Note to Readers

Dear Readers
For whatever reason, the dandelion post would NOT allow me to format it properly - even through multiple edit attempts. So I apologize for the lack of paragraphs and spacing. Heaven knows that I tried to make it more readable. Perhaps tomorrow it will let me reformat it on yet one more edit?

First Dandelion

The First Dandelion

Simple and fresh and fair from winter's close emerging,

As if no artifice of fashion, business, politics, had ever been,

Forth from its sunny nook of shelter'd grass--innocent, golden, calm as the dawn,

The spring's first dandelion shows its trustful face.

Source: "Leaves of Grass," by Walt Whitman

One day it feels like spring... the next day it's near freezing - complete with sleet and snow. Mother Nature is just reminding us that She is in control! It's mid-April and the flowers that bloomed in March have either been destroyed by extremes in temperature or have retreated. The winter clothes that I was ever so anxious to pack away have been pulled back out for a few more weeks. Guess Mother Nature wanted to just tempt us with those spring-like days a few weeks ago. But now She realizes She is not willing to kiss winter goodbye - not quite yet at least

But, I have no doubt that spring will soon be here in all of its glory! The robins are chirping and flitting all about. The squirrels scamper, chasing one another from tree to tree. Green seems to be the more predominant color even though there are still many trees that are brown and barren. And, the dandelions are starting to pop out of the ground everywhere I look! The other day, I noticed several of them along the road - some were ready for the wind to carry away the wishes made on soft tufts of white. Most, however were still bright, cheery and yellow. ( I spied the one in the picture above while out feeding the squirrels and birds this morning. )

Many a bouquet of the yellow blooms were picked and lovingly presented to Mom when I was young. Little did I know that they were weeds. And, Mom would never let on that she knew either. She'd smile and say "thankyou" while putting water in a small glass and placing the bouquet in plain view.

Many sunny and warm afternoons were spent lazing in the grass and pulling the stems topped with fluffy white down - just to make a wish and blow it away on the springtime breezes. As a child I never once wondered if those dreams would come true. I never considered where those dreams on downy fluff would land. And I certainly never realized that I was helping to plant more weeds! I believed that they were flowers equally beautiful as the roses and peonies that would bloom later in the season. I believed that wishes did come true and that all I had to do was wish hard enough, blow strong enough and wait ... and my dreams would be realized.

Perhaps the dandelion holds an important message for all of us. Perhaps one of its important roles is to teach us (the adult version of us) that even weeds have their beauty and their positive natures. Perhaps they were designed as a reminder that even weeds can be a welcome sign that spring is on its way and surely winter will pass.

Easter Snow!

For a week or so it has been gloriously spring-like! Warm gentle breezes. Moderate temperatures. And flowers blooming everywhere you look. But, Mother Nature can't let winter slide out the back door quite yet. And so, overnight last night, She left something in the grass -- not Easter eggs like the children of the neighborhood expected to find in the grass this morning (the annual Easter Egg Hunt was scheduled for bright and early today).

This isn't the first time that I've had snow for Easter. Probably won't be the last either. But that doesn't keep me from being amazed at how fickle Mother Nature can be sometimes. Two days ago, Caleb and I were playing golf in the warmth of a springtime afternoon. Today I am bundling up with scarf and gloves and arming myself with a snow scraper for the windshield. It's a wonderful and ever changing world!

Whether your Easter weekend finds you making snowballs, hunting for eggs or - as my granddaughter KelseyRose is doing down in Florida - going to the beach

HAPPY EASTER TO ALL!

Crocs in Sevierville ??

A long holiday weekend with few to no detailed plans can prove to be a great thing - or a disappointment. It's all in how you approach each day, I suppose. Many weeks ago, I arranged to have a five day weekend over Easter. I thought that hubby -dearest would come up from Florida. But I thought wrong. "Too much to do" was the old, tired, familiar refrain.

I also thought that I'd be able to have Caleb for a few of those five days. He'd be on spring break and we'd be able to do a sleep-over at Nan's house and a few fun things. Right? Wrong!

He is on spring break. That is true. We cannot do a sleep-over at Nan's though. So, with not one but two huge disappointments to kick off my long weekend, I wondered "what's a gal to do with a five day weekend?"

Even though I wasn't able to have Caleb for any overnights (His dad and step-mom had plans for every single day that I was off and available - plans that included Caleb and that he reportedly couldn't miss) I did manage to arrange an afternoon with him. So, on Thursday I headed down the mountain highways - Smoky Mountain bound... The road from Kingsport to Sevierville is mostly ribbons of winding road cut through centuries-old mountain ranges. The scenery is beautiful any time of year. But it was especially delightful on this beautiful spring day. Trees in shades of pink and purple sprouted from crevices in the mountains. An amazing sight to behold indeed. Blue skies and puffy clouds seem bluer and higher when driving on these roads. And I find myself contemplating the fact that I can see for miles and miles - and that the mountain ranges go on for even more miles than that.

And so, shortly before lunchtime I arrived in Sevierville and picked up my "date" - a total prince of a guy. Charming in every way with a smile that can melt my heart in an instant and sparkling blue eyes that reflect the joy that is Caleb.

"What would you like to do?" I ask.

"Mmmmmm - go to TGIFriday's for lunch?" He asks more than tells - in the cute way only a six year old can do.

So, off to TGIFriday's we go. I already know what he'll order but he is quick to remind me that this is the place that has his favorite dessert - " A Cup of Dirt" - chocolate pudding with crumbled oreo cookies and gummy worms.

"M-m-m-m good, " he says -- and if he says so, then I guess it must be true!

It is such a glorious spring day that I want to find something to do outside after lunch. And Caleb knows just the perfect activity for a springtime date with Nan - "Let's go golfing, Nan!" he announces.

Now, wildlife in the mountains of Tennessee is unique but I don't believe that crocodiles are among the creatures that are indiginous to this area. But, along the main road of Sevierville/Pigeon Forge you can go crocodile hunting - in Crocodile Lagoon and along Crocodile Lake ... if you're inclined to enjoy an afternoon of hitting a colorful little ball with a stick.

Caleb loved every minute of the 18 holes of mini-golf. I loved every minute of my time with Caleb. Watching him delight in the small things brings such joy. His smile is contagious. His laughter fills my heart to overflowing. And his energy is never ending... it sparks me on despite the fact that I worked two fifteen hour days before today (NOT by choice, I can assure you!)

Along the mini-golf course, we were greeted by all nature of 'critters' -- not the mountain critters that I would expect to find here (you know - bears and mountain lions and such) Instead, the golf course is sunny and bright. It is decorated with huge shade trees, huts, and wild animals: elephants, giraffes, hippos and of course the crocodiles for which the lagoon and lake courses are named. The family who played ahead of us was nice enough to ask if they could snap a picture of us together (instead of me taking pictures of only Caleb). It warmed my heart more than the bright afternoon sun that they would do that. And, while I am not necessarily fond of having my picture taken, I realize that these days are fleeting -- Caleb is growing up so fast. My time with him is precious indeed. My time with him - no matter whether we are doing something special or nothing in particular - is all forever etched in my memory. On days when I long to be with him and cannot, I rely on those images to carry me through. But to have an occasional tangible image of us is a treat! For so much of his life, it was just Caleb and me --no one around to snap a picture of the two of us. The joy that this image of us on the silly crocodile brings me is huge! I treasure every opportunity to savor Caleb-time. And so, until I am allowed to have more Caleb-time on some future day off, I will look at Caleb and the Crocs and remember that, although it wasn't an overnight or a chunk of my five day weekend, the time he and I shared was special indeed.