Today I was able to enjoy a bouquet of lilacs at my Mom's house. The vase is a special gift she received from my brother Raymond Pert. He painted the beautiful design on it. Below gives you an idea of why lilacs were such an important part of my childhood. This is the back fence of Mom's yard in Kellogg in the morning light with the now green hills in the background. You can just smell the wonderful scent.
I was tagged by Silver Valley Girl to do this meme. I am a bit behind tonight and am trying to organize myself for a community clean-up at school tomorrow ( let’s see… leather gloves, sunscreen, shoes for my student that only owns flip flops and they are not allowed, and a hat), and trying to get the makings for a Mother’s Day dinner packed up to take with me tomorrow to Kellogg. I also need to create a list of plants I may still need just in case Mom and I decide we need a garden center fix. I won't be able to tag people, so If you want to participate in this meme, get the rules and info here.
1. I love to read books that are in a series. I go all the way back to the beginning and I love to see how the writer develops the plots and characters as the books move through the series. I hate picking up in the middle. I think this started when I read through the Happy Hollisters, Nancy Drew mysteries, and some Hardy Boys as a child. I have traveled through The Mitford series by Jan Karon, the Harry Bosch detective series by Michael Connelly, and the Stone Gap series by Adriana Trigiani just to name a few.
3. Since I finished college with a degree in teaching from the University of Idaho in 1977 I have taught school and sometimes also gone back to school every year since. I have worked with students from kindergarten to graduate level. My favorite thing to teach is writing, especially with adults. After twenty-nine years I still look forward to teaching and learning each day.
5. I don’t own fifty pair of flip flops in every color and design. They are not comfortable for me to wear. I am also concerned that some student will accidentally drop his fifty pound backpack on my toe or my foot will be left in the door when it is lunch time. I have one plain pair of black ones for when I go to a body of water.
The greenhouse has been emptied of many plants that had wintered over and now are ready to make the transition outside again.
The crab apple tree began blooming in front of the lilacs. 
Annie has been given her summer cut. We found freckles we forgot she had. She is now cool and happy! 
The cats found their beds returned to the empty greenhouse for the summer.
For some odd reason Annie decided she wanted to try a cat bed in the greenhouse. She leaped on the shelf, twirled around to try it out, then realized she was too big. Her friend Sweet William was relieved when she leaped down.
A geranium is back on the fence waiting for the new buds to bloom into late spring color. Other signs the weather is warming are observing the early vegetables sprouting up, the scent of lilacs greeting me as I arrive inside the gate, and JEJ calling me at school just to double check which flower seeds go where in the raised beds.
Past the blooming America roses,
Among the budding of the Livin’ Easy,
