Saturday, March 15, 2008

Promises...

This morning is full of them! Spring Break has arrived and my students and I are enjoying a whole week off! I feel like a little girl going to the fair - oh, the prospects of having a week off make me almost giddy! I've got a load of laundry spinning while drinking the clouds in my coffee and watching nature wake up. Ornery cats run by every now and then, and a loyal dog eyes me with expectations of a nature walk later on. I will have to accomodate him.

The promise of lazy days, no time constraints and simple indulgences...


Yesterday afternoon I was talking with my ya-ya about plans for today..mostly entailing cleaning. I told her how it was time for the annual cleaning of the family room ceiling fan. In order to do this, since my ceiling is about 20 ft. high, I have to center my coffee table under the fan, put my ladder on top of the coffee table, and climb to the top of my ladder. At that height, I'm able to clean the fan blades mostly by feel....'cuz if I look up, I tend to sway a bit. Ya-ya did not think this was a wise move on my part, but I assured her that I had done it many times before and that I am most careful... keeping my cell phone on the floor in case I end up there and do need to call someone for some...uh...'assistance'. Well, a few hours later...look who shows up at my door! Fourteen-foot ladder in hand - along with her 6'7" husband!!! I was all verklempt!

Mr. J deftly positioned his ladder under the fan, climbed up without nary a huff or puff and proceeded to clean the entire fan - top and bottom - AND my light fixtures! Normally, I have to unscrew all 5 of those babies and wash them in the sink, dry them and then hike back up and screw them back in. Not this guy! This is his forte'! His profession! His shining talent! A quick spray of 'fish foam' and my lights sparkled like there was no tomorrow!! He did in 20 minutes what would have easily taken me an hour and a half!

A promise of helping out.

This sweet couple is heading out on a road trip today to scout out a mountain range in the southern part of our state...with a picnic in hand. I was only too happy to load them up with a bag of lemons (from 'you-know-where') and some simple syrup and fresh-squeezed lemon juice that I had just made in the afternoon.

A little promise of something refreshing for their pic-a-nic!





....and speaking of lemons....


I just had to try my cranberry scone recipe with some lemon curd!


A very delicious promise, indeedy!








This morning as I strolled out to my compost bin, I came across this little promise...

a freshly-hatched bird egg... still wet.

A promise of new life....

and that nature is eternal.

What promises cross your path today? I'd love to hear! Feel free to share!

They're there for the looking....

4 comments:

Chickenbells said...

Yay for such a wonderful helper!! Honestly? I'm sitting here looking at my ceiling fan (which I can touch if I stand on my tippy toes) wondering if it needs to be dusted? It's making me tired (boy am I lazy!)

I just saw a lemoncello recipe over at http://bleedingespresso.com/ it looks divine (I love lemoncello!!)

I am also loving the sweet little egg picture...what a wonderful sign of things to come. If it would have been up here, it would have cracked because of all the wind...ugh...it's our windy time of year!!

kimberly said...

what a wonderful helper and friend....i use one of those brushes that just kind of moves the dust around! :) and oh your scone and lemon curd look sooooo good! i think i got that recipe a while back.....need to start MAKING some of these yummy things!
kimberly

Carolyn said...

That scone and lemon curd looks sooooo gooooood!!

Carolyn

Jane said...

I think I need the scone recipe! And yay for great friends willing to come and help in times of need. I am doing a bit of the spring cleaning at my house this week too!