The Signs Of Spring!

 The April Showers have begun and this week we have had not one, but TWO!   Tornado Warnings/Drills at the Haribo!  The last one was Friday and lasted 45 minutes!   I guess there was some flooding in Milwaukee....    But seriously...  I have never seen a Tornado in the Midwest. Usually,   it is just some strong winds with thunderstorms.   I'm actually kind of fond of them.  ( Sometimes they even drop a tree in our yard for carving purposes!)

But there has been lots of rain this year!   It even rained today!   (Slight sprinkle.)  And with the rains come all of those flowers.   I walked around the neighborhood and took a few pics of the tulips and daffodils.  Also, a bunch of the trees are beginning to sprout and flower up!   It won't be long now before all of those fruit trees start painting the landscape with pinks and yellows. 

I even found the first mushrooms of the year!  I'm guessing these are something from the "Inkcap Family"   Possibly edible,  but inkcaps have a reputation of making you ill if you drink any alcohol after eating them.  ( Up to three days!) And some will just make you sick regardless.   I did not harvest any. I'll wait for Morels.

In addition to the flowers and mushrooms,  the spring rains have also triggered the growing grass in the yard.   And after last fall,  the caretakers of this property asked if I would mind taking over the lawn maintenance.  I agreed...  After all, it was soon going to be winter and I had thought I would be out of this place by the first of the year!

But plans tend to change and here we are in April! So it looks like I had better make good on the commitment.   It has been about 30 years since I actually mowed a lawn.  ( Not counting the times I worked for the DNR.   That was a Tractor/brush hog) I used to mow our yard growing up.   Me!  With a purple push mower from Sears that hated cutting grass almost as much as I did.  It took about 30 pulls to get the thing started.   It was loud,  heavy, and dull as a butter knife.   Mom used to make me re-mow all of the sections I had just finished because it would not cut the Dandelions or Plantain stalks.  Looking back, it could have probably been a better experience had I given it a good cleaning,  tune-up, and sharpened the blade...  But I was a KID!   With no small engine experience or knowledge.  And Mom would just yell at me until I got the thing running.  She must have thought that that just yelling at something would fix  it.   Mom yelled at everything.  And most times, it worked!  (Mostly because people just got tired of her throwing a fit over everything and would just fix it for her....) 

So I had to mow the yard.   Not Eric!   Eric....  a Genius!   Mowed the lawn only once.   And he did such a bang-up job that the job was quickly handed off to me shortly after I took my first steps!   Eric was so thorough in his mowing, that he made sure to mow off all of Mom's flowers.  

And I'm not talking stray flowers that grew wild in the yard.   I'm talking "Flower Beds!"  Mowed down to the dirt!   (GENIUS move!)   You might be thinking "what kind of idiot would jump over the meager landscaping and mow off the Tulips, Hyacinths,  and Irises?"  But you would be mistaken.   He did not do it out of stupidity...   He did it intentionally!  

You see,  Eric was much smarter than he pretended to be.  Mom and Eric never really got along.   And whenever Eric would not want to do something,  he would become "Extra Dumb."   To the point Mom would call him and idiot and make me do it instead.  Not wanting to be dumb, myself... or get yelled at more,   I would do the job and try to do it so Mom would leave me alone.  

It did not take long for Eric to be banned from the lawnmowing....   And I was forced to take up the slack.   Genius!   And I was the actual dumb one not figuring that out until years later.  

But when I finally had enough money. (A small savings account with birthday money.   I purchased a new lawnmower and learned to assemble and maintain it myself.   (Because Dad was usually out of town working...  Otherwise he would have assembled i!  Because I would "hurt myself" if I ever used any of his tools....) I remember the lawnmower was from Kmart.   It was the cheapest one they had. ($70 Bucks!)   And it was lighter, quieter, and started on the second pull!   

I remember changing the spark plugs and washing the heat sinks.  I cleaned off the fuel filter and sharpened the blades.  In short,   I maintained it and it actually worked!  We had that machine until I went to college.  Then Dad purchased a riding lawnmower so Mom could mow the lawn in my absence.  (Dad still worked out of town and Mom never trusted the neighborhood kids to "do a good job."  

And so it was that I have not pushed a mower since then.   Nor have I had any opportunities to work or assemble a small motor.  Until today! 

I bought a small lawn mower at Menhards yesterday.   And I have to say,   the entire event is rather exciting.   Not so much the cutting of the grass... But mostly the assembly and maintenance of the machine.  

I have to say,  it is just like riding a bike!   (Figuratively speaking...)    The box came with instructions... But who needs those?    Besides, they are usually in twelve different languages anyway.  And who wants to read that much or be told what to do?   (Luckily,  there were pictures!)  

Most of the assembly was intuitive.  The wheels go on the frame.  The Handle goes on the back part.  And that was pretty much it.   They did have BIG RED WARNING signs alerting the customer that they needed to add fuel and oil to the machine before they could operate it.   Something I still knew after all of those years of having my own.   {Cough, cough...}

It did take a couple of pulls to get it going.  ( Even after priming it..) but it ran great!  And was the perfect size for the small yard around this house. It only took about 15 minutes.   Unlike the yard I grew up with,  this yard is small and easy.  Back in Michigan,  our property was NOTABLY larger! 

We lived on about an acre and a half or land and I used the push mower for it all!  It was also filled with large sandy patches mixed with old brush piles and stumps that mom insisted should be mowed over. It usually took me several hours to complete, counting the Kool-Aid Breaks I would take between yards. 

Now I am not a yard man.   I have no intent to purchase a weed trimmer or edging tool for a completely manicured lawn. In fact,  being in the natural sciences,  I abhor those lawns!  (Bad for bees, butterflies, and the soil!) But I do like the minimum of a mowed lawn.  And there was a bit of nostalgia that accompanied the experience.   Mostly on the equipment, and less about the actual job.  I would wager that I am probably  the first one in the neighborhood to mow their lawn for the year.   ( Unlike Iowa,   Where I'm sure Don has already mowed his lawn 4 times!)  

With yard work completed,   I now plan on spending the rest of the day inside with the cat.  She could use a little attention after a week of late work nights. 

 (At least I had this Saturday off....)  She currently is whining over something, ( probably attention) and I should probably end this post soon.   It ended up much longer than I had originally thought it would be.   But that is what happens when I take a week off from blogging.   I guess that writing bug has to manifest itself somewhere!  

So hopefully the stormy cool weather will trigger a bumper crop of Mushrooms this year.   (Specifically Morels!)   My plan is to go visit my Brother in Michigan on the property and hopefully find a few while I'm out there.   The timing should be in the peak of the season... But you never know how things will pan out when it comes to Morels.   ( So elusive!) 

In the mean time,  I will try to contribute to the blog more regularly...  And make every remaining second count. 

Where Will You Be A Year From Now?

I have been asking myself this question a lot lately.  Perhaps it is triggered by the approaching Memorial Day.  Perhaps it is being triggered by the Fire that Dave and I survived and endured...  Either way,  I thought I would give it a few moments of thought for the blog. 

I have to tell you,  this is not the first time I have asked this question of myself.   In fact,  When I first came to Kenosha,  I thought I was only going to be here a couple of weeks!   And after it became apparent that it would be longer,  I never thought it would be over a year.  

And now it has been well over that.   And each year, after asking  myself that question,  I discover that the answer ends up being something completely unplanned.  It all leads me to solidly cement my philosophy in that NO ONE knows the future!  

Except God. 

A phrase I used to like was :Wanna make God laugh?   Tell him your plans for the future...  It would sometimes get a chuckle at a party.   But I seriously believe it.   God has a plan for us all.   And there is probably very little you can do to change it.  It could even be that your plans actually come true!  But not exactly  the way you had envisioned it.   God is writing the story.  

And so I find myself in a house.  Dave has moved on to Canada and I now have a Cat for a roommate.  And I'm  looking for a house.  Something I never thought I would ever be doing.   Nor ever thought I COULD do!   I thought I had completely destroyed my credit history with lack of steady employment,  failed business ventures and owing  back taxes to the government from 2016-2022!   But these last three years in Kenosha,  I have somehow managed to repair  and rebuild what was damaged.   I have completely paid off the Government and I guess that makes me some kind of superhero in the eyes of lenders!  

I have also had a steady job for those years and will soon be adding another year  to the workforce under the supervision of Haribo!  Slowly accruing a bit of skill, knowledge and money along the way.  Who would have thought? 

Did I fail to mention the fire?   Oh yeah!  Ask me that question last year and I never would have thought it possible.   No clothes,  No shoes!  No furniture.   No home!  (Oh!  And No job at the time, either!) Less than a year later,  I have them all back.  With a Cat!  Who would have ever guessed?  

Except God.

I am humbled whenever I think about these events.  Not only the fire and the aftermath of that night;  But also the year prior!   When I was a High School Teacher at Shoreland!  I had never imagined that as a possibility.   Even now, it seems like it was all a Dream....

But it happened. 

And so I continue to ask the question.  But it has now become more of a thought experiment rather than a "Road Map that must be followed."   (Besides,  I can barely picture next week, let alone next year!)  Because I know that I am not completely in control.  And some of the signs are hidden until you look back and see how things played out a year later.  Then, miraculously,  they become obvious!  Hindsight is 20/20.  

I recall a line from "Under The Tuscan Sun"  where the Realtor points out to the main character that all of her wishes came true.    She has a house.   She has a Wedding.   She has a Family.   And she has a Child.   Everything she ever wanted....  Just not the way she had envisioned it.  But it allows her to begin looking at things through new eyes.   With a bit less selfishness and a bit more humility.  

So I will Trust God as he continues to write my story.   That all the struggles and uncertainty will fade away or be worth it in the end.  And while I'm on this ride,  I will continue to make every second count.  

 Where will I be a year from now?   Only God knows.   

Mid-Week Post.

I blog so infrequently these days, that it bothers me when I spend an entire blog post ranting against kids. (Was it a rant?   I didn't really mean for it to come off that way.)  But sometimes inspirations simply take over and I have to write about something that I observe, instead of the boring, everyday commotions that happen to me routinely.    So... That is what this post is for.   To catch up on all the "boring stuff."   (Because what would life be like without a little "boring?" ) 

It is currently raining outside.    Complete with all of the trimmings of lightning and thunder.   

And I love it! 

Who does not love the rain?   (Fishermen, perhaps.   Or anyone working outside...  Homeless people?)   Whatever!    I like the rain.   Especially when I am warm and dry and can enjoy the sounds and the cool breeze while sipping a warm beverage.  I guess, given those conditions,  anyone would enjoy a little sprinkle.  

But this rain is a little more symbolic of something bigger.   Spring!  I know it is not the "first rain" of the year...   But I think this will be the first one of Spring, as the temps should be warm enough to keep any freak snow storms away.   Last week,  I think Monday started off with snow again.   It did not last long.   But that kind of ruins the "Spring experience"  for many of us.   "I guess Winter is not done yet...."  Are the thoughts...

But a little rain,  a LOT of Thunder.   And a flash of lightning seems to act as the herald for Spring's final  Arrival.   

And I welcome it. 

There were smaller preliminary signs last week... If you bothered to notice  them.  

Crocuses!   During one of my walks, I noticed a splash of color on an otherwise brown lawn.  Crocuses peeking up and flashing a bit of purple to show that the season was about to change.  

Yesterday,   I saw the first Daffodils.   I'm sure, in a week or two,  the first Tulips will start popping up. Tulips have the honor of being announced by everyone in the form of a festival.  (Those Dutch people LOVE their Tulips....)  By that time,  it is fairly obvious that Spring is now here.   

In the mean time,  I will enjoy the sounds of the rain hitting the roof.  And the cool of the damp breeze as it seeps through the cracks in the windows of the porch.   I know the traditional saying is "April Showers bring May Flowers..."   But the Spring also offers the start of the Mushroom Season.   Even though there are mushrooms you can find during the winter,  I did not go out looking for any this year.    (And besides,  most of those are not edible.)  So I am looking forward to the beginning of another Mushroom Season.   Let the Hunt begin!

The cat does not seem to know what to do with the rain and thunder.   She likes looking outside, but perhaps it is the chill or sound that bothers her.   She is currently curled up next to me.   At least she is not under the couch, hiding.  

Another day at Haribo!   Last night, the three Material handlers in the back had a good game.  (Alex and Tino helped out where they could.)   We cleared the floor of materials and cleaned up the back so third shift had an easier time of it.  First shift always seems to leave us a disaster during the shift change.  I'm sure it is not intentional .  But that means we have to spend the first three hours just trying to stay above water and figure things out.   Well last night,   we not only managed to get the lines all of their materials, but we also were able to wrap and send all of those pallets that were on the floor to the warehouse.   An achievement worth noting!

I like that the days are finally getting a little longer.   I can enjoy the sunset before my first break is over.  I like watching the sun set... even when it is not over the waters of Lake Michigan.   There is something romantic about a red sky at night....   Like a warm embrace before the darkness envelopes you.  

Time waits for no one.   And I had better wrap this up before I head to work.  Another nice thing about the rain is there is an excuse to stay indoors and write instead of doing something "active."   Hurray for the couch potato!  (Not that I'm totally lazy... But I do have my moments.  And Sometimes I enjoy them!)   So I shall end this post and get ready for another day at the Haribo.   And try to make every second count. 

Happy Palm Sunday!

 Today was Palm Sunday!   I know, I know... An odd use of a present noun followed by a passive verb.  And Technically,  it is still Palm Sunday.   But I have to be unique, otherwise people will think AI writes this blog.   And I pride myself in not using the Grammar Crutches that AI provides.  ( Except Spell Check...   I still lean heavily on that stupid Spell check.)   But I Digress!

We had the Big Unity Sunday at the East Campus ( Kenosha Lutheran Academy.) And it was packed!  I was forced to sit in the back...  Shoulder to shoulder with a bunch of families.  

Normally,  I enjoy a little more elbow room so I can sing off key during an unfamiliar song and not feel self-conscious about it.  Also, I like to fold paper during the readings....(and sometimes... the Sermon.) 

The Sermon was ironically about Kids!   Pastor Prange showed a gif about the Origin of "Kid"  with a bunch of little goats jumping around.   Someone must have looked at a bunch of children running around and jumping and got the  inspiration to refer to them as rambunctious  tiny goats  causing mischief and trouble for all those around them.    

And the name Stuck!

I rarely call kids "Children"   ( It sounds so formal....) And to me,  I think the name is the perfect embodiment of the young.  Young creatures running around and frolicing without a care  or worry in the world.   But what is "cute" in Animals...   It can be rather annoying in Humans. 

And that was kind of what the Sermon was about.   How the children flooded poor Jesus and danced around him while the "Old" people tried to "Shush" them and shoo them away from the teacher.  I have heard the story many times before.   And it was made VERY real for me as I was literally surrounded with kids in the back  of the church today.   And I realized....  I'm one of those "old" people.  

To be honest, I never really liked kids.  (Humans, that is...  I find the Tiny Goats adorable!)  The very thought of raising kids seems impossible and terrifying.   How do parents put up with them and not go crazy with embarrassment or rage?  I have heard people say "it is different when they are yours."   I personally think the opposite!  Mine would probably be demons!  Not the evil kind,  but the ones that do over the top embarrassing things.   

Forget those first years of poopy diapers and fire-hose vomit sessions.  (Ugh!   Puke!   the absolute worst!)  I would never make it to the "run around until you fall and then start crying." moments. I honestly think the whole parenting thing is "genetic".  ( Pun intended...)   Like there is a Gene somewhere in the DNA of humanity....  And I did not get it.  ( And STILL don't get it.)  

Maybe  that is why I am fascinated with fish more than any other animal.  Most are the WORST parents. Choosing to  abandoning them while they are still in the "egg" phase.  ( I know a lot of humans are the same way....  But that is not what I mean)   

It got me thinking.   Why do I not like kids very much?   I mean,   I didn't mind fishing with them.   Or flying kites or Blowing Giant Bubbles!   As long as I can send them home to someone else when it is all over or they start getting fussy.   

Or perhaps it is because I am still a Kid!   I mean,   What kind of adult likes to play with bubbles?   Fly Kites?   Build Model airplanes?   

Maybe Grandparents!   Grandparents have the sweet deal in that they can play with the kids and do kid things and then toss them back to the Parents when they are done.  The only problem is... You have to be a parent for 18+ years first!  (In some cases,   30+ years) And as mentioned before....  I want to skip that part. 

So...  after a long tangent from the topic of the sermon.  (I'm actually impressed I remembered that much from the sermon with all the kids crying and squirming around me today.) I will end on a positive note:   Hurray for the Parents!   Whether by accident or intent,  you have chosen a path that I have never wanted to travel.   I will choose  having a pet over attempting to raise a kid.  That is not really a boast either.... (Or something to be proud of....)  I would not want to raise a dog, because they are only slightly less involved than a kid.   

And Fish?  I have had fish before and all I ever do is kill them!   (Usually because I over dote on them and screw up the delicate balance of PH in the water.   Or overfeed them.

I'll stick with cats.    Currently, the one that I inherited seems to be doing fine without any help from me.  And she has not run away despite me leaving the door open on a nice day.   Cats have something about them that seems to gel with my theory of freedom and self reliance.  I will leave it at that. (Instead of making this blog any longer by trying to explain the nuances.... )  

In the mean time...  I get to start another week all over again.   With only Sunday off,  I have been limited to working on making my Chili for the week and writing this blog.  I also got to unload a bunch of Gummies onto one of the Shoreland Folks this morning.   At least I will not have to work this coming Saturday...   So I should be able to catch a few things up and make every second count.