April 12th

Why list these days as if they stood for something unusual, extraordinary? Hey, it's April 12th! So what?

To me, it's all unbelievable. Spring came bravely, thunderously, exuberantly. No slow crawl this year. March was silent. April has been explosive!

I can hardly keep up with all that's budding: the lilac. The willow. The crab apple. And the blooms! Daffodils are opening up one after the next.

The weather is warm -- too warm. We're touching 82F (28C) today. I know it's short lived and we'll go back to the cooler days of spring, but still, the gift of great gardening weather is fabulous for me, since at the end of the month I'll have to take a pause with yard work and attend to my knee.

[What does "gardening work" consist of, when you're not planting? Weeding. Digging weeds out constantly and everywhere and never completely because, well, that's the way it works.]

Breakfast on the porch once again!

Ed and I do go to our park for a walk. We're wondering if the turtles are out on the logs angling out of the pond. Silly us. There is a turtle explosion! Is there such a thing as a turtle over-population? -- Ed wonders.

(On Lake Waubesa: a White Pelican...)

And in the afternoon I pick up a very excited girl. Yes, we do the usual stuff at home and a tiny bit of outdoors. 

But the main focus for her is an event this evening at her school -- a talent show. She'd signed up to play her violin and she has been mulling over whether she will get stage fright. Or not. I say not!

Toward evening, we meet up with mom and brothers (dad has work commitment)  for a quick dinner out at Novanta Pizzeria.

And from there -- straight to school for the big event!

You had to be impressed with the dozens of kids who had signed up to participate. Cant sing or play the piano? Tell a joke! Or two. Or three. Or four. Do cartwheels. Or, like Snowdrop --play the violin. The only one up there with a string instrument, properly held, briefly played,  to the great excitement of Sparrow who said again and again -- Snowdrop, I was so so so so proud of you! (Not sure Sandpiper could figure out what was happening. Lots of people, lots of kids, lots of clapping. He avidly participated in the clapping.)

It was a full day. Amazing, beautiful, and very very full!