One thing leads to another. I have Pandora on for background music here at work - and hear I'm Alive (Jackson Browne). So I whip out the IPod for the rest of the album. Catchy beats, sweet melodies and the saddest lyrics ever.

More about the weather - while it is still so lovely. I must put into words the green green grass, the coolness, the pale daffodils and pink azaelias. The fruit trees, all sticks of branches covered in frothy light whites and pinks. The tulip tree (saucer magnolia) is alive with flowers as the camelia is just nodding off for the season.
There are warm warm afternoons and cool evenings. Butterflys but no wasps. I said it was perfect didn't I?

I think Miles' growing has slowed for the moment - he is slimming down, no baby fat in the face of thighs or belly. And he was already tall for his age - last measurement was 38". It's hard to get him to stand still long enough, he is always moving.
Yesterday, though the weather was perfect, he wanted to watch Tarzan. Specifically scenes 7-9 where young Tarzan jumps off a cliff into the lake where elephants are gathered. He swims underwater until he gets close enough to jump up and grab and elephants tail - in order to procure a elephant hair. The beasts are spooked, chaos ensues. We watched the scene over and over. He talks about it over dinner and every chance he gets. The only substitute is some other elephant featuring entertainment. Horton Hears a Who and Junge Book (1 & 2). The season of elephants - will it be the year of elephant?

And now it is summer.
I'm using my own standards here. Most people still think of this as spring... and it is, sort of. The temperature yesterday got to the upper 70s. Mornings and evenings are still cool, but it always cools off here at night. The bulbs won't last much longer, and I'm feeling a sense of urgency about getting the vegetables planted. DB wants to build a garden shed before we put in a garden, so I can replay the weekend conversations from previous springtime garden planning chats. Should it be sited in the opposite corner from the barn - for design balance or closer to the barn so water and electrictiy or easier to install? 3 glass walls or 2? Shingles, like the barn? what kind of door? A deck maybe and shed off back to house the larger tools. I really just want boxes with wire bottoms to discourage the gophers filled with garden dirt. In the sun. I'll carry the freakin water out to it.
Well, I probably won't do that, but the hose might reach. Or better yet, I will plant in the same boxes I've used for year - and avoid the now shaded areas. And the wine barrells can be moved - and can each hold some kind of vegie plant...so. I'll make my own plans.

Yesterday I fell down the back steps. Well, really it was more like a stumble and slide, just a couple of steps, with everything in my hands, including Miles, undisturbed. No big deal, I changed out of the broken shoe and hurried on with the day. I didn't give it another thought.

Today - OUCH. The pain in my left thigh, and elbow and right ankle today makes those moments more vivid. Hmm. Must be more careful.

Miles is a snuggler. And he is extremely cute. He has a sly sense of humor and he knows when to pile on the charm.

On the record keeping side - Miles is around 38" inches tall and a solid 35 pounds.
He hasn't been coughing and shown any kinds of sickness lately. Yesterday, monday, was tiring as it came off a lazy weekend. He was geared up for school this morning though.

The weather - is beautiful. Sunny and mid fifties, windy on Sunday, but generally extremely pleasant. There has been enough rain (just enough) to keep the grass green and growing, trees are budding out, flowers are blooming.

DB is on his way to Florida, then NYC. Home in a few days. I hope it is an uneventful week for all of us.

I always thought that the words amorous, ardent and arduous were linked in meaing, and that the meaning was primarily the first - amor - to love, with an emphasis on passion.
Arduous, is used very often to mean difficult, strenuous, because that is what it means. Yet, I never wanted to make the mistake of characterizing a professional task - say, writing a transportation plan, as a romantic endeavor. A quick look in the dictionary would have saved me much emabarassment for my adruous using collegues. Nevertheless it still provides a nano second of blush, much like another word I cannot use - titilate, however innocent it is.

Amorous
Pronunciation: \a-ma-ras, am-ras\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin amorosus, from Latin amor love, from amare to love
Date: 14th century
1: strongly moved by love and especially sexual love 2: being in love : enamored —usually used with of3 a: indicative of love b: of or relating to love
— am·o·rous·ly adverb
— am·o·rous·ness noun

Ardent
Pronunciation: \är-dent\
Function: adjective
Etymology:
Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin ardent-, ardens, present participle of ardēre to burn, from ardor
Date: 14th century
1 : characterized by warmth of feeling typically expressed in eager zealous support or activity 2 : fiery , hot 3 : shining , glowing
synonyms see impassioned
— ar·dent·ly adverb

Arduous
Pronunciation: \är-j-wes, -dyu-, -jü-s\
Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin arduus high, steep, difficult; akin to Old Irish ard high
Date: 1538
1 a: hard to accomplish or achieve : difficult b: marked by great labor or effort : strenuous 2: hard to climb : steep
synonyms see hard
— ar·du·ous·ly adverb
— ar·du·ous·ness noun

It is truly beautiful outside. On the verge of rain. The cherry tree is about to fill with its popcorn blossoms. All the bulbs are blooming at once, which is a little strange - even the tulips are showing their colors. The tulip tree and camellia both are covered in pink flowers and most trees have bright green buds plumping. The hills and back are still green and I'm in love with California in March.

It hasn't rained in a few days - and the sun shows off the hundred shades of green on the hillsides. I should be agonizing over the lack of rain, but I don't have much pull in the weather department - so I'll just do my happy dance and enjoy! Spring is springing out. Flowers are a blooming...daffodils are everywhere, camillia, daphne and accacia are just about done, and the wild plum trees are covered in delicate white blossoms. Tra la la.

Miles is great - growing too big for my lap and most of his clothes. He is using sentences now and eats without a mess. He is Star of the Month at preschool, despite that unfortunate biting incident last week. He is enjoying the weather as well.

Better sign off before I start thinking about the economy, global warming....argh.

on the wagon

The good news: I'm completely recovered from the Twilight hangover. Except for the soundtrack. I haven't touched the books in over a month. Not even tempted.

Bad news: Have moved on to Mystery/Romance. Am a member of Smart Bitches Trashy Books and I know Eve and Roarke better than the people I work with. I have a feeling this is only going to get worse.

Lightning, thunder and howling wind. Pretty cool.