Saturday -15th, but really it's March 28th

This day belongs to my little granddaughter, Primrose, who turns two today. She is in Chicago and I am here, just outside Madison. Despite the sadness of not being with her on this day, I have to smile at this unexpected distancing: she is the only grandchild whose birth I missed too, because she came early and I was, well, in Paris.

We live in a connected world and I am happy as anything that I can at least spend time with her via the Internet. I had a little virtual party planned out in my head, but I tossed that idea out when the early morning call came from Chicago. Instead, I let her take the lead, though I did manage to get a youtube going of a very loud birthday song. So loud that Ed, who can sleep through anything, called down  -- how's Primrose? (I had thought he was asleep.)

(opening grandma's present at the breakfast table...)






It's raining hard in Madison, but it will rain even harder in Chicago today. This is very upper midwest stuff: end of March rain and storms. The precursors to a beautiful spring season. I'm grateful for the rains, though I would like to put in a bid for lesser storms. People don't need to worry about tornadoes right now.

In fact, I'm grateful for a lot of stuff. That we have a steady supply of food. That farmers will do their damn best to keep those shelves stocked. Yes, grateful for all those who suddenly have to work so hard under such difficult conditions.

Ed and I merely have to keep out of everyone's way. And to give thought and thanks for what is good all around us.

Which, of course, brings me back to Primrose. Being a super-child, she can give me the impression that she is right there in the room with me -- she is that focused on all that takes place around her. Smart as a whip, she wont let me merely sit back and watch: she engages and is engaging and our little party is a blur of movement as she scoots toward me with the speed of a two-year old on the go!





Oh, Primrose, how I love you! That bit of color that first showed up in early spring... Twenty years from now you wont remember your second birthday. But we all will remember it mightily: the day your smile and happy prance filled everyone's heart with giggles, on a day that needed exactly that little boost!

Happy happy birthday, little one.


In other news -- well, did I mention that it rained? Perfect day for Ed to bake cookies.

I offer help. Can I give you some suggestions?
None needed!
Remember, I worked as a baker at L'Etoile for several years (flaunting my credentials here, just to make a point).
Impressive. I baked cornbread in the sheep shed regularly for years.
From a mix.
It was delicious.
It was all ingredients you couldn't pronounce.
Great aroma too!

It's not that Ed is overly confident. He's just not shy to take on any project in any domain at any time.





At the end of the day, he wont take excessive praise.
Super yummy! -- I tell him.
They're just okay. Could use more vanilla. 

Always ready to tweak and improve.

While the great baking project is underway, he notices a small amount of activity around my honey jar. Well now, if that isn't a true sign of early spring! The ants are back!

As predictable as mosquitoes in the summer, and mice in late fall (except for this year, when the shed cats have hunted down all mice everywhere!), spring ants always come in right about now, looking for a place to settle in for the rest of the warm season. We don't use chemicals to get rid of them -- just a vacuum cleaner. And so we began that routine today. The vacuum will be on the ready throughout the day for the next couple of weeks.

(Well, can't run the vacuum when Calico and Cutie are resting on the porch. It would scare them silly!)






I wish I could tell you that the skies cleared and Ed and I sprinted outside to log in a spirited walk. That didn't happen. No problem! All the more time to look at past photos of Primrose, singing "happy birthday" quietly, under my breath, all day long.