Spring has sprung here in Flagstaff with daffodils blooming and trees starting to bud. I thought I’d get a head start on my gardening efforts by ordering gladiola bulbs with no luck through my usual garden sources; I guess our supply chain problems are pervasive. Another way we know it is spring here in Flagstaff are experiencing the winds that almost blew us off the mesa during our hike today and I don’t believe for a minute predicted snow will fall this week.
If you want to fully experience spring in March all you have to do is head south which is what my friend and I did when we took a short road trip to Sedona last week. Beyond spending quality time together in the red rocks of northern Arizona our objective was to comb through the thrift stores for high quality fabric I could use in my summer rug weaving project. Instead, I came upon a beautiful straw colored hand woven scarf from an iconic weaving studio in Sedona. Such a hand woven scarf should retail for $100 on up and I took proud ownership for $6. I have known for a long time that the best thrift store finds come from high income zip codes and Sedona is one such area. I also know several industrious folks who have successfully carved out a second income on EBay derived from reselling thrift store items they have special knowledge and expertise about. I guess I hit the handwoven scarf jackpot but I am keeping it for myself to enjoy.
We are heading back to the lake a month early this year to accommodate international travel plans in mid-April. I will return from our travels in late May for spring gardening and early summer weaving while Paul extends his trip thru early July. I hate to miss the lilac and peony blooms and June is the best month at the lake. Soon after Paul returns, we will travel to San Diego to celebrate my mother’s 90th birthday with family and, unfortunately, will close up the lake house a month early this year to attend a nephew’s wedding in late October. Suffice it to say, my time at the lake has been reduced to four months this year. Bummer!
We have been trying to clean out the freezer and pantry this past month which is no small feat for a recipe following daily grocery shopper like Paul. Today, I packed up the craft room which was easy due to very little winter activity on the hobby/craft front this year due to my hand surgery. The slow healing process continues which means I haven’t been much help in the kitchen this winter. At eight weeks out, I started strength training exercises and just hope the thumb continues to improve as our travels commence. Tomorrow, I move on to packing up all manner of bathroom products, filling up one large suitcase with clothes and, finally, throwing a few canned goods, packaged products and spices from the kitchen into a large plastic storage bin after which I will call myself “ready to roll.” We are going to try to make the drive to the lake in three long days instead of four shorter days this year which might require Paul to share the driving with me. I think I am an excellent driver but make him nervous for reasons I have yet to understand. I mean, his driving makes me nervous too but I don’t complain…much anyway!