THREE HIPS AND A BIG HOORAY!

The last couple of days have been worth shouting about--thus the title.

The first "hip" has been visits from friends and family. We get a little quiet around here when it's just the two of us rattling around this big house. Betsy and John paid us a nice visit and lots of family both on the phone and in person and through blogs. It seems like no matter what goes on in the world is made easier with good people around. Lyra came to visit and slipped her hand in mine and very wisely said: "Grandma, did you know that practice makes perfect?"

The second "hip" is the weather. We saw a reader board that put the temperature in Moses at over 70 degrees. That gave our local Chanticleer something to crow about. Everywhere you look these days it's green. More and more farming is starting daily. Yesterday morning one clear indication that spring is in the air was Mt. Rainier shining brightly and clearly. That is a beautiful mountain!

The third hip, for me personally, is the flu bug has finally left. Being sick does have some advantages I was able to accomplish some reading and do some thinking. As is my custom I read the Newbery Medal book and the Newbery Honor books. All four this year were middle school reading and all were excellent. I read Mr. Pip by Lloyd Jones for our book club and I read The Star Garden which is the third in the series by Nancy E. Turner.

And the big HOORAY, the front room carpet is installed. We can actually go barefoot in our house except in the sewing room. There's no furniture back in the front room yet, but it is wonderful to walk across it.