Winter (noun)....the three month break between a woman and her razor.

     It most definitely is spring.  I doubt we will be getting a snowstorm any more this year.  Time to break out summer shorts and a razor!  Some of Colorado's ski resorts are closing early for lack of snow. Ornamental pear trees are starting to bloom....beautiful.  It could hit 85 degrees tomorrow.  

     We could certainly use some rain, though.  The wildfire SW of our home was 45% contained as of last night.  Some evacuated families are being allowed home today. Unfortunately, the weekend is predicted to be windy again.

     Did you read the book "Born to Run"?  One of the featured runners, Caballo Blanco, AKA Micah True from Boulder, is currently missing.  He went out for a 12 mile run on Tuesday from the Gila Wilderness Lodge in New Mexico, and has not been heard from since.  Keep positive thoughts for him.  Search and rescue continues.
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_20287181/boulder-ultrarunner-micah-true-missing-new-mexico?IADID=Search-www.denverpost.com-www.denverpost.com

     Dean had chemo treatment #5 today.  All went well.  He is scheduled for 5 more treatments after today, with a week off after every two treatments.  Spending Fridays in a chemo clinic is educational.  Depending on how busy their schedule, they see 30-50 people a day.  Family members are there, also. People read, doze, and play video games to pass the time. Life goes on as usual, only with an IV inserted in one's arm...the new norm.   

Random Fact---If you type "askew" into Google, the whole page tilts.

   
(P.S.  As of tonight, the Lower North Fork wildfire near us is 70% contained!)

A small spark neglected has often kindled a mighty conflagration.--Quintus Curtius

     

     I mentioned previously what a dry, warm, and windy month march has been.  There were many wildfires started on Monday.  One is just a few miles SW of our home.

This picture was taken from the street in front of our home.  That is smoke, not clouds.

This picture shows the South Valley Park just south of our subdivision.  Both pictures were taken on Monday.  Today the fire has increased to 4500 acres, two persons are dead, one missing, 23 homes burned, and the fire is still un-contained.  The pre-evacuation area has been increased to the land just abutting this park on the south.  The next pre-evacuation expansion could include our area.

Coincidentally, a wildfire blew through my parent's farm and home place, also on Monday. They were very lucky. They lost the barn, part of the shelterbelt, and some farm equipment; but their home and their lives are safe.  It was also extremely windy there. The fire burned very close to their house, their propane tank, and their machine shed.

 The barn a year ago.

The remains of an antique tractor among barn rubble.

Putting out the burning embers in the shelterbelt.

"Man is the only creature that dares to light a fire and live with it.  The reason?  Because he alone has learned to put it out.    Henry Jackson Vandyke, Jr.

and they're still in love

  Happy 41st Anniversary to us.

  "There are never enough 'I love you's'."  Lenny Bruce

 




I want to grow old with you, and only you.
You're my happily ever after.

One swallow is a coincidence, but two swallows make summer-----Siddhartha Mukherjee, The Emperor of all Maladies

     When we were out enjoying the weather yesterday, we heard our first meadowlarks of the year.  We heard several, so it can't be a coincidence, it must be spring!


Interesting medical and nutrition news:

There is a snack containing even higher levels of antioxidants than fruit and vegetables----popcorn (hold the butter and salt, of course).  We love air-popped popcorn.  It is one of our go-to snacks....cheap, tasty, whole grain, and now we know it is anti-oxidant filled.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/releases/243369.php

Cancer survival and diet; one of the best foods is raw broccoli. We are trying to add more to our diet.
http://nutritionfacts.org/videos/raw-broccoli-and-bladder-cancer-survival/

The following quote is from the "Mile Markers" blog by Kristin Armstrong.   (see her blog here:  http://milemarkers.runnersworld.com/2012/03/diamonds/ ).

"As I always say, Lorelei Lee got it wrong in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes: It's not diamonds that are a girl's best friend, but your best friends who are your diamonds. It's your best friends who are supremely resilient, made under pressure, and of astonishing value. They're everlasting; they can cut glass."

"Think about the diamonds in your life, the way they sparkle and the value they hold for you. Guard them. Polish them. Put them in the best light. Enjoy them. After all, they go with everything."

She always provides wonderful words to ponder.  Who are the diamonds in your life? Enjoy them, polish them, guard them.  

We are family...

Our beautiful, smart Granddaughter with her new glasses.

Both Grandkids had their first tennis tournaments yesterday.  Here is our Grandson with his doubles partner.  They won their match.  Our Granddaughter played in a singles tournament and did well, also.  We are very proud.

We had family visiting for three days, and really enjoyed it.  Here we are visiting our nephew in Fort Collins.

Here is a quote from the sciences area of campus.  One of my favorites by Sir Isaac Newton, "If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants," great motivation for those science majors out there.

Today we are back to our normal routine.  March is going down as our driest March in history.  It is extremely dry, warm and windy, but still beautiful.  We got out for some exercise and have to get back into that routine.  

 

No good fish goes anywhere without a porpoise. -Lewis Carroll

     Dean had chemo treatment number four yesterday, another dose crossed off on the calendar.  He is feeling good today.
     This morning I registered our Granddaughter for horse camp.  She and our Grandson will be staying with us for a week this summer.  We can't wait!  We will have to start making plans....maybe some catch-and-release fishing (I realize it is cruel, but what are the chances of us actually catching anything?), some hiking, swimming, a drive to the mountains, etc.
     Our daughter is home again, home again, from her three week business trip/vacation in Great Britain.  She had a great time once she recovered from the pick-pocketing of her wallet at the beginning of her trip. She says that Scotland is very beautiful.  She did have rats in her room one night at a B&B. Goodbye Ralphie-cat. We watched him for her in her absence, and she picked him up last night.  She brought us a gift-jar of  Piccalilli to try.  Thanks, Kate.
-------------------------------------
     More interesting studies are out:

     A study released shows that rats fed genetically modified monsanto corn gained weight, had increased circulating triglycerides and glucose, and disruption of liver function parameters, all indicative of a pre-diabetic profile.  86% of the corn, 93% of the canola, and 93% of the soybeans in this country are GMO.  All processed foods contain some type of GMO ingredients, i.e. high fructose corn syrup.  There are two parts to the video included with the article on the study:
      http://www.zerohedge.com/contributed/2012-12-20/study-genetically-modified-corn-increases-body-weight-rats


     Long term low-dose daily aspirin decreases cancer risk.  Remember, long tern aspirin usage also has side effects, so talk to your doctor before trying this.
         http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/243171.php

         http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/03/21/149076877/aspirin-might-reduce-cancer-risk-but-it-has-risks-too#more


     Ibuprofen decreases the symptoms of altitude sickness, also called acute mountain sickness.  This may be helpful to people vacationing in high-altitude areas such as the mountains of Colorado.
        http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/243152.php

At long last......Spring.

Happy Spring or Vernal Equinox, everyone!

March has been like this:
"It was one of those March days when the sun shines hot and the winds blow cold;  when it is summer in the light, and winter in the shade."  Charles Dickens.

"Spring has returned.  The Earth is like a child that knows poems."  Ranier Maria Rilke.

"You can cut all the flowers but you cannot keep spring from coming."  Pablo Neruda

"The year's at the spring
And day's at the morn;
Morning's at seven;
The hillside's dew-pearled;
The lark's on the wing;
The snail's on the thorn;
God's in his heaven-
All's right with the world!"
               --Robert Browning