April's Flowers, et al

     It is simply amazing how beautiful April has turned out to be this year! It's been at least a decade since I've seen Spring arrive so early. Denver, ordinarily, is either sparse, cold and overcast or, at best, blooming- albeit accompanied with torrential snowfall  or rain that threatens to destroy every blooming thing in sight ! (Pun intended.) It may be too early to tell but I think this is going to be an exceptional second season for Denver this year just like the old days. Ah! Even when I'm inside I can feel it. The air has literally changed to fresh and even if it is cool there's a sense of renewal and change all around me.

     As a result, I am enjoying this wonderful sudden transition- fully sprung- by taking clear advantage and finding excuses to be outdoors as much as possible. There were times in the past when I would read and write outdoors, especially in summer. It really will be like old times if our weather continues on this new trend and I'll be welcoming it with all the watering, walking, baskets and general outdoors activities I can think up to do. This has been an excellent time to restore my mother's old salon sign and it really looks beautiful. It appears to be a brand new sign but I'm going to add est. 1966 underneath it. Ordinarily, on summer's hottest days I avail myself of a shaded porch which is enclosed with flowering bushes and that is my place to hide out and read, write, keep up on collections, eat lunch and snacks or maybe daydream a bit. It has been two and a half years of mourning best put in the past. I know someone who would prefer I do just that and I'll be happy to oblige.

     My latest gross encounter of the household kind involved my refrigerator which I thought I couldn't budge. It's wide enough to be the equivalent of three tubas. Try to get your arms around that and pull back ! I had to get the help of my neighbor across the street and at first I thought he was going to have a tough time. We heard a crack and then he had it out of its tight corner. Come to find out it was literally stuck to the floor with dried soda (or something sticky- yuck!) and the whole area was in bad need of cleaning which I had to take another hour of time to take care of and get my newly released refrigerator back in place. Phew ! It's always something ~ ugh!

     I have found several similar messes like that ever since I took on the house and I've taken to holding my breath in areas where I've never ventured. I'm not quite sure what I'm going to find in any of them and definitely abhor nasty surprises. My constitution wasn't made to handle these types of vicissitudes. Hard work doesn't phase me but dealing with a mess or neglect that is totally unexpected drives me up a wall. If it happens to stink it's even worse. I never would've been able to change diapers so it's a good thing I never had kids! 

     Now, I have flowers to look forward to such as irises I planted three years ago. My lilac bushes really blossomed this year and I've taken to putting a bouquet of them in every room in the house. Lilacs are the best natural air freshener in world! The iris blades are coming out of the ground so it's a matter of time for them and my roses will be next which are a chore but a labor of love, nonetheless. My daffodils have come and are just now starting to wane. They don't last very long, unfortunately.

     Well, that's all I have to report for now. Earth Day has become a regular fete for me and I can't think of a better way to celebrate it than to just get outside and enjoy it. As a matter of fact it may be our duty as members of this planet. Tell your boss you're sick (of work) and go for it. Maybe he'll give you an Earth Day bonus and knock off early himself.

The Castle Lady