Saturday, April 24, 2010

Another sunny day. How we love the blue skies. I think it is the 4th day this week to have sunshine. On the way home from school yesterday, Sarah commented on what a nice blue the sky was...

Sarah helped me out in our front gardent this morning. I had forgotten about some tulip and crocus bulbs in the garage and they were starting to sprout. I dug holes and Sarah dropped bulbs down into them. She is curious about how plants grow. Wish I had a picture but couldn't find the camera. I cleared away dead leaves and sawed off some weed bushes that were growing up. Looks a lot neater. Now to dig in and do the weeding another day...other days, for it will take many days.

I didn't realize that I liked gardening until last April when we had a fabulous spring season. It was a way to get some vitamin D and enjoy the quiet on the street before the school buses returned. Last year at this time, I was also working 5 mornings a week, filling in as an aide in the 3/4 year old preschool class. I appreciated silence more than I had ever before after spending 4 hours in a noisy class. Although weeding is a good use of quiet energy, I still like flowers that take care of themselves without my help.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Since early in the week, we've heard and seen the springtime invaders - robins. They are hopping on the street and lawns as if happy to be home after a long winter away.

On Tuesday, the rain fell in long straight strands for an extended period. No hail or slushy flakes mixed in...a sign of spring.

We've been hearing and reading about a new grey wolf that has moved into the neighborhood in recent weeks. Chuck spotted him early this morning while walking Nellie. Our previous neighborhood wolf, "Romeo", disappeared suddenly in October.

I will be delivering a flurry of 135 snowflakes to a downtown gift store this morning. The cruise ships and tourists will be upon us by May. Another sign of spring.

Laura and I sang in the Easter choir at church - a mini cantata. Both girls were so excited about the celebration of Christ's resurrection this year. I see a spiritual awakening in Sarah with a couple of questions she recently asked. I am thankful. May God continue to pursue her heart as he has done with Laura.

Saturday, April 10,2010

It's a beautiful sunny and yes, even warm day in Juneau. This afternoon we drove downtown and attended part of the annual music festival at Centennial Hall. Heard a few groups from Alaska and one from Oregon. One song that stood out, performed by a group from Nome, was about all the time spent waiting in airports and different planes, trying to land in Nome. From the way the words were sung, they could have been talking about Kodiak, Juneau, Ketchikan...or any other place in Alaska. The song included words read aloud of a pilot announcing that the weather conditions might prevent a landing...but to enjoy the flight anyhow. The crowd definitely related to the song. It was fun being there but the hard part was being in a cool darkened room and knowing there was bright sunshine outside.

In the foyer area, we noticed a woman wearing a knitted hat, gloves and wool coat buttoned up and belt tied firmly - heading out the door to the brown grassy area...where idlers and musicians sat in groups playing or listening to music. Kids were trying out the hula hoops on the lawn. That 'warmed up' woman looked so out of place among us Alaskans who were shedding coats and sweaters to soak up the sunshine.

The sun and dry roads made one think of washing the dust off our new car. We checked out a car wash place and saw a lineup. On our street we saw someone vacuuming out their car. Chuck was inspired and I even took a picture as he vacuumed out the car and later hosed it down. The last time I recall him cleaning a car, was back in the spring of '99 - when we first owned the red Dodge sedan, one warm sunny Saturday...and I have a photo in my album to document that event too.