1st Day of Spring, Thursday

[Ivy]

HAPPY 1st DAY OF SPRING!
HAPPY-HAPPY, EVERYTHING!

That's what I tell my pen pals in my letters to them, when Spring has dawned this particular week.

I woke up at 7 a.m. and the sun was rising above the horizon full of trees in the forest. It's so neat to see the sun and moon through trees, especially when the sky's a pretty color, too, because the trees look almost black against the sky. Gee, the poet in me is showing.

Lilac, Thanks for the opener.

MT, Do you carve wood?

Harriet, You sound Very Busy today!

(((Twins')))), Hoping for the best for you and your DSIS, both. ♥ ♥

Elizabeth, My DSIS was in the job-hunting dept., too, she just kept sticking with it, like her JOB was "job-hunting" and she landed a really GR8 job! So it can be done & all my BEST to you on your journey, too!

Harmony! I need to remember that term! "Sleep Boat"! You sound FAR from "lazy" to me, too!

Today's the day that Dee & Sunny get to meet! Yeah! What fun that will be and fun to hear about it, too!

I got 2 stories off in 2 days, now am working on a July 4th story, for the July issue, which the deadline is April 19. I'm trying to "focus" on stories because our dgd is in the hospital (14-months) with pneumonia and we haven't heard anything in about 3 days. We're Very Concerned. I've emailed and phoned, still no word, so we don't know if it's even more serious than it was. I feel let out in the dark, but truly understand the parents, because with work jobs, 7 kids, trekking back and forth to the hospital, anyone would be overwhelmed. I try to keep busy and deal with the anxiety of "wondering", as best as I can. I keep praying, too. I also know "No news, is good news." And that's so true, so many-many times. I hope and pray for the best, she has excellent doctors, wonderful care, and her parents are the absolute BEST!

Have a GR8 1st Day of Spring!

[Kathryn-in-Canada]

Sorry to see Mt is still having issues.

It is sort-of spring like here. Rained a lot last night and was above freezing when I went out to get the paper. The temp is supposed to drop all day, though. No sun, either. Just lots of grey.

Slept in. My tummy was upset last night, either from eating too much or the flu that is going around. It is still unsettled. I've had my tea and then my cereal. Made up a beef and rice chowder for my dinner tonight (and for 11 more meals in the freezer when I need something fast.

I haven't exercised and will do a bit of walking today but not near enough.

Was reading the paper and saw that Chromecast went on sale here so have ordered one. It might work to replace the kitchen computer completely since we'll be able to surf (in a limited way) using the tv. Dh wanted one for the bedroom tv but I decided to hold off and wait and see how we like this one. Don't need it for the living room tv since our blu-ray has something similar built into it.

It is noon here so I need to think about what, if anything, to eat for lunch. I have a meeting this afternoon so need to go out of the house. Thus, I don't want to eat anything that will unsettle me more than I'm already unsettled. Thinking of breaking my Lenten fast of soda to have a gingerale.

[lucylee]

Spring-like weather here, too! Beautiful sunshine and warm enough that I didn't need a jacket going out just now. (Wearing long sleeves, though.)

I went to the post office and also stopped by local jewelry store to order two Easter eggs for dgs. Hand-painted by local artist, whose mother-in-law did these for years and years. I never did a collection for ds, but decided I would start one for dgs.
Kinda disappointed with myself. Told dh when I returned home, "My Christian testimony is severely lacking these days."
DH said, "What'd you do, tell someone you were an atheist???"
Nooo... but this is what happened... when I went in, I picked out two eggs, since this is dgs' 2nd Easter... I was going to get a little boy in overalls on one and a cross on one. Well... the lady at the jewelry store talked me out of the cross b/c she said it didn't look "child-like," that usually older people bought that for themselves... So I let her lead me "astray" and chose a bunny playing a fiddle for my second one. But I wanted the cross one, b/c that's what Easter is all about anyway. * sheesh *
I am always talking when I should be listening and then staying silent when I should be talking.
I would just call the jewelry store and tell them now to switch it... but * sheesh * ... dh said forget about it, the two I picked are also perfect for dgs, and I could get the cross one next year. It makes him mad when I waver and waver and change my mind, so I guess I'll just let it go. I'm going to go make a 3x5 RIGHT NOW to order the cross egg next Easter!!! Dgs won't be able to really talk about the MEANING of it all this year, anyway, right? * sigh *

If y'all are wondering why I am up, s2s before the evening news comes on... well, dh said I HAD TO s2s by 11:00 b/c he wanted to get finished with the laundry. (He's been on his towels and underwear marathon, and when he finishes, he wants at least one moment when there is NOTHING in the dirty clothes basket.) So as soon as I got up, he said, "Give me your clothes." I said that was one way of making sure a person got in the shower. Of course, if I had said, "Heck with it, here," and gone back to bed stark-naked, he probably would have let me sleep more.

But really, I feel pretty good today, after sleeping all day yesterday, LOL.

Happy birthday to MamaP! I miss you!!!

[Ivy]

SHE'S HOME!!!

I just found out that dgd-14-months got home last night! She's still on medicines for 3 more days, but she's feeling a lot better. DDIL said the 3 younger ones were running in 3 different directions, so she'd email later. Their ages for the dgs are 3 next month and just turned 5 in Feb. so they keep them mighty busy! I'm so HAPPY I got the news how dgd is home. Now I feel much more relieved and at peace with myself, too.

I had breakfast, etc... Need to have QT as soon as I'm through answering a letter to a cousin-in-law.

Need to read, am falling behind, and need to crochet, too, on gifts.

[DeeClutter]

Thank you, Sunny, for a wonderful meeting. We so enjoyed Mr. & Mrs. Sunny- the strawberries were good too. Hope you had a safe & uneventful ride back home. Ended up it took us each just about the same amount of time to get Parkesdale's. But I'll bet ours was the 'easier' drive. We did enjoy ourselves and think dh and Mr. Sunny enjoyed chatting as well. We'll have to try again for next year.

[lucylee]

Happy dance, happy dance!!! Ivy's dgbaby is home!!!

Also glad to see the Sunny & Dee couples had a nice visit!

DGS has been here for a couple of hours while ds and ddil helped dmom move boxes of financial records. And they (sadly) swapped back trucks and left her with her own...
Ddil seemed to think they took an awful long time to move only 8 boxes, but ds was amazed they got finished before he had to go give banjo lessons! All in perspective, I guess.

And dgs and I walked 2 miles while they were gone, so I am feeling pretty proud of myself, too. Even though I had s2s, I thought it was cool enough outside that I could walk at least a mile without breaking a bad sweat, and after a mile, I thought maybe I could do one more. It is really, really true, as Dee says: Begun is half done.

[helia]

Happy for Mr. and Mrs. Dee and Mr. and Mrs. Sunny getting to meet up!!
Happy to hear that Ivy's dgbaby is home!
Always good to hear from MT. Glad the lumps aren't anything serious; is this a new doc that he doesn't know your history and keeps ordering tests?

I haven't had a very productive afternoon. I seem to either be on overdrive or a sack of potatoes. LOL!! I did go to moms group this morning. I did take dd15 to her rehearsal this afternoon; I worked on todo li&ts and read my book club book while I waited. I also brought in the mail, sorted it, and brought in the newspapers - including a new one that has appeared as the piles of snow and ice are shrinking.

Next:
- finish tidying kitchen; still need to unload silverware from the dw and then reload w/ dishes on the counter
- make my bed
- update laundry
- check on the hens.

Then, I'll start dinner, which will be simple: pasta w/ homemade tomato sauce, meatballs (TJ frozen - I just heat them up; the girls really like these), salad, rolls.

[lucylee]

It's not much, but -- thinking about the focus week -- I took a Swiffer to the dining room; started with the light fixture and worked my way down. I did NOT empty and dust the china cabinet though. That never gets done and I'm sure it needs it, but I was NOT in the mood to hear dh's bewilderment at why in the WORLD I would be taking on something like that. Need to go back and get the crown mold and baseboards.

[Twins' Mom]

So glad to read that Ivy's dgd is home!

Busy day and now I've collapsed.

I seem to either be on overdrive or a sack of potatoes.

This is my MO also. I've had a headache going for most of the day. I had time to lie down for 20 min between a.m. meeting and heading to dmom's house but that wasn't enough to help headache.

Very efficient trip to podiatrist for her - in and out in 45 min. Refilled all meds boxes and was on my way home. I napped about an hour after I got here.

Dh will be home after 9:30 he says. I'm figuring tomorrow is my "down time." I think that dd is going to take ds back to school late tomorrow afternoon so can be a quiet evening, thank goodness. Dh mentioned going to ATL ourselves for something on Sat or Sunday. We'll have to discuss. I am going to see dsis on Monday I think. I need to get there early enough that I can be on the road home by 4 p.m., when I have a phone call scheduled re: temple biz.

[Ivy]

Thanks, Everyone, for being happy for us that dgd is finally home. She sure got ill, it was very serious there for awhile, but she is a strong girl. She's 14-months-old and this is the very first time in her life she's ever been ill and it was a "Doozy" of illnesses. I was feeling a sort of "let-down" and emotionally exhausted, but I got a long letter from a Dear Friend. I was answering her, explaining how I'd not exercised, like walked, done yoga or stretching or anything, for about 4 days, and didn't feel as peppy as usual. Then, I got to thinking, why sit here and write about it and why not get up and just *walk*, so I did! I walked 1/2-hour, did stretches and yoga moves, leaving me feeling endorphins and so much better. Now that dgd is home, we can get back to normal. ♥ ♥

DH ran to the store a day earlier than expected, but he got a large corned beef brisket on sale for $9 for card members, of the store. They had listed something about taking a survey on the receipt, for a possible $100 gift card drawing, so I did that for DH.

I hope you get your "down time" tomorrow, ((Twins')). I think everyone needs that in order to re-group and get going again.

Lucylee, We decided to FOCUS on the china cabinet in the dining room, this weekend. DH and I were just too tired today. WTG on what you did do, too!

Dee, The strawberries sound so delicious! Glad you met Mr. & Mrs. Sunny, too.

Kathryn, Get Well Soon!