The iris is up...when the wind is blowing, I smell wet sod where the grass is growing. And now and again my heart turns over at the scent of lilacs or sweet white clover. I know it's spring...the rain's so light as it sings in the trees through half the night. And once in a while the air's a-tremble with colored wings as the the birds assemble. The world is grayer, and walking from the new-plowed fields I have heard bees hum. I know it's spring..for an old, old book, where farmers and gardeners and townsmen look for comfort and wisdom and joy and peace, says that the seasons never will cease as long as the earth remaineth..so..since winter is gone, it's spring, I know...by Helen Welshimer.
That beautiful poem says it all and it has been a lovely spring so far. April was the warmest April on record. It was a very busy month for everyone too. Taxes and yard work mainly kept everyone on their toes. Grandson Jack and I had a fun picnic at the park with another Grandmother friend and her grandson. We had a fun day and I published lots of cute pictures for all of my facebook friends. Jack and I have made many walks to the park and spent lots of time there in April. He has managed to learn how to maneuver around most all of the playground equipment now, without needing much help from Grandma. We don't do the biggest slide though, I am convinced Jack is not ready for that, yet. We have made a fun game of "follow the leader" up and down the ramp and steps that lead to the ladies restroom. Jack runs and Grandma follows, then we get to the steps and Jack always stops and watches Grandma to make sure she jumps on the stairs. I have definitely gotten my exercise these days at the park. I forgot how much fun the pavilion and stage can be for little ones too. I sit on a picnic table and Jack runs back and forth across the stage while we both sing, "toot toot chugga chugga, big red car", from "The Wiggles".
Two year old's can keep them selves busy doing the most mundane things, things that as an adult I had forgotten about. That is the joy of being with a grandchild, just spending time doing the most routine things, and having so much fun doing them. We laugh until Grandma has to go sit down to rest. Jack has taken a shine to Grandpa's gazebo too. We have spent lots of afternoons out there. Jack really loves Grandpa's little refrigerator out there that just happens to have his favorite drinks. He is growing up so fast and talking up a storm. He has a favorite book that belonged to his Uncle Frank when he was just about Jack's age. It is a book about trains and we look at it every day. I told Jack that Grandma and Grandpa are going to take him to Indiana Beach to ride the little train there. Now, every time we get the book out he wants to know about riding the train with Grandma and Grandpa. We are looking forward to our trip with him this summer. I think we might plan a picnic for Bloomington to the zoo one day. Short trips seem good for a two year old. Grandpa and I are talking about taking him to Chicago on the train for a visit, when he is older. We have traveled several times that way and it is very pleasant, much better than driving. Driving doesn't hold much interest for me anymore. I'd rather sit on a train and read or look out the window. It seems you have to start making your plans now for all you want to cram into the next few months or it just doesn't seem to get done.
May is truly one of my favorite months. All of the trees look their best, before the beetles and other ailments start attacking them. Everyone is busy getting their bedding plants and pots filled for their porches and decks. Prom is next week-end here and Mother's Day is next Sunday. My hubby's annual camping trip with his buddies is coming up too. Then there is all of the graduations and parties and Memorial Day cook-outs too. There is a lot to cram in to one month, that's for sure. I do miss getting somebody ready to go to prom. What I don't miss is spending all the money and missing out on sleep that night. For those of you who are in the middle of all of that, have fun and enjoy it, because you will miss it when your kids are grown. I have a confession to make, I usually go out in my car and drive around town that afternoon late to witness lots of pictures being taken in front yards all over town to see the kids all dressed up in their finest. I have heard of some towns having a "walk around" in their high schools where all of the kids come in to the gym and just walk around so that the whole town can come to see all of the pretty dresses and suits and flowers. I think that is a fine idea. I don't know if the kids would like it, but I'd be the first one over there to see them, even if I didn't know one kid there. Anyway, I hope all of our students and parents have a grand and safe time at their prom this Saturday night.
We had a baby shower for our daughter-in-law Casey this past Sunday, out at Railside Golf Course. This little girl will be so well-dressed. I do believe they have almost everything they will need for her. Lots of friends and relatives attended from near and far. Casey looked radiant and beautiful. We had the cutest little cupcakes with roses made in lemon and chocolate along with little sandwiches and the usual nuts and mints. We decorated the tables with Casey's favorite flower, the Gerber Daisy and we made a cute little wall hanging with "Demi" on it, that hung over all of her presents. We are only about five weeks away from the arrival of our new little granddaughter, Demi Elaine and everyone is getting very excited. Aunt Ashley is getting very excited to meet her new little niece, along with Jack who came into the shower looking for her. He thought she was going to be there and kept looking around and saying, "baby Demi". You have to wonder what a two year old thinks of all of this. We have been talking about her for so long, I'm thinking he's going to be surprised when there actually is a baby to hold. When you ask him what baby Demi will be doing when she gets here, he says, "cry". Well, he got that part right. Guess he's smarter than the rest of us in that regard.
We finally got all of the painting done a week ago. Demi's room is "cotton candy pink" and her playroom/sleeping room for an adult is light gray. Frank and Casey have very steep stairs and thought it would be a good idea to put "mommy's" old futon up there, just in case. Sounds like a great idea to me. I do believe the crib is there and the changing table too. New carpet is going down this week, so things are almost done for her room. Most of her "loot" from the shower is at my house waiting for the carpet to be laid. I think her room is going to be so cute. Aunt Ashley had a special picture made of her letters and it will be hung up there also. Getting ready for a new little one is so much fun. And, especially getting little girl things is so much fun. I cannot believe all of the adorable little baby girl stuff that's in the stores. It is all so cute, it's hard to decide what to buy. She has gotten so many "Cubs" things from her daddy too. She can wear a different Cubs outfit everyday for a week, I think.
Daddy Frank looks to me to be getting a little antsy. Gary and I have been laughing about what a fussbudget he is going to be with this baby. Like father, like son. I can still see Gary leaning over Franks bassinet with his ear down over him to see if he was breathing. I'm sure Frank will be the same way with his little Demi.
April was the month for break-downs around here. We had to finally get a new lawn-mower, a new refrigerator, and a new coffeepot, all in the same week. Things always break in threes, you know. We still have a ceiling fan that needs replacing, but we will get to it one of these days. We are good to go, for the moment anyway. My kids have started using those terms, "it's always something around here" that needs fixing. Yup, welcome to adulthood and home ownership. Something is always broke and needs fixing or oftentimes, replacing. A lot of things just aren't made to be fixed these days. It's cheaper to just buy a new one than pay somebody $85 an hour in labor to fix it, if you can get the parts. Some things yes, some things no. Anyway, I hope we are done for awhile. I have painted way too much the last couple of months and as much as I desperately need to get more done around here, I am done for the moment. I am going to try to take some much needed time "off". Well, not completely "off", but how about, not busy 14 hours out of the day? Just the usual work around the house and at the Radio Station. Things will be quieter around there for awhile, too. At least until the Ford County Fair, then it will be time to start thinking about High School Football and school getting started again. I am going to try to relax and enjoy the summer with my family and especially my two grandchildren. I did say that, didn't I? I am going to be a Grandmother for a second time. I want to sit outside and relax with a drink and a good book. That sounds like heaven to me. Yes, I know that's not very exciting, but exciting isn't what I am looking for, just a little time to breathe and enjoy the great outdoors. Yes, I also know I need to start going over to the track to start walking again. That, I definitely need to do.
Please, get outdoors and enjoy this lovely cool spring weather. For soon it will be summer and the heat will be here. Is there anything better than having your window open at night and feeling that cool air coming in the window? It is great sleeping weather, and I plan on doing a little more of that too! Enjoy the weather. Happy Spring to everyone!
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