Spring is right around the corner

I was surprised the other day. I have a lot of houseplants and they are everywhere. They get watered every once in a while but not on any kind of schedule. I happened to look at one of them that my neighbor lady had given me last fall. We both assumed it was dead.

Lo and behold it was blooming. Not only that but it had two more buds that were ready to open. That clematis made my whole day.

It isn’t the only thing in bloom, but it is the most unexpected.

A day or so later I found out that pizza does not taste good when covered in milk. The milk I had poured for supper was leaking out of a hidden hole that kept getting bigger and bigger as the milk escaped from the glass and flooded my supper. What a mess that was.

Today is relatively warm and sunny. There is no sign that the predicted winter storm is headed our way. I consider that a good thing.

Today my brothers and our spouses plus my brother David’s son went out to eat for the February birthdays. We ate at a very nice restaurant in Richmond. Afterward, they headed over to their favorite second-hand store. Hubby and I went on home as neither of us cares for that type of store.

The last thing I want is someone else’s stuff. I have more than enough stuff of my own.

I am fighting the urge to go outside and get started on cleaning up the flower beds. It is far too early to be messing around with that. No matter how nice it is outside, I am fairly certain that winter isn’t done with us yet.

I did manage to get most of the trash removed from the yard. In addition to the usual debris there was a mostly deflated balloon in the shape of a dragon. It was hiding in the overgrown hibiscus forest. There were the usual bottles, cans, paper and plastic hanging out in the yard. There is also a big red ball that has taken up residence in the yellow loosestrife. I think it belongs across the street but it seems perfectly content to stay where it is.

The outside plants are beginning to wake up even though winter is not over yet. The lenten rose has new blossoms. The snowdrops are finally up and their nodding white blooms are ready to close at a moment’s notice. One lonely snow crocus sits just outside its flower bed. Even the pussy willow has the beginnings of soft catkins. It needs a good pruning but that will wait until the weather is a bit more stable.

Sometimes I am amazed at how little it takes to make my day and how little it takes to ruin one. An unexpected bloom on a plant that is presumed dead can change a grumpy day into a happy one.

Winter might not be over but precocious plants are letting me know that the cold, dreary weather won’t last that much longer. Ever so slowly the seasons are changing. The occasional nice days will become more and more common.

So far the good things out weigh the bad. I just hope it stays that way for as long as possible.