Here comes The Son

The weather is warming up here and I’ve got seeds arriving a bit later today: sweet peas, sunflowers, and zinnias. Most of them are going into the cottage-style garden in the front of the house. The winter was short enough that many of the perennials from last summer stayed a bit green throughout - the bee balm has spread all over the place and the yarrow looks like it’s tripled in size. I added milkweed last summer and hope to see it sprouting this year. Very excited to get started. Other tasks on the to-do list: pull the weeds, which also overwintered pretty well. I also have some replacement bluebird houses that are also for installation.

Not a whole lot of cleanup for now. A few limbs here and there from the ice storm, but our trees seem to have escaped the worst of it. The pistaches and dogwood look good, too. Quince and medlar should ship at the end of this month.

Puppy life is continuing apace. They’re getting into a good sleeping pattern, though we’re still getting them up in the middle of the night for a potty run. Last night we went four hours, which is some progress. The cat, for her part, is getting used to the noise and commotion and has emerged from hiding to resume some of her usual haunts. They’ve come nose to nose once or twice, but one quick hiss is enough for the dogs to moonwalk straight away and go play somewhere else. They’re learning that she’s not to be messed with, and she’s learning that they won’t give immediate chase. This feels like progress.

Busy week at the parish this weekend - all day retreat for parents and godparents of our confirmandi and the usual slate of masses. I blessed a car, helped Father anoint a woman with cancer, and declined to bless someone’s locket which contained a portion of her late husband’s ashes. Just Say No to wearing your loved one after death.

Jury duty is over. Kids basketball season is over. Retreat talks are behind me. Ahead: some business travel and the ordinary cycles of Lent. Holy Week is already visible on our kitchen whiteboard calendar as March blends into April. I’ve taken all of Holy Week off so as to be available for all the things on campus. A break from the office will be nice but there will be lots going on elsewhere!