Pussy Willows and More

I needed a few things from the grocery and as I was heading toward the produce section....these caught my eye. I have been looking for pussy willows for quite a while. We usually can get them at Church. Someone brings them in and they sell them between Masses....using the money for some Church project that the kids are doing. I haven't seen them at Church...so I scooped up two bouquets. I put one here, where we come in the front door and the other is in the breakfast nook. I love pussy willows...almost as much as Easter lilies. I've never had a bush, but have tried to grow them from branches that take root in my vases. These are sturdy branches with fat catkins. A perfect name for this fuzzy little nub on a branch. The bushes are pretty nondescript after blooming...so they are really suited for a woodland border. If these root...I may try again...to start one in the way back.
It's beautiful today. Yesterday I just kept going. I felt so good and kept at it cutting down perennials and vines leftover from fall. I cut down the purple coneflowers and checked the roses for new growth. I filled bags of debris and took them back and dumped them in the woods brush pile. I added new compost to many of the potted sedums and replanted the strawberry jar.
I got the spray paint out and sprayed the grapevine wreath that hangs on the porch rail near the garden by the drive. It is getting old and is sort of a gray color....this will liven it up a bit. As I walked back up to the house....I realized that I am feeling better than last year. No limping around, I can bend better, and all in all I can accomplish what I set out to. I think that I owe this to the months of going to the pool three times a week. We were there this morning and noticed that more older people were there. I guess we all benefit from the water exercise that we get. Oh, and another thing I noticed.....One day,when I was doing exercises with a new DVD...the instructor said to stand on one leg. I thought....easy peasy.....but found that I felt tippy when I did it. My balance was off. After going to the pool and practising standing on one leg in the water for the count of 50....I can do it without losing my balance. Yea! You might think that this is a minor accomplishment, but not so for this aging woman.
Well, I have to get going. We are going out for lunch...it's 3 pm and we haven't eaten yet...only a cookie :)
Balisha