What happened to Spring?

"That's what spring is like here," declared my sister-in-law yesterday as our truck temperature gauge hit one hundred degrees. This is like New England: it's cold, then it's hot. Where is the in-between we love so well? We had a few days of high 60's; low 70's, but very quickly that reached high 80's and 90's. I think the air conditioning will have to be put on today for the first time. Goodness gracious.

That said, the heat is making everything pop: every color and size bloom Azalea, white and pink Dogwood, cascading waterfalls of Wisteria that climbs to the top of forty-foot trees; Yellow Jessamine vines that do the same thing; Red Bud trees, single and double-bloom Bridal Bouquet bushes and Red-Tip Photinia are all proudly displaying their unique glory. There are many other blooming trees and shrubs that are still unnamed to me. I'm learning, though, slowly. This is "life in the slow lane" down here after all. The Irises and tulips are in bloom while the Daffodils are going past. It is so gorgeous here right now, "my cup runneth over". I wish we could stay another week or two to reap the full splendor of all the blooming color around us.

What down side could there be you ask? Pollen, and tons of it. Everything is coated with it: inside and out. Jackson rolls around on the dock and looks up with a completely yellow face. Mattie Grace roots around the shoreline and looks up at us with nostrils filled with yellow guck. The shoreline of the lake looks like it has a yellow bathtub ring around it and everything sticking up out of the water.

But, the yellow spider webs really stand out. They are in their own lacey splendor. It is truly stunning down here right now, and my heart is filled with Joy. We are having trouble gearing up to head north again. We were supposed to leave tomorrow. We'll see how far we get with our chores, and be flexible about the schedule. As long as we're home by Friday, I'll be happy.