Outside my window...the clouds from yesterday's storm are melting away and the sun is shining; it's a pleasant 58° F. A colorful male house finch sits perched at one of our feeders, he has become a regular daily visitor.

I am thinking...about spring and our gardens, plants to purchase and seeds yet to be ordered, where various roses will go, when the remaining trees for our orchard will arrive, etc.

I am thankful...that we have a small bit of land, so that my "grand" planting schemes are possible this year.

From the learning room...much to my distress, we're still on "spring break," a cause for some panic. The twins are both still sick, and now I appear to be getting sick again also. Never, EVER have we had so much illness in one season - the moment one symptom abates or someone is well, a new symptom appears or someone else gets sick. Thus it just keeps cycling through the family, which is really extremely unusual.

I am wearing...an exceedingly comfy (well-worn) grey t-shirt and grey sweatpants.

I am going...to the grocery store shortly.

I am reading...this morning I finished The Thief Taker by Janet Gleeson, a perfect, well-researched historic mystery, set in Georgian England, that I thoroughly enjoyed. I've yet to finish The Real Oliver Twist: Robert Blincoe, so probably ought to work on that before starting anything else.

From the kitchen...Bierocks (dough here) for dinner, if I ever manage to get them finished.

I am hoping...that I'll be able to plant the bareroot roses that I have soaking tomorrow, they're leafing out like crazy and I'm anxious to get them in the ground.

I am listening to...perfect silence, save for the occasional jingling of the dogs' collars.

Around the house...all is calm, quiet and in order. So seldom can that be said.

One of my favorite things...my seedlings (all 600+!), I'm quite pleased with how well they're doing, especially the more difficult-to-germinate varieties.

Pondering these words..."Half the interest of a garden is the constant exercise of the imagination." ~ Mrs. C.W. Earle, Pot-Pourri from a Surrey Garden, 1897

Here is picture for thought I am sharing...

"Spring Flowers"
Claude Monet (1840-1926)