More weekend

- I drove up to the Flannery O'Connor farm on Saturday past trees and shrubs up a long winding driveway. The house is unassuming and was open, but I didn't go in this time. I wanted to see the Iris beds since the director of the foundation had spoken of them. They probably peaked last weekend - they were waning, but there were a lot of them. A little horse behind a fence watched with interest as I turned around to leave.

- My food lady's grandson died. There was a memorial service in a park. When everyone released their balloon, there was total silence.

- The gas station in Eatonton had a couple of chickens roaming around among the cars. The locals did not seem to take notice. An employee told me they visit from the farm next door. Then she pointed to the food warmer behind her and said with a smile, "You know, we have fresh chicken!"

Easter

- The Easter bunny left Dove chocolate under my pillow Saturday night.

- Mama went all out on the food this weekend - her Dressing was so good. It made me happy to see her interested in entertaining; talking about recipes in Cooking Light, etc.

- Kim signed off her email this morning with "Jesus is on the loose! Hallelujah!!!"

Frocks and big hair

- Tim and Maxi went shopping for clothes and props for their lawn jockey - which has turned into quite a Pangborn Road attraction. When I leave, he is wearing an Easter frock with matching hat.

- It is so fun to talk over old times with Tim while he is cutting my hair. We have been together for more than 20 years now. He gave me big hair for old times sake and then I was off to Good Friday service.

- Looking forward to seeing my family in Milledgeville later today. No colorful Easter frock for me - it is supposed to be 25 degrees tomorrow.

The Curves mascot

- Just before Christmas the young ladies who work at Curves arrived to open up one morning finding that someone had left a wooden cat facing the front door. Heather will not touch it thinking it has a voodoo curse on it. But Debbie and Michelle have had great fun with it. During Christmas it sat on a shelf wearing a little Santa hat and garlands around its neck. Now it is all decorated for Spring with an Easter egg necklace and a flower garland on its head.

- Everyone seems upset by the cold snap, but I am excited about one last fire in the fireplace.

- I like emailing back and forth with Kim all day. It's like chatting with a friend while working.

Thoughtful Sis

- I was talking to Jo by cellphone when I picked up my mail and saw that there was a package from her. I exclaimed, "It's a package from you! What is it?" She replied, "An Easter present!" Me: "Oooooh!" Her: "OK - why don't you open that later when we're off the phone. (Laughing) I hate to think you'll be disappointed now when you open it." Me: "I don't care - I LOVE unexpected surprises in the mail!"

- It was a weather radio. A few weeks ago their weather radio alerted them to an impending tornado in their area and they were able to get to safety. Happily - it missed them. Jo decided her whole family should have one and sent one to Mom and Dad, too.

- The card was funny - I don't remember the punchline, but it was seasonal characters at a cocktail party. Santa was talking to the Easter bunny who was drinking a glass of red wine. That was funny in itself.

Monsoons

- Leisa finished her workout and was ready to leave, but stayed and walked around with me for half of mine. It made it go so much faster! She wanted to do something fun, so I told her she should rent "Monsoon Wedding."

- Dinner with Barbara D. was nice. She is one of the few people I can tell how I really feel about things.

- I am thankful for all the rain and especially that it was washed the pollen off my car (for now.)

Piedmont Avenue

- I passed a house yesterday afternoon that had a myriad of flowering shrubs, trees and flowers in all colors. It reminded me of my grandparents' backyard in Macon. It was a glorious mass of color in the Spring - with no particular organization. There was a huge pecan tree in the middle of it all. A little house all the way in the back had a series of tenants - the last one, Mrs. Pettigrew, was a sweet elderly lady who was always home and up for a visit from children.

- It makes me sad to think of the backyard in a way - some family members report that Piedmont Avenue has become a "bad" neighborhood with crack houses, etc. My grandparents' house is abandoned with the front porch caved in and holes in the roof. I like to imagine though that the yard persists with its blooms year after year long after its loving caretakers have gone.

- I wonder if it could have imagined that the children who played on its soft green grass would be scattered all over in various circumstances now. The memory of the sun dappled lawn and the ice cream churn humming lives on for me anyway.