Blue sky emerged today. The long shadows of the days beginning from the loping locust of yard
trees oversees the growing world. A pair of geese are guarding their goslings from a barking Walter
in the quarry behind the house. Spring seldom seemed a reality, but now the greening will leap at us.

The lingering earthy scent of newly turned soil is brief compared to other eras yet it streams over us encouraging to quicken the pace. Yet we pause, outside can wait. A last flurry defies the calendar.

Our family like yours, is evolving. Adrianne, Tom and all of us have rejoiced in the birth of their daughter Arra Kirana last July. the image of Adrianne now is one with their child in arms, seldom separated and is both joyful and trying. We have to admire her saucy approach in reaching perfection that radiates from her mother and grandmother. Arra will easily recognize her family’s love. Their sojourn to Tom’s home in Indonesia was once one of the perseverance, but balanced by the glee of tom’s mom and dad clutching their new grandchild for the first time.

Brooke, Ben, Payton, and Henry have nurtured an uplifting closeness. “Mommy, Mommy!, Daddy, Daddy!” – when separated for only a brief time they run to their partents, filled with laughter and arms open to gather in a hug or leg. that ritual delights “Gigi” & “Popi Bill” as little else can. But they do tax our limits. Anticipation is a great motivator for ensuring a family’s joy for one another. This fall we will revel in the glory of the birth of their third child. How can a full, hectic day find room for a new life? It just does.

Through the kindness of Cathy and Sparky Weilnau we were able to escape to Sanibel for a brief refreshing interlude. Grey there, grey here gives rise to the regeneration for the greening of Ohio.

Like the young saplings planted last week there is a basic need to grow. To nurture is a way of life for those who encourage.

And the farm, flux is always the constant for you and me. Spring cold, lack of hardening off in Fall’s warmth, gray skies during bloom, but there will be crops to harvest. A few cherries in mid June will announce the season, but it appears now that maturity will be later than usual.