It's May Day!

My favorite day of the year because I love nice weather and long days - May Day signifies that to me... and flowers, birds, green, love, happiness.

http://archive.org/details/HistoryOfMaypoleDancing

LDS General Conference

Church website should have recordings if you can't watch live.  Locally we can view at 10 and 2 both Saturday and Sunday.  BYU TV also broadcasts it.  I always enjoy it.  Unfortunately, Gary is not here to watch with me since he is in Las Vegas.  I have a pretty long to-do list waiting.  Spring is such a busy time.  I'll have to repair the fence damage before I will even be able to move stuff from the shed to the curb for cleanup day and then getting the lawnmower to the front lawn...

And, for help with spring cleaning:

• Ta-da ~  Cleanup week starts April 16 - free landfill use for two weeks for Bountiful residents. They also pick up our junk at the curb this week.

• Free document shredding at Horizon Credit Union April 28th – Bountiful – 105 South 500 West

• For my Farmington family members too at Horizon May 12th – Farmington – 225 South 200 West

Horizon Credit Union’s SAFE SHRED SATURDAY is a free community event for residents who would like to have their private documents properly destroyed in a SAFE and efficient way. There is no limit to how much paper people can shred at this free event. Some examples of items that may need shredding are unneeded documents with Social Security Numbers, account numbers, or other materials with personal identification.

Restless...

Shirley Jones appearing as a guest on the Danny Thomas Show.  Spring is my favorite time of year because of the promise of warmth and love!

First Day of Spring

12 hours day; 12 hours night - something like that.

Actually, spring begins for me as soon as it's warm outside.  We're not quite there yet but daylight saving time is in force, April conference and Bountiful cleanup are right around the corner so I have hope.  I'll be cracking out that lawnmower I bought last summer in no time.  I'm actually looking forward to it.  I have lots to do - spring does that and there's never enough time, even with extra daylight.  I've had some illness - maybe spring will help that too. I think I do have spring fever anyway. At any rate, I'm hopeful!

New start of spring

Last night's snow dump - so pretty - cold, but pretty! And to look forward...

Nowadays the first day of spring is March 20.  I know - in times past it was March 21.  Read here for an explanation.   I know it was news to me and always confusing.

Looking for new hope

March!

National Women's History Month. For more info about this, see about.com.

(photo by Ken Miller - taken in Japan)

I like March because it means spring is around the corner. Even if we get snow it doesn't last too long and there are usually several good days.

We move to daylight savings time. After my body finally adjusts, I like having more daylight at the end of the day - And, it means spring is coming!

Spring is my favorite season because everything is coming alive, the weather is nice and I can look forward to several months to enjoy being outside! After a long winter, that is nice to look forward to.

Break away!

This is the building where I work. And for the past two weeks the AC has been out of order. They tore out something to be replaced but somehow the contractor forgot to order the part (!!?) and it will take an extra week for it to come. What happened to "overnight" deliveries? Anyway, we have been sweltering. Our director has encouraged supervisors to be very lax with the dress code for comfort and for us to get outside for a walk.

You can see there are no opening windows in this building so no circulation at all. Yesterday temperatures outside reached 91. Inside our office it was registering 83 degrees. How did people function before air conditioning? At least they could open windows. What were they thinking when they started building all these places, forcing dependence on AC?
Needless to say I enjoy getting out for my daily walk. Notice the contrast...






Much better view. We have an organized walking group. Sometimes it's only six; other times probably 20.

Spring walking path

I am fortunate to work very near downtown and yet have a nature path with a stream as well as a park to walk in for a needed break during the 10-hour days. Spring is the best time to go walking before it gets so hot. Sometimes the ducks are hanging out right on the path and scatter only when I approach them.
Two roads diverged....
This wisteria climbs right up a huge pine tree. It's really pretty in spring.

My little lilac bush

I planted this little bush last year and it bloomed - so pretty! I have missed lilacs like I had in Farmington.

It's here, it's here, that shocking time of year....

This is probably my favorite day of the year. It's not my birthday or any other "real" holiday, it may be rainy or windy, but it is always the harbinger of nice weather, long days, spring and summer. Even fall is OK before the dreaded winter returns. It kind of represents the longest stretch of seasons to enjoy.

Actually, after posting this original I did get some news so "shocking" might just put things aptly for the new month. Well, maybe more surprising than shocking.... Read Aubrey's blog!

So, happy May Day!

2008 Spring Snowballs

Hmmmm, I guess they look the same as last year, but I just LOVE this sign of summer in my backyard. I only wish the flowers would stay all season.

Spring is here - Turn off the TV

Elizabeth and friends don't even need Sesame Street today! Record-breaking temperatures - 93 degrees.


OK, if you've been hibernating all winter in front of the TV, now is the time to "get off your bloomin' ars" as Eliza Doolittle so eloquently put it. There's so much more to do and even the two Davids I hear about (American Idol) really aren't worth losing beautiful spring weather for - I'm sure of it. If you have nothing to do outside, feel free to drop by my house where projects abound.

Here's some TV trivia from Wayne Parker at about.com:

"The statistics are pretty alarming. Television has become the central focus in too many homes. Consider:

• The television is on for 7 hours and 40 minutes each day in the typical American home.
• The average American watches four hours of television each day.
• Fifty percent of all American households has three or more televisions
• American parents on average spend less than 40 minutes each week in meaningful conversations with their children
• 56% of American children between 8 and 16 have a television in their bedroom
• Only 1 in 12 American families require their children to finish their homework before watching television.

Finding ways to turn off the TV and tune into your family can have important results. Connecting with your children, enhancing your marital relationship and more can be possible as you create positive memories and experiences that don't involve television."

I will admit to deliberately watching the Academy of Country Music Awards the other night but a rare, planned event is different from the hypnotizing, time-wasting, endlessly noisy family-destroying junk that comprises most of commercial television. I also believe that if the TV is on in a household, it should be something the whole family can enjoy or at least not be offended or injured by. This factor alone would cut down considerably on viewing time. Decisions about what to watch should be jointly made and the viewers should be sensitive and considerate of the others in the house. So, that's my soapbox item of the week.

Digging, Planting & Enjoying Spring

I've done lots of digging, weed pulling and planting of flowers this week. Today I planted some at work. They were looking for volunteers to beautify our building so I got to enjoy a couple of hours outside for a change. It made me wish I could get my internet and workstation connection out on the patio. Utah's beautiful spring weather does not last long enough- we seem to go from cold to hot with very little moderate in between, so enjoy each day while it's here!

I bought some replacements for the broken bushes (Wisteria and Trumpet Vine) and I got my lilac bush and forsythia - spring must-haves that I had at my previous homes were noticeably missing at this house.

Spring?

Well it's feeling more like spring and on my walk today I saw the Wisteria in full bloom. Unfortunately my little bush didn't survive - I don't think it was the winter but rather the kids. I planned for it to grow up my deck and that's where the kids jump off into the yard. They did some serious damage to my trumpet vine too so clingy things aren't working out so well for me right now. Maybe just as well ~ I really need to paint the deck this year. If it was already growing up the posts, it would be difficult. How's that for looking on the bright side.

I planted some flowers and will be doing some more work this weekend. I'm also planting at the building where I work. They were recruiting volunteers for tomorrow - two hours away from the phone and the computer might be kind of fun.

Spring!

This has been a strange year. They say it could snow tomorrow. But it was nice, though windy today. I mowed the lawn. There wasn't a lot to cut because I didn't get it fertilized last fall - definitely need to do that now, but it does kind of tidy things up. The yard needs lots of attention so I have my work cut out for me.

Spring Equinox & Pioneers

The moment when the Sun is positioned directly over the Earth's equator. Interesting that it varies from year to year - sometimes on March 20 and sometimes it's March 21. I love spring. I can't wait to be outside working in my yard - wish I had more time to actually do that though.

Ashlie and Olivia performed in their school musical production, Go West! They were cute little pioneers.
Ashlie & Olivia

Daylight Saving Time

This makes spring official in my book so I'm glad it comes in March now, instead of April. I love the longer days and actual sunlight. It's so nice to wake up in daylight and have it still daylight when I leave my office. Now I just need to adjust my body's internal clock so I won't be late for work. So, happy spring!

If you haven't read Aubrey's blog today, don't miss it. It made me cry. This is not the political one she was upset about, but a very introspective, thoughtful and moving piece of work that shows her writing ability and who she is inside - something we don't often get to see in people we love.

Love Thoughts

You know you're in love when you can't sleep because reality is finally better than your dreams. - Dr. Seuss

Maybe we have to meet a few wrong people before meeting the right one so that when we finally meet the right person, we will know how to be grateful for that gift.

Love is composed of a single soul inhabiting two bodies. - Aristotle

When the door of happiness closes, another opens but often times we look so long at the closed door that we don't see the one which has been opened for us.

It's true that we don't know what we've got until we lose it, but it's also true that we don't know what we've been missing until it arrives.

It takes only a minute to get a crush on someone, an hour to like someone and a day to love someone, but it takes a lifetime to forget someone.

Don't go for looks, they can deceive. Don't go for wealth, in the end it fades away. Go for someone who makes you smile because it takes only a smile to make a dark day seem bright.

There are moments in life when you miss someone so much that you just want to pick them from your dreams and hug them for real.

Love is an unusual game. There are either two winners or none.

Love doesn't make the world go 'round, it makes the ride worthwhile.

Love talked about can be easily turned aside, but love demonstrated is irresistible. - W. Stanley Mooneyham

Loving you is like breathing - how could I stop?

Love is real when you touch someone with your spirit, and in turn they touch your soul with their heart.

Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same. (Wuthering Heights)

Immature love says: 'I love you because I need you.'
Mature love says 'I need you because I love you.' - Erich Fromm

Love is a spiritual coupling of two souls.

“For it was not into my ear you whispered, but into my heart. It was not my lips you kissed, but my soul.” - Judy Garland

Thoughts on Kissing

Today was an exceptionally nice day. The weather was fantastic and life is good! I think I have a serious case of spring fever and my thoughts turned to kissing and being "kissable." Hope you had a good day too.

~
"I am in favor of preserving the French habit of kissing the hands of ladies. After all, one must start somewhere." - Sacha Guitry
~
"The most eloquent silence; that of two mouths meeting in a kiss. - unknown
~

“I never thought it was worth it, you know waiting for your love, and then I felt your kiss, I could wait forever for this” ~ unknown
~

"The soul that can speak with its eyes can also kiss with a gaze." - unknown
~

"There's this place in me where your fingerprints still rest, your kisses still linger, and your whispers softly echo. It's the place where a part of you will forever be a part of me." - Gretchen Kemp
~

"Kissing - and I mean like, yummy, smacking kissing - is the most delicious, most beautiful and passionate thing that two people can do, bar none. Better than sex, hands down." -'Drew Barrymore
~

"Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves." - Albert Einstein
~

"What does kissing really mean to me? To me, if you feel, when you kiss a girl, that certain feeling of all those dolphins, like, swimming through your blood stream, and you get those good tingles inside your stomach, I don't think there's any better feeling." - Corey Haim
~

"Kissing someone is pretty intimate, actually very intimate, and your heart always kind of skips a beat before you do that." - Keanu Reeves
~

"Teach not thy lip such scorn, for it was made For kissing, lady, not for such contempt." -
William Shakespeare
~
"People who throw kisses are hopelessly lazy." - Bob Hope

"Kissing is like drinking tea with a strainer; you can never get enough." - unknown
~

Kissing Frogs (From Random Thoughts Blog by Lightfeather)

So sometimes you have to kiss
a lot of frogs
before you find a prince
and other times you
never find a prince
even then.

And then once in a
while someone just
happens in
when you least
expect it
and makes you laugh
like you have
never laughed before
and makes you feel
like you have never
felt before
and for that
time it becomes
magical.

And you are not worried
about how long it
will last
because maybe it will
not last more than
the next day
or maybe the next month
so you make no plans
on it
but for the time being
it is simply the way
it is supposed to be
and it just seems
like a little taste
of heaven.

Snowballs in May

My backyard view What a nice time of year! This photo hardly does it justice. These bushes are just loaded with snowballs. It's so sad they can't stay like this all year. I'm still needing some forsythia and lilac bushes. I can't believe the previous owners omitted these spring essentials. I added a wisteria last year and it survived the winter and even bloomed this year. Having a yard/garden is a lot of work but it's so nice to enjoy in the spring and summer.