Cold Weather Essentials

The leaves are a far-off memory (at least here), the winds that are blowing across the fields are no longer the balmy summer breezes, but chilly harbingers of cold winter storms, the air is snapping with static electricity.  Winter is (almost) here in the middle.  Which means, I am stocking up on some essentials to see us through.  In the spirit of the cozy season, I thought I would share with you some of my favorites. 

During the summer, my skin is supple.  Smooth.  Perfect.  Yet once winter rolls around it is as if an arid desert sets up shop over my extremities.  I am suddenly chapped, itchy, and generally miserable.  I haven't found the perfect lotion yet-I am still on the lookout.  But I have found the perfect lip remedy that keeps me from peeling my entire face off during blizzard conditions.  Carmex. 

Oh that perfect yellow tin of healing balm.  Your red banner and white lettering reassure me that healing is close at hand.  My chapped lips will be soothed.  This Midwestern staple (since 1937) is one I could never face winter without.  It can be found in nearly every coat pocket of mine, purse, and work bag.  And it is easy on the purse strings, so stock up.  Then pick up a few for stocking stuffers.  Your family will thank you!

 

As a school counselor, married to a school administrator, with a child in elementary school, it is inevitable one of us-if not all-will come down with a nasty cold at some point during the winter.  No amount of hand washing and personal hygiene and vitamin C seems to prevent this from happening.  When the cold sets in, there are only a few things I want to pull off the shelf in our kitchen to cure what ails me (aside from regular dosing of hot toddys made with good whiskey, lemon, and honey). 

       

Bigelow's Lemon Lift Tea and Mrs. Weiss' Chicken (flavor) Kluski Noodle Soup are the two make-me-feel-better comfort foods I keep stocked in the pantry for the occasion that a cold will strike.  I have both right now.  Of course, if he isn't felled by the same illness, my husband usually will whip up a batch of his from-scratch, no recipe involved, warm chocolate pudding when I'm sick.  It warms you to your toes and is the ultimate in comfort food.  But these two-tea and soup-are what I've turned to since I was a little girl.  And as long as they're on the market, I will continue to do so. 

Chili Powder is always in our pantry.  We use it as a base spice for many dishes.  Yet in the winter it becomes essential.  My husband makes a chili that will make you swoon.  If a blizzard is in the forecast we don't stock up on bread and milk.  Nope.  We grab cans of beans, some vegetable juice, ground beef and spicy sausage.  The forecast on TV may be for snow, but in our house it is for a large batch of chili served up with peanut butter sandwiches in front of a roaring fire.  We will have leftovers for days and enough to freeze for weeknight meals, so going without the essential ingredient is unthinkable.

Finally the slipper to end all slippers.  I've been wearing these slippers, LL Bean's Wicked Good Slippers since I was 14.  In that time span I've gone through all of two pairs.  Honestly, I would only have gone through one if I hadn't gone up a size after having our son.  There isn't a better slipper on the market.  I beg you to find me one.  They are warm without making your feet all gross and sweaty.  They are soft and delicious.  (yes, I just called a slipper delicious, what of it?)  If you live anywhere that has chilly to absolutely freezing mornings, I can't encourage you strongly enough to invest in a pair.  Your feet will not regret it.

So that wraps it up readers-my list of essentials for this season.  The I-can't-live-without-items when the snow sets in.  Feel free to add yours.  I am open for suggestions!  And if you have the perfect lotion for me to keep the desert-dry skin at bay, by all means let me know! 

Currently

Drawing robots. All kinds of robots. Self as robot. Self looking at robots. Robot doors. Robot monsters. It is robot mania up in here. Our boy has discovered that blank pages are cooler than coloring books, and is currently filling up every blank piece of paper he can find with robots. Lots of robots.

Healing from illness.  We have had (in no particular order) fevers, boils, bacterial infections, colds, throat infections, stomach illnesses, and warts. The month of October is typically when we raise the white flag of surrender to our profession (school employees unite!) and succumb to illness.  Lots of fluids. Lots of medicine. Lots of laying around.  This is the order of the day.

Feeling exhaustified of all the election coverage. We live in the battle-ist of battle ground states. In the county that seems to predict the way our state will go. As our county votes, so goes Ohio.  As Ohio goes, so goes the election. Needless to say, our voice mailbox was filled (25 messages!) with campaign calls.  Our mailbox gets stuffed with fliers and mailers.  Just yesterday we had two polling calls.  Two! I love politics.  I love to vote. (haven't missed an election yet in my voting years) But this is making even me exhausted.

Anticipating winter. I know I will probably regret this sometime in February, but I am feeling ready for the cold and wind.  I am looking forward to sweaters and slippers and fires and hot mugs of beverages that warm me to my toes.  I am excited for snuggling under blankets as the winds howl outside.  This winter, I want some snow.  Or a repeat of last winter when it was warm and sunny.  Nothing in the middle.  I hate chilly and muddy winters.

Savoring the last of the morning's coffee.  Almost lunchtime.  Nothing I love more than my morning cup o joe.  It is meditative.  It is my zen.  Time to stir the cream.

Around Here

Stopped by my favorite morning read, chookooloonks and saw Karen's post titled "Around Here" and loved it. What a great way to capture what is going on in your life at this very moment. It was inspired by Ali Edwards post by the same title. I read both and the posts in the blogasphere that have spun off from Ali's original one and was inspired by all the simple wonderful that is going on in everyday lives. I have gotten myself into a bit of a funk...feeling anxiety and not handling it well. So I will try my hand at this meditative writing today and see where it takes me. Trying to remember that the little things are good even when my head is a crazy jumbled up mess.

Listening to my career tech seniors talk to my sophomore students about their programs. They are so proud of all they have learned so far and love sharing their knowledge with others. I am so proud of the wonderful young adults they have grown into. I have said it one million times, but this is the best part of my job. I get to be the cheerleader on the sideline as they grow from young teen into poised and career-focused adults.

Enjoying the fall colors and harvest moon. The slow bleed of yellow, orange, red, gold and brown over the greens of summer has begun. As I drove to work this morning it was more noticible than it was last week. When combined with the light fog, perfect sunrise and lingering harvest moon, it made for a perfect first day of October.

Cooking one of our favorite cool weather comfort dishes. My husband invented the quick Swiss steak nearly ten years ago on a weeknight when we were all starving and it has become a staple during our fall and winter meal plans. I have often said the man could create a meal out of duct tape, crackers and canned tuna! The Swiss steak recipe is simple: sauté some onion until it is softened (use your choice of fat-oil, butter, etc), deglaze with a little beef broth (or use the liquid in your canned beef), dump in one can of beef, add tomato paste to taste, salt, ground black pepper, a dash of Tabasco, then serve over mashed potatoes. If you like extra gravy like I do, add more beef broth and tomato paste. This will stick to your ribs and then some!

Looking forward to the coming months. As much as I try to focus on living for the now and not wishing my current days away so I can hurry up and get to the next, I can't help but feel some excitement for the coming Thanksgiving holiday and all the family/friend gatherings that come between Thanksgiving and the New Year. It gives us a chance, even in a hectic time of the year, to slow down and enjoy some time with those we love yet see so little of.

Breathing. My husband reminds me to do this. Even when my anxiety builds. Even when I am getting in a funk. He reminds me to take in deep breaths and let go. He is certainly a steadying influence in my days. And now when I feel that anxiety building, I will remember to breathe and relax.

So, what is going on right now in your days? Let us know and post your links to Ali's post with mine and the others. I can't wait to read it!

Monday Musings

It is Monday. It is autumn. I have been neglecting this space horribly. (Abject apologies friends)

Here is a random list of thoughts for you today. I promise more writing soon. Life isn't as hectic as it was even one week ago, which allows for the creative space in my brain to function again.

1. Isn't this pretty? Stunning? The sunrises as I drive to work each morning are enough to take your breath away. Seriously. This photo only had one alteration on it-I brightened up the dark shadow on the bean field the sun created. The rest is as I saw it. I have said it one million times before-I may not be a waking up kind of gal, but I have certainly grown into a morning loving person.

 

2. Learning the rules is hard. Our boy is loving kindergarten, but struggling with this whole rules thing. Someday he will be an excellent apology maker.

3. Lave the gun, take the cannoli. After Challenge Day ends, my husband and son take me to dinner at our favorite Italian restaurant in the area: Ciao Ristorante. They have this bolognese that will make your knees weak. It is the stuff dreams are made of. And the cannoli? Filled upon order so the shells are crisp, the ricotta cream is fresh, and you swoon. Not to mention the very best cappuccino I've had outside of Italy. It was just the food I needed to restore my energies after a draining few weeks.

4. Coffee. Oh how I love thee. As a small girl I loved to put the cream into my grandpa's coffee when we would go to dinner. To watch that swirl as it mushroomed up from below to the surface and patterned through the mug. Then to disrupt the dark vs light with the spoon and incorporate it completely. It was zen before I knew what zen was. Now I get to put the cream in my own mug of joe. Yet each time I feel five all over again and am, for a few seconds, transfixed by the image before me.

There's my list for the day. I'm trying my best to keep my fingers warm in a building that hasn't quite turned on the heat yet. I am glancing at the calendar across from my desk and notice that it is mere moments until October rolls in. Welcome fall, it's been a long hot summer and we are so very glad you are here.

 

 

 

Wednesday Randomness

My brain turns to mush at this point in the week.  I lose my drive to push through the challenge of the days and long for sleep.  My newly-formed allergies are getting the best of my poor eyeballs and sinus cavities.  I'm not really focusing on any one task well.  This is me today:



"Squirrel!"

I'm back. Here are a few things from my plate today.

1. I can't turn off The Weather Channel's coverage of Isaac. I am a weather fanatic. I am alternately terrified and fascinated by it.  I will be the first to hide in the basement when it is storming here, but the last to turn off coverage of a hurricane.  Don't ask me to analyze this. 

2. If you want to do something to help those affected by Hurricane Isaac, I strongly urge you to check out ISOH/IMPACT. They are a local charity here (Toledo, Ohio) but help victims of disaster worldwide.  Their bucket brigade is an easy way to provide specific help for people who need it.  From buckets filled with food relief, cleaning supplies, pet aid, baby care needs, and more.  What is better is that ISOH/IMPACT makes it easy to help-you can print this PDF and fill a 5 gallon bucket to drop off as a donation.  Or, if you aren't in the Toledo area, you can donate online and sponsor a bucket. 

3.  Tell your loved ones you love them.  Take care of your health.  Please.  And remember that no matter how crummy your day is going, it isn't nearly as awful as what is happening next door to my office right now.  Today a student lost her parent unexpectedly.  Today this student's other parent had to make a drive here to tell their child they lost their parent.  Today this family's life is changed forever.  I know I will head home, hug my son tighter, kiss my husband one more time.  I will say "I love you" more than I normally do.  Because I am lucky enough to do so.  And I will try not to feel like my days are so awful.  At least I still have days to spend.

Have a fabulous rest of the Wednesday, readers.  Do something lovely with the remaining hours.  Then kick it into gear and end the week well.  We can do this!

A Case of the Mondays

It is Monday.  It is raining.  It is humid.  My hair is flat and limp as a bowlful of leftover noodles.  I woke up late.  I got stuck at two slow train crossings.  My coffee was bitter.  I had to take the furthest parking spot from the door.  My car's convertible top edge poured water on the very tippy-top of my skull as I exited.

I could wallow in a serious case of the Mondays.  Clearly, it would be warranted, right? I could mope and skulk around with the best of them.  But I will overcome.  There is a silver lining to my morning.  I will be damned if I don't find it. 

Looking...seeking...wait for it. Here.  It.  Is.

1.  The rolls of single-ply toilet paper in my office restroom (yes I said office restroom but that is a whole other post) were lined up perfectly to dispense as though they were two-ply.  Therefore creating a much happier me.

2.  No sun, no heat.   No heat, no oven to bake our un-air conditioned junior high school.  No oven to bake us, no junior high school students (who have yet to discover the wonders of antiperspirant) who will offend our olfactory sensibilities.

3.  I did manage to cut up a perfectly ripe Lake Erie peach to bring to work this morning.  It is juicy, sweet and delightful.

4.  Today marks the first day we are not allowing schedule changes.  All school counselors who read this can appreciate the relief I feel when I typed that sentence.  Schedule changes are a never-ending Rubik cube puzzle.  They begin around January when we prepare the master schedule for the next year, continue through the spring as students select courses and change their minds one million times, slow to a trickle over the summer when we are not in our offices but check our email, then turn to crisis proportions when we return and the line snakes out our office doors for days on end and we hear "I cannot possibly take '_____', I must drop '_____', my child needs '_______'" over and over and over.  You move, shuffle, shift, and pray as you add and drop and hope the changes will work and each student leaves happy (they all won't)  Then this day comes and you finally breathe again. 

So Monday, you have tried to take me down.  You have given it your best shot.  But I will not be defeated.  I will choose to find my silver lining and skip merrily into my Tuesday.

9th

I started the day with my husband on an early morning walk-a new summer tradition for us.  As we made the rounds through our tiny two-street neighborhood, we chatted about the impending rain (hooray!), the crazy things our son said the night before, about the upcoming school year and how to work our morning walk into that hectic routine, and talk about the day ahead.  Through these walks I am coming to realize I am a morning person, just not a waking up person.  And I am loving this time each morning with my husband.

Today is our 9th wedding anniversary.  I look around my life and consider myself very fortunate.  While I know nine years of marriage isn't many, to some it is.  To some we are still newlyweds and to some we are an old married couple.  Quite frankly I feel lucky to have found someone who makes me belly laugh every day, makes me feel safe and comforted, makes me feel dead sexy, is a terrific father to our children, is a man that I respect both personally and professionally, and one I love more now than I did when we started this journey together.

There are a few things I've learned these nine years-and as it is our 9th I'll list all nine.  (I kid...I have learned more than nine things, but these are some of the most important!)

1. Laugh together.  Laugh at anything and everything.  Laugh at yourself, each other, and what life throws at you.  My husband and I are great laughers.  We crack each other up.  Many nights, as we are settling into bed I am brought to tears from our conversation-simply from laughter.  I believe it is one of the strongest glues in a marriage.

2. Be kind.  I cannot tell you how often my husband will stop in his tracks to just wrap his arms around me when I'm having a tough day, week or month.  Or when I know he is stressed I will whip up some of his favorite dishes.  Kind gestures go a long way in a marriage.

3.  Be supportive of one another.  This could go right along with kindness, I suppose.  But what I mean is that your partner may (will) grow and change throughout the course of your marriage.  Be supportive of their new dreams and goals.  No one is a bigger cheerleader for me than my husband.  It makes me feel like I can do anything.

4.  Give good hugs.  I believe hugging is the un-sung hero in a marriage, and I may make it my goal to campaign for its recognition.  I am married to a world-champion hugger.  Seriously ladies, his hugs are the stuff of legends.  They have the power to heal just about everything except toothaches and cramps.  And even then, you'll feel better.  Don't ever, ever stop hugging your partner.

5.  Keep dating your partner.  I know-in the beginning of any relationship you go on dates.  You talk for hours on the phone.  You send each other little gifts.  Then the years build up and "date night" is usually on the couch with a bowl of shared ice cream (well we don't share our ice cream here, but to each his/her own).  We still date each other.  We get away for weekends and leave our son with grandparents or aunts/uncles (which he loves).  We go out to favorite restuarants for leisurely dinners over a bottle of good wine or yummy cocktails.  We spend a summer evening watching a baseball game.  There is always time for a couples' massage.  No matter how busy your life is, make room for a real, honest-to-goodness date.

6.  Have traditions.  We have silly traditions, serious traditions, and all the ones in-between.  We spend our weekend mornings laying around in bed as much as possible.  We have since our marriage began-first with our daughter (who is now married and on her own) sneaking in for conversation before breakfast.  Now with our son who climbs in for lovins.  We have from-scratch birthday cakes for each birthday.  We take a drive in the country every Christmas Eve.  We see the Detroit Tigers every summer multiple times.  Tuesdays in the summer usually result in a trip to our local custard stand-Mel-O-Creme for half price drink night.  These traditions define us in many ways, and make our life together something we can depend on.

7. Don't look for perfection.  Before anyone jumps the gun on me here, understand what I'm saying.  My husband and I have said one million times (at least) that no perfect marriage exists.  It can't.  Human beings are involved.  Because we are all flawed, our institutions will be.  So be patient and understanding as you move down the road into your own partnership and discover the flaws.  Embrace them.  Work through them.  Don't get frustrated simply because they exist.  If you are searching for perfection, you'll be looking forever.

8. Enjoy the moments.  We are really quite good at enjoying little moments during our time together.  Be it dinners on the porch with a good bottle of wine and good food on a weeknight, snuggling in front of a fireplace while watching season 3 of The West Wing for the quazillionth time, holding hands in the car as we run errands on a weekend, sharing a bag of popcorn during one of our school's athletic events, or laughing at our son's silly 5 year-old jokes.  These are the moments that make up the fabric of a marriage.  Cheesy sentiment, I know.  But it is also quite true.

9.  Last, but not least-Make plans.  We are always plotting something-from the mundane of weekly meals to the big dreams of retirement years.  We talk about how we would like to expand the landscaping in our yard.  We talk about what we will do with our finances when we pay down our debt.  We plan road trips.  We plan dinners with family and friends.  We are always planning for tomorrow.  Nine years ago I never imagined the life I have at this very moment.  I have no idea what the next nine years will bring.  But that doesn't stop us from planning for our future.

I have said often to my husband that as a young girl I would imagine what the "ideal marriage" was and think that I wouldn't have that.  Mostly because the women I knew complained a lot about their spouses-and many couples who have been together for many years spent more time figuring out how to spend less time together than more.  Somehow I got lucky and tripped and fell right into what I imagined to be the ideal marriage.  Nine years later we are still here and hopefully in nine more years I will have a list of 18 things for you.  Happy anniversary honey-I couldn't love anyone more!

Spring Break-A List

Because today is the final (week)day of my glorious vacation.  And because I woke up this morning with that heavy feeling that soon I will have to return to the grind of work.  I decided to list all the delicious things that made this week perfection for a Spring Break (even if the weather did not cooperate).

1.  I immediately fell into my summer sleep schedule.  Up late reading.  Sleeping until my boy climbed into bed each morning.  Drowsy mug of coffee to gently prod me into my days.  I am so fortunate that our son is like me-a night owl who likes peace and quiet in the morning.

2.  Reality TV and my DVR.  I don't watch a ton of reality television.  Mostly because I DVR what I do watch, and then get anxiety when I don't have time to catch up on it.  So I'm picky.  I spent the better part of my Monday morning watching what was left on the DVR of my shows.  It was an indulgence in trashy brain candy.  Mmmmmmmmmmm.

3.  Wandering the aisles of Target and never setting foot in the toy department.  I had a doctor's appointment on Tuesday, and needed to snag a few items at Target before grabbing lunch and doing the school pick-up.  I got to browse clothes, jewelery, cosmetics, home goods, electronics...hell, I even spent time staring at a variety of toothpastes without the ever present "mom, mom, mom, MOM!" nagging me to go look at toys.  It was like meditation.

4.  Sitting completely alone in a movie theatre to see Titanic.  Literally, alone.  I went by myself.  And, no one else was there to see the film at 10:15 in the morning.  Private viewing?  Why yes, please.

5.  Relaxed while cooking dinner.  I did not feel rushed like I do after a work day.  I did not feel exhausted.  I had that summertime, lets linger over this meal, the sun won't set for hours kind of feeling.  It was blissful.

So today ends my week.  Tomorrow I have several things on the agenda.  Sunday brings, well that Sunday feeling that I must return to work.  But on the bright side, we are nearing the end of the year.  Two weeks of April, and May always feels like a blink of the eye.  Before I know it I will be doing my annual blog post about graduation and how it makes me weepy.  On deck this week-kindergarten registration for the little man.  Brace yourselves.

Oh Tuesday

It is a Tuesday.

That feels like the Monday-est of Mondays. 

I woke up with the most wretched of headaches, I am in desperate need of getting laundry done, I was away from my office all last week for training and am in catch-up mode, haven't been running since Wednesday, feel dreadfully behind on everything in my life, our house in in chaos because our carpets are getting cleaned tomorrow (so all furniture is jammed into the living room).

I feel like I am going crazy! (and I'm certain a vast majority of people would say I'm there)

So here is a little list. A stream-of-conciousness perchance.  Something to make me calm down and feel a bit better on this Tuesday-feels-like-Monday kind of day.  Sigh.

1. After tomorrow, our carpeted bedrooms will shine and everything will be clean and put back to order.  And I will sleep like a baby.

2.  In two weeks I have spring break. A whole week of time to be away from work, in my house, and time to catch my breath.

3.  I don't know about where you are today, but here the skies are the bluest of blue.  The grass has greened right up.  The trees have sprouted leaves.  Spring is divine, no?

4.  Thank you Pandora, for filling my playlist this morning with Seattle 90's grunge. I am transported to the music wing of my high school, hanging out between rehearsals for ensembles, wearing flannels and cargo pants and thinking we were so cool.

5.  Speaking of music, run out and grab yourself a copy of Lionel Richie's new album, Tuskegee. Songs like "Dancing on the Ceiling" "All Night Long" and "Easy" are done with the help of some of Country music's biggest names. It is my childhood sounds made new again.

There, I feel a little better already. Today I will accomplish some things. And I will feel accomplished before the day is through.  So there, Tuesday. Consider yourself warned.

7 Things on a Tuesday Morning

Because it is a ponderous Tuesday morning...here is a list of randomness for you. 

1. Those Black Eyed Susans were in my dreams last night.  Yes, I am already dreaming about working in my garden.  That particular planting of them happens to be right outside my bedroom window.  They are also my son's favorite flower. I adore them as well.

2. He made me a Black Eyed Susan at school this year.  Out of a paper plate.  I am thinking it is supposed to be a sunflower, but his point of reference is drifts of the afore mentioned flowers.  And he carefully brought home the bright yellow paper plate flower for me to "hang in my office" where I gaze at it right now.

3. I am vaguely blue that the college football season has come to a close.  I love the sound of a game in the background.  The thrill of overtime.  Even when it is not one of my teams.  Till next fall.

4. Tomorrow a dear friend is having her art show open and a painting of me and baby boy will be in it.  This is beyond cool. 

5. I miss Doc Martens.  I miss the substantial weight of those shoes.  The commanding presence they had on your feet.  And my Doc Mary Janes.  Those were cool and grunge at once.  I miss the 90's.

6. I miss flannel shirts too.  But not carpenter jeans.  Or overalls.

7. I hope muddy March is as sunshiney as this January has been.  But I think by typing that out I have cursed us.

Happy Tuesday all!

Summer [List] Lovin

Lists, lists, list.  Oh how I love to make lists.  Lists for grocery shopping.  Lists that tell me what I need to get done (and then I promptly lose).  Lists for vacation.  Lists for holiday preparations.  Lists of my favorite things.  Those lists that floated around Facebook a while back, I ate em up!  I'm a list-a-holic.  List freak.  List lover.  This girl loves her some lists.


So, in honor of my last day of school with students, I created a list at work of the things I must finish in order to walk away for my summer vacation with my brain still intact.  Then I sat down to write and was still in list-makin mode.  So here is a list of things I'd like to do once I'm done at work this time next week (next week? wheeee!)


Make strawberry freezer jam.  We love us some fresh strawberries up in this joint.  Like for real.  Not the big fat ones from Florida. (sorry Fla, you aren't a bad place, but those berries you send us just don't cut the mustard) Our Ohio strawberries are seconds from bursting forth in all their tiny, berry goodness.  Those strawberries are so delicious you could eat only them as long as they're in season, if nutrition would allow for it.


Plan out our road trip from Toledo to Black Mountain, North Carolina with as many stops off the beaten path as possible.  This could be interesting!  


Photograph the countryside around our home.  Nothing says home to me anymore like the sight of a Harvestore grain silo, or the whitewashed side of a barn.  Time to document where we have put down roots.  And summertime is the time of year to do it.


Get ourselves to the fair! Why, you ask?  Well, to eat all that delicious fair food (fries, porkaleans, funnel cakes, milkshakes and more).  To see the bounty of our county displayed by proud farmers and residents.  This year I plan to enter something, but won't give away my secrets until it is time.  I want to win!


Read.  Sit on the screen porch in the summer evenings with good books, sweet tea, and the cricket songs.  I start my summers each year with Barbara Kingsolver's, Prodigal Summer, and then work my way through new material.  I'm open for suggestions! 


Finally, to dig in the dirt, swim in the lake, lay in the sunshine, wear sundresses and sandals, watch baseball, grill food, buy Popsicles from the ice cream truck, catch fireflies, and take naps.  I want to soak up this summer with every ounce of me.  Who's in?

Of Spring and Things

Because it was feeling like spring here for a while, and then it wasn't.  Because if it doesn't become spring soon, I will begin pulling out my hair, one strand at a time.  Because I refuse to be beaten down by this rainy, cold weather. I made a list of things I am hoping will start showing up any second now.


The smell of freshly cut grass wafting through my open car window. 


Apple blossoms.  Because what says springtime like an orchard full of those fluffy, pinky-white trees?


Tulips.  Orange, pink, red, purple.  Trumped, fluted, parrot, doubles.  All varieties, shapes, colors of tulips.


Leaves on trees.  I know, sounds silly, but I'm ready for dappled shade on the lawn, on my head, falling across streets.


The first hot day.  Not warm.  I want heat...and someday soon the heat will burst forth like a bubble waiting to be popped.  I know it won't last, and will recede back south for a while leaving us with our 60-70 degree days.  But that first hot day is a taste of summer that makes everyone smile a bit wider, eat more ice cream, and slow down some.


I think that's it.  So if mother nature could cooperate and push the jet stream a bit north where it belongs, I would be much obliged.  Please and thanks.