The day began with me walking the yard with the landscaping crew that comes and does their thing four times a year. Today was technically the February visit which consisted of pruning all the plants and shrubs (I quickly cut my roses before their shears hit the branches), cleaning, acidifying and mulching all the beds, treating everything with pre-emergent weed control, and so on. Must say when I drove in from work a while ago, it all really looks nice again. The Hibiscus, roses and berry bushes have been blooming wildly but are a tad confused now. The palms by the pool look fine as do the Pentas but I’m a little worried about some of the outdoor ivy’s. Yesterday, temps in the 70’s and convertibles racing around everywhere, gave way to 37 degrees early this morning. Back up in the 60’s now. Oh, how we pray for those freezes………just need three good hard ones to drastically minimize those summertime fleas/mosquitoes…..come on Mother Nature, we know you can do it!

All fun aside, Mother Nature has a mean side and it hit the family again today. I’m still reeling a tad from losing two aunts and one friend in the last four weeks but now comes the death of a cousin by marriage. See all the breaking news reports around this evening……..an avid outdoorsman who grew up playing in the high moutains, John Robert went snowmobiling over the weekend with two buddies. We don’t know details yet but seems they became disoriented somehow and lost their way. A Black Hawk helicopter rescued the buddies, suffering from exposure, a few hours ago. They said John Robert died back on Monday. So after getting the two guys down and to medical care, searchers must now return to that tree skirt where the three friends took shelter from heavy snow and raging winds to retrieve John Robert's body. The hard part now, especially for his mom, is the waiting. So ….death doesn’t come in three’s anymore……………