Spring!

I know winter is still out there to bite at our heels every now and then, but I see spring everywhere. I just hope winter isn't mean enough to kill everything that's budding, but then again, we live in Oklahoma. I should be used to that by now.

There is color everywhere. The jonquils are particularly lively this year and then that bush that has the reddish-rose blossoms seems to be popping out everywhere. And the tulip trees, my goodness. They are just loaded with flowers. Redbuds are popping and I just noticed that today, the Bradford pear trees aren't that dingy, dismal white that they have been for the past few days. They look like popcorn trees. The pansies are waving in the wind--there's been lots of that--and I've caught sight of some pink hyacinths and even an early yellow tulip. No matter what the species--plant or animal--you have those few who have to rush things. :) Their eagerness is contagious though.

It's been a hard winter. I've heard of more and more people who had serious problems with depression this winter. And not just in our area. In fact my dh talked with a dear friend of ours yesterday who is in Connecticut, and he's still reeling from the late blanket of snow and the dismal skies.

I'm already thinking about what I'll do with the containers on the porch, and where my dh might put up with me planting some garlic. We use so much of it and it's easy to grow, why not do it ourselves? I have been making some awesome salsa this winter--thank you Rick Bayless and Salsas That Cook--and am contemplating using the large pot by the back door for some Roma tomatoes, smaller pots for jalepenos, serranos and parsley. Then all that's left to get are the onions. Yum.

I'm working on taxes. Spent all day yesterday just looking for a file. Grrr!! Then this morning the updates have taken forever to download. Up/Down. Should have known taxes would be taxing. This is spring break and dh#2 has already wiped out on his bike trying to pop a wheelie. It may be a long week. It's supposed to start raining tonight and be in the 40s tomorrow. Which you have to understand is a great change. We had our first picnic of the season on Sunday afternoon; it was 85 degrees on Sunday. Back "down" to 60+ yesterday, and today's been okay, just not so bright. The clouds are moving in. But we're supposed to be back in the 50s and 60s by the weekend, and we need the moisture. As long as there are card games and Game Cubes, computer programs and videos to keep the kids busy through the rain, I'm sure things will be okay.

Ds#1 finally has wheels again!! It's a 1985(?) Saab. Old but cute, with good AC, a radio and a moon roof. He's happy. So am I!!! No more trips to OSU-OKC twice daily, Mon - Thurs. Mid-terms went well for him. He just can't find his history textbook. I shake my head every time I think about it. I never lost a textbook in my life. But then, they don't use it in class. The tests come mainly from the lectures.... I lived out of my car when I was his age. My textbooks were either there or at the foot of my bed, which was where I did most of my studying.

Happy spring everyone. I hope this is the beginning of getting back to writing. I'm itching to look for markets for all the fiction--short stories, novels, you name it. It's time to set more goals and get things rolling again. I've been doing great things with my house. I have about 5 trash bags full of stuff, from books to shoes, to donate to Habitat on Friday and have thrown out twice that many bags of papers that I've decided I won't die if I don't have them. :) I am boxing up books and inviting friends over to take what they want.

That reminds me. I have some phone calls to make. Later!