Saturday, April 30, 2016

The Cruellest Month

T.S. Eliot was right about April; this month has been cruel indeed. My sister has been very ill, suffering through multiple surgeries and a nightmarish series of complications that kept her in the hospital for weeks. A few days after she was released, my dad fell and was hospitalised. When he got out, she went back in. (Everyone is home now, and we pray that it may stay that way.)

Weather and work, home and health, have also been topsy-turvy this month - but April hasn't been all bad. Though Winter and Spring are playing a long tug-of-war (winter seems to be winning on points so far), Spring is doggedly hanging on, taking advantage of every sunny day to sneak a few more leaves onto the trees and push more herbs and flowers out of the earth.


Tallulah and I have been able to take a few Sunday rides (one of them actually sunny)...


...and I've put in some time with hook and yarn:

A sock!

Though April hasn't bred any lilacs (we'll have to wait a few weeks for those), the wild plum is blossoming, and I spotted winter cress and the first kingcups of spring on last week's ride. Things are looking up.

Here's hoping for a kinder, gentler May.

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How was your April?

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22 comments:

  1. well we seem to have a very early spring(Chartres 100km from Paris, France)I spotted yesterday along the roads some cowslips mingled with daisies, these we normally have in June!I got too some daffodils and at the same time ancolies like the weather! rain, sun, cold and heat!

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  2. My April has been better than yours, so I can't complain. But I did have to spend 3 weeks convincing 2 lots of solicitors and 1 estate agent that unless they started talking to each other a flat purchase wasn't going to happen any time soon!

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  3. Oh no! I am so sorry to hear about your sister and your Dad, you must be feeling crazy going back and forth between the two of them. I am hoping May brings your family good health and of course Spring!
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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  4. It is so hard when those we love are ill or suffering. We'd take their pain on if we could. Glad they're out of the hospital and hopefully on the mend. Glad you and Tallulah were able to get out a bit. Hope May is a better month for you.

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  5. Sorry to hear about your Dad and sister I hope they both make a full and speedy recovery and your May is bathed in in Sunshine and warmth. :) xx

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  6. I am so sorry to hear about your poor family members. ILl keep my fingers crossed that they will be better soon. Spring is coming now, today has been sunny and warm. Last week we still had snow, I am really fed up with winter. Viola

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  7. Goodness.. sorry about your Dad and sister! But glad to hear they're both well enough to be home again. Spring won out here in Oregon a long time ago.. we even have roses in bloom! The lilacs are already over. The Rhododendrons are in bloom.. I need to go out on a garden safari and get some snaps. Hope your Spring wins soon! ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  8. It is good to know that everyone is now home from the hospital, I hope they remain at home too.

    I like the mosaic of the pictures. Spring will soon warm up, I hope, since my heating boiler is broken and I am rather chilly and no-one can come to repair it until Tuesday.

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  9. Happy to hear that your dad and your sister are on the mend. We are pretty wet down here in Wetcreek. It is back to yard work and blogging for me. Linda@Wetcreek Blog

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  10. So very sorry to hear about your sister, I do hope things improve for her very soon, and also for your dad as well. It sounds as though they's been having a really tough time. CJ xx

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  11. I am so sorry to hear about your Dad and your sister. It does sometimes seem that life gives way more lemons sometimes doesn't it? I hope your May is much, much better. Spring is officially happening here in Washington. I planted geraniums today and will plant at the lake later this week. The sky is blue, blue, blue and the windows are all open. I love this time of year.
    Blessings,
    Betsy

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  12. Sue, I too, am sorry to hear about the ill health of your family members. I pray they continue to heal rapidly and completely! In the midst of your hard times I am glad you were able to ride a bit. Thanks for the lovely photos. I have yet to crochet a sock, but I have saved several patterns to try. It seems mean of me to tell you that our April has been unusually warm encouraging flowers to bloom early...but you did ask me to tell you how my April was in Boring, Oregon. I just posted photos of the ducks and ducklings on our pond, and a Wood Duck snoozing on a low branch. I did not know ducks could do that! Wishing you a happy May! xx

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  13. Sending you wishes for a peaceful May. Juliex

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  14. A tough April indeed. I hope things only get better in May. We had a hot April here in the Okanagan Valley of BC, breaking records with our 26° temps. It's cooled off a little now. But the days are still warm and sunny and everything has greened up beautifully. Lilac is out, and the pollen is in the air. Aaaah Spring.

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  15. I'm sorry April has been so difficult for your family, Sue. I hope everyone is recovering now and that life will settle down. We had a fairly warm and dry winter but I think April made up for it by being cold and wet. Actually, yesterday (May 1) was one of the coldest days we've had in weeks. Today is a little nicer, thankfully. I hope you have a good week ahead, Sue.

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  16. You and your family certainly deserve more sunshine and flowers these days. I'm so glad everyone is home and recuperating. I hope things continue to get better.

    Our lilacs were getting ready to open, and then we got another 13 inches. Heard a grocery store put up a chalkboard sign with a drawing of a computer screen downloading a program. The program was Spring, and the download failed. The prompt said, "Sorry, Spring is not available in your area yet."

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  17. Sorry to hear that you have had such a difficult April. I hope that May will bring you all good things and especially good health.

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  18. So sorry to hear about your family's trials. I hope May is much better for you all and brings quick and robust recoveries for all concerned. ((Hugs))

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  19. So sorry your April was so difficult. Health concerns are so overwhelming. Hopefully May will find you in a better place.

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  20. Stopping by to say "hello". May will be good!

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  21. I'm sorry you had a bad April, I hope things are looking up now and that May's more positive. I've been having a bad end-of-April-into-May, also family health-related, hence no blogging or blog-reading, but coming out the other side now I think. Exhausting isn't it? (((hugs)))

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  22. I do hope both your sister and father continue to heal with each passing day.

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