Blue On Blue

Spring, right? I walked 15 minutes from the bus stop to the shop this morning and my ears were frozen. One of my coworkers picked me up and saved me the last 5 minutes of wind. I got a proper dressing down for not dressing properly. But who can tell what clothes to wear these days? Wellies, sneakers, flip flops or ballet flats? A coat or a little jacket? Wool or cotton? Well, in my khaki jacket, cotton sweater, t-shirt and ballet flats I got it all wrong. And I heard about it in English and Spanish.

But when I came home from work the wind was gentle, the skies were so blue, and the garden was haphaphappy. The first blossoms on the ornamental plum are open, the brunnera is flowering the muscari at the base of the crepe myrtle are up and starting to open. I should have fallen to my knees rejoicing and weeding, but after a garden tour, I pulled a chair into the sun and read my book. Ahhhh. Last day of March!

It Was All I Hope It Would Be

I had the nicest Sunday, minus the sun itself, but still.

We walked the Lab in the rain. She doesn't mind the weather, just trots on ahead and smiles.

We grocery shopped, good will hunted and scored these two pieces of stoneware. The little brown dish from West Germany maybe 70's? And this vase which finally encouraged me to get the flowers off the kitchen counter.

Then delicious housemade brautwurst sandwiches from The German Store covered in sauerkraut and mustard on chibatta rolls. I should have taken a picture, but my appetite got in the way of my camera.

There was a nap and reading and German girl made Pad Thai with beef for dinner.

We went to sleep with the windows open a crack and the sound of a gentle rain. I wish I could do it all over again.

Where The Wild Things Are

13 hours after arriving home the flowers, still tied with raffia, are sitting in a pitcher by the sink. While the rest of the house is rather bare, washing dishes seems like less of a chore. Happy Sunday.

An Orange Umbrella And Purple Lilacs

What was today's highlight? Was it when I decided to change my clothes at the last minute this morning and missed the bus? Or the 25 minutes I stood under my orange umbrella talking to myself and waiting for the next one to come?

Was it when my friend and coworker Betty said " I always say, Jane used to be funnier"? When I replied that I had never heard her say that so she said " I guess I say it to myself all the time". Who knew? So I fired her. Apparently that was funny.

So we laughed through the cold, wet day. Outside the fruit trees are blooming, inside we had lilacs and jasmine and dogwood from California. Pollen is running high and so were our spirits. It's spring.

And as the Lab is my witness, I'll try to be funnier. Jeesh.

Weeding Not Fretting

In an attempt to keep myself from turning on the tv and becoming enraged over whatever today's top news stories might be I:

Arrived home from work, let the dog out, threw my purse on the table, grabbed a spade and started digging out wild spring onions from my garden beds. Mind you I was still in my work clothes. Not fancy duds 'cause my job is a dirty one, but still.

Um, made a pasta salad, kind of rushing the season but it is warm out.

Read new postings on my favorite blogs ( congrats to Denise of Little Pheasant for yet one more rave write up), found a few new ones to excite my imagination. ghostly dreams and flower things being one of them. Great writing, beautiful flowers and photos and the coolest flower girl you'll ever see. Okay, I couldn't wait for you to go to her blog, I had to show the photo here!

Must not turn on tv, must not turn on tv, must not turn on tv.

On The Third Day Of Spring

What a difference a day makes. Saturday and Sunday I was wearing flip flops, today I'm in my wellies.

Sunday my little tulip plant had one perfect blossom, today all the flowers are open.

Sunday we were grilling, tonight I'm making meat loaf but with a french potato salad and I can make this why? Because my herbs are growing, I could quickly steam some little Yukon gold potatoes and toss them with a shallot, a few spring onions, fresh lemon juice, olive oil, salt, pepper and some chives and thyme from the garden.

And the meat loaf, kind of a fancy recipe from the 72 Market Street. Restaurant

I don't make the accompanying sauce unless I'm at the beach on Fire Island and my friend Larry wants the whole shebang. For a week in paradise I'll cook anything you ask.

And though I know this isn't a political blog ,one more thing: on Sunday the health care reform bill passed, on Monday, my state Virginia threatened to sue the federal government over the health care reform bill????? What!!

March 20th, 2010

On the first day of Spring, I worked, but i wore flip flops.

When I left the shop, I looked up and saw a tulip magnolia in bloom and pussy willow bursting open.

After work we grilled chicken kabobs and Irish bangers. We ate chocolate dipped fruit left over from German girl's birthday. And we slept with the windows open.

What did you do on the first day of spring?

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