March - A Look Ahead

February is a memory. Soon the winter season will be a memory too. The early daffodils have already made their appearance, though the current cold snap is making them bow their heads toward the earth. The trees are already showing signs of waking from their slumber. Red tips are showing on the maples and the beautiful light green color is appearing on the weeping willows. All the signs are there, telling us that it is time to get the flowerbeds in order before the color show begins. I have ordered the dreaded load of mulch, and it will be delivered on Thursday this week. Our gardening boot camp will then begin and will continue for most of the month. Here we go again. We didn’t expect to still be at the homestead right now. But here we remain. It’s funny how life never turns out how you have it planned.

The temporary consulting job got wrapped up last month. I quickly readjusted back to a retirement schedule and am spending more time with my robe and slippers. I got my annual physical and mammogram done last week, so those necessary checkup items have been crossed off my “to do” list. My health is good and I made it through the winter without the flu and respiratory distress, unlike last year. Mission accomplished!

Now if I could just have some magic wand waved over my knee, I would be a much happier camper. There are days that I have to really dig deep to find a joyful spirit. Chronic pain is such a hideous monster. Another cortisone shot is scheduled for next week. I am beginning to have my doubts that I can make it through the year without knee replacement surgery. Which means someone needs to get it in a higher gear and buy the homestead pretty soon.

With the advent of some improved weather, I plan to get out and exercise my camera a bit more this month. I have been teaching myself some new tricks on Photoshop lately. So that has kept me focused on photography and expanding my ideas on subject matter and style. After spending decades with a film camera, digital photography is such grand fun. Stay tuned for some totally cool images that I will share in the Photo Challenge this coming Saturday!