Which Season is it?

March produced 70 degrees one day and a 3 plow storm the next. April lived up to it's showers reputation causing the worst flooding in a year. Last year was the worst flooding in like 30 years. Basement has kept dry so far. This weekend is the anniversary of last year's horrific Mother's Day floods. We are expecting wonderful weather. The pictures are of proof spring is here. The weather this week has given us a glimpse of summer. Hot. Muggy. The lawn needs to be mowed already, but that will wait until I won't faint doing it. The a/c units also need to be put in the windows and screens to replace the storm doors. Maybe over the long weekend.

Spring has sprung............... somewhere

Today is April 15th. Tax day normally, but not this year since today is a Sunday. I've already filed and am eagerly awaiting my refund. Just in time to pay property taxes. Oh well. Easy come, easy go.

Andrew & I have been here for a year now. I was all poised to take photos on the one year mark to show the progress. Yeah. I got as far as thinking about it. Getting out my camera, and leaving myself a note. That was two weeks ago. Today, we are enjoying a spring downpour. Of snow. In April. It truly is beautiful. One of those lovely movie, popcorn, hot cocoa January days. Oh wait. It's April. What is occurring this year that could not have happened at this time last year is my car is snuggled in the garage. Safe from the elements. I kept it out this morning during the rain so it could get a free bath. Once it started sleeting/snowing, she went in her house. This year, I also have my FIOS set up, new hard drive in the desktop, sort of a path to that desk. Know where all my coffee/tea/cocoa cups are. Full pantry. A pantry. New sewer line. Lots of blessings and expensive lessons. Over the past 380 days, this house has become our home. We love it here. Just be careful what day you ask Andrew because you might get a different answer. At first, he loved this house because of the stairs. The other day, he told me he liked the Encinitas house better because there weren't any stairs. Wonder where he gets his fickle tendencies. Hunh.

The attached pictures were taken yesterday during a bizarre spring like day. A friend went with us to the park, and documented the fun. Yes, there is one of me because all ya'll keep asking. Hard to have pics of the photographer. Or so I've been told.....

The bulbs are starting to peek through the ground. Hope this weather doesn't scare them away.

Happy Spring to those who have it. :)

Luck of the Irish

So, it's March. Which in most of the Northern Hemisphere means the beginning of Spring. Not necessarily in Northern New England. The storm started Friday afternoon, and finished Saturday morning. It started as snow, then ended up icy, so all the lawns and snow piles have a lovely crusty sparkling frosting. The six foot icicle dangling from the roof outside my bedroom window went to it's shattering demise this morning. It was pretty cool while it grew. The pictures are of the snow the plow guy cleared from my driveway. "It's gonna be a three plow storm, ma'am." Guess that's how storms are gauged around here. Almost all of the snow from the previous storms had melted during our taunt of spring earlier in the week. This tease of green turned off the safe driving mechanism in people's brains because of all the accidents on Friday afternoon. An ice storm is forecasted for tomorrow night. Lovely.

Happy first day of Spring everyone.

Midnight at the Oasis

The song popped into my head as soon as my alarm clock went off yesterday. Why? I'm usually sleepting at midnight. I guess you could call this wonderful snow we are getting an oasis. That song is like how old? 1974. 8 years younger than I. For those who are curious - like anyone ever reads this anyway....

Midnight At The Oasis
Lyrics: David Nichtern
Music: David Nichtern
Played by the Jerry with the Great American String Band in 1974.

Midnight at the oasis
Send your camel to bed
Shadows painting our faces
Traces of romance in our head
Heaven's holding a half moon
Shining just for us
Let's slip off to a sand dune Real soon
To kick up a little dust
Oh, Cactus is our friend
He'll point out the way
Come on 'til the evening ends
'Til the evening ends
You don't have to answer
There's no need to speak
I'll be your belly dancer Romancer
And you can be my sheik
I know your daddy's a sultan
A nomad known to all
With fifty girls to attend him
They all send himJump at his beck and call
But you won't need no harem, honey
When I am by your side
And you won't need no camel
Oh no When I take you for a ride
Oh, Cactus is our friend
He'll point out the way
Come on 'til the evening ends
'Til the evening ends
Midnight at the oasis
Send your camel to bed
Shadows painting our faces
Traces of romance in our heads

First Crush

We all remember our first crush. Whether we were the crushee or the crusher. My dearest son has a crush. On Friday, he was disciplined because he was screaming at a girl, and when she wouldn't pay attention to him, he bopped her over the head with an empty plastic bottle. His story is he wanted to sing her a song. Today, he was spoken to because he kept making monkey noises towards Friday girl. Tonight, I asked him if he thought Ashley was pretty neat. He grinned and said, "yeah." Lee B. in the remotest off chance you happen to be reading this, I do remember the playground in 1st & 2nd grade. You could have serenaded me instead of chasing me around the school yard..... ;)
This evening, Andrew officially lost his first tooth.

Skates Required

My car is under an inch of ice. Getting to work tomorrow will be interesting. Thankfully, school was out today due to the "holiday", otherwise it would have been cancelled anyway. School, not the holiday. Icicles abound. It's really quite lovely if you don't have to go out and do anything. Bit chilly. Salt/muck/shovel trucks were in full force today. Just hope the power lines are full strength.

Frills

Happy New Year. Traveling during the holidays, on THE worst days of the week, I had an epiphany. Most likely not surprising to those who know me well, but an epiphany none the less. I am a frills girl. Thus, the "no frills" airline just doesn't do it for me anymore. I want assigned seats. I want to be able to walk around the terminal, or drink my banned coffee before heading through security instead of throwing away half of a perfectly good eggnog latte. Security gestapo, "you can't take that on the plane so you need to drink it before going through security." Me, "is the terminal considered the plane?" Gestapo snarkily replies, "Ma'am, you have to finish your coffee before you come through security." We had more words, but that is the gist. Also, people think that being in "A" group enables them to cut, push, shove, etc their way to the front of the line. Hey people - there are 45 in group A, so you WILL get your aisle or window seat. Just chill!!! Andrew was the line police telling everyone who attempted to get in front of us that they were cutting. He took his job way too seriously. Still, maybe someone actually got a clue. Doubt it. Also, with the frills airlines, there is always the opportunity for an upgrade. It rarely happens, but at least there is the possibility.

Still, it was awesome to see my niece and her husband. That's Jenn with me in the photo. :)

I'm staying home for awhile. Ya'll can just come see us!