Friday

Well, us gardeners are really pushing it all forward this year here in south central Wisconsin. Six more days of cold weather ahead means six more days of waiting. Holding back. Keeping the perennials in the mudroom. Not bothering with annuals at all. Waiting, because at least here at the farmette, growing flowers isn't a business. It's a hobby and a love. If the joy of working outside isn't there yet, then waiting makes sense. 

It will be a very short spring this year for us.

All the more reason to enjoy a leisurely breakfast.

And to complete the odious task of filling out tax forms. This morning I finished my mom's and then groaned as I got that nasty e-filing reject email. Entirely not my fault -- the verification failed: the AGI did not match for who knows what reason. Probably because the IRS is sooooo behind in attending to last year's filings. (So you print, and you paper mail, and grunt and grumble some more, because it's all such a waste - of paper, time and mental energy...) The end of the tax season marks the end of the grumbling season. A few more days of patient waiting for better weather and we will be on track for bringing that color back into the yard!

For now, the color comes from visits with the grandkids. Snowdrop's school is closed today (I know -- so many closed days in the year!), so we do something a little different: a quick shopping trip so that I can figure out what the girl considers to be wearable clothes for the summer. 

She is the exact opposite of any shopper I've ever known: she loves trying on anything and everything in that little fitting room. But she hates buying most anything at all. I fear she has been hanging around Ed too much!

And then she comes to the farmhouse and we do the usual.

 

I know many of you are celebrating the various springtime religious holidays this weekend and I wish you a happy time of gathering and eating and bunny chasing and bread breaking. It all sounds extremely warm and wonderful, especially if you think back to the past two years. Ed and I aren't big holiday fussers around this time of the year, perhaps because our noses are so turned to the earth and the garden and plants and all those seasonal wonders that give renewal a very nature driven meaning. Still, may you have a lovely celebration. We all deserve some positive thoughts and family moments. And good foods. Never forget to appreciate what's on the table! With a toast -- to renewal and to peace.

With love.