Spring came early, which is to say it came with the calendar. Usually, in these parts, April is cold and snowy. Not always, of course, Minnesota will never be predictable. I remember plenty of birthdays that were sunny, warm, even hot.
But we never expect that. Its so much nicer to just accept that spring won't actually show up until the end of April, when the snow melts and the tulips pop out of the ground, and to be surprised and delighted when it all happens early.
A week ago, the trees in my back yard were opening their leaves and we weren't sure the south maple was going to make it. Now, both the maples and the ash that shades the deck are in full leafy regalia and the back yard looks great.
While we were up north, Josie planted flowers in half the planters back on the deck and she filled one of the front barrels with geraniums. We still have a half dozen or so left to fill but she got off to a fine start.
It seems like we left a week ago and things were just starting but we came back to full on summer. That perception is amplified by the fact that it was flippin' hot out today.
Last night, the weather girl warned us that it was supposed to rain all week. Naturally, there wasn't a cloud in the sky all day. Late in the afternoon, I took a short nap in one of the chaise's we have on the deck. I was in the shade of the ash tree but it was too hot to keep my eyes open. Plus, the book I'm reading isn't very good, so a nap seemed like a better use of my time.
I have to get busy and make the new covers for the love seat on the deck. I bought the fabric last fall but didn't see the point of making them just in time to spend the winter stuffed in the loft of the garage. Now's the time: gotta get to work!
Oh, hey! There does actually seem to be a cloud bank rolling in over the sunset. Well, if we get warm, sunny days followed by rain at night, that's about as perfect as summer gets, isn't it?
Josie and Katie went to Beyonce's concert at the Bank last night. Josie declared it the best concert since she saw Bieb's back in '13. Nice!
Oh, my van's finally out of the shop, too. that means tomorrow I call the upholsterer and deliver the love seat I got from Uncle Bruce. Not that I don't love orange velvet (I don't) but I found a fabric that will stand up to the grand kids much better and won't act like velcro around the cat. Soon as the love seat's done, it's time to do the chair. I'd do the chair first because I love it and can't wait to see it redone but Jay requested the love seat first because he really, really hates it.
I hope he likes it after the makeover. I'm having the feather cushion reinforced, too. The piece should be handsomer and more comfortable once it's finished.
The chair, on the other hand, is already the most comfortable thing I've ever sat in and its going to look like it belongs in a museum when I'm done with it!