It’s a grey day with pine tree limbs silhouetted against the sky. Today is above freezing. Before this winter, it never crossed my mind that the simple phrase above freezing would be welcomed news in March. There is still snow on the ground, but sections of my front garden have surfaced, and I can see the shoots of spring plants. I recognize a hyacinth, some potential daffodils and what I think are snowdrops. They are hopeful signs that winter can’t hold us for too much longer.

I’ve had such a busy day which explains, I hope, the lateness of my post. This morning it was the dentist then a poetry reading. It hasn’t just been a busy morning but a busy week as well. My dance card was almost completely filled, and I have traveled more miles than I had in the previous three weeks combined. All of it, except the dentist, sprang from a need to be out of the house despite the cold. Tomorrow we are supposed to hit 40˚. Let the celebrations begin!

If you have a split infinitive or a dangling participle, I’m your woman. I can fix both. Words are my friends. But when it comes to leaks, electrical problems and faulty furnaces, I’m scared to death. I envision cartoon dollar signs dancing out my house to the tune of a rumba. Today is one of those days. My furnace has been blowing all morning, but the temperature in the house has only risen a few degrees. I think the good news is the furnace works, but the bad news is it can’t seem to do its job well so the repairman is coming, the one with the truck which gets those dancing dollar signs.

I am proud I was able to stop the toilet tank water from running. All it took was a well placed rock, no need for a plumber.