your kids wanting your junk is silly because they already have enough junk of their own).

Yes, there are elements of selfishness in both cases, which makes a person want to avoid ever accumulating anything for fear of having to make a decision about some worldly good (or assumed “good”... at least at one time... for a while anyway). What a dilemma.

Some folks are just packrats by nature, and generally we consider that amusing and quaint… after all, what harm are they doing? Others seem to be naturally spartan. Their homes are decorated in minimalist fashion, and usually clean. Their cupboards and closets are nearly bare by ordinary standards, and we think that’s kind of weird, but again, what harm are they doing?

Do we judge people’s values and priorities by the amount of stuff they surround themselves with? Well, yes, unfortunately some of us find all kinds of reasons to judge others. When you come right down to it, though, who cares? How important can it be? It’s your stuff, after all!

Thoughts on Gratification

Marty commented on my previous post that instant gratification is nice, and I've been thinking about degrees of gratification and sources of gratification.

Seems to me that simply working hard toward a goal isn't particularly gratifying, even though you know you are getting somewhere. Of course if you like the work and enjoy the process, then every step of the way can be satisfying. To my mind, though, it's especially nice to reach a level of completion when you can cross the job off a list. I'm a dedicated list-maker, and can find joy in simply crossing things off.

Even better, though, is being able to see the fruits of your labors. It can be a finalized report, all crisp and perfect. It can be a freshly painted room that turns out the exact color you were looking for. It can be the finalized clutch replacement on your Audi ;) It occurs to me that these things are special because they can be noticed and shared and appreciated, which leads me to the realization that all of us need attention and need to be acknowledged, some of us more than others.

There are skabillions of other little and large "jobs" we do every day. Cleaning house and doing dishes and cooking meals might be gratifying for a while, certainly when we are first on our own and in our first apartment or house or condo. It doesn't take long for that kind of work to become ordinary and tedious, though, partly because it is so repetitive, but perhaps more because it isn't noticed. Why a person needs to be continuously thanked and praised and respected for this kind of work is a mystery... but there it is... ask any housewife or clerk or factory worker.

Being able to prove our abilities to someone, to show what it is that we can do particularly well, is also very satisfying... but that wears thin, too. When we start a new job it is important to please the new boss, to learn quickly and to perform well. If we are noticed as an asset to the organization, that recognition becomes a stimulus to even better performance. However, in my experience it never fails that any new job quickly becomes "same old, same old", the recognition we crave isn't forthcoming, and the job becomes a source of dissatisfaction rather than gratification.

There is one "job" that seldom fails to please. Women have exclusive ownership of this experience and that is... having a baby! Nine months to enjoy the process, to get lots of attention, and finally to produce clearly visible "fruits of their labor" (sorry, I just had to get that in :) Parents share the job of rearing a child and can create a mutual admiration society as they watch the physical, mental and emotional development of that child. Gratification never ceases for parents who have children who grow into loving adults.

I guess each of us just has to pick and choose our own goals in such a way that they have the possibility of providing a feeling of personal success. Life is so full of changes along the way that our list of things to do alters as well, as do the sources and degrees of our joy.

Right now I am cleaning up my yard, selecting one ten-square-foot area at a time, and enjoying both the process and the completion. My life hasn't always been this simple, and I derive satisfaction out of realizing that, too.

Spring has sprung; the work's begun

My first day outside enjoying the sunshine found me happily at "work" in the wannabe landscaped area in front of the house. I found some of the first tiny spring flowers as well as one of the very messy areas that needed cleaning up. So, here you have the before and after pictures, taken an hour and a half apart. Yup, took that long to cut down the grasses in the back next to the house, trim the shrubs, pick all last fall's leaves out of the bushes, and finally get all the leaves cleaned up off the ground. It was so much fun I think I'll try it again tomorrow! Now all I have to do is decide which area to tackle next.

Waiting for Spring

Sunshine today and it looks lovely... looking out the window from inside, that is. In reality, it is windy and below freezing, so it's not really very pleasant out there. I did go out with an armload of recyclables and sorted them into the bins on our back patio, but scurried right back in. However, I did hear my crocus and daffodils and tulips pushing up from underground, eager to fill my world with color. The first few ladybugs and ants have made their way into the house, so Spring can't be far behind! Things are about to change in a big way.

The whole political climate is changing, too. Can you believe how much our new president has accomplished in only 39 days? That's one high energy fella, and regardless of a person's affiliation, everyone has to admire his commitment to change and his sustained determination. I can't help but think he is going to drag a whole lot of people along with him, perhaps even some who are kicking and screaming right now, and that many things are going to be very different. Enough politics...

While I wait for Spring I am reading and knitting and cooking, watching Netflix movies, exercising on my elliptical, organizing stuff around the house and in my computer. I've also taken on a volunteer editing job with Kiva, an organization that manages small loans to entrepreneurs around the world. I enjoy the editing part, but more importantly I like getting a glimpse into other countries, the families and the individuals, and I like the idea that they are trying so hard to improve their lives, and that they are getting help and being encouraged to change things for the better. It's the immediate and very personal glimpse of possibilities that engages me the most... and certainly a valuable and satisfactory way to spend my time.

So, I try not to be impatient with Old Man Winter, and to remember that the world keeps turning and that "to everything there is a season".

Another Kind of "Slushy"

I am compelled to share my experiences on the road yesterday, because maybe I'll begin to see some humor in it. To set the scene: A quick meeting in Bloomington with Miki was tentatively scheduled for 9:00 am, to take place before continuing on to Indianapolis for a biannual Project Linus chapter meeting. Marty and I had scheduled a "time optional" meeting for lunch during the hours I was to be in Indy. From there, plans were to shop at both Sam's and WalMart in Bloomington on my way home.

As my all too typical luck would have it, a "wintry mix" of snow and rain was predicted as well as temperatures just at and below freezing. However, I was not going to let the weather get in my way. After all, I learned to drive in Idaho and certainly knew how to drive in snow...

I got underway a little after 8:00 and made my leisurely way to Bloomington, actually driving the lawful speed limit, and thinking to myself, "Ha! There's no rain or snow; they got it wrong again!" Miki and I had a nice visit and then I was back on the road. Five minutes north of Bloomington the rain started. Actually, it was slush. Big drops of slush slapping onto my windshield. There seemed to be pockets of slush activity interspersed with no precipitation at all followed by gigantic gusts of wind. Then Marty called to say that he needed to postpone our lunch. That's when I made a regrettable decision. I had been seriously considering turning around and going back south, a thought that came to me about every ten minutes as I struggled on and on toward Indianapolis. "Nah! I can make it; no problem!" and then "Well, I've made it this far..."

Visibility on 465 was no more than 100 feet as Mr. Slushy kept adding to the "wintry mix". Even so, the roads were passable though very wet, and tires were splashing dirty slush high onto everyone's windshields. Naturally the idiots (excuse the expression) were driving 65-75 mph as if they could get to their destination before the weather got really bad (or maybe they were fearful of losing sight of the car ahead of them). The wind was awful but I hung on tight, watching for my exit, and breathed a sigh of relief as I parked at the site of the meeting.

I stepped out of my car into an inch of dirty sloppy slush... so with very wet snow now coming down on my head I tiptoed carefully over the slippery, but not yet icy, sidewalk. My reward of hot coffee and doughnut holes was waiting... little did I know that would be the best part of my day. A half hour later, having schmoozed my limit with the roomful of lovely ladies, I made my excuses, voiced my regrets, and returned back outside. And stepped onto a very icy sidewalk. "Oh, great! Terrific! This is not going to be fun."

Back onto 465 now and that funny white stuff was still coming out of the sky. Each lane was fairly clear, but moving from lane to lane was treacherous. The slushy snow had built up between lanes and was in the process of freezing, so people who weren't aware or careful or alert or sober found themselves doing unexpected wheelies and ending up on the side of the road. It was most interesting; I stayed well back from the pack.

Suddenly, sirens! Everybody came to a stop, some sideways of course because they braked too quickly. Luckily, no collisions. There we sat for half an hour, cars stopped as far back as I could see. During that time two more police cars, three ambulances and two fire trucks with "Paramedic" on the side arrived. All I could see was one car in the median and one off the right shoulder, both apparently undamaged. There was much scrunching around in the slush by the authorities and EMTs and paramedics, back and forth between the emergency vehicles and the two cars, wet heavy snow falling continuously. Finally we started moving, and as I passed the folks who had kept us all waiting I noticed smiles and shrugs and laughter among them, and I couldn't help but think, "Someone is going to stop their car, get out and punch one of these guys." Admittedly, I was surprised that no one did. If I were just the tiniest bit more aggressive, it might have been me.

So then, the road ahead had frozen and everyone was extremely cautious for a while, which did not surprise me. We all wondered what it would have taken for it to be one of us off the road back there. Not much. Precipitation stopped once I reached Bloomington. Now it was time to ponder the wisdom of trying to walk through ice, snow and slush to get into Sam's and then into WalMart. I made it, but got wet shoes, socks and feet.

I took Hwy 45 toward home from there, my progress hindered by a huge snow plow going a steady 45 mph, with never a place to safely pass. Thankfully, it pulled off at the main Crane gate. Then, just past the turnoff to Odon, I picked up another snow plow, a smaller one this time, but the driver was clearly a maniac. This person drove all over the road, attacking every little pile of snow, with complete lack of concern for the cars following. Just short of Boggs Lake, three of us were able to fly past.

Turning into our driveway, I knew I still had one challenge to go... getting up the hill. Determined, I gained speed, moved up nicely almost to the crest... and started spinning. A bit frantic now after such a dreadful trip, I put the car in 2nd gear and ground forward a little farther, then moved down to 1st gear and insistently forced my poor little "Gus" car up the final three feet.

I'm glad Mike didn't take a picture of me as I entered the house. I must have looked like one of those cartoon characters with their eyes whirling round and round! It took hours for the adrenalin to ease off. What a day!
...and look at my poor car!

I AM a Valentine!

What a lovely surprise! After sending "Be My Valentine" wishes to bunches of people, it turns out that someone actually wanted to be mine and wanted me to be theirs. I'll let you all guess who it was, but the clue is that my valentine's name starts with an "M". You know who you are, and I hope you know how much I love you. I can't remember the last time I got flowers. Do those daffodils we buy in early Spring count?