Happy Tax Day!

 I'm happy because, believe it or not, I already have collected my federal refund. Since this is the first refund in years, I'm very happy!

My car being loaded in Palm Springs for transport to MA

I have been home seven days and those days have included one day when we were hotter than Palm Springs! It's so odd for me to go from a flannel nightgown and a sweater to shorts! Supposedly, next week will be in the 50s as opposed to the 83 degrees today.

The daffodils are still blooming their hearts out although I have discovered that the pale yellow ones wither and die very quickly vs. the deep yellow ones. In town, the cherry blossom trees and the occasional magnolia are in full bloom. Of course, the forsythia is in its brilliant yellow glory.

Picture taken standing in my neighbor's driveway to show their forsythia bushes. (Their swing is very comfy.)

Man, are those peepers loud! I just brought the trash out for tomorrow's pickup and the peepers are in full throated chorus. In case you don't know, peepers are little frogs looking for dates in the spring. I think there are a million of them because many critters, such as raptors, like to eat them. I am told they taste like chicken.

You think you have the best neighbors? Nope, I do.

I always get a welcome home bouquet! How wonderful is that?

The spring cleaning bug caught me and I still have a ways to go but I got to use my new steam cleaning mop on the kitchen floor and the floor is very happy (and clean). 

I have done a bit of work on the in-progress baby quilt. Yes, Leslie, I stitch ripped that seam with the wonky tension scribbly problem. I'm still thinking on the design and waiting for the fabric for the back. It's time for me to make some frankenbatting. (Frankenbatting: small pieces of batting stitched together to create one large piece. I usually hand stitch it because I find it therapeutic and it keeps some fuzz out of my sewing machine.)

It's raining for the second time. I hope this rain continues for more than the ten minutes of the last one. Amherst has a water ban on due to drought and the flowers and trees are very dry. We are allowed to water plants on Tuesdays and Thursdays but only the even side of the street on Tuesdays and odd house numbers on Thursdays. (Or maybe it's vice versa, I'll have to look that up.) At least I got the trash to the curb without getting wet!

Happy Spring!