It's Warming Up Again

I am enjoying a lovely overcast day here.  We have had many very cool morning lately with the thermometer reading in the high 30's when we get up.  These were a bit nippy but by noontime we were into the 70's and that was just right.  Last night was warmer and we are at 74 as I write this. I am sitting on our porch/FL room sofa watching the birds at the feeder and the birdbath.  I still marvel at the big cardinal who so enjoys taking a splashy bath!
The respiratory crud has been making itself know for a couple of weeks around Sunshine Village.  Many folks affected so all social activities were cancelled for a week to try to contain it from more spreading.  It seems to have helped as no more cases this week. Thankfully we haven't caught it yet!  We are now back to enjoying our gatherings.
It is good to have cousin Natalie around again.  They will be here until the first part of March.  We have been going to the flea markets each week and we are busy studying for our American Sign Language classes.  We even went to Bingo this week at the Hall. We don't usually do that but thought we'd give it a try. We had a good time and I actually won a game!  We like the ice cream bars at intermission!!
Another fun thing is going into the village here for a great spaghetti dinner the first Thurs. of each month at the Methodist church.  They really do a wonderful job with the spaghetti and nice salad.  Then your choice of many homemade desserts.
I have been doing some knitting during our 'cold spell'.  Made a couple more of the boa scarves so popular now and am knitting myself a 'fun fur' hat to take back for those cold days we always get in April at home.  The craft classes are still going on but I have already made the Pot Luck Place Mats that will be taught this week. I taught the class last year.

Place mat  with napkin in left pocket and silverware in right pocket

All rolled up for carrying 

Well, It is another day!   I got called away while writing and am now back at it!  It reminds me of Spring at home today.  The little birds are singing and there is the smell of Spring in the air.  A great day for drying the clothes on the line with this nice breeze. Always the scents and sounds of spring bring back good memories of the days when growing up, and on a break from school, my friend Janie and I would plan a little jaunt back into the woods to spend the day.  She being a great girl scout and me just a follower in awe of learning all this survival and self efficiency stuff.  We'd stop at the general store first to get some meat..pork chops or burger then raid Mrs. P's pantry for some potatoes and maybe some carrots and onions.  Then with all in the backpack off we'd go.  The snow had melted a lot by late March or early April when we had our Easter break from school.  So we usually didn't need any snowshoes to cross the pastures.  We'd head up toward the mountain following a stream that was flowing full as it carried the new melted snow along on it's way down to the valley and the river. It wasn't far from home so we weren't long getting to a great spot where the brook split for a ways leaving a nice island there in the middle.  It was this neat place where we decided to build a lean-to and make 'camp'.  Of course we had a nice little hatchet along to hew down some small pines or some big branches from a big one.  With these and some rope we fashioned a cool lean-to.  The pine smelled so good, and provided a nice little shelter from the still chilly wind.  Next we had to fashion a fireplace on which to cook our lunch.  I think we did the fire pit first so we could roast our potatoes when it burned down a bit.  The firewood was pretty green but we managed somehow to get it going pretty good.  We spent the whole day up there building and cooking and eating.  I can still smell the fire and hear it snap and pop as we added more dead pine to it to keep it blazing.  We forgot to haul along something to sit on in our cozy cave of branches so we just cut some more for a fine settee!  Good memories.  I wonder where Janie is today?  Over the years we have lost track of one another.  I assume she is somewhere in northern Vermont, probably living the simple life with no phone or even a cell phone, back in the hills where time sort of stands still.  Sometimes when my computer doesn't respond properly or I am having trouble understanding the new cell phone, I long to just go there... get some chickens to feed...buy a couple of goats to milk, can the TV and LIVE!!!  Maybe snowshoe out into the woods and cook supper on an open fire... just for fun! 

You have a great day.... don't do to much technical stuff and stop to smell the spring or the roses or woodsmoke or feel the rain on your face or better yet let some snowflakes melt on your tongue!!