It’s 10 Days into the Season, Guess Where We Went?

A blossom blown to the ground, a gnarled old tree and the majesty of the Washington Monument filled our day yesterday. Yes, once again we journeyed to National Cherry Blossom Festival. We go to see the blossoms and have yet to venture out into any of the other activities. That is also because we usually go on a Monday. This year as the previous two have been the sight of the cherry blossoms is awe inspiring. The most distinct difference in our three trips has been the weather. The first time was an incredibly beautiful day, last year a light rain fell and it was comfortable with a jacket, and this year it was cold and blowy. It is hard to believe that the beauty of blossoms transends those conditions. We were possibly 48 hours or so early for the full peak this year but it was still was a memorable visit.

More to follow in the next few days.

Blog Neglect

It has been sometime since I posted regularly. I am not sure why but I think it is because I was starting to bore myself let alone any readers out there. The weather sometimes makes me feel that way. An excuse? Probably. But, I am so wanting it to be Spring sometime before it gets to be hot and humid as it is known to happen here. This year I think it is not just an excuse. It seems that everyone I communicate with is voicing the same desire.

This picture was taken about ten days ago. It shows how uninviting the weather makes an otherwise beautiful beach look in this grayness. We have had a few bright sunshiny days yet they are colder than normal and the wind keeps blowing on through here. Today, it looks just like the photo if not a little bleaker. The rain is truly needed but there is a difference between rainy days and just plain bleak days. Yuck.

On a more positive note, most of the trees are starting to show a little color in their limbs and on closer look the leaves on most have budded. Throughout the area there are beautiful beds of daffodils. Mine have not bloomed. I don't expect the meager little patch to show blossoms this year. They were very frozen in the cold of January and February.

I have not seen any crocus blooming but one friend assures me that her crocus are blooming abundantly this year. I love crocus. The crocus patches I had (above) in Spokane are among the things I miss most. They made me feel that Spring was definitely on the way. The air seemed fresher, the sky was bluer, the song birds were returning and smiles were broader when they bloomed.

An Angel, Perhaps

A couple of weeks ago when I wrote of my friend Shelia's visit I mentioned our brief stop at a soup kitchen. This short stop was one of those times in one's life that makes an impact that is sometimes beyond articulation.

The woman to the right in this photo is Dale Dunning. She was recently featured in People Magazine, was Delaware's 2008 Jefferson Award winner and is a symbol of what can be good in all of us. The meeting came about because the Milton Lions Club was making a contribution to her ministry in honor of the MLK Day of Service. The woman on the left is Milton Lion Judith Priest. Ms. Dunning has made her mobile soup kitchen her ministry. She believes that you must fill the stomach before you can fill the soul. She uses an RV named Beulah to deliver her bounty. There are a couple of places where she uses a permanent facility such as the one where we visited. Her specialty is chicken rice soup. If the wonderful aroma is any clue, the soup is fabulous. Anyone is welcome to partake. If I remember correctly, she (along with volunteers who have enlisted including this day her husband and grandson) serves from 20-50 each weekday. She is at a different spot each weekday. She has two permanent spots she visits the same day of each week. The others will sometimes vary. Where ever she is, she is welcome.

The JUUST SOOUP Ministry does not solicit nor accept government assistance. Ms. Dunning wishes the ministry to be as free of government restriction and intervention as possible.

This woman is one of those who makes you feel goodness is all about. In these very difficult times it is so refreshing to meet someone who is kind, generous and gracious. She lets me feel that "there angels among us."

The Morning Paper

Bill went out early this morning and spent an hour or so shoveling the newly fallen snow from the driveway and sidewalk. He told me when he came in that if the paper had been delivered he did not see it in all of that white. We had what was for here a major snow storm last night. I would estimate there is from 5 to 7 inches of the stuff. We have winter storm advisories posted until later this afternoon. When I decided I needed to take some pictures of what had fallen last night and early this morning, I was amused when I saw at the bottom of the back steps, a section of our missing paper. There were some very strong winds and I am sure the wind took the paper, blew it apart and part of it landed in the back yard.

For us March came in like a lion, this snowfall is more than all of the combined snow we have had since we moved to Delaware. It should be all gone by mid-week when the temperature starts to rise to over 50 for the weekend.

Below are a few of the scenes I captured this morning.

Looking out to back steps.

Nearby trees.

The scene across vacant lot and next street.