Spring

Yesterday was the first day of Spring, and on a local radio station they were asking folks to call in and tell "How you know it's Spring." I started thinking about Springs past and I remembered driving down our old road in Rison. The Dogwoods were blooming and you could smell the fruit trees. The old road was so narrow in one spot that only one vehicle could get through. (LeLe got stuck on the side of that area once when some guy scared her into pulling over so he could get by.) But driving down those lanes with the white patches of Dogwoods peeping through the branches of larger trees is a memory that is etched in my brain. That's one of the ways I know it's Spring. Today is sunny and the wind is high. Kite flying weather to be sure.

Once when I was small and we lived in Shreveport, LA, I was in the Brownie Scouts, and my troup had a kite flying competition. Dad took me down to the open field where it was being held and everyone there "practiced" flying before the actual competition began. My kite was so far up, that I didn't think I would get it back down again. It was without a doubt the highest kite in the world at that point and certainly higher than anyone else's there. My Dad and I reeled it back in and when it came time for the actual contest, I couldn't make it go up that high again. How disappointing. I didn't get close to winning, but at least I had the satisfaction of knowing I had been higher than anyone else there that day at one point.

As I drive around town, I see pretty new decorative "Spring" flags on everyone's house. I don't have a new one, but have two very nice ones from last year that I will alternate. It's too early to work with bedding plants unless I want pansies. They are beautiful, but as soon as it gets warm for good, they fade out. I'm waiting on the periwinkles and petunias. Anyone out there ever heard of "Pickles and Petunias"? That is a memory from childhood I have no idea where it came from or why it was used. I just remember saying it over and over again when I was little. Maybe it was like "Peter Piper Picked a Peck of Pickled Peppers".....

One other way I'm sure it's Spring, is that I see SR bring out his turkey callers and he begins to practice calling old Tom. He's been on the internet studying callers and buying supplies. Turkey hunting is his passion....well... his passion aside from me of course. HAPPY SPRING EVERYONE!!!