Spring Break

I'm on spring break this week.   The weather has been a bit fickled, as it often is here in the south.  We began with cool temperatures and rain.  A few days the sun brought warm, some might say hot, afternoons.  The kind of afternoons perfect for lounging outside with a glass of iced tea and a good book, or walking around checking on garden residents.

Here is a little of what I found.

Thanks to the late snow and cold temps, the hellebores

and Camillas are still showing off.

Despite a few (meyer) lemons left on the tree,

blooms have appeared awaiting the dance of the bumblebees assuring

next winters fruit.

The forsythia bloomed overnight, but looks as if her visit is to be brief.
She is not one to tarry once the sun turns on the heat.

A few hardy hyacinths soldier on, in spite of blooming during

the ice and snow.

The lilacs are ready to burst open, 

  

and the huechera  has new growth, handing me a bit of hope
the garden will survive in spite of last summer's neglect, and a winter with three dogs
running in and around doing what dogs do when let outside.

Today the rain and cool temperatures have returned, handing me a perfect afternoon
to settle in with a good book.

(I have books to talk about....)

How are you spending this first week of spring?

Ten Weeks Gone

It began at Christmas, and the end seemed so far away.

Bags and boxes were unpacked, furniture moved and rearranged, and 

changes became routine.

There were sleepless nights, sunny days perfect for walks in the park and around the neighborhood, first visits to the playground, and a long weekend for a road trip.  We had so much time to be together.

There were ice days,

and snow days,

and more snow days,

We awaited the New Year and the groundhog; celebrated  Mardi Gras, 

Valentine's Day, St. Patrick's Day, milestones and birthdays. 

There were a lot of pizza creations

(another story for another time)

  

and nights of manic kitchen fun.

  

We know, though, time has a mind of his own; he is in constant forward motion... seconds turn to minutes, minutes to hours, hours to days, days to weeks, and weeks to months.  We think we have forever, then forever is gone.  

In the end we watched our children reunite, then, with a full heart, bid them farewell,

 as they returned to their home and life.

The house is now silent... no more early wake-up calls.

No more late night talks.

It is bittersweet,

but it is how it is suppose to be.

I have a happy heart to have lived it;

and, I have memories to make me smile.

Cherish each moment with those you love.

Think...Happy

Who knew?

Watching a favorite morning news show I learned today is International Day of Happiness.  Did you know?  Bulletin boards have been set up in various cities for people to post the things
that make them happy.

Why does this excite me?
Happiness breeds happiness.
Happy thoughts can heal many ills.
I enjoy being around those who are positive and enjoy life.
One day is not going to solve problems, mend broken hearts or bring about
world peace, but it is a great place to begin; and, it may make someone's day
a little brighter.  Now, that is a happy thought!

Many many years ago I kept a notebook of all of my favorite things.   I seem to remember it began while listening to a lecture that was taking me to tears.   Through the days and months my notebook was taken over with my list and became a constant in my stack of books throughout the remainder of the school year.  I wish I had kept the notebook...I wish I had continued making the list.  It was one of those things, at a certain age, you look back at and think "how childish" and toss it aside.    Today, I don't think of it as childish at all.

It is without saying being with my family tops my list of happiness; here are
 a few random things that bring a joy to my heart.

...laughing out loud
...rising before daybreak for a little quiet time
...the beginning of the seasons
...my hands in the dirt
...the end of summer
...a good book
...heck, a stack of books
...a good glass of wine
...standing beside the ocean

My list could go on and on.  Now I want to hear from you.
What makes you happy?

Happiness doesn't belong to just one day.
It is for everyone, everyday.

I hope you are smiling!

What We Do

for those we love.

Did I mention there are three dogs living with me?  Two visitors and Willie.  

Willie is having a grand time with his buddy Waldi.  

The third canine is a retired and rescued greyhound.... a retired, rescued, geriatric greyhound.   Raven is a sweet animal, who is just old, and demanding.  I've nicknamed her "The Diva".  Most of the time she just wants the two youngsters to leave her alone and allow her to spend her time stretched out on her blanket.

However, when mealtime comes around or she needs to go outside she can become quite vocal.  She and I have had words more then a few times over her demanding ways.  The two sparing divas.

I have pretty much turn over my sunroom to them, and all has gone pretty smoothly...

until....

Monday morning we woke up to find a layer of ice covering the ground.   The dogs went out early and all seemed okay.  It continued to sleet most of the morning and they were able to keep their feet underneath them.  Later in the day, with a little melt and a refreeze, both the back and the front yards became skating rinks.

At the appointed afternoon bathroom time the door was open and the three took off.  Waldi and Willie had no problem.  They slip and slid.  They survived and didn't seem to mind.  Sweet Raven ran out and pretty much did the splits.  I heard my daughter scream, and I ran out to help.  It took both of us to lift her and ease her back into the house.   Once inside she was okay and returned to her chosen spot.

As night approached we began discussing how we were going to handle Raven's bathroom needs.   We both agreed she couldn't stand up on the ice.   I sprinkled flour hoping we might could create some traction... my five pound bag wasn't going to offer up much of anything but a mess.  I tried to break the ice with a hoe and a shovel.... let's just say I now understand how people have heart attacks when shoveling snow.  I barely made scratches. 

We tried to take her out the garage with hopes she would go to the bathroom on the driveway where earlier a car had been parked leaving a dry spot.   Needing to help her over a small patch of ice I found an old rug and sheets to spread over the ice.   We led her carefully across the bridge to the patch of driveway free of ice, but you know the saying...."you can take a horse to water..."?  Well the same applies to here.  The Diva stood looking at us, shivering.  We brought her back in and brainstormed a while longer.

Heather thought taking her to the front would be easier and safer.  She thought if we could get her onto the grass there would be enough traction for her to keep her balance.  But, how to get her over the ice covered path to the grass?

Yes, I moved the rug, sheet and various other items to make a path over the ice to the grass.

Yep, we love our pets and will do just about anything to make them happy, 

and keep them safe.  The ice is melting and hopefully all will be back to normal this evening.

I'm keeping the rug and stack of random finds ready just incase. 

I hope you are staying safe and warm.