The World is Full of Jellybeans

(Among other things.)

Here is a popcorn post to skitter here and there, rather like my train of thought these days.

The sun shines brightly surrounded by the promise of new snow. How can this be? I can't wrap my mind around the pall of snow after last week's full-blown blossom of spring. Ah, well. Snow's snow, but I've got jellybeans to tide me over.

The weather was so nice last week that we walked to the cemetery for the first time in months. A cemetery visit-- now that's a sure sign of spring.

I've been playing electrician this morning, mucking about with wires I know nothing about. Surprisingly, our phone still does not work.

Susannah's looks have changed incredibly in the last two weeks; sometimes, she looks like a different baby entirely. This is thanks to me (and a full-blown case of baby acne), because I gave her jowls that would make even Hitchcock drool in disbelief at their cuteness. She gained an unprecedented 2.5# in 3 weeks and is not as wee a one as before. Only a month old, and her newness has worn through to knowing. She's solidly acquainted with us now and we solidly taken with her-- if possible, more than before.

The Nixie Pixie, our blessed little Fool, celebrated her second birthday with the bearded beloved, Millie, and I on Saturday. We roasted a requested elephant in her honor and celebrated with hats, blowers, and great abandon. Though she spent far too long fastidiously removing wrappings, she enjoyed the inner gifts even more, and we thank those who contributed to her torn paper mountain. Annika's delight in all delights me (except perhaps for the twin kazoos and harmonicas I gave to birthday her and Millie both; my delight in those diminishes along with my hearing).

We're ready for a move, and what time is better than spring to live in a tent? (Perhaps summer, perhaps never, speak the smartypants.) I am itching to start sowing seed, and if we moved all in a rush within the next month or so, I'd have time to dig elbow-deep in earth. Otherwise, I'll just moan and mope here all summer as I look at the space that used to be brimful of green, garden goodness. (I'm going to sow it with grass seed in a few weeks. Grass seed! The impudence!) I have to do this, though, not only because we might move along soon, but also because the house that houses our apartment and two more besides may have sold last week. The realtor has been making almost weekly visits, and last week's visit was a second viewing by a burly man. As that burly man may be our new landlord soon, I intend "burly" as a compliment. He seems quite nice.

If the house has sold, though, my newest get-rich-quick scheme is destroyed. I intended on loaning Mr. Realtor Man (for a nominal fee) to those mothers-at-home who struggle accomplishing the non-daily tasks of mopping, dusting, and window-washing. Trust me, there's nothing so compelling as a voice on one's answering machine smoothly saying, "So call my cell if we can stop by tomorrow morning at ten o'clock..." Our apartment, though not up to M. Stewart's standards (I'll never iron our sheets), will never be mistaken for a hovel.

We consumed three separate batches of visitors in the last week and a half, but none seem to be on the horizon for this week. If you'd like to visit, there are slots available at any hour; just give us a call. John's stargazing friend from high school stopped by for supper, and, because of his influence, the girls won't stop chanting, "Physics! Science! Physics!" (Thanks a lot; they'd better discover a new planet or something....)

The Newman bunch visited last weekend, and it was beyond good to visit with them. Rebecca was gracious enough to delay going into labor long enough to spend a few days with us, and we're grateful to them for willingly stepping into our bustling little stream when they've got so much bustle in theirs right now. Good company is a long, cool drink just when one is needed.

Plus! Three too-rarely-seen chums from college stopped by on Saturday evening for several hours of food and fun. I think they left with bellyaches. Holly, Spike, and Dani are good people, all three, and en masse, they are even better.

Has this post's last kernel popped? No letters seems primed to plunk right now.

I love old maids-- you know, the kernels that are too timid to pop entirely--so here's an old maid to round out this batch.

What would you recommend I do in the event that.....???