Spring Has, Indeed, Sprung!

We had our first daffodil yesterday. At 4,100 feet in elevation, we're a little behind many places. We had a contest going to see who would spy the first one and the winner was (Tah-Dah) Rachell. They seem to be very late this year but the snow is almost completely gone. This is good. We had a big bonfire after cleanup yesterday. We roasted hot dogs while the fire was hot, giving us Char-dogs. Still tasty. I have some blackberry plants to put in this next week - hope springs eternal that I will one day reap a harvest.

This is my favorite time of year. All the plants yawn, stretch, and reach for the sun. They put on such a glorious show that it's very easy to be joyful. Hooray for Spring!

Sunrise

Getting up in the middle of the night (before 6 a.m.) has its advantages. OK, it has ONE advantage: I have seen some spectacular sunrises. My early rising, coupled with the fact that I live in the mountains on the west side of the valley, have given me some panoramas. This morning, and for the last several, the sun has looked like molten gold as it spills over the hills in the east. First comes a pinkish glow. After that, it starts turning reddish-gold. Just before it pops out over the tops of its barriers, the rich red comes. It can be blinding. I suppose if that were the last thing I saw in this life I'd count it a full life. That, and grandbaby smiles.

Spring Break Travel

We had such fun visiting far-away family during Spring Break. Coming home is never fun, but it is a necessity.

We had planned to go to church and leave directly from church. Ah, the "best-laid plans..." A couple of hours before church, it began to snow, heavily. It's almost April for pity's sake! We decided to forego church (truly a tough decision) and head out. This would add 4 hours to our traveling window. We spent 2 hours getting from SLC to Tremonton at 40 miles per hour with the 4-wheel drive one. I thought about putting the posi-track on, but that might have been overkill. At Tremonton we spotted blue in the sky and headed for it. Cool. Alas, Wind can be blue. We had wind, heavy wind, from Snowvilled to Boise. Filling up at Burley was nasty as we had to get out of the car. We averaged 15 mpg for that leg of the trip.

After we arrived in Boise and visited family we headed out again. Arriving in our valley we saw a calm and beautiful evening with the sun shining brightly. Oregon rocks!

Changing the clock

For starters, we have "early" church, at 9:00 a.m. This is always difficult during the Spring time change, more so with children. But, we usually manage. I dutifully set my alarm an hour ahead last night, which was 5:45 a.m., the time I usually get up on weekdays. When it went off, I groaned and moaned but finally got up. I went into the bathroom and next to my bleary-eyed face was a clock saying that it was shortly after 5:00 a.m. I had forgotten that my clock can "think" and resets itself automatically. Dare I admit it, but I think I got up at 4:45 a.m. for church?

The children are VERY lucky I figured it out before I woke them.

Sharing

Each of us shares the space where we live. I'm told that cats who aren't yours are not a blessing. This is true. I love my cats and will put up with a lot from them as we share space.

Interestingly, David does not share my sentiments. The cats will sleep on my bed when he is not there but won't come near it when he is. I think that is due, in large measure, to the fact that he will launch them from the bed. They don't like that.

Right now I have a cat in front of my monitor and I have to peer around her as I post. I could move her, but we share. On her terms.

"Winter" Colds

Now and again I hear people bemoan colds of various seasons. Colds are nasty, no matter the season. Some things I know are: Colds are a virus, all colds are different, and I've had several in my life. Now, shouldn't I be getting immune to some of them?

The trouble with feeling poorly is that one becomes unable to appreciate any goodness in life. This helps me to understand and appreciate my general good health. It's just on hiatus at the moment.

Hidden Things

Today on the early morning bus run I saw a pair of foxes. The one was running across the field and the other was waiting ahead. That paled in comparison to what my neighbor saw on the bridge: a young cougar. Not a puma or a mountain lion, but a cougar. It was a young one, apparently out for a morning walk.

Now, I think this cat has been here all along. I think that, because we didn't see him/her, we might think he wasn't there. We've walked that bridge many times, living life in denial that we were sharing it with such a powerful predator.

And, speaking of predators, I remain grateful that we have no rattlesnakes. Many places in northeast Oregon do. They, too, hide very well.