A Center Piece of Camellias

     As of yesterday it was officially Spring.  The sun shone, the rain showered, and we ‘celebrated’ with food, friends, and Irish Music.  The House Concert with Randal Bays and Davey Mathias seemed the perfect welcome to the season I most look forward to each year.
     But it’s today, the second day of Spring, that will mark new beginnings here at our house in Oysterville.  First, there is a new man in our lives!  Fred!  Over minor protests of my husband, I have hired Fred to do some of the heavy winter clean-up in our garden.  With shoulder surgery looming for Nyel and my three-quarters-of-a-century mark under my belt, I deided that it was time for a bit of assistance with the heavy work!  I am SO excited!  Fred arrives at nine o’clock this morning.
     Also, at nine o’clock an old village tradition will be revived – the Walking Women of Oysterville will stride forth.  Ten years ago my women neighbors walked every morning, rain or shine.  I only got a glimpse of them on weekends for I was still teaching in those days.  Somewhere along the line their daily regime petered out and we have just recently decided to begin again.  And this time I can be included!
     The most southerly of us, Carol, will begin this morning and as she passes my house, I will join her, then our next neighbor north, and so forth.  We’ll finish by walking neighbor Carol back to her house and then each of us will drop off in order – or that’s the theory.  My houseguest Nancy will join us today, but not her husband, Jack.  He has politely declined.
      And, by the time we return, Fred will have made a bit of progress outside!  It will be ten o’clock and I will already feel that progress is being made during this Spring of 2011!  And it’s only the second day!