I Love Spring

Spring has always been my favorite time of year.  We don't always get to see spring in Montana--often we move directly from winter into summer.  I refuse to think about the snowstorm arriving tomorrow and Monday.  Today the daffodils are blooming in my yard.

Pots of pansies are appearing on my porches.

Whenever I see a pansy, I always think of the disparaging way Mom referred to certain people as "Pansies".  It makes no sense.  Pansies are colorful, interesting, and hardy.  

 If someone called ME a pansy,

I'd want to say "Thanks!  That's the nicest thing I've been called all week!"

My perennial beds are awakening. 

I should be out, cleaning up my garden before Monday's snowstorm.

The rhubarb is taking off. I'm looking hard for a rhubarb ice cream recipe.

Apart from the gathering clouds, it's hard to believe we've got cold weather coming through again. 

Stan and I enjoyed the day sitting in the grass at the park, enjoying the sunshine,

 and watching Megan play tennis.  She's currently ranked second on her high school team.

We are not surprised.  She has a killer serve. AND she looks cute in the school's tennis uniform. See that lump on her left skirt side?  That's either a tumor or where she stores her extra ball.
 Or maybe "a moment on the lips, forever on the hips" really is true.
That's it! No rhubarb ice cream for you, Megan!
 Being the amazing mom I am, I'm willing to sacrifice my hips and eat your share for you.

Megan plays doubles.  I wanted to take a picture without the chain link between us, but Megan said that fence is meant to keep parental units out. 

You learn something new everyday.  I always thought it was to keep balls in.

Megan and her doubles partner.

We've been watching our kids play various sports for somewhere around 28 years.  We are quickly coming to our VERY LAST sports event. We're going to have to find new ways to get hoarse voices, sunburns, and the sore muscles that come from sitting on hard benches and cold grounds....

Spring is Sprunging In Montana

Monday I saw 4 or 5 of these digging through the snow on my neighbor's lawn. I didn't have the heart to tell them the worms are still in serious deep freeze.

There were 15 or so of these in the field near our house today.  They winter somewhere else.  Their return is a sure sign of spring.

The crocus and daffodil are making their presence known in my garden.

 Hailey has been busy fixing her roof for the coming spring rains.

Hailey said  "It got ruined by an earthquake. What's an earthquake?" 

I hope Stan doesn't need painter's tape anytime soon.

Hailey and Makayla revived my garbage can with original spring artwork. I was sternly instructed "do not remove the decorations, ever!".  I wonder why I can never find tape when I need it...

Makayla is sporting a new spring 'do.  It looks a lot like her winter 'do, just a bit longer and wilder. 

Hailey got a new pair of spring glasses.  They look pretty much like the old ones, except that Makayla hasn't broken the hinge on them (yet).

Makayla is really into pretend lately.

She got furious at me today when I told her Barbie does not own panties.  I should know.  My daughters and granddaughters have owned 52,308 Barbies between the 10 of them in the last 30 years.  None of them had underwear. That made Makayla pretty angry.

No one can convey outrage quite like Makayla.

I spent this lovely spring day, surrounded by flannel, slaving on a project for baby Pearson. I'm not sure flannel was the right choice for summertime baby Pearson. 

Perhaps you could wait for September to give birth, Ashley.

Stan spent this lovely spring day slaving at the office. Again. It's been a long week for Stan. I don't think he's even going to notice spring this year. See you next winter, Stan!

She's Gone

Someone has MURDERED Spring in Billings, Montana

Global warming is completely passing us by. This morning we awoke to record lows (28 degrees) and 3 inches of snow. It has been snowing all day. Today's high: 38 degrees. Someone pass the space heater and hot cocoa.

Years ago when Mom would hear about our latest round of rotten weather, she'd say with a little bit of disgust, "Why would anyone live in Billings, Montana???"

Today I am really missing Mom's pity. After her stroke, one of Mom's favorite things to discuss was the weather. Her question became simply, with great puzzlement, "Why are you there?"
Could someone PLEASE answer that question for me?

She's Sleeping

No, I didn't mean Hailey. I mean Spring! After several warm weeks and an explosion of robins, flowers, and green growing things, Spring has gone back to sleep. We've had cold temps, nasty wind, freezing nights, and morning snow. I'm beginning to worry that our last frost date--

May 15--may be delayed this year.

And I'm feeling as uncomfortable about the situation as Hailey looks.

I've been sewing a few spiffy pillows for our front bench in an attempt to shake Spring back out of her slumber. Don't they say "Snap out of it!"?

Of course, if Spring really does wake up, I will have no more excuses for putting off the painting of this formerly neglected bench....

March Madness

It snowed today. Large, heavy, cold snow. I don't like snow. I especially hate March snow. Aren't we suppose to be flying kites this month?

Last week it was warm and Spring-ish. I couldn't resist planting pansies. Mom always used to refer to certain kinds of people as "pansies". It wasn't a compliment.

Imagine my surprise when I discovered that pansies are tough, colorful, hardy little things that don't seem to mind the cold and snow at all.

High today in Billings: 34

Low today in Billings:18

High today in Payson: 46

Low today in Payson 24

I think I'm more the Payson type. Definitely not the pansy type