certain signs.

this time of year is full of signs and signals. telling me to get on with it and get busy and get ready. the warming, the blossoms, the ashes and the cookies too. today is different with the gray skies and drizzle and slightly cooler weather. over the last five or six days it's been so sweet here. 70's and near 70's on most of those days and suddenly the trees are beginning to bloom. ash wednesday has already come and gone and lent is here which is another certain signal that spring will soon be upon us. easter is my favorite liturgical season, i love it. the symbolism is so vibrant and everything is more concentrated and focused and lovely.



this is a chime cross i have had hanging in my backyard tree for years and years. it's small and easy to miss, especially when the tree is full of leaves. the chimes are too small to ever hear them. i can see it when i look out my kitchen window. it usually catches my eye when i am doing the dishes. i can't imagine how it stays up there hanging by that twig, but still it persists!

we picked up a "daily reflections for lent" book which we are reading from together each night after our regular prayers. i hope it bring us to a greater understanding of the season. it's a good way to end the day and settle the kids down and i am really looking forward to getting through it. for ash wednesday there was a section on spring cleaning of the soul and spirit. last night it was a lesson on the meaning of carnival and putting "death to death." it reminded me of a guest priest a few weeks ago at our church who, among other things, said "be where you are, start the journey." out of context i know, but hopefully you get the picture. don't wait for tomorrow.

i can't wait to get our side yard cleaned up and start planting the best garden ever! i got a little ahead of myself and started filling up our big green can with dirt and weeds last week. it was so heavy that tony could not move it. he had to empty half of it just to get it to the curb and even then, he needed my help to steer it out there! oooops! i guess i need to do that kind of business when the ground dries up a bit! i got a sweet lecture on how wet dirt weighs more than dry dirt. hee hee. i think my husband was flattered though that i thought him such a strong man that he could manage the load!

oh, and the cookies. another sure sign that spring is coming. here's what we had before the girls started about their deliveries.



i have only been tempted to open one box [thin mints] and even that was at eva's urging! thanks eva, they were yummy! i sure feel like having a peanut butter sandwich this morning. thanks to all of you who have supported my two girl scouts over the years, your kind of awesome that way!

it's a gray but a great friday, i took care of all the housekeeping yesterday so i am free today!