April
The wind, it has the softest sound.
It’s waking up the buds on trees.
The song of birds heard all around,
The crocus has some honeybees
I think spring is a special time
When we awake from winter’s pall.
It’s then when everything on earth
Heeds the get up, get going call.
I sit in each sunbeam I find
To warm my old bones and get the urge
To open windows, knock down webs
To do the annual spring-cleaning purge.
But, that’s it, that’s all, that’s in the past
I sit and think, remember when
And wish some life for these old bones,
That I could do what I did back then.
But wind chimes sing, and so do I.
Another year did I survive?
Accept what is, that I can’t change,
And enjoy the fact that I’m alive.
Pat Hall
April 19, 2017
I did a V for victory sign in the night with my toes many times, with a scream and spasms (more screams) to the top of my legs, let me know I have some! A minimal amount of pick up sticks and raking around the tree, bagged a few leaves, picked up some plant material for roadside flowers. The bees went to Susan and Simon’s, nobody there. So drove to Pauline and Wayne’s, and got into a Tiki game there. I even won one! (Should have had a lottery ticket!) Brought Mum home.
Earlier today seven tables for cribbage, a lot of fun, great food, thanks. High hand, Rick, 24; perfect score, Lori and Rick, 968; second, Patricia and Laura, 935; third, Margaret and Lorrie, 928; low, Gib and Florence, 786; door, Sandra, Joy and Betty.
The east wind this Tuesday morning is making the wind chimes sing. I’ve been enjoying the sun for the last couple of hours. I do love my back yard birds and stuff, cats surround me too. I’m feeding a hawk again. I didn’t see any feathers fly when it made a speedy pass through, and a large hawk too was floating high above. The birds on the elm are looking ripe? And jay call and chickadees are so sweet and tame; they pretty well land on me. The daffodil minis are already in bloom. I polished up a couple of the outside ornaments.
I stop and write a card, and my coffee gets cold, third time in the microwave already. You’d think I’d learn to love cold coffee!
Went home smiling from Mum’s, beat her two of three, then did the same to Sherry after supper. I made some hot cross buns without the crosses and almost without the cinnamon, delivered a few around. Beautiful temp Friday eve, three deer on the way home. A huge dark grey owl near the Blue Jay Creek, and a wild goose raced me down that way too; must have a nest on the roadside. So watch him. Sherry and Dave had just got back from Sudbury, Dave got a good report. We had one game of Tiki; Dave won by four points (well, lots more against Sherry.)
On Tuesday afternoon we were at the birthday party at the hall. Mary Johnston made the carrot cake. Lori Gordon provided the music and Mum sang a song.
Hey, I’ve been winning games all week. I’m on a streak!
I guess I did some Earth Day stuff, moved half a dozen bulbs, bagged up leaves with Skylar’s help, and Tara.
The darling deer have nipped the middle out of most of my money plants. I think that means no blooms till later on, if any.
11:30 P.M. Seems it’s been a long enough day, though I didn’t get up till nine (a.m. that is). Went specially to Green Acres for lunch. I knew if I stayed home I’d be doing something I shouldn’t, and I’m already too tired. After a couple of games of cribbage with Cal, a beat by one point, and a skunk, (he always quits when he’s ahead!).
This evening, euchre tournament, nine tables. K.P. duty, Floyd and Mary Hall; first place, Graham and Sheila, 81 points; second, Sharlene and Janice, 79; third and fourth tied with 78, Brad and Bill, Dorothy and Ken; lone hands, 7, Brad and Bill, and Janice and Sharlene; door prize, Cal Pyette. Good to see Graham and Sheila back; they had the bug! Dorothy now has it, so Cal played euchre with Ted on Thursday night.
Today I travelled a few roads I never even knew existed. Cal and I went driving. We looked at the sad state of the brick house that had burned overnight in Manitowaning, drove the Blue Flower Street. I don’t know why the township doesn’t take a shovel and plant some on every corner and bushy front. Just gorgeous. We drove to Wiky the long way, via Kaboni Road. It’s been years since I had driven that road (really, I think) I was so delighted by the scenery, the valley especially, since I guess when leaves are on, one is not aware. Some lovely homes. We stopped at the Family Restaurant. The food was good, coffee excellent! Cal drove from there, I had never been up to the water tower, I couldn’t believe the amount of houses (still standing) and apartments in that area. We looked at that burned out building as well. I never knew there were so many people in Wiky. I thought the town/village was it, beautiful homes too. We drove streets just looking, and was I impressed. More roads and back home again. (lovely vistas!)
What a lovely drive, saw a Jersey? Coloured cow with three babies, having lunch at Sill Sim farm. Were they triplets or poachers?
Ray brought me a new bench, just lovely, he just put new boards in the old ends, and my old ends were old!
Had a game of Tiki at Sherry’s with Tara and Skylar. I think Skylar won Saturday evening. I know Sherry and Cal beat Tara and me at cribbage. Good games, one a mite smelly.
Sympathy to friends and family of Myrna Clark. Thinking of all you folks in Wiky and the Little Current nursing homes.
When we drove by the one in Wiky, Cal asked if I’d made my reservation yet. My answer: I have been thinking about it!
Tara, Ray and Skye went to Carol’s and Earl’s for supper Sunday, asked me if I wanted to go, but I was puddling around outside. Just got in my Lazy Girl chair when Cal came through the door. So we were sitting close to them soon after that at Gib and Florence’s table. We drove to Mindemoya afterwards for cribbage. I think the games were pretty equal. Watch for deer, they don’t watch for you. Strange places too, we saw four on the way home, but he drives slowly and carefully. Lots of sandhills in the fields below.
Oh, Florence served us good tomato soup cake!
