Early Spring...

I might be making this up, but, around here, anyway, the transition from winter to summer ("spring") always feels a little more volatile than the reverse ("autumn").  A couple of weeks ago, it was snowing like crazy.  Last week: lots of rain, but also a few days in the 60s.  Today started out below freezing, but clear.  It then warmed up into the forties.  Half and hour ago, it was snowing, and now the sun is blazing away.  

As usual, the daffodils in this area are stunning.  It's a rare home that doesn't have at least a few popping up.  Our little freeway is banked by thousands.  I've been planting more and more, each fall, and we've got quite a nice display by now for a month or two.  Crocus, muscari, and a few other random bulbs add to the mix, but the daffs rule.  I have a few primitive red tulips in one planter, though, that flame out for a week or so every year.  Intense.  On Saturday, my friend, Lorri, and I will, once again, visit the nearby Ananda gardens, where there are at least 10,000 tulips and myriad other blooming plants set high over the Yuba River.  Pics to come.

  It's also birthday season for us.  Mike's is March 12th, Rachel's is the 20th, and Tom's, the 24th.  It was a complicated time, with Dylan off to Columbia, Rachel to Australia--and, well, a bunch of other stuff.  So, for now, these few pics of Tom's birthday will cover it.

 With the new (since Christmas) waffle maker in the house, Tom finally got the breakfast he always requests when asked what he would like to eat.  It's no longer a little joke that (eye roll) he has to pick something else.  He opened some fun gifts from friends and family.  You can see the beautiful bouquet from Pavita on the table.  One gift, from me, was more of a preview that, unfortunately, wouldn't be available until the next day.  I had had to buy the gift card for it to be redeemed for the real thing on Sunday, the 25th.  Yep, an iPad 3.  

 We went for some lovely Indian food for dinner.  Then, Sunday morning, we drove down to Auburn to pick up his new toy.  I must admit, it's a marvel, with it's stunning display.  Whirly Words looks awesome.  


I had decided that I could splurge a bit on it when I remembered that we had a quantity of coins, mostly rolled, thank heaven, in a closet somewhere.  Having found them, I spent a whole morning rolling the rest and counting.  $496.  I was just (only just) able to haul them into the bank in one trip (in two canvas bags) where I, very fortunately, was helped by a patient and somewhat bemused bank teller.  Twenty minutes later, I walked out with feather-light bills.

So, Tom is readin' his books, workin' his crosswords, and surfin' the net in style, these days.  


Gotta run, for now.  More soon.