Clouds With Big Silver Linings

The forwarning of weather should have been in the nifty cirrus clounds Tuesday night. We haven't seen much sun since. Since, it was a lovely walk that evening and I'm glad I got out since the subsequent weather hasn't been at all tempting. Currenlty it looks cold (see picture 2 posts below) and the icy bits of snow are scouring against my window, sounding worse than they would if it was colder.

I planted a few nasturiums in my room, and they are currently flourishing in a way that only nasturiums do, seeming to grow before your eyes. 3 flowers have bloomed (I have an orange one that is well ahead of the second lot I sowed in the same container) and two are currently in bloom with at least 4 or 5 more buds getting read to bud. They leave me wanting to plant a whole bunch more. I can't wait to see my garden. I'm not sure what shape it is in, but I'm looking forward to seeing hopefully a few surviving lilies after 2 years of nasty lily beetle infestations and some of the perrenials should have survived not being watered occasionally, assuming they aren't dying from a waterlogging summer. I'll have to go up to Terra and spend some money. (I worked there one spring - but I'm not sure I made much money that I also didn't spend there) I absolutely loved working there and I still visiting. I hope they have nasturiums... because I'm pretty sure my mom needs some for a belated mother's day present.

Its hard to believe that the year is coming to the end. I have lots to look forward in both the summer and next year, but especially in the short term, I'm looking forward to seeing my mom, dad, siblings #3 and #4 and sibling #3's delightful and awesome-sauce spouse and their adorable kids. (#4's girlfriend is also awesome, although I'm not sure if and when I'll get a chance to see her) I'm also looking forward to spending time with my grandparents who were co-authors of most of my best childhood stories and whose stories of the north are the reason I fell in love with the Barrens long before I finally made it here. I will also get to see sibling #2, his wonderful spouse and 2 bright-eyed, and bushy tailed squirrels and S's family too.

I've been here 3 years and I'm a part of this community more than I have been in any other place at any other time in my life. I've gotten past the novelty of living in the north to a sincere appreciation of what it is and what it has the potential to become. Its a beautiful place and frankly, I enjoy complaining about the weather and the lack of produce. The one downside is the distance from my family, so it'll be good to be able to see them all a bit this summer and see how much beansprouting upwards the little ones have done. Additionally, I'll get my fix of trees and gardens and Kaylee (the malamute) and produce - assuming that this deadly E. coli doesn't spread to north america.

Cheers, to living in a wonderful and ever surprising world.... especially on a blizzardy day in June.

J