"Good To Be Alive" Friday...

After seemingly endless torrential rains, winds and wild storms, today dawned with brilliant blue skies, white fluffy animated clouds, and a warmth in the sun that should not be happening in the first week of March.  The air is fresh and clean, the view from the back deck across the valley is crisp, like my vision has begun to focus again after weeks of misty, foggy vagueness.

As the boys and I strolled along the river path this morning, I had one of those moments where you're just plain glad to be alive.  The dogs were crazy-happy, jumping and running with abandon, while squirrels chattered and scolded from the trees.  I took a deep breath of sunshine and river and damp grass...and tipped my head back to look at the incredible blue of the sky, where I saw a dragon with two tails being chased by an elephant, trunk raised as he raced to catch up.  I could almost hear his trumpet call.  I love clouds like these...clouds that tell stories and fire the imagination and remind me of childhood dreams.

On the drive home, I couldn't help but notice that trees and flowers are suddenly blooming all over hill and dale.  Maybe I've just had my head down for so long to avoid drowning in the rain, but today there is no doubt Spring is here, even if a bit early.

For those of you, dear readers, who are still struggling with the Polar Vortex, or are just getting the rainstorms that plowed through the West this week, headed East, these photos from my garden are to help you remember that Spring is really, truly coming...

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The other day I had an idea for the next Scribbles installment, though the story has already morphed from just a short to a possible six-part tale.  I'm still fiddling with the plot--in my head--and hope to sit down over the weekend to write the first bit.  We'll see how it goes.  Unfortunately, really great weather is expected which means I'll have to spend some lengthy time outside doing chores.  I definitely have to spray the deer repellent stuff before I have no buds or blooms left, should do some serious weeding, and already have to mow the frigging lawn again.  Sigh.

Maybe, with any luck, the fresh air and mindless graft will help solidify my thoughts. That, or more likely I'll spend the weekend moaning and groaning at the sudden backbreaking aches and pains that come from the first gardening work of the season.

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I called two of my neighbor ladies yesterday to share my pie.

What?  Peeps, you actually thought I would eat a whole pie by myself?  Okay.  I could eat a whole pie by myself, but thankfully I have a little more restraint now that my metabolism doesn't function at the speed of light allowing me to eat anything I want with no repercussions.

Bunny went off with a nice wedge to share with her husband, George, though I got the impression he wasn't going to be seeing a single crumb of it, and Jennifer said flat out she was eating the whole thing before her guy got home from work.

So, with that thought, I'm going now...to make myself a cup of tea and enjoy the last piece of what has turned out to be the Husbands Don't Get Any rhubarb pie...