Let it rain, let it rain, let it rain...

Martha I am not. Yes, I’m crafty. At work, I am defined as a “creative” (or at least I was until I went clientside where somedays it feels like they’re trying their damndest to crush your creativity). Friends and family sometimes enlist my help with choosing paint colors for their homes or positioning artwork and frames on the wall in the right arrangement. Occasionally, I handmake gifts, but seriously don’t have the time to do so on a regular basis. I will bake here and there, but mainly to satisfy a craving or make a fun kids’ birthday cake rather than for the sheer enjoyment of it. And you definitely won’t find a green thumb on these hands.

We are creeping up on our sixth month in Kentucky. The end of winter and beginning of spring took us by complete surprise here. February ended and just like that the birds were singing, the trees had leaves, everyone in the neighborhood emerged from their winter hibernation and the sidewalks had constant jogger/walker/stroller/dog traffic. We northerners weren’t quite sure what to do with ourselves...we were used to hibernating for at least two more months.

As the days crept on, I started to fall in the love with the weather so much that almost two weeks ago...are you ready for it...I was inspired to plant flowers! This is completely unlike me. Out of the six years we were in our previous home, I worked on developing the landscape one year and that was because we were getting ready to sell the place. I’m the girl who’s been afraid to repot my two houseplants for the last five years for fear that they will die. So instead I’m letting them choke themselves in their teeny, tiny pots...which will probably end up killing them anyway, but at least it won’t be because I shocked them by moving them out of their cozy little homes.

Anyway, back to the flowers. I was in Lowe’s to pick up a couple of things and decided to roam through the garden center. I picked up some marigolds and zinnias, took them home and planted them in the front flower beds. And then Heaven smiled upon me.

Kind of like that time we were driving through our own little town down a very familiar route with a sick baby late one Saturday morning discussing what we’d like for lunch that day after we got out of the doctor’s office. Kris mentioned wishing we had a Penn Station subs nearby when we looked to our right and what to our wondering eyes should appear? That’s right...there sat a brand-spankin’ new Penn Station. I spent the next couple minutes of the drive planning my order and scanning the sky for the beams of light shining through from the heavens as I was sure God had just set that building down for us as the words “Penn Station” left my husband’s lips.

Okay, maybe not quite that amazing, but, as I was saying... this beautiful Kentucky weather turned crappy. Yes, I do consider this good fortune. Since the day I planted, I’ve only had to water once! 80° and sun have been replaced by 60° and rain. Thank you, Mother Nature! Hopefully these little buggers will have a good shot at making it through the summer since they got such a great start without having to rely on me to keep them alive.

And I really don't mind the "break" in the nice weather. This Michigan native and former Ohioan is feeling right at home in this temporary gloomy haze.