an April Sunday

Some weather events just stick in your memory: I'm not likely to forget the tornado that swept across  the farmette the week of my daughter's wedding here. And I'm not going to forget the "spring" weather that we're having right now, on this April 15th.

They're calling it a cyclone. I always thought those were tropical storms, but I think the term has a greater meteorological meaning. Suffice it to say that for us, it is a strong, weird, in fact bizarre and enduring storm system that is bringing sleet, ice and snow over much of our state today. This on top of an already very delayed spring. Indeed, I am quite sure that weather wise, this has been the most uninspired, cold spring of my memory. (Granted -- no tornadoes. For this we are grateful.)

Does that set the stage for you?

So once again we focus on the indoors. We have Snowdrop over-nighting here! That is one joyful event! Just a couple of weeks have passed since she last slept over, but I see that this girl is growing by leaps and bounds (perhaps as all three year olds do). Today, she wakes up too early. Still, she is a bit excited and so she gets up, comes to our room, peers in. Ed and I are "sleeping." She doesn't disturb us, but rather, retreats to her room, turns on the light and plays in bed for a while. Half an hour later, she comes in again. We're still "sleeping." Out she goes, quietly, back to bed. and this time she dozes off until she hears me trotting off downstairs.

Are we near that age when they actually like staying in bed as much as we like them to stay in bed (on weekends)? Maybe not, but I see glimmers of it!

I'll post a short string of "morning at the farmhouse" photos. Let's start with the not-so-great outdoors:





And the very unhappy cheepers. (Where's Henny? The darn girl is brooding -- meaning she wont get off her perch on real or imagined eggs. She wants babies!)






Then there are the little ones in the sun room, wondering why one day there is sunshine, and then for days and days, there is none.






And now Snowdrop is awake and ready to come down!






Happy to be out of a high chair. New lesson needed on how not to use new seating situation to make grandma sweat.






Outside, it only gets worse.





Inside, Snowdrop asks for pancakes and maple syrup. I get things ready. But she wants me to join in her play.
I can't, Snowdrop. I'm flipping bacon.
But I'm as lonely as can be!
(You surely are expressive, little girl!) Go find something to do by yourself.

She does.






Finally, the big breakfast.

She is so into maple syrup that it seems the right time to explain where it comes from.
She takes it in. And where does honey come from?
So many lessons in one meal...





And now it's time for her to go home.

But oh, the ice! The snow! Is there anyone who likes this now?!

Yes there is.






One last time with the mitts, the farmhouse boots, the pinkest of pink scarves. One last time with the shovel.






Job well done, Snowdrop! Now let's hope for sunshine this week!






The roads are so bad on my drive to Snowdrop's home that we all agree to put off the usual Sunday dinner to another time. And so in the evening, I cook for just Ed and me.

Oh, but we have guests! Seven of them actually.






I have to smile. It's a scene out of a Christmas card. Surely not from a mid-April glance outside.





Well, we have power (it had its flickering moments, but it held on!). We have food on the table. And somewhere in the distant future -- we will have spring. I hope.