Tuesday, March 25, 2003

Crocus Sounds
The peepers are back and singing up a storm and the front yard and garden are filled with bright yellow, light yellow, light purple and bright purple crocuses. This time of the year always reminds me of my friend who said she loved the sound of crocus (meaning locusts).

Sunday, March 23, 2003

Surgery
I had an appointment with a surgeon about my gallbladder on Friday morning. It had to come out, but my COBRA insurance ended that night at midnight and my individual coverage excludes pre-existing. I explained the situation to him and he arranged for surgery that evening! Now I'm a little sore but reliefed. My family pitched right in - my sister picked up the boys and kept them Friday night and my niece and brother watched them Saturday. Of course, my husband was wonderful through it all. I am so blessed.

Thursday, March 20, 2003

Spring
Even before I write the first word, I know I cannot do justice to this spring day. In the warm and sunny morning, I cleaned one of the church's perennial beds, pulling and cutting the winter detritus to discover tender green shoots of new life. The damp earth smell, the joy of discovery, the increasing orderliness of the bed, the sun on my back, the anticipation of new growth, all gave me such a feeling of peace and well-being.

Then the dark clouds crept in from the west in the afternoon. As I sat in the car waiting for my sons at school, the lightening, rain and hail came. Nothing tender and sweet about this storm. Hail piled everywhere. Fields and roads flooded.

We watched as the line of clouds were pushed east by the sunshine. Ron spotted the first rainbow---faint and thin and long. I spotted the next rainbow ---absolutely the fattest, shortest and most brilliant rainbow I ever saw.

The fog came with the gloaming, covering the world with a mysterious, thick, dark blue velvet. The spring smell of damp earth returned, bringing me back to where I started the day.

Tuesday, March 18, 2003

What's for dinner?
Are there people out there who remember this as their Momma's cooking?
http://www.poundy.com/wwcards.html

Monday, March 17, 2003

Two hour school delay this morning due to fog and I'm taking a moment to post before initiating a study session with the boys for their test over the countries of Asia. The sunrise this morning was incredible, a diffused pink through the fog across the horizon. I took pleasure not only from the sunrise, but also from Ron noticing it and sharing it with me. I am so glad my boys enjoy the simple pleasures of this world.

Sunday, March 16, 2003

Talent Show
Ricky was amazing. He had the audience clapping along with him and his grin was infectious. Unfortunately, at the beginniung of the last verse, he forgot the words and looked to his music teacher in the wings just as the teacher gave another student a vigorous hand signal to be quiet. Ricky thought he had done something wrong and became flustered. Finally, he said thank you and bowed off the stage. His brother told me they played the talent show during lunch and when Ricky sang the whole room of seventh graders became absolutely quiet.

Spring Teasers
It is sunny and 65 degrees today. The little time I spent outside made me long for more. The tips of my crocus are up and the bergenia is starting to show color. I saw my first butterfly. Samson, our banana lavatory according to my 3 year old nephew, had lots of fun breaking through the ice on the edges of the pond into the chilly water. He is a muddy wet stinky happy mess. The boys played basketball outside after spending five hours on homework. I opened all the windows in the house and cars to remove the stink of winter with the breath of spring. I know, I know, this is Indiana and we will probably have a blizzard next week. But I will enjoy the moment.