Tulips

Oh, don't you crave SPRING? I do. It's so cold outside that watching the bundled up dog walkers makes me want to take a hot bath!

I'm so thankful for my Valentine tulips. Every memory I have of tulips is a good memory! My mother put them in our bedroom and we spent our nap time tearing them apart and creating tulip petal boats for tiny, plastic dolls. My mother always praised the crocus, the daffodils, and the tulips when they arrived MUCH earlier than they do here. All the Dutch tulip growers in my home county were appreciated when the miles and miles of tulips bloomed in the spring. We used the cut-off tops for mosaics on the school lawn when we tried out for cheerleader. "VOTE for Karen" in varied tulip colors was an astounding campaign pitch! I always admire the creativity when a young man gives tulips instead of roses - gutsy, I think. Don't they look good enough to eat? They smell good enough to eat, too!

I ordered myself a book from my childhood recently. My own Edith book is around here somewhere (or maybe my mom has it) and even though her story made my little conflict- avoiding self feel unsettled, I looked at it over and over again. Now I love the bears as much as I loved Edith then. My dear neighbor Reve's first grade teacher handwriting reminds me that this IS a new year and NEW is good. April made the pretty Valentine cookies and I bought a Martha Stewart Living the other day simply for the elegant images. Sue's letter to me is a work of art - even computer whiz Jeff said so. Sue is a true artist.

We haven't eaten the cookies yet because they're so pretty! Even on Sundays, I am drawn to pink so I don't need a Pink Saturday to admire it, I guess!

Flavia and I have swapped some pictures and her little lolly pop bug delights me!

She also blessed me with a hyacinth from far off Rome. Oh, Flavia. You are so sweet. I'm going to put you in the Nice People Hall of Fame.

Real quick, one more thing. I read some blogs today about the pancake day for the beginning of Lent and it reminded me of a pancake story. On Susan Branch's web site I read a pancake story a few years ago and it inspired me to make pancakes for the kids at school. This particular year the administrators had decided to make the kids go to their home rooms so they wouldn't get into trouble around the school. This lasted just one year, but during that year I made pancakes on Thursdays. Now I don't quite know how I mustered up the "verve" for it, but I bought bags and bags of pancake mix, toted my skillet to school, tied my pink apron around my waist and started cooking. I made piles and piles of pancakes and the smell drew them into my classroom. Most of the kids were unfamiliar to me. They weren't in any of my classes but they LOVED those pancakes. They drizzled their cakes with syrup, drank a bit of orange juice, and went on their way. A few teachers popped in for a plate of pancakes, too. I hope that when they remember the pancake days, they are inspired to cook for others, to share a simple gift, to take care of the people in their lives. Elizabeth's French pancakes look delicious today and Angela's scones are lovely. My stomach is growling but I fear I'll be sorry if I give it pancakes. A boiled egg sounds better - I have a lot of grading to do.

Yahoo for the U.S. Presidents and a day off! I hope your Monday is sunny and happy and creative. I may knit a row or two.
(BIG hug and a smooch!)