My faithful readers may get the impression that I’m that cranky old guy in the neighborhood. The one that yells at kids on bikes and shakes an angry fist at falling leaves. Actually, not really, although most of my blogs tend to be about little things that set me off. Most of the time, I’m fairly calm and very happy. For instance, one morning last week, as I was in the kitchen pouring my first cup of coffee, I looked out on the front terrace and saw two mourning doves strutting proudly across the walkway. Dashing around them was squirrel, scampering among the spring blossoms. While the weather has been in that transitional stage – cold for a day or two followed by some sunny, warm days. The increased animal activity is a joyful sign of spring. Up in the garden are daffodils and ground phlox. The forsythia is particularly good this year, and the azaleas aren’t far behind. The flowering crabapple tree in the back yard is just starting to leaf, and the buds are evident. It will be a bit longer before it reaches blossoming stage. We call it Alfred after my late father-in-law, because a friend gave us money to buy it in his memory. It keeps its own time table, as did he, so it will blossom when it’s good and ready. But everything reminds me that the earth is coming back to life.
As the Princess had lived in DC for many years both in college and working, we tend to keep tabs on the cherry blossoms. They were early this year, coming out in late March. Whether that’s climate change, a new and hopeful administration, or simply those beautiful trees doing what they do best, it’s a sure and glorious sign that civilization will persevere. We’ve only seen the blossoms fully out once, and that, ironically, was her last year at the end of an 18-year run there.
I opened the newspaper this morning, and there, all over the front pages were pictures of volunteers cleaning up in celebration of Earth Day. We humans can be responsible when we set our minds to it. We will, from time to time, give the outward impression that we can be thoughtful stewards of this planet. There have been ongoing efforts to clean up along the riverbanks, to pull trash from the river, to pick up our local bike trails, and generally to clean up the messes we’ve made. There are those that will ask, “why bother?” But most of us appreciate those volunteer efforts. Another story again caught my eye. A local real estate company, specializing in transfer closings, sent their people to freshen up the outside of a local charitable service. What a wonderful thing to do. Pictures featured their employees planting bulbs and flowers. Well done!
Our nephew’s son, on a recent visit to his grandparents, was full of excitement, telling them how much he loved being there and seeing them. Big hugs and kisses, and we got the same later in the week at a family birthday celebration, the first family gathering not on Zoom in over a year. That’s a little unusual for a teenager in seventh grade. They’re not typically too effusive, particularly a hockey player who is developing his “cool”. His sister, now in third grade and a dancer, is always bubbly, but not so often her big brother. He conned his father recently into buying him something expensive, which doesn’t happen often and brought a smile to lots of faces, because his father is both an attorney, not easily given to persuasion, and, shall we say, just a tad frugal.
My dear sister—in-law is an avid quilter, and so much of our house benefits from her efforts. She made us a beautiful new table runner for the dining room – yellows and lime greens – that adds so much pleasure every time we walk by. A new splash of joyous color that, well, just makes me smile. The other day, I noticed that we had some bananas that were fading fast, so I made a banana bread. Her Ladyship was still in bed, but she woke with a smile, and then told me that I really needed bake something every morning so that the aroma would be lingering. Won’t happen, but certainly a happy thought.
The Princess has been sharing with us her writing for courses and a presentation. While much of it is well outside our areas of expertise, it’s refreshing to hear her enthusiasm for the topics, her excitement for her research, and her pleasure at the positive feedback that she receives from her fellow graduate students and her teachers. She’s coming home this weekend to get her second vaccination shot, which will be a milestone to all of us. It will particularly bring a smile to the faces of the folks at Starbucks.
Last week, our computer, on which I’m writing this gave me a spot of bother. The sound wasn’t working, for some reason. I, using all of my technical expertise, disconnected the external speakers. That’s pretty much all I can do. It still didn’t work, so I contacted Apple Support. 45 minutes later, a trip to the repair shop was recommended, so we scheduled that for Monday morning. Somehow over the weekend, and I still have no idea how it happened, the internal speakers started working again. When I turned it on, it made that “start-up” sound, and I being an apostle of the obvious, thought, “that must be the internal speakers!”. Oh, yes, you have to get up pretty early in the morning to slip anything by me. Since then, everything is great, I didn’t have to load the computer in the car and drive it to the Apple store, nod my head knowingly as the techie explained something incomprehensible to me in excruciating detail. Best of all, I had a great smile of relief on my face as I called to cancel the repair appointment (which still took fifteen minutes on the phone with tech support). Now I just have to pop up to the dealership with my car for its third airbag recall. Free coffee, my book, and it won’t cost me anything, so, ok, I can live with that.
A lone wild turkey stands vigil this morning, braving the gusty winds. We have a flock, and some mornings they come boldly up the walkway in front of our house. I’m tempted to stand on the porch and say, “Good morning, Ladies.” Tom had done his guarding earlier, then walked up the steps and sauntered off, much as I’d envision a Beefeater going off duty at Buckingham Palace. Usually there are two or three hens, sometimes as many as five or six. They were born here, up in the meadow, up by the community garden, and we’ve watched them grow up – the turkey version of “Make Way for Ducklings”. Now they’re adults and, presumably there will be more little ones before long. Also saw a bunny yesterday. They haven’t been around in some time – I figured that perhaps the foxes or fishers out back in the apple orchard got them, but I guess not. As long as they don’t eat my gardens, I’m pleased to see them.
I went off to the local nursery yesterday and made my first purchases of the new season. That’s always exciting. I bought a couple of new items with a gift card I got from Her Ladyship for Easter. She was very generous this year. We’re still waiting for a new top I ordered for her, but maybe it will be here along with the things I ordered for Mother’s Day. Fingers crossed.
Off with my coffee to read my morning newspaper while Herself has a last bit of sleep. It’s a quiet time of day. Restful, recharging, a gentle transition into the day. I set the coffee maker the night before, so I just have to press a button. Sometimes I put on the radio to my classical music station. Then I quietly read my paper and contemplate the simple joys of life. Until the Princess, when she’s home, gets up and announces her arrival into the day by shutting off my radio with a decidedly hostile jab at the power button and turns the television on to “Morning Joe”. So much for a gentle transition. At some point, she’ll point out that all of my plants are sure indicators that more of her inheritance has been squandered. But even that brings a smile.
I'm Thinking...No! 