Out Like Lion - April At Last

March decided to leave us the same miserable way it arrived. Out like a lamb – bosh! It was a mean lion coming and going. On Thursday around noon it began to snow a wet, nasty snow. In an hour everything was white again. I know I write about the weather a lot, but being someone who prefers to spend my time outdoors, the weather is a big part of my life.

As April approached I was feeling very optimistic. To show my confidence that we were done with winter, on Wednesday I did a lot of spring things. I retired the heated waterer in the chicken coop, put in their regular waterer, and set up the rain barrel. I did my first spraying in the orchard. After that I mowed up more debris in the yard. When I was done I took a walk around the garden admiring the progress of the spring flowers. The crocuses were at the peak of their glory – yellow, purple, white, striped, they were gorgeous. I admired the daffodils and tulips pushing their way up, their buds starting to swell. It was all so vernal.

The crocuses on Wednesday.

The same crocuses on Thursday.

Then Thursday came and with it yet another attempt by winter to stay FOREVER. The snow was heavy at times – in intensity as well as weight. It stuck to everything. The trees bent under its weight. The flower shoots folded to the earth. It was so frustrating to see it. But what can a person do? I knew it wouldn’t last, but I wondered how much damage it would do.

Thursday.

The weather changed as March departed. The snow turned to rain. The rain washed away the snow and things began to bounce back immediately. Nature is very resilient. I hope these rains are the April showers that promise to bring us May flowers. And I hope the next white I see it will be the orchard in bloom.

This is General Conference weekend and we have company. Our nephew Stephen Pister and his wife Erin came down from Fredonia, New York, to be with us, and Ben Good, who we met back when Sarah was living down in Pittsburgh, is here too. He now works at the nuclear power plant up in Rochester. So in between sessions of conference, we have been playing games and eating good food, and enjoying each others’ company.

Dinner on Friday.

Stephen (and Erin) Pister displaying the sourdough loaves he made for us.

Speaking of food, my new lifestyle diet seems to be working. I had an appointment with the doctor last week and my blood pressure was good and I’ve lost 15 pounds! I’m getting used to monitoring everything I eat. And I’m actually starting to enjoy my weekly yoga class. Who would have thought?

General Conference weekend is a joy. It may seem to some that watching ten hours of conference sessions in two days would be too much, but the messages are so uplifting and timely that it is a real pleasure to watch. And the music is always wonderful. I love listening to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. And with the blessing of technology, we get to enjoy all of it right in our home where we can watch comfortably. I love General Conference.

Beautiful Sabbath morning.

The crocuses are happy again.

It is a beautiful Sabbath day today. The sun is out at last. It was chilly this morning and there was a light frost, but the snow is gone and it will be in the 50's for the next few days. We are having a leisurely Sabbath morning. General Conference begins at noon, so we are taking our time with breakfast. Today is Dax and Jillian’s daughter Freyja’s sixth birthday, so between conference sessions we will go next door for a birthday lunch. Dax is making his famous “Breakfast Sandwiches” for us. Then we’ll watch the last session of conference. After that our guests will depart for their homes. Then a new week in a new month lies ahead. I feel uplifted and fortified, ready for some nice weather, looking forward to getting some garden work done. Good Sabbath to you all.