It’s Spring, right? Well, technically tomorrow is Spring, I know, but we’ve been having Spring weather for a bit, some chillier days thrown in here and there, maybe a colder morning, warmer afternoon, but it’s Spring, right?
Another way I know it’s Spring, I’m sneezing my head off, allergies are in full effect, I’m taking my flonase, but I can’t stop sneezing and saying “I hate Spring”, “I hate Spring”…I know, I know…I always say hate is a strong word and it is and I’m sorry, but in the moment I can’t stop sneezing, I hate Spring, that’s all there is to it.
So…Mother Nature, as wonderful as you are, bringer of all things nature and make me marvel at the world and what nature has to offer, you have made the crocuses push through the ground, the daffodils are in full bloom, trees are sprouting new growth, the sound of lawnmowers are in the air, the robin redbreast is hanging out with the blue jay, and the snow geese have gone.
Why…oh why…was it flurrying on my morning walk and why…oh why…is snow predicted this Friday?! Seriously? Mother Nature, do your meds need to be changed?! I’m happy to help, what is it?!
Happy Spring to all! It’s coming, I promise! At least I think so…
It was beautiful today, I think Spring has sprung!
Just like yesterday, I had to get on the bike, oh yeah! Well, first, I only needed a hoodie when I took the dogs for a walk around the block, a glorious morning. Then it was home to take a quick shower and get ready for work. Oh, did I mention that being that Spring has sprung, there is new life all around us. I haven’t seen any baby ducklings, wait, if they’re ducklings, which is a baby duck, do I really have to say baby ducklings? Am I alone in this one? I don’t think so, I think we all call them baby ducklings, because it sounds so much fun to hear and say, go on, say it, think it, baby ducklings. Ok, I am cracking myself up here, somebody stop me!
Anyway…so…there is new life in our yard, the crocuses are coming up and around the neighborhood, daffodils, robin red breasts are making an appearance, it’s a treat.
The VW dealership texted to let me know my car was ready, so before my class this afternoon, I hopped in the loaner Tiguan, headed to the dealership and traded it in for my beetle bug, Annie. I got in, dropped the top and the windows and headed home, life is good!
Then, today, for the first time in a few weeks, I took the dogs to the park. I asked ‘who wants to go to the park?’ I actually watched Ruby run and jump over something in the yard, oh boy! It’s been a while, not just because I didn’t have my car, but it’s been cold, rainy, and wet for the past few weeks, and I didn’t want to slip and slide through the park. We did it a few times, but just haven’t lately. Well, so glad we went today! People were out enjoying themselves, lots of cars in the different lots, but the park is big enough, you don’t run into many people.
We met a few dogs, got some lovies from kids and adults, saw some new flowers and growth and we saw some torguga, or turtles, on a log. Some ladies we passed told us about them, so we made sure to look and sure enough…tortuga! The girls were so happy to be back in the park, their old stomping grounds, sniffing everything like it was the first time! We made it around, back in the car and headed home.
Back home, they couldn’t wait to get out of the car and head inside…dinner’s about to be served. After dinner, PSM called and asked if I wanted to meet him somewhere, sure! I hopped on Charlene and went to meet him at Lebanon Valley Craft Breweing. I saddled up to the bar, ordered a tall glass of water and waited for my hubs. He got there, we just ordered an appetizer, they didn’t have the same grilled veggie wrap I had Friday, oh well.
We talked, laughed, planned, cajoled, and just enjoyed ourselves. Eventually it was time to head home, back on the bikes, he revved his engine, I revved mine and we were off! It was a little chillier for me on the way home, but it was still wonderful to be on the bike. Only 23% chance of rain tomorrow, 7% on Saturday, and 7% on Sunday…there’s more riding in my future! Only 3 months until our bike trip up north! Cannot wait!
Not complaining! Yup, it’s Fri-yayyyy! I finished most of what I needed to do for the week yesterday, so I worked until about noon and then I was done for the weekend, go us!
We did some stuff around the house, then headed out on the bikes to the Shaw Nature Reserve, they had signs for the daffodils in bloom which I had seen when we passed it on other rides. I love daffodils, you saw them in our backyard, what could make you smile in the Spring bigger than a sea of daffodils?! I remember back in Georgia, I went with TS to Gibbs Gardens for their daffodils, wow! Thousands! in diffferent colors, shades, shapes, and sizes! I
We got to the Shaw Nature Reserve, went in and parked. We saw daffodils, but I think we missed the explosion by a minute. It was hot out and I think they were fuller in bloom a week ago, but what we saw were beautiful! Next year, we’re going at the start of the season! The nice thing, it got is there and when we walked around the grounds, it was beautiful. I know that when the trees are at their fullest it is going to be amazing! For me, I loved the state of the trees as they were because some were still barren, which I think is so stunning, and some were just starting to bloom and bud and to see new life beginning, wow! We didn’t stay too long because we were both wearing jeans and it was getting up to about 80 degrees. We’ll be back for sure!
Back on the bikes, it was time for sustenance. We had passed a sign for Point Labaddie Brewery a few times on this road, so we decided to head there, who knew what was in store for us, but it was a new place for PSM to try some local goodness. If you go…pay attention because the only sign on the road is a blue directional sign that is not very big, you can miss it.
We pulled it, it’s a big barn-type building, lots of property around it, some picnic tables, the kind that have the benches attached, spread out and a tent frame, and lights strung across it and along the tables, I wondered if they had events there, seemed like it, or muic, let’s find out!
We went in and it’s a big open space, you can see right into the back where they brew the beer, the beer and wine list are on the wall above the register and there is a bar and a few of the same tables inside. They had snack bags of chips and cookies, but no food.
We sat at the bar and started talking to the man behind it, the owner’s dad, and J, the guy at the end who is up there a bit, knows the lay of the land. We talked to him about beer, traveling, food, and cars. He was wearing a Mustang hat, figured he was a car guy, yup…three Mustangs, wow! They had low mileage, didn’t drive them enough in my opinion! He does love them though!
Turns out, they do have events! Live music some nights, trivia other nights and on those nights, they have food trucks, which is exactly what I said they needed! We stayed for a while, people came and went, actually, most of them came, got drinks and sat outside. Again, a little toasty in our jeans, I was good inside.
When we talked about food, J and our bartender gave us some great food options in the area, good thing, because we were getting hungry! Snack bags of chips, pretzels, and animal crackers wasn’t cutting it for sustenance! Off we went to one of his recommendations, Letty Lou’s Cafe for Breakfast, Burgers, and Booze. How can you beat that?!
It was only a few miles down the road, away we went! The nice thing… it started cooling off, not as blistering! We found Letty Lou’s, walked in and we were pleasantly surprised! It was a 50s style diner with all retro dinnette tables and vinyl chairs, LOVE! It made me smile, like I was back in my grandmother’s kitchen! I’ve always dreamed of having that type of kitchen!
Our waitress was fun, very chatty, we liked that. We got down to business and ordered food. I had a veggie burger, although, I was torn between that and avocado toast, good thing we can always go back! PSM had what he saw on the menu…a T.V. Dinner! Although it did not come out on a t.v. tray, it looked just like one out of the box, but better! Meatloaf, string beans, and mashed potatos! I had mentioned it when we were looking at the menu back at Point Labbadie’s and he knew what he wanted!
We had fun eating, laughing, talking to the waitresss, looking at the decorations and being together. Another date! Am I a lucky girl or what?! Wait…two nights in a row? Oh yeah! And we’re just getting the weekend started! Seriously, it really did feel like Saturday, we had done so much! What’s next? You’ll just have to wait for tomorrow to see!
My dad wrote the best poem “Spring has sprung, the grass has rise, I wonder where all the flowers is”. Having a moment, I think that’s the full poem, if it’s not, sorry daddy!
Our yard, the neighborhood, the park, are all in bloom. I know, you’ve been listening to my laments about Spring, but truly, I love it. The colors, the smells, the grass, are you like me, do you love the smell of a fresh cut lawn, ahhh, the flowers, the trees, all of it!
We’ve been having work done on our yard and our amazing landscaping team, Oxygene Landscape Design, has been working on our backyard. I’ll show you pictures after it’s done, but while things are moving in the right direction, when they moved some daffodil bulbs from one place to another and when they took out one of the structures we wanted removed and rebuilt, they repurposed the dirt, to fill in some areas that needed a little help. It turns out…there were some bulbs in the dirt and now…we have daffodils growing in the pine straw in random areas, it’s great!
With this being April, we should have some amazing rain showers that should produce some amazing flowers in May. You know the saying “April Showers…bring May flowers“. Here’s hoping! I can’t wait to see what the neighborhood and the park look like when the trees and flowers are all in bloom, wow! An explosion of color!
Peaches Prattlings 