Liz, Thank you. We've had a few warmish days but not one like this yet. One thing that was truly wonderful about this note is the hope it engendered. While I was in the middle of reading it I let Ratchet back in and glanced at the thermometer. It is a balmy 8 degrees after yesterday's 2 degrees at this hour. Brrrr. And reading your writing is a pleasure as well. I'm saving it as an example of how one can revel in something without the mush. :) Jaime > Today we had incredible weather -- the sort of day that one dreams > about in the gray of winter. The temperature soared into the > mid-sixties pressing people and plants to shake off the winter > doldrums. Everyone on our block that worked raced home at the end of > the day to putter around in the garden or tidy up the lawn. Those of > us who sit home eating bonbons while watching soaps all day spent the > day roaming up and down the street in an unofficial spring garden > party. A few weeds were pulled and the last bit of "gee, I was going > to do that in October" work was finished. > > Two falls ago I planted a circle of crocus about 3 feet in diameter > in the lawn in front of the house where we had a tree stump ground > out. Last year it looked "okay". This year it's literally stopping > traffic! The grass has filled in the circle and is a nice shade of > green and the crocus have multiplied. I think that this fall I'll > take up a few strips of grass and toss out more crocuses. These are > all giant crocuses planted in pie slices of color -- white, purple, > yellow and the pickwick purple and white stripes. > > Over in the side bed are the blue pearl crocuses and they have put on > quite a show again this year. They've doubled in the year they've > been in the ground -- I really should dig them and divide them this > fall. They are still my favorites but require a bit of quiet > contemplation in order to be appreciated -- something that isn't true > of there larger relatives. There is a subtle, sophisticated beauty > about these tiny flowers. They have a unique, ethereal glow -- > almost as if someone made champagne glasses of translucent mother of > pearl and set them on a light table. The thin, brilliant yellow > cross inside is the perfect contrasting note. I sat on the ground > near them and really looked at their beauty today. They're time is > almost over now and I will miss them when they are gone. > > There's a double flowering plum blooming somewhere behind my house. > At unexpected moments the scent would be carried to my nose. Plum > blossoms are among my most favorite scents -- this counted as a real > treat. > > I hope you guys are having or will soon have one of these perfect > days. Today was a 10.3. I'll take it. > > Liz > > > > jknoble@warwick.net Smart is forever, beauty is not.