Susan Says . . .

Our weather has finally become more springlike with temperatures reaching the 70’s and even the low 80’s a couple of days. The forsythia and japonica are still beautiful and the plum trees in the back yard have burst into bloom. The yard is dotted with tiny bluets and scattered dandelion blooms and I spotted a flowering redbud tree in the fencerow. Warm weather and recent rains should bring up the morels soon so we’ve alerted friends to keep their eyes open for the tasty mushrooms. Brother Richard has promised to bring us a batch if he finds some.

The week started with a surprise phone call early Monday morning from a friend in Decatur. She hadn’t called for awhile so we had some catching up to do. After a good visit I went on to the office for a full day of work. I stopped by the pharmacy to pick up a couple of prescriptions on my way home.

I worked at the office Tuesday morning and took Mama to the clinic for a checkup that afternoon. When We returned I prepared a skillet meal by frying an onion, some corned beef hash and eggs together.Wednesday was a lovely warm day and a pretty Easter card from a friend on Stagecoach Road further brightened our day.

I left earlyThursday morning and drove to Bentonville to join newspaper colleagues at the Daily Record. From there we carpooled to Harrison to attend a workshop on InDesign and Photoshop, two of the programs we use to produce the paper each week.

The weather’s been warm but the March winds carried over into April and they blew in some storm clouds Friday morning.Skies were dark and rain began falling in midmorning, coming down harder by the time I left work around noon. I ignored the downpour and drove to the high school to check out the book giveaway there. I selected a half dozen volumes and returned home. Jim was going to Siloamto order some windows so I went along and after he’ placed his order we went out and enjoyed a bountiful buffet meal.

Saturday was another busy day. I went out and took our recyclable items to the collection trailer before breakfast. Grandson A.J. arrived just as we were finishing our meal. Jim loaded the mower and weedeater and we drove over to Aunt Leta’s. I carried away a pile of limbs and bark while Jim used the weedeater and A.J. mowed. We slicked up her yard by early afternoon and went home. I giftwrapped a couple of books and drove to Kindley Park for great-nephew Austin’s ninth birthday party. We enjoyed sandwiches, salads and chips, birthday cake and ice cream, then Austin opened his gifts.

Jim and I made a trip to Southwest City Sunday morning and when we returned learned that Mama had been taken to the hospital. I drove up and joined sister Nancy and her daughter Laura in waiting for the ER doctor to finish his exam. I stayed while they admitted Mama and took her up to a room and helped her with her lunch when it arrived.

The warmer weather has prompted us to do more work in the yard. Jim mowed and used the weedeater Sunday. New yard ornaments are in stock at the dollar store and we’ve purchased a few. I added a pair of rabbits out by the cellar and another by the fish pond. A wind ornament topped with a spotted cow whirls in the breeze in the prickly pear cactus container in the front yard.Jim chose a welcome sign featuring two frogs and placed it near our fish pond. The fish in the pond have become more active and he got a brush to clean the sides of the pool. A pair of flower pots with fish designs are waiting in the cellar. I’ll add soil and flowers to set on the windowsill when the patio enclosure is finished.

-Susan Holland

Susan Holland, who works for The News Herald is a lifelong Benton Couonty Resident.