Spring Fantasies

Last week I earnestly explained to T that January is nice because it’s almost Spring.  She looked at me as if I had lost my last bit of sense, pointed out that we were less than a month off the Winter solstice, pulled her toque lower on her ears, slipped on her curse of a coat (it weighs 15 pounds, no joke) and slunk outside in Winter boots.  She didn’t even take the time to truly consider my assertion that Spring starts on March 1st.

Or consider that I have my eye on a pale pink sweater which I will wear in Spring.

It’s the time of year when I begin to think about Spring and realize again that it is the season that I love the best.   Admittedly, I am early to the party….it’s January, after all.  But I don’t feel limits because of January.  Over the weekend, we had unexpectedly warm weather and I left the house in flip flops…..it’s like Mother Nature wants me to daydream about Spring.  

And so I do.  I cheer on my amaryllis.  I’ve collected seed catalogs so I can make plans about what to plant in my garden.  On-line, I visit pink sweaters and flower stickers.  I day dream about Easter decorations.  In a few weeks, daffodil bouquets will turn up in the grocery store.

I am ready.

Real Life Texts with KO: Moving House edition

The backstory: My sister and her husband have sold their house and are moving into a temporary residence while their new home is built.  That meant that last Wednesday they loaded up 18 years worth of life well-lived.  I texted her early in the morning to wish her good luck.  I heard back from her at 8:45 am California time.

KO:  I’ve already had my fill of moving.  Ready to tap out.

Me:  Hmmmm.  If the van is emptied, you may tap out for now.

KO:  Van is not emptied and also I think your standards are unreasonable.

Me: Well we can debate my standards after the van is emptied.

KO: God damn no flexibility on your part.

Me:  Well that seems harsh.  But true, as it turns out.

KO:  I wanted to tell up to fuck off so I thought my sentiment was a nice compromise.

Me:  Oh yeah, great work on the compromise.  Sorry about the day.  Treat yourself to tacos for lunch.

The move is complete and KO is celebrating a birthday weekend.  She’s one of the funniest and most determined people I know, a woman who gets up and does what needs doing, takes a nap, and then gets after it again.  Embrace the day, birthday girl, and know you are loved.

Wait, There is Photo Evidence

I think we can all agree that this uneven blind had.to.go.

Our Posh Lifestyle

For Christmas, T and I received new wood window blinds for our bedroom.  These are both prettier to look at and much easier to use than the sad blinds that proceeded them.  So sad, apparently, that I made no picture of them.  All you get are the pretty new blinds. 

Window blind technology has made some real leaps in the years since I last acquired blinds and these go up and down easily, without the unpleasant yanking-on-a-string process that always found me losing my mind because the blinds were not even.  And how could I survive looking at such a window every day?  I could not and thus, the window blind battle was enjoined.

I never won.

From our perch on the Princess and the Pea bed we are quite pleased with the view and the tidy line of even window blinds.  They feel quite posh.

Your Weekly Amaryllis: Week One

 Every year, in preparation for my coming dotage, I require an amaryllis bulb for Christmas.  T aids this tradition and word on the packaging is confirmed by her: this year, we’ll have a pink amaryllis, as I requested.  I planted it last week.  Now it’s nestled in among the plants on the plant stand where there is plenty of Winter light to get the party started.

This Winter tradition keeps me mindful that the payoff for the cold comes in the form of the beauty of Spring.  For the next few weeks, I will enjoy watching the stem grow and prepare to bloom with a splendid flower.  Amaryllis reports will happen every Wednesday.  

That’s happy!

Back to School

The second half of the school year begins later this month, when we officially hit the mid-point of the year, though it might as well be today, when I return to school.  

No matter how much the cold weather tries my patience, come January the school year always starts to fly past.  By now, we’ve hit our pace and the students understand expectations.  February’s shortness speeds by and before I know it, March and two weeks of Spring Break will have arrived.  Then it’s April and the prospect of balmy weather, flip flops, and relaxed Summer days are squarely on the horizon.

The last two weeks gave me the chance to rest up, read, and otherwise celebrate and relax.  It was a well-earned and much-needed respite.  Now that school is back in session I am ready to go.

Front Porch in January

Though we’ve yet to sink into an extended Winter chill, the front porch knows that it is likely coming.  Winter’s starkness makes the rest of the seasons that much more pleasing and this month’s porch decorations echo that theme.  The table has pinecones and a string of fairy lights that will come on at twilight, to brighten the darkness.

The flag welcomes wildlife to our yard, where we are sure to fill the bird feeder and look after squirrel dining needs with an array of stale crackers, bread, and peanut butter when T is feeling generous.

The front door wreath is simple.

Setting out plants and decorations on my front porch is one of the things I most enjoy as a new month beckons.  This porch welcomes us every day and reminds me that that the comforts of home are found here.

Obituary for a Dishwasher

On Saturday, December 28, my dishwasher died.  Strictly speaking, it passed to the great appliance beyond sometime the night before.  I started the dishwasher before I went to bed on Friday night and when we opened it on Saturday morning we found that the water pump had failed.  Fittingly for this workhorse of a machine, it had spent the past 10 days being run 3 to 4 times a day, to keep up with our busy holiday season.  It was never pretty but it always got the job done.

This beast of a Whirlpool machine joined the family in May 2005 when I moved into Sassafras House.  The previous owners had taken their shiny new dishwasher and given me this well-used transplant from their new house.  From the outset, it looked rough, with dents and scratches that suggested it had been in more than one fight.  The push button start mechanism was already worn through and that was the clue for how to start the machine.  But start it did and for years to come, it got the job done.  

In 2005, it was no Spring chicken, though it washed like a dream.  Inside it looked a little rough.  Over the years that appearance continued to decline as it began to rust and shed parts.   

When I first started it in 2005, I figured we’d ride this dishwashing wave as long as it lasted.  That it survived another 14 years is a surprise.  But golly did this beast earn its keep year after year.  For its faithful service, I offer a hearty and grateful thank you.

A new one has been summoned and installed.  Like the last dishwasher at this house, it’s a Whirlpool. Also like the last machine, we plan to enjoy it for a very long time.  Welcome aboard, washing beauty.  We already love you.

Front Yard Flowerbed in January

This year’s first-of-the month garden feature is my front yard flowerbed.  I see it every day from the front window and over the porch railing.  In the late Spring it is splendid.  

This time of year is not the finest view, though please note that the ivy, badly in need of a trim, continues to thrive in the cold.

This flowerbed is inside the retaining wall by the side of the driveway.  In season, there are hostas, an assortment of daffodil and tulip bulbs, and pink azaleas.  In the front yard are some evergreen bushes that T has disliked for years.  Now that they are dying, they are slated to be removed in 2020.  This will please T and result in a better looking front yard as well as friendlier neighbors in this flowerbed.  I’m excited for the changes that are coming and will be sharing them all year long in 2020.

A Lucky New Year

Black Eyed peas for good luck in the New Year are an absolute requirement for my celebration.  Usually, I make a bowl of Texas Caviar to meet our good luck needs —— it’s a dip that features black-eyed peas but my recipe makes a heap.  This year, we had a smaller celebration and so I made Zannie’s Dip, a hot black-eyed pea-based dish that served our good luck purposes and was delicious to boot. 

I love a tradition that reminds me of so many memories.  Black eyed peas does just that.  That it tastes delicious is just gravy on a tradition.  Happy New Year, Y’all!