Renewal Time of Year

Dear Lee,

This is renewal time of the year and the list of things to do is always the longest in the spring. Its just started to really warm up so I dare not say summer is here. But I have started in the garden. I attached Mary's cultivator that she normally used on her little grey Ford to our big John Deere and ran around the garden for an hour or so and it did a pretty good job. Then I rototilled. I LOVE the rototiller we got last year. Mary and I planted oodles of potatoes. The rest of the garden will get filled in this week with the tender plants a bit later.

I woke up at 6 and headed straight for the garden to till yesterday. I went to Wynyard at about 10 for Mother's Day and wore my work clothes to surprise Mom and Dad. I fully expected to work in the yard at home but nothing needed to be done. I took Mom to a greenhouse and we bought her bedding plants and I picked up a Norland apple tree. It took some McGivering to get a 7' tall tree into the van but we did it. Brother Scott cooked us supper on the bbq . Dad gave me an extra big hug and squeeze when I left for home. I remember I used to drive to Wynyard from Winnipeg during the early 70's with Sasha as a baby because I was terribly homesick. I'd surprise them every time and when I found out they were thrilled I have kept doing that. Mom said she wasn't surprised but then Mother's know everything and she has a great intuition.

I had time to share the news with them that I'd like to re do the kitchen. While I was gone my worker pulled out all the stuff from the cupboards and set it up in the porch on long tables. I'll go through it all and sell some at a up coming garage sale Mary plans to have. So I will re do it. Just haven't settled the final details. I can leave money in an investment and earn a paltry interest rate or put some into the kitchen and enjoy that forever.

I had many emotional moments over these past few days. They came up at odd times like driving down the road. My thoughts triggered them and I teared up. Mostly yesterday I was so grateful I still have my parents and they are doing so well. As a matter of fact Dad shoved a ripped out newspaper ad at me for a 21 day cruise trip from Vancouver through the Panama canal up to Fort Lauderdale. He asked if I would go with them. My first reaction was  that I cannot be away for that long. Maybe I need to re think that. I certainly admire their gumption at almost 92 and 87 this year.