Growing ....

 ... old gracefully is not what my body apparently had in mind.

  My birdcage from last week with a few birds.  I don't care to find out why the caged bird sings since they sing so beautifully uncaged.  The roses on top are made of wood, with a twine ribbon, and the leaves and vines are metal.

  I'm working this morning and from my window, I can see squirrels and rabbits in the vacant lot next door, and some of the smaller birds at the feeders.  Charlie is pouting on the futon, not happy to be banned from window barking while I work.  The climbing rose bush I planted last week is beginning to show signs of life, so my thumb is still happily green.  The honeysuckle vine that I thought was out of stock was not, and has been shipped, so I will be excited to get that in the ground as soon as it arrives.  The yellow peony root, however, has been back-ordered and so there will be just pinks, reds, and a white that arrive in a week or so.  Flower porn is addictive, and I've started tossing catalogs and flyers without even opening them.  At least for a few months until the fall catalogs arrive to tempt me.  I still need to get mulch for the front garden bulbs, and since the rain that has been promised has barely shown up this week, possibly a large watering can.  The only available faucet is in the kitchen,  just inside the back door, and I will need a very long hose to get water to the front with it... which I'd rather not do because I have yet to meet a hose that does not leak at the faucet even a tiny amount.

  It has been a week of unexpected health diagnoses ~ I'm now a diabetic which has come as a shock to my doctor.  He is also testing for some auto-immune issues because I have symptoms of Raynaud's and other odd things.  This year has been a mix of health issues, and I feel at times my worst enemy has become my body.  First my toes and my heart, now my pancreas and fingers.  If some of these had crept up on me with a little more advance notice, it would have been easier to accept.  But all of these have seemed to occur overnight.  I have to wonder if ten years of living under duress kept it at bay for survival's sake, and now that the stress is gone, the body has relaxed into a post-traumatic state of illness.  I've long believed in the power of thought over illness ~ 30+ years ago I was told I would have chronic back pain because of two congenital issues and to "get used to it."  I refused.  Once I knew what was causing the pain, the brain complied with my refusal and so apart from being stupid (dragging 200+ lbs of wet carpet across a parking lot to the dumpster) my back pain has been non-existent.

  I did find a used screen door for the kitchen and patio.  Not the fancy-schmancy one I coveted, but considering the cost was 90% less than the new fancy one I wanted, I can afford to be less schmancy.  It is a little small, but so far Lucy Houdini has failed to escape from it.   I'm going to get some weather stripping to edge the side where it is open to keep noseeums, flies, and skeetos from getting in during the summer.   I have also been warned that snakes may abound in the lot next door, and while I'm not afraid of the garden variety, I'd still rather not be surprised by the venomous variety.  We've already had some warm, humid days.  On April 1st I woke to snow, and by the 7th we had hit 79F.

  I hung my patio party lights ~ not much partying going on, however.  I sat out one night to listen to the Spring Peepers (tiny frogs).  I've been hoping for an evening rain to take full advantage of the relaxing sounds while sipping some iced tea.  I'll have to get a video once the opportunity presents itself.

  The trees are all budding out with fresh green, Mr. Cardinal has been madly and passionately serenading Mrs. Cardinal.

  Life is good.