Around here I haven't heard the cardinals for a long time but they have a distinctive flight pattern, as they travel from point A to point B. They swoop up and down along the route in a kind of jerky avian sine wave.

I need to get into the yard to work but have been tied down by a combination of indoor projects. My rule for myself regarding what goes in the laundry room, as I return the items that live there: if I haven't used it in forever, it gets readied for donation and leaves the house. I've organized a small wire shelf better for tools on top and various laundry products (most rarely used) down below. Now I need to slowly turn and face the maelstrom that is the stuff packed in all around and above the dryer. . .

I've received two texts this week from the County reminding me that tomorrow is jury duty. The process of getting into the courthouse is onerous enough that if I have to stick around past the lunch break I don't want to try to leave and find a small restaurant for lunch (eating gluten free off of an unfamiliar menu), or heaven forbid stay and deal with the vending machines. I'm preparing the ingredients for a packed lunch. And a note about entering government buildings with security: they don't allow pocket knives. I had to step off of the federal property and ditch my knife in a planter for the duration of helping my friend at her hearing. I took the knife out of my pocket yesterday and while I'll miss it today, I'm not going to have to worry when I put my pocket stuff in a clean pair of black jeans tomorrow.

patty, how is the property doing this spring? Are the weeds fighting the good fight or have you found a way to mow them down and keep them down with the vinegar mix?

Dorothy, are you still reading along occasionally?

Donuel, what are you building or shifting around? We haven't heard from Jon in forever, and there are many others who sometimes step up and offer reports.