Spring and the daffodils did spring back

April 1, 2010
Yeah! April the first is sunny and a bit windy! On my short neighborhood walk I came upon beautiful Purple Iris! My iris do not have buds yet and as with the daffodils I worry that they just won’t bloom this year while in the back of my mind I know that my hybrid varieties are always later. Could have something to do with my lack of attending to with fertilizer and such!
I am trying to slowly work into strengthening my back muscles and other muscles as well so that doing enjoyable tasks such as picking flowers does not equate with whopping back pain. The meditation video in yesterday’s Yoga class was lovely and included some different positions.
I am delighted that the weather is just right for opening up the doors and windows. I got all three doors to the outside de winterized so that the air can waft on in. Any more wafting and I would have had to give up on exchanging the glass for screen on the front door. Now I will spend a couple of hours sitting.
The use of my computer which contributed to my body being out of “fit” is now contributing to my easing back into a bit of fitness. It helps me to follow through with one of my “now that I’m retired” resolutions of reading a bit and writing a bit each day. I’m not sure that Sudoko and KenKen qualify on either count but I find them very mind consuming – well maybe close to addicting! !
And I so much enjoy being in touch with loved ones all over the world.
Through the tech wonders of facebook I’ve learned about the country of Qatar via pictures and comments from a precious friend of the family who is taking her Carnegie Melon spring semester of Architectural studies at the school in the capital, Doha. I’m looking forward to following a cousin as she pursues her Colorado University studies in journalism in Germany.
My more immediate family - and friends – that I grew up with and that have influenced my life (mostly for the better) are scattered from coast to coast and beyond; yet we’re able to learn of their health crises as well as their joys almost immediately. How wonderful! I just know that my parents are smiling down as Dad approves of our venturing away from the comforts of home to have many experiences in many different places and Mother smiles about our keeping in touch (well, maybe not quite as well as she’d like us to ; - )

Second Day of Spring

The second day of spring 2010 arrived in Claremore OK with SNOW! There was snow on the ground, snow on the roof tops, snow on the bushes and trees, snow on automobiles and in the air. It was difficult to tell if the snow was falling from snow clouds or if it was being blown from off the roofs and trees. Well, this was no surprise, really, because it had been snowing all day Saturday and it had been forecast. The surprising thing is that this is Oklahoma and it is March 21. This is surely some kind of record. The slight amount of traffic out on the city streets was some kind of record as well as I couragiously made my way to church through what turned out to be nothing more than slush!
As it was my turn to take part in the services at First Christian, disciples, I sat in the chancel area with a good view of the window above the congregation's where beautiful and huge snow flakes floated down during the entire service up until the singing of the doxology! As Pastor Charles Edward was preaching from John 12:1-8 about appreciation I couldn't help but feel a bit of appreciation that this was a pretty cozy building with some really decent people where and with whom I just might be spending the rest of the day and night. But no, this is Oklahoma and it is March and although I have swept as much snow off of a vehicle it's never been as wet as the huge mounds that had accumulated in those couple of hours.