Lovely April

Posted on by Claremary P. Sweeney
Springtime at Hancock Shaker Village

The month of April was one of the best ever. Charley decided that since it was my Birthday, I should have an entire Birthday Month. Now, I’m not big on cards and gifts and parties. I’m extremely pragmatic and he is well-aware of this. When he asked me to marry him, he wanted to buy me a diamond. I said, “No way!” But I did mention that if I had to live with him for the rest of my life, I needed graphite golf clubs (much lighter than the steel Nancy Lopez irons I had stored in the cellar.} He loves to golf and I knew we could spend more time together if I golfed, too.

You see, my favorite gift is Time. It is the present I most cherish. Time with people I cherish; people who want to be with me and who I love being with. I have grown-up nieces and a nephew who, throughout the years, have never bothered to call me on my birthday; who never seem to have time for me and whenever we’ve made plans, could be counted on to not show up or cancel at the last minute. Now, these are people I gave a lot of time and love to when they were growing up. I was always there for them. No matter how busy my life was, I was always there. But, for whatever reason, I was taken for granted.

I know there are those reading this who totally understand because they, too, have invested love and time into friends and family who haven’t felt the slightest need or even the inclination to return the love. And so, in my view, it’s best not to dwell on it and to move on.

Now, I mention this, not to whine or curry sympathy. I wear my Big Girl Pants every day and have always had my own philosophy. There are givers and takers in this world and the takers are inevitably attracted to the givers. Like metal shavings to a magnet. Simply put: There are screwers and screwees. If you don’t want to get screwed, then leave the room. Fill the void with the people who love being with you and move on.  So, I share this experience and wisdom with you because I don’t want this to seem like a Happy Families post on Face Book. Believe me, no family is as happy as they’d want you to believe on Face Book. But, fortunately, I am surrounded by people who care about me and make me happy. I know this because they give me their time.

And so, I had luncheons and adventures with friends. My sister (whose birthday is the day after mine) and I shared our birthdays together, shopping and talking and laughing. Just the two of us. It’s our tradition.

Savannah Girl
Magnolia in Bloom
Daffodils and Gnomes

But Charley decided that April was to be an entire Birthday Month. There were gifts of flowers and candy and books strewn in between Date Days and Date Nights. Even mundane tasks were turned into fun. We took my car to be serviced and while we waited, we went out to breakfast and then to a nearby vineyard for a winetasting and to stock up on vino.

We raked the leaves from the gardens in the sunshine of some glorious Spring days and watched the daffodils, tulips and hyacinths burst into bloom around us. Many of these are the bulbs we put into the ground ten years ago when Charley was diagnosed with cancer. To me, they symbolize the hope we held that he would be there each spring with me to see them come up. Every Autumn, for the past ten years, we’ve planted more bulbs and they put on quite a show for us this Spring.

We went to concerts and out to dinners and lots of mornings and nights we sat in the little library quietly reading and talking. We spent lots of hours just walking around holding hands. And, to Roxie’s dismay, we went on another trip up to the Berkshires – without her!

Hancock shaker Village
Hancock Shaker village
Round Barn at Hancock shaker village
Doorway Scene
Red Twig Dogwood
Entrance to Hancock Shaker village

I’ve taken some time off from writing the ZuZu Series set up in the Berkshires to start an adult mystery series set in my home town of Kingston. The first book will be launched at the end of June and is in its last editing stages. I’ll be getting back to the children’s books soon and needed to take a trip up to the Berkshires.  I’ve already taken the photos and written the Christmas story set in Stockbridge during Norman Rockwell weekend and would like to do another one set at the Hancock Shaker Village in Pittsfield. Since the Village opens  for the season in April with a celebration called Baby Animals, I knew I wanted to get up there for that. Who doesn’t love Baby Animals?! It was school vacation week and the place was chock full of little kids chasing tiny lambs and goats and chickens and ducks. Being part of that is a great gift for any occasion.

Barnyard Nursery
Where’s my Mama?
Nap time
Overbite
Happy Baby
Lunch time
Hello!
Moo!
Mama and Baby

We are now into May and my Birthday Month is over. I need a nap. I’ll end this by wishing all of you May babies a very happy month. I hope it’s spent with people you love.

109 thoughts on “Lovely April”

  3. That is a lot of little piggies for that momma, oh my! Happiest of birthday months to you Clare! My kiddo is a May baby, so our May is always chock full of kid celebratory activities, with Mother’s Day squeezed in the middle. Lots and lots of togetherness time. Enjoy your spring and your beautiful flowers. Our daffodils and hyacinths are all done here, but the iris (my favorites) are just about to bloom and then my garden will look and smell beautiful for weeks! Nice to see you around the blogosphere!

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    1. Hi! And thanks for the wishes. There were even more piggies that didn’t get into the picture. I was wondering if she pulled babysitting/wet nurse duty or something??? Yes, I agree with you , Irises are lovely especially the ones that don’t shave. And I love them in combination with peonies. Utter visual bliss!

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      1. Oooh, we have peonies too, and not only does that make utter visual bliss, but also utter scentual (not a word, but you know what I mean) bliss. I love spring…

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    1. Thank you. And the people I get to chat with through my blog are some of the loveliest people in the world.
      I truly think if you blame other people for your situation, then it will only get worse. I take full responsibilty for my own emotional state. Charley has learned to do the same and accept his own “entitled” kids for who they are. And we both have developed a healthy attitude – if they don’t have time for us, it’s their loss. We are a fun couple and enjoy life. That’s the result of being faced head-on with the fact that tomorrow is not a given.

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  5. Belated birthday wishes. What a lovely idea of Charley’s to celebrate for a whole month and thanks for sharing it. Lovely to see the spring flowers and the baby animals and to know you’ve been having fun.

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    1. Hello, Mary. Yes, my posts are few and far between right now, but the good news is, life’s a hoot and I’m having fun. I hope you are, too. Is it warming up in Scotland? Everything is turning the most beautiful chartreuses and golds and greens and the blue skies are filled with the puffiest white clouds. The azaleas and lilacs are now coming into bloom; purples and fushias and reds. It smells heavenly. Really, who would ever need psychedelic drugs with a spring like this?!

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      1. Glad you are having fun. It is warming up in Scotland and we’ve actually had quite a few days of sunshine so all is green and lovely right now. We’ve had better weather than our neighbours in England, which makes a change. I’ve not been blogging on the Goldfish blog for a while and really must get back to it – but when the sun is shining I want to be outside making the most of it.

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      2. Ah, sunshine in Scotland. That warms my heart! I agree that your priorities are in the right place. It is also the reason my mystery is taking longer than I’d planned to be published. Life just keeps jumping in and giving me opportunities to laugh and play and editing somehow gets pushed to another day. And, of course, I’ve gone from weekly blog posts to monthly posts, so we are both experiencing the same things.
        I had lunch with a friend today. Her father was in the military and they lived in Scotland for a few years when she was a child. She has such wonderful memories of her time there. I told her about you, so your ears must have been burning this afternoon. I lent her one of your books.
        Have a lovely weekend in the sun.

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    1. Herb, you are very welcome, my friend. This has been such an incredible Spring! No need for words because the poetry is within the colors and scents that are suddenly filling the air. Out one window are the most gorgeous fushia azaleas; from another, pale pink lilacs. I open the front door and the miniature cherry tree stands guard over the hyacinths and the tulips that survived to bloom this year. (I think the fisher cat may have eaten the rabbits, because bunnies love tasty, tulip petals.) And my absolute favorite scene is when the peonies and bearded irises blossom at the same time just outside my picture window. Totally mind blowing! I’ll make sure I take some more photos for future posts. Definitely keep writing that poetry. I’ll send you a copy of my little verse book about a baby pitcher plant when it finally gets published. It will make you laugh out loud and we both know the sound of laughter is the best form of poetry ever created. Have a marvelous weekend! 🌷 Clare

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      1. Thank you so much for this lovely letter Claremary. Our spring can only be described as soggy. And getting soggier. I tried to mow the “lawn” with a push mower, but it was too long and too wet to make headway. Talk about exercise!
        Your place sounds positively idyllic.
        You are so smart to enjoy it so much. Some people, I think, might take it all for granted. What they would miss!

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      2. You are very welcome, Herb. I managed to get outside just before the rains came and mowed the grass. It looks so pretty even though much of it is moss! (Lots of shade in the woods and I placed gardens anywhere where the sun shone).
        I actually grew up in the suburbs of a city in the northern part of RI near Massachusetts, but when I came to the southern part of the state for college, I fell in love with the area and chose to settle here. Now, Rhode Islanders are very parochial and tend to stay where they’re planted, so it was odd for me to move 45 minutes away from where I’d grown up, but to me, it was idyllic. And even though the area has grown in the fifty years I’ve been here, it still has a serenity to it I don’t find in other parts of the state.
        You and Charley and I truly understand the value of time because of our own life experiences. Not a day goes by that we don’t remind each other how lucky we are. But I find that people who don’t place material possessions at the top of their priorities, seem to thnk the same way we do. It is quite a freeing feeling, don’t you think?

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    1. Happy, Happy Birthday Month, Bernadette. May is such a beautiful time to be born. If you were living near me, I would definitely take you out to celebrate. We’d have lots to talk about. Enjoy your month and I’ll think of you whenever I see something pretty that makes me smile.
      And yes, he’s a keeper. (It took me 50 years to find him, so I’m not letting go that easily.)
      I’m due to write a political post soon and I thought I might do it on Maxine Waters. She’s a pip! And I love her! Has anyone else mentioned her for Feminist Friday?

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  9. I agree with you, spending time with people is the very best gift anyone can give or get. I also don’t have a diamond wedding ring, but I have a husband who sticks by me, and I by him, through a whole lot of thin and some wonderful thick times.

    And you and Charley have given me an idea for celebrating my hubby’s birthday – all month long. I’m going to find something special to do every single day so he will feel how loved and appreciated he is. (Funny thing is, his birthday is in the same month as mine, but we could skip my birthday altogether and I wouldn’t mind.)

    Love the farm photos as always, and can’t wait to hear more about your new adult book.

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    1. We Pratt women know how to pick our men! I feel the same way about not making a big thing of birthdays and holidays, because every day is a celebration in my book. Charley’s birthday is coming up in June. One thing he likes is taking a mystery ride. It can be to a book store, an ice cream shop, a walking path; a NY System weiner diner; the beach at sunset. That’s always a fun adventure/gift. You’ll have to give me some of your ideas, too. And I think you should alternate days so he can plan surprises for you.
      So, I got a few books over the past month and I’ve read Donna Leon’s Earthly Remains and started Susan Wittig-Albert’s Last Chance Olive Ranch. I’m not sure when I’ll get to Alexander McCall Smith’s My Italian Bulldozer or Jacqueline Winspear’s In This Grave Hour. The new Louise Penny will be out shortly, too. I’ve been tied up with getting my own mystery ready to launch at the end of June and have already started writing the next mystery in that series. And the blog is suffering as a result.I’m going to do something different with this next mystery. Instead of waiting until it’s written, I’m going to use beta readers after I finish each chapter. I’m not sure how this will pan out, but I think the regular feedback will be helpful. I am going to visit you and catch up as soon as I’ve gotten to some other comments. See you!

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  10. Dear Clare, I love your attitude towards life and love giving…you are so right…you are so absolutely, more than 100% right…I feel the same very often…why we should care and be sad if someone does not give back something you expected from him\her, why waste our time, we have to enjoy what we have, now and never regret…you have a very beautiful garden, you look happy next to your husband…life is great and I can see that unique sparkle in your eyes…

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    1. Anne, You know that a few years ago, we were told Charley would not be alive today. And we put our heads and hearts and minds together and gave it a good fight. So, now that he’s in remission, every day holds so much wonder. I think that’s the sparkle you are detecting, my friend. And yes, gardens are truly amazing. They just die (sleep, actually) and come back to life year after year. Me thinks it’s Truly Amazing!!!!!!

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    1. I have a video of the sheep that is so funny. The mamas were getting quite upset after a while with the children chasing their babies around. They wanted the little ones to nap and so they patrolled the perimeter of the fenced area Baah Baahing like mad. It was this low-tone sort of growl and they have so much fleece that they looked a bit scary as they faced off with anyone coming near. I was laughing so hard that I dropped my iPhone and messed up the video.

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    1. Thank you. In your travels, you must someday get to the Berkshires. I write a lot about it because it is truly full of wonder.
      You know I’ve been putting off doing another political post, but it is gnawing away at me and will certainly be on the horizon soon. But the warmer weather is here and so much is going on that I think maybe it can wait a bit longer. I must drop by tonight to take a bit of a journey with the two of you. Take care and thanks for stopping by. Clare

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      1. As we have gotten to know you Claremary and looking at all the beauty of your region we have said how wonderful it would be to visit there. We are glad to see you back again and look forward to your writings. It is always joy having you along on our journeys.

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      3. That would be awesome to meet you in person and hear more about you and the wonderful adventures you have been on. We so want to explore that area and hope to do so in 2017 so we’ll keep you posted.

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  13. I always read your posts but rarely take the time to comment. But I am also an April Birthday & I understand the precious gift of time with loved ones & friends. It’s kinda amazing that we met on that French river cruise several years ago, became good friends that week & still stay in touch regularly. You are so thoughtful to remember us with warm holiday greetings & newsy notes– a testament of our continuing friendship. We love you guys! 🌻

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    1. Happy Birthday, Becky. I will send you a special e-card even though April is past. Yes, it’s always so lovely to hear from you and find out what you’ve been doing. You realize, of course, that it’s just a matter of time before the four of us get together for another adventure. It is certainly in the stars. I can feel it and I am psychic, although Charley thinks I should be spelling that “psychotic”?????? Seriously, thanks for the note and I think of you often, not just when I’m sending cards. ❤️ Clare

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  14. What a beautiful idea from your love to his love ❤️…. Time IS the most precious thing we have and the most overlooked until it passes and we regret. Living a life that is not racked with regret but rather grasping each moment and making it precious – now that is the right way. I don’t need to tell you that, my friend. You are a wise and smart soul. As is your Beau. As for those that you invested time in and got nothing back. One day. Probably too late. They will realise. The Bean and I send our special love to you and the hope that you will enjoy many many more birthday months even when it isn’t your birthday! X

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    1. Osyth, I think of you so often and wonder where you and Bean might be hiking together. Hopefully, the sun is shining upon you on some lovely path in France. You are definitely a perfect example of someone who grasps at all of life’s joys every minute and I know our feelings for our “Beaus” are exactly the same.We are extremely fortunate women. Wishing you a peaceful weekend, my friend. 🌷

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      1. And I of you. Actually the rain is torrential today but we have had much sunshine lately so the rain was needed. We do feel the same about our beaux and it is one of the threads that draws me to you. One of many that make me so glad to have met you whenever it was. Enjoy yours whatever you do and know that your friend across the water thinks of you often. And that The Bean is still insistent that she and Roxie Dammit are soul-mates 🌺

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      2. Roxie has taken to hiding on top of the refrigerator today and we think we have done something to put her in our bad graces – not sure what, yet. She just watched me make a batch of lemon cookies for the progressive supper at church tonight and never once came down and tried to stick her nose into the powdered sugar bowl. I’m sure she’ll let us know her feelings when she decides to descend from her perch and torture us. I’ll relay Bean’s message and maybe this will soften her a bit? I’m glad to have met you, too and look forward to sharing a cup of tea here in New England with you some day in our future.💐

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      3. Oh I do hope she lets you into her fret soon. Tell her The Bean feels whatever her emotion is, for she is suffering a small child of 2 1/2 from Moscow (who by the way is absolutely the most charming little fellow) who has upset her equilibrium immensely and even though she is being allowed to stay in mummy and daddy’s room nothing will pierce the armour of her huff. She feels Roxie will understand perfectly!

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      4. Poor, poor Bean. Strangely enough, Roxie adores children and is in absolute heaven when we have young visitors. It would appear that it is only ZuZu she abhors. She is sulking on top of the refrigerator at the moment because Charley caught her licking the frosting from the cinnamon buns he just made and yelled at her. Not sure where this will all end up?????

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    1. I truly believe beautiful lives are created from the ashes of pain – if you can get through the darkness and appreciate the light at the other end. It’s that whole Yin and Yang way of thinking. Charley and I married late in life and some of the people who should have been happy for us have tried hard to make our lives miserable. Just because they felt they could. It was all about power. Then, came his diagnosis of cancer. Being told he did not have long to live mixed in with those toxic people made it seem that the odds of us having a happy life together was not to be. But instead of letting illness and other people take charge of our life’s path, we put up a struggle, a fight and then a full scale war. We defined what our life together was going to be. And we chose not to take any speck of joy for granted. Strangely enough, those specks grew and grew and we found we created a better life because of the challenges we faced. That’s why I explained that no family, no life is as happy as what we are given to believe on some Face Book posts. But you can take adversity and wrestle it into something quite lovely in the end. And when you look around, your perspective has done a 180 and you realize, you’re ecstatically happy with just having time to be together. Because time really is what is important when it’s shared with someone else. Thank you for such a kind note and I wish you a beautiful happy birthday year, too.💐

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      2. Thank you for such kind words. Charley really is a hero and we have high hopes that he will be cured in the future. He has devoted so much time, effort and pain into finding a cure, I’m positive that this will happen.

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  16. Wow, what a great husband you’ve got there, Clare. I thought I was indulgent giving myself three-day birthdays in recent years. The idea of a whole month celebrating is so wild, I just love it. *Celebrate!*

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  17. Happy birth month Clare! I have thought a great deal about what you said. I think time is made more precious when it becomes apparent how finite it is. We can choose with whom we spend it, or to whom we wish to give it. I always enjoy the time spent in your life, your posts. Love the baby animals!

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    1. Robyn, there isn’t a day when I am outside gardening that I don’t think of something wise you said about life and nature in one of your posts. Our Spring is here and your long ,hot summer has ended. Today the rain came down in torrents and I literally put my face up and like a dumb chicken, almost drowned. Lesson learned – keep mouth closed when looking up in a downpour! Tomorrow (May 6) is a big day in South Kingstown. Really, the official start of Spring and Summer here. I’ve been spending the past few days preparing Fayerweather House for its season opening getting all of the crafters’ creations displayed. I’ll take some photos for a post. And Buzz and Charley (my little alpaca babies from A Berkshire Tale) have moved to a new farm and I’m going to visit them there tomorrow. Again, more pics. The master gardeners are having a plant sale of all they’ve been growing in the greenhouses for the past few months, the farmer’s markets will be in full swing, and our Church is having a progressive supper. So, if I have a few moments to spare, I’ll write a post about a day chock full of Welcome Spring stuff. I’ll be by in a while to read your latest. Have a marvelous weekend1 🌷

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      1. I’m flattered that you find something useful in my musings Clare. How wonderful technology is to allow the sharing of thoughts and ideas – and even our experiences of opposite seasons. I’m so pleased to see the back of summer. It’s been especially hot and humid this year. The mornings and evenings are much cooler now. I can even garden in the middle of the day without being reduced to a grease spot.
        I look forward to photos of the alpaca babies and the crafters’ exhibition. It sounds like a fun and busy time. My weekend is half gone but I will catch up with family in my daughter’s garden this afternoon. Hope you enjoy the rest of yours!

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      2. The alpacas were happy to see me today or maybe it was because I brought carrots? I must tell you that our town beach (Moonstone) was not only noted for the lovely sea glass and smooth rocks found on the shore line, but it is famous because a part of it is a nude beach where people meet to play volleyball! 🏐
        I’m glad it’s cooler for you and hope you had fun at your daughter’s today.

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  18. …and I missed it! Happy Birthday my friend! Charley is right you do deserve a month of celebrations at least. And what a wonderful picture of the two of you looking so happy. No one could look at it without feeling happy as well, the love so evident, the joy between you contagious. Love you, my friend!

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    1. And you and Doug send out those same contagious joyful vibes. We are lucky people, methinks! Much love to you, too and we need to have another long phone chat soon before I forget all that has been happening as the days rush on. 🌹 Clare

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      1. Absolutely! Sounds like it was a wonderful month! When would be good for you? Sound like you have a lot going on. We had a busy April and lots of stuff this week but quiet days ahead for a while. So almost anytime works for me.

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      4. I am usually since I am typically a morning person. (Doug is like you, the night owl in our family.) I spent Thursday working hard in my garden but couldn’t sleep for some reason. Maybe the Trumpcare vote. Kept reading the news on my phone. And we met friends for lunch in a town an hour and a half away so busy day. I took a nap when we got home and I fell asleep again watching Bluebloods with Doug so just kind of woke up!

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      5. I’m trying to answer some of the comments and visit people’s blogs tonight. I caught a nap earlier in the evening and so that means no sleep for me until about 3! Don’t worry about the whole Trumpcare thing. This is going to work out well in the end because it is what will finally wake up those who still refuse to recognize all the lies. Sometimes tough love can go a long way and the end result will be getting rid of these freaks who temporarily have taken over the government and finally getting a country that is a kinder, gentler place to live. We needed this shake-up, Jo. It’s tough to go through, but trust me, there is a light at the end of this tunnel.

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      7. Remind me to tell you about my uncanny ability to feel things that are going to happen. I just seem to be ahead of the time spectrum – like, I’m here, but on another plane at the same time. Someone once called me a white witch. I can live with that.

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      9. I’ll look that up. I’ve been meaning to tell you about another blogger Sharon Bonin-Pratt. She has a wonderful blog about books and I find her posts fascinating. I think you’d really like her. She’s been commenting on this post so, find her and it will link to her blog.

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  20. It sounds like you had a wonderful birthday month even if poor Roxie felt she’d been left out for a while! My birthday is in early autumn which, whist being a lovely time of year, isn’t filled with the wonders of springtime renewal that helped you have such a good month. I hope May isn’t too much of a let down after all that excitement 😊

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    1. Hello, Clive. May has been crazy so far.I just got back from the alpaca farm. I visited with Buzz and Charley and the girls at their new digs. They seem to have adjusted just fine to their recent move. This morning I spent time at the craft guild as it is our opening day for the season and tonight we have a progressive supper at our Church. That’s the first Saturday of the month so far, so I don’t expect it to get any calmer. Charley and I are taking off for the Carolinas and you can imagine how that is going to sit with Roxie! I will try to be more conscientious about my social media, though. We’ll see??? PS I will remember you this September and wish you a very happy birthday month! Take care and have a lovely Sunday.

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      1. Hi Clare. It doesn’t sound as though May will be any quieter than April! It’s good that you’re enjoying it all though. I’m looking forward to hearing about your trip to the Carolinas and Roxie’s thoughts on being left at home! You’ve every reason not to worry about your social media in the midst of all this living! September is a long way off, but no doubt you’ll be told by Facebook when the day comes. All together now: “when I get older, losing my hair…” 😊

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      8. It’s early and I’m paying attention and applying my wit whenever I can slip it in. Also, I’m extremely thick-skinned (and thick) so rudeness doesn’t stand a chance of penetrating my invisible armor (armour). ⚔

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      9. I’m definitely impressed now! I’d never think of you as thick! It’s late afternoon here and my residual brainpower is only just about capable of choosing which sport to watch on tv 😊

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      10. Bowling! Go for Bowling! Or maybe fly fishing! Neither will take very much brainpower, so maybe you could find a channel that specializes in extremely boring sports? (I really hope you’re not a bowler or a fly fisherman and if you are, then excuse my rudeness and blame it on my thickness!)

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      11. Those sound like my idea of hell! We do have some fishing on tv, but I’ve never quite understood why anyone would want to watch it! My choice is between a couple of cricket matches and some football (the proper one, not your handegg game) 😊

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  21. Happy belated birthday month, Clare. I celebrate my birthday, in June, as gift month. My hubby and I enjoy ourselves much like you and Charley. I know you’re busy but I miss your delightful blogs about your catkids. Good luck with your book and all of your endeavors. 🌻

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    1. Thank you. Charley is a June baby, too. what a wonderful month!
      Roxie is insistent on doing another post and so, I’m sure you will be hearing about their kitty adventures very soon. I know you’ve been quite busy with your job and hope you’re finding some fun time with your hubby. Take care, Eugenia and have a lovely weekend.

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    1. Hello, Lucy! I’m up late again tonight catching up on blogging things before I get back to killing people in my newest mystery. This one is set at a university and the body is found with its throat slit in a rose garden! I do have a devious side, my friend. Love, Ethel 💜

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    1. It’s definitely a sport for the younger set! The town tried to ban it, by saying it was protecting the piping plovers in the dunes nearby, but only managed to move it farther down the beach. It is truly a lovely beach and RI is very Catholic and conservative, so the whole free spirit mindset has often been blamed on the New Yorkers who come up here to spend the summer on our cooler shores.

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      1. I would have liked to be around for the lobbying and protests. That’s when you see the best and worst come out in a community as they try to prevent change in their own back yards. Mind you, I’d be defending those plovers.

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  24. Hello. I have just read this and I see there are many other posts to catch up with. Is it WordPress that stops us ” following” people to allow for change or to seek out new readers, I don’t know, but I found that I wasn’t in the ” following team” and have just re clicked. Hence seeing all these new and positive posts. I like the magnets attraction one, ie Takees seem to attack the tackers. First time here anyway for many a long month and to read this post feels me with hope and clarity. Ps Not imbibed of the wine ( yet) but it really was most apt for my previously dire months Onwards and upwards eh?

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    1. Jackie!!!!!!! Hi! I’ve not been posting much lately and have been terribly remiss in reading other blogs. I’m trying to catch up myself. The only way I can manage this right now is to answer a comment on my post and then go to that person’s blog and read up on all I’ve missed in the last few months. So, I’m really glad you’re here, because I will be getting right back to you. I miss all the stories about the schoool and the people in it – and of course I miss hearing about your own exploits. Just a few more comments to answer and I’ll binge read some of your latest posts.

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    2. Jackie, I just went to “Everyday Housewife” and you haven’t posted since the last time I read and commented in February. Did we all go on blogger vacation at the same time? Is everything okay? You mentioned “dire months” in your comment, but I didn’t pick up on it until just now. I’m relieved you’re back and following, although I’ve written very little, myself, in the New Year – so the good news is – not much to catch up on at this end. Stay in touch.

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      1. Hello Clare

        All good over here just very busy and to be honest, I tried a few post but they became heavy and boring ( or more heavy and boring than usual…) so currently in ” the dry season!”. Thanks for your concern, as always

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      2. I’ve been visiting your site but see no new posts, so I’ve read some of your old posts. I don’t think you could ever be heavy and boring but do understand about “the dry season”. I’m glad you are keeping in touch with me and hope you are having some fun now that spring has arrived.🌷

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  25. A birthday week is the norm in our household… a birthday MONTH – wow! that’s something I could get to like very much 🙂 I’m glad to hear you had a wonderful month of celebrating in so many different ways Claire. May there be many more! Warm regards, Gail.

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  27. Pingback: On Gallivanting – Around ZuZu's Barn

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