Susan Says . . .

The week began with almost a foot of snow on the ground, not ideal weather for the kids to enjoy spring break. The sun came out Monday afternoon and by Tuesday evening most of the snow was gone. Only a few patches remained in shaded spots. We had more moisture Thursday, this time in the form of rain. Then the sun came out Friday and its warmth, combined with the wet round, began to bring the earth to life. Now pink hyacinths have joined the cheery daffodils blooming beside the cellar and tender stalks of peonies are pushing through the ground. Bright yellow forsythia blooms match the daffodils and the japonica at the corner of the front yard has begun to blossom.

Monday was a frustrating day at work as the computer hookups to our company server were down. A repairman was called and we were back in business about noon, just way behind on our stories for the week. An old high school classmate dropped by but I had no time to visit and a friend brightened the day with gift squares of her delicious oatmeal cake. It was a welcome treat since I wasn’t able to break for lunch until midafternoon. We used some leftover beans from our Sunday dinner and made a pot of chili for supper that evening.

We had a visit from one of our newspaper colleagues Tuesday morning who helped resolve some of our computer problems. I went to the hospital and visited Aunt Leta when I left the office, then dropped by the store to buy a few groceries. We filled the car with gas when Jim came in that evening.

I baked a pan of sausage wraps after breakfast Wednesday morning and took them along when I went to the Senior Center for our March J.G.T. Club meeting. We enjoyed a good program, a time of fellowship and a tasty potluck meal. We appreciated the sunny day but it was short-lived as rain fell most of the day Thursday. We stayed around the house, had some soup for lunch and I wrote a long overdue letter. We got the welcome news that Leta had come home from the hospital that evening.

Sister Nancy was busy atanother job Friday morning so her daughter Laura came in to stay with Mama while I went to work. When I returned from the office we dropped by the house where Jim was working and took him some coffee, then visited the library. I listened to a new CD Laura had purchased and ran the vacuum cleaner that afternoon. I went out for fish sandwiches and fries and we ate them while watching basketball games that evening.

We drove to Hiwasse for Jim to check on a job Saturday morning and got haircuts when we returned to town. Then I got out my Easter cookie cutters and baked some cookies shaped like eggs, chicks, bunnies and tulips. I took some to quilt class where we had a variety of snacks, got instructions for an Irish chain quilt block and made a “tub of puppies” in our craft session. Jim mowed most of the yard while I was gone.

We enjoyed breakfast with friends at Southwest City Sunday morning and Jim finished mowing the yard in early afternoon. I pulled some grass and weeds from the flowerbeds but it was a cloudy day and a brisk wind was blowing so we didn’t tarry outside long. We watched basketball games and some golf that afternoon and I clipped the coupons from the Sunday paper. Nancy dropped by, brought us a dozen eggs from her hens and told us about their new pot-bellied pig. I broiled pork steaks and heated green peas and Jim baked potatoes for supper.

Easter Sunday is coming up and youngsters in homes around town will be busy coloring and hiding eggs, waiting eagerly for the Easter bunny and his treats. A Massachusetts mother wanted to do something special for her children at Easter. She bought a dozen plastic eggs for each one and placed a redeemable coupon inside. Included were tickets for a bear hug from Mom, a story from Dad, a trip to the library or park for everyone, and so on. The kids loved their egg hunt with a new twist and asked to do it again. Great idea!

-Susan Holland

Susan Holland, who works for The News Herald, is a lifelong Benton County resident.