Confessions of a Grandma

I was talking to a friend about the poetry group I belong to today. I was reminded of this poem I wrote in response to a challenge to write something in a rhyming style. This picture is not Old Pete, but it looks enough like him--if you add a good twenty pounds: Ode to Pete Old Pete, he was a good old hound. A better friend could not be found. He never barked; he didn’t growl, But for a biscuit, he would howl. He liked to lie upon his bed. His only trick was playing dead. He had no truck with chasing sticks. He wanted dinner right at six. To fetch a ball, he did not choose. He suffered cats who came in twos. If you should chance to stop and linger,  And you were just the kind of singer Who had the heart to sing the blues, Then Pete would join with his A-roos. Olga March, 2015  Pete was named for a Civil War general,   James Longstreet.  I am not sure why other than the fact that Mike was a keen student of history....

Healing crystal meanings are meant as spiritual supports to healing and are not healthcare advice or prescriptions. Use the crystal meanings  to help find your own inner  truth; what is best and right for one is not necessary so for another.  Some crystals and formations have long-standing traditional uses and properties while others may have newer discoveries of uses or properties. Follow the guidance and wisdom of the Divine and of your higher self when working with crystals. http://meanings.crystalsandjewelry.com/a-to-z-list-of-crystal-meanings/ I have always been unable to resist picking up interesting rocks, shells, acorns, all kinds of bits of nature's ephemera.  I have little bowls and baskets of such things scattered around me.  I guess those things do speak to my soul in some way.  I know that just looking at them, running my fingers over a smooth surface, gives me a degree of comfort.  It is simply a way of focusing on the ...

I started up my yoga practice again after a bit of a break.  I think the hot yoga I took all winter did help with flexibility, but I really did miss the kinder, gentler, use props if you need to, listen to singing bowls,  smell the incense, and meditate kind of yoga. Some day I will be motivated enough to practice every day right in the comfort of my own home.  Should be easy enough because there are hundreds of videos available on Youtube.  I'll let you know how that works out for me.

Dane and I went to the Jericho Memorial Day parade.  Veterans in uniform marched and the high school band played.  There was a motorcycle and a couple of miniature horses pulling carts, the town boy scout troop and a little league baseball team. Best part of the parade?  "Candy!"-- thrown to the kids lining the route.  And the fact that the rain held off until it was over. However you choose to honor the day, remembering those who served their country or welcoming summer, stay safe.

I pay a fair amount to the cable company, but when I want to watch TV I turn to Netflix more and more.  The latest in my to-watch queue is a Netflix series...Grace and Frankie. Jane Fonda, Lily Tomlin, Sam Waterston, and Martin Sheen. Remember the old series Thirty Something ?  This is like Seventy Something. The two men, who are long time law partners, announce that they want to be life partners as well.   The women, their wives of forty years, and who never actually got along all that well, end up sharing a house as they adjust to being single.   Lily Tomlin is a hoot.  Jane Fonda fits her part.  And there are no commercials.

The beauty of spring in all its glory: bleeding heart snowball viburnum some kind of miniature iris fragrant lily of the valley and lilacs purpleiris purple and white iris crab apple blossoms ******** And then there is the less glorious:

The weather was very warm when I first got back to Vermont,  but then we had rain on Sunday and Monday and it has gotten cooler.  The rain did pop out all the leaves though.  Everything is so green even though the buds were barely showing when this picture was taken last week. The grass also grew and grew fast.  My son kindly mowed the lawn and I have been doing work in the gardens--weeding, raking, edging. I did look out the window two days ago and saw a rabbit sitting by the back step. He seemed to be saying something about remembering that I had lettuce planted nearby last summer, and hadn't I better get out there and get started on that once again. I have my herbs under control and I will add annuals to the gardens in a couple weeks.  I have decided that I will be supporting the local farmers' markets for fresh vegetables though.  There are so many and they are fun to attend.  I think the local farmers deserve my support.  Sorry, rabb...

I drove a Ford Focus all winter in Florida, drove it down there from Vermont and left it there so I can fly back and forth from now on and have a vehicle to use down there. I sold Mike's full size Chevy van and our Ford Taurus X.  A little Ford Focus is a much more practical car for me in size and economy of gas consumption. Now that I am home in Vermont, I am back to driving my Toyota Prius, also a practical size and economical on the fuel. The thing is I am having to learn to drive the Prius all over again. So in some ways the car is helpful.  If I miss a step in the start up sequence a correction flashes on the screen.  If I leave my bag with the key in it too long after shutting down--beeps and another helpful reminder that the key is detected inside the car.  Beeps and CAPS and !!!! and orange warning triangles...nice that it is helpful but I wish it wasn't so snarky about it.   Stop yelling at me! The windshield wipers are on when the lever is up...

The annual Children's Fair was held at the waterfront park in Burlington.  Since I had a child for the weekend, we decided to go check it out. There were free activities...and some not so free, of course.  I got off lightly since, true to his family heritage, Dane likes to avoid both crowds and clowns. Rock throwing (such a boy thing, isn't it?) is always great entertainment. And there was not a line for sitting in the giant chair. Go figure.  The super slide was much more popular. I did think it was well worth the price of a ticket for a train ride. Dane really enjoyed that, even though he did have a bit of trouble with the "hands and heads inside the window."  Well, the windows were open and he figured that rule was for the safety of little kids.  My camera battery died so I did not get a picture after the train started moving.

I am remembering my mother on this day.

Thursday was such a beautiful day--blue sky, warm temps (81! but no humidity and a gentle breeze).  The daffodils are blooming in my garden and the crab apple tree shows signs of being about to burst into bloom.  Other perennials are just barely braving an exploratory poke of green out from under their winter blankets.  The grass is nice and green.  Of course, the weeds are already thriving. There is a heavy layer of road salt grime over the car and garage floor.  The windows are super dirty and there is plenty of dust to chase around.  My son was complaining that he needs new reading glasses, so I will assume he just doesn't see it (even though I am sure that dust blindness is one of those things that resides on the Y chromosome). I miss my neat and easy to clean place in Florida and the lawn service.  It is taking me a while to adjust.  There is much to be done...starting with arranging for a new furnace.  Not a happy thought. BUT, I ...

jiggedy jog! I had a truly uneventful flight back to Vermont.  And who would ask for anything more than no events on a flight? We even landed early at both JFK and Burlington. AND...my checked bag was the second one on the carousel at baggage claim.  That has never, ever happened before! Of course, it meant extra wait time for me since I had told my son a pick up time that took into account the certainty of a somewhat delayed flight and my bag being its usual last off the plane.  It's always something!  I am being like Tabor complaining that she has to take this trip to France. There are a few daffodils in bloom in my yard.  The grass is green and may even need mowing by the weekend.  Some buds on the trees.  I missed mud season...although this year it has been dry so, I hear, it was more like dust season. So I rested today.  Tomorrow I can start spring cleaning!  Again!

It was a busy week last week and a busy day today.  I have been getting ready for the flight back to Vermont and saying good-bye all week to friends here.  It is always a little sad, the leave taking, and always something to look forward to going from one place to the other. Bye, Florida house.

North Jetty, Nokomis, Florida: The sun sets, but the fishing goes on.