Spring has sprung...

Finally.  I am looking at the pecan trees first thing every morning, searching for any signs of tiny green buds. We've been told that the pecan trees won't start blooming till every last blessed frost is gone. We've had our share of cold snaps this winter, and with each one, the weather wizards were saying "Just one more, folks, just one more."  Either they lie, or they don't know what they're talking about. Weather isn't a science, it's a crap-shoot... in my opinion.

No sign of the orange cat since his departure to the Lake in the next town. I've been looking out the back window every morning when I come into the kitchen, but the only thing I see each day is the door mat. That blasted mean-tempered cat would sit there waiting for his breakfast every morning, and also waiting to pounce for his first scratch of the day.  Heaven knows we tried with that cat, and I'm still sorry that we had to re-locate him. The only other choice was to bring him straight to the shelter, where he would have promptly been put down the first time he scratched or bit someone there. My only hope now is that the orange cat found a safe place to hide underneath those cabins by the lake, with a plethora of mice and birds on which to feast.

As I type, my husband is outside on the riding mower. With all the rain we've had, the grasses are popping up right alongside the wildflowers. We should have an abundance of wildflowers out in the pastures within a week or so... which will bring out all the city-people on the weekends, driving around looking for a lush spot of bluebonnets to plant their kids in for their annual Christmas card picture. How in the world a parent would ask their kids to sit in those bluebonnets is just beyond anything I can justify as reasonable. The fire ants, the lizards, the wasps, the snakes... they're all out there hiding in the wildflowers waiting for unsuspecting victims. I am perfectly content to view the bluebonnets and paintbrushes from the safe vantage point of our porch.

Our special friend Miss C will be off to Washington (state) within a week or so. Her job is sending her traveling again. Last month, she flew to New Jersey in the middle of a blizzard. Her thrill of being able to walk in the snow and dance among the snowflakes quickly vanished when she also had to cope with city crowds and public transportation. C told us that she felt like kissing the ground when her plane landed at the Houston airport.  And now she'll be off to Washington for two months, with the option of flying back home on weekends at the company's expense. She's not even packed yet, and she's already missing her horse, who will indeed also miss her twice-daily visits and training sessions with his 'mama.'   Growing up and having a 'big girl job,' as C calls it, isn't all it's cracked up to be, which she has quickly learned.

But on the bright side.... it's very warm outside... all of the rains have kept the ponds filled... in-between rain showers, we've had beautiful sunny days... and the bluebonnets are starting to open their buds and pretty soon our house will look like it's sitting in the midst of a blue ocean.  Life is good.