Wednesday

Spring, more than any other season, requires that you exercise patience and restraint. You are not the boss here. Nature dictates the evolution and growth of plant life, the spells of weather that make you wonder if spring really is nothing more than winter in camouflage, the dry spells, the excessive rains and saturation of the earth's surface, the movement of animals through your growing fields. You take a back seat, influencing a little here, a little there, never too much, because your over-involvement will cause more harm than good. But not too little either, because nature can deal a harsh blow to a landscape in neglect. You always have to remember, though, that your schedule is set not by you, but by those forces of nature that sometimes help, sometimes hinder your best ideas for the land where you put in your greatest efforts.

Today is another day that asks you to be patient. I go out to feed the animals and initially I think it's going to be a pretty good day for some spot weeding and daffodil straightening or picking...

(Virginia bluebells)

But as we sit down to breakfast (and I study the packs of meadow seeds I have yet to sow)...

... the winds pick up, the torrents of rain come down, and suddenly the outside world is barely accessible. I know it will be another morning of indoor work.

I spend much of the time reviewing pre-op memos, videos and messages that accumulate at a rapid pace before a knee replacement surgery. Honestly, it's all rather surprising to me. I've had in my life three major surgeries (or was it four?), and my best recollection is that they just sort of happened. I go in, get that wrist band, make myself comfy in a bed, get wheeled out, get wheeled in after the surgery, and eventually I go home.

Not so with knee replacements! The amount of literature I have had to digest, the prep work set up for me before hand and even more for after the fact is... impressive. I can only think that this is so, because mostly it is a surgery for fragile, ancient people. Me, I'm just ancient!

One piece of advice is to get your teeth in order (yes! that!) and so just before picking up Snowdrop, I have all my chewies checked. And here's a coincidence -- my dentist, Dr. T., who is just a tad older than me (he has been my dentist for 26 years now!) is going to be out after this week because... he's getting his knee replaced. Same hospital, just two days' difference. Wise man is expecting to be resting at home for a month afterwards. Eh, men are wimps!

And then the girl is here and no, this is no day to play outside! But she does anyway. For a few minutes. It's the draw of spring, the greening of the farmette lands, the welcoming sights and smells despite the really, really cold weather!

In the evening I cook veggie soup. Patience, I tell myself. This cold spell wont last. Well, give or take a few weeks! In the meantime, how about a chocolate truffle to warm the soul (from a surprise box that reminded you to love every moment)?