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