BACK HOME

Mark and I recently returned from our Spring trip to Florida. Since his parents retired to the Sunshine State approximately twenty five years ago, it has been one of our vacation destinations. In recent years, we've been able to venture down twice each year, Spring and Fall. I especially enjoy the trip down and back this particular season of renewal, because it gives me the opportunity to see all the beautiful bursts of colors from the trees and flowering plants along the way. If you recall my over the top infatuation with wisteria blooms, you can appreciate how exhilarating it is for me as we pass through Georgia, especially between Atlanta and Macon. Whereas, the Kudzu used to dominate the roadside scenery, now, it seems, that wild wisteria is overtaking vast stretches along the highway. I don't know if Georgia did something to replace the Kudzu with Wisteria, but seeing the lavender clusters of blooms covering tree after tree is awesome.

Now that we're back in Georgetown, I was motivated to check out the two local Wisteria vines that I've taken note of each year at this time. Both sites were just behind their Georgian counterparts in maturation, and I hope the occupant of the home downtown with the amazing climbing, blooming vine, didn't mind my snapping a picture yesterday as I took a walk around their block.

We here in the Commonwealth of Kentucky are experiencing the Perfect Storm of basketball phenomena. Not only are the University of Kentucky Wildcats in the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament, but we will now play our in-state rival, the University of Louisville, who's coach is our former beloved coach, and some say now "vile traitor", Rick Pitino. Because I've been a fan of Pitino, since his Providence days, I still hold him in high regard, though many in the state have considered him enemy #1 since he moved into Da'Ville. Oh, and did I mention that our Women's Kentucky Wildcats will play in the Elite Eight of the Women's NCAA Tournament tonight as well? We're hoping they can knock off the UConn Lady Huskies and make it to their respective Final Four as well. May I say, "WOW".

While I was in Florida, I was reading my Tim Tebow book, Through My Eyes. Apparently, something happened concerning Peyton Manning and the Denver Broncos that had a slight impact on Tebow's future playing days. Seems that this farm raised Florida football quarterback has been traded to the New York City Jets?! My biggest concern is, what will happen to his dog, Bronco? I know Tim will do fine wherever he goes, and apparently, he's very excited, so he said 45 times, during his first appearance as a Jet. All I can say is that I hope Joe Namath can try to be more welcoming and that it all works out. I might add, God does work in mysterious ways.

I am, again, trying to place my focus back on this time of year. It is, after all, the Lenten season. This coming weekend includes Palm Sunday, followed by Holy Week, including Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and Easter. I'm still muddling through my Lenten Study, although I have had my distractions. I'd like to say that I've managed to be successful at giving up sweets during this time, but I'm afraid I've failed miserably. My Mainiac father-in-law has a sweet tooth and a love of after meal desserts. Yes, I can call him a Mainiac, because he's from Maine. I'm afraid that we share the sweet tooth and what could I say when presented with a chocolate ice cream cake to celebrate mine and Mark's 34th wedding anniversary. It was the first step into the dark side of sinful sweets. As long as I had indulged in that, I figured it didn't much matter if I indulged in Razzleberry fruit pie, Rocky Road cream pie or enjoyed that stop for hot fudge sundaes and an afternoon at the pier with Dad Libby, as well. I might add, that since coming back to Kentucky, I've done great at avoiding sweets and we really did enjoy the trip to the pier.

It looks like it's going to be an absolutely beautiful day. We were warned last night of a potential frost, so I'm gonna go out and check on tulips and lilac blooms. I hope you will have a great day. luv, Susan

MARCH..........., REALLY???!!!!

If I didn't know better, I'd think that we were being punked here in Central Kentucky. Early last week I was out weeding my garden full of tulips, daffodils and hyacinth, all coming up, and watching the bluebirds twitterpating their way through the treetops. Later, last week, Mark and I were making our way down to the basement due to tornado warnings in our area. Parts of the state had previously had touchdowns on Wednesday, but Friday, they really hit hard. Now, today, March 5th, we are dealing with a Christmas Card worthy scenario consisting of six inches of still "a coming down snow". It's beautiful, but, really?!, this is just unbelievable.

The news of all the tornado damage and devastation all around Kentucky and the rest of the region has been mind numbingly reminiscent of Joplin, Missouri and Tuscaloosa, Alabama. It is just staggering to realize that these towns of West Liberty, Kentucky and Henryville, Indiana are not that far away. We are thanking God here around the vicinity of Lexington to have dodged this wave of destruction. Especially heart wrenching is the story of the little fourteen month old girl, Angel, who was found in a field, not too far from her home. Her parents and small siblings were killed. Apparently, Angel longed to be with her family, as she too passed away over the weekend. The rest of the family is finding some comfort in knowing that this young family is now together.

Through many news telecasts, one woman could be heard praying for God to move the monstrous, destructive clouds away from her home and town. Mercifully, her home was spared, her town was not.

Because of the unexpected snow, I have the day off. I hope to get caught up on some things. One of those things is my Lenten Bible Study. Another is putting away the Christmas stuff that has been hiding behind the sofa in our loft. Because the loft should now be readied for March Madness and all that it brings, it's time to put the festive yuletide reminders in their storage space and arrange all the Go Big Blue paraphernalia about the space.

I have to mention that I'm watching The Amazing Race again this season. I was a bit disheartened when I first saw the two guys who were representing Kentucky. It appeared that they tried to find the two most red-necked hicks they could find from Clay County. If you know Kentucky basketball, you'll remember that Richie Farmer was from the Clay County Tigers and became a Kentucky Wildcat just prior to Rick Pitino's arrival. It became a running joke that Richie and Rick could not understand each other through their own heavy accents. We all had fun with that. Now, Bopper and Mark have turned up on the CBS reality show. They talk in the familiar heavy Eastern Kentucky accent and act kinda silly. After three shows, however, their wonderful, warm, friendly, cooperative, intelligent and resourceful natures are making them a show favorite. I applaud the show for picking these two best friends, Bopper, who is white, and Mark, who is black, to represent the Commonwealth of Kentucky for this season. However,I might just ask Bopper, to please keep his teeth in....purty please.

I hope you're having a great day and have avoided the wicked weather that we've seen here in Kentucky. Take care and stay safe, luv, Susan