My oh my, how time flies! When we last posted, winter still held a stranglehold, the new year barely had a week under its belt, and a full retelling of our west coast trip, much less our trip to Texas or any of a number of possible posts, receive no mention on our venerable blog. I suppose a full life is also one difficult to document, though Alex might argue for some competing hypothesis.
Frankly, many times I think about what's going on in our country and world and feel like blogging about the quaint little adventures Alex and I enjoy would be too much like Nero fiddling away while Rome burns. Today however, after these last gasps of Old Man Winter finally begin to give way to bright skies, budding trees, and one particularly musical robin, I find that old friend, Hope, goading me again to participate in the ongoing process of restoring this decaying world a Carpenter and his disciples started a few millennia ago.
The book of Romans tells us that all creation groans for the restoration of a just reign by God's people. As I still outside writing this, listening to the wind blow through bare branches and the birdsong I so desperately missed these many months, I am reminded that while a coming judgement is indeed imminent, God doesn't want his children sitting on their duffs until his return.
That groaning creation sure got the memo. As Alex and I began taking walks this week, we've loved watching the chattering squirrels either fighting or wooing one another (weird how hard it is to tell the difference). We're starting to see similar ambiguous behavior among the birds; to robins were sure up to something this morning before a bluejay came and broke up the fun/conflict. Least ambiguous of all are the trees, with buds ready to burst any day now. My it'll be good to have some green again.
My dear Alex, loyal to the charge given our race to care for creation, has been hard at it. Our day began with some tasks we both worked on like cleaning our the garage and cleaning the cars, typical spring stuff. After I went inside, she stayed out in the yard, clearing out her garden beds and planning to order this little kingdom entrusted to her. My she makes a benevolent ruler.
Under her caring hand, our kale and parsley have thrived. She has them started inside, waiting for the time these young plants will be ready to face the rigors of the garden bed. With prime sun exposure in our bedroom, twinkle lights to keep the soil temperature just where the young seeds like to germinate at, and a constant turning to make sure they develop evenly. She's even put a fan on them so they develop some hardiness in their stems.
Now, we're sitting quietly on the porch, Alex's favorite part of the house. Alex is just now finishing up a lunch that was postponed to this midafternoon writing because she can't be bothered to eat when there is gardening to be done. But for now, I believe this little foray into the hope of spring makes for a sufficient, long delayed blog post. Omnia Vincit Amour.
