Toby and I had that conversation I mentioned earlier...

"So, what's over there at that apartment you're moving to on the 28th?" he asked.

"Oh, a lot of people around my age." As an enticement, I added "Some of the people have a pet."

"Any dogs?"

"Well, I don't know yet. There must be some because they have a designated exercise area, leash rules and other rules about where they can't walk, and immunizations, and such."

"You, mean dogs can't just run around like Frezz and Fancy and Sebastian?"

"Not according to the rules."

He thought about it for awhile. "I hope there aren't any cats. I hate cats."

"Hmm. There might be some, but we'll be in our own apartment."

"How big is it?"

"Five hundred seventy-two square feet, if I've calculated the floor plan correctly."

He stopped pacing around my ankles, "That's a hundred square feet smaller than the condo in Tucson!"

"Well, that is true, but we'd be together. And, no more little twin-size bed. I just ordered a queen so I don't roll over on you during the night." He circled my ankles again, this time leaning into it. My chest felt a big throb.

"Are there any mice or rats?"

"I seriously doubt it, the way the Mennonites take care of the place."

"How about cockroaches? They're pretty tasty in a pinch."

"No guarantees."

Just then, Frezz barged onto the porch to take up his Alpha position. Toby stuck out his tongue making a noise somewhat like disgorging a hairball, then said, "I have my own dogs here, my barn, my porch, my woods, my fence rows; and, besides, Frezz and I match."

I could see what a fickle dream it had been that Toby would want to move in with me when he started winding around Frezz, leaning into him with purring affection.

Then, he went back out to the barn to check on his domain.

You win, Frezz!

*

From the Music Desk: A trip to New York!

That's Wendy driving and John navigating.

Keoni got us four tickets.

A fund raiser New York Style.

Eight of them from McDuffy Center for Strings are going to Rome this summer.

It was a packed venue with handy libations, foods, desserts and they didn't forget the cannoli.

We had some of the best seats in the house. That's Aidan's profile on the right.

And Aidan captured on my phone the last six minutes of the Mendelssohn performance...

There was a post-performance soiree...

Besides a thoroughly fine evening, a very large bonus for me was during the soiree when Wendy tugged my sleeve to pull me through the crowd to Robert McDuffie who was calling out he wanted to meet Grandma Judy! I enjoyed a big bear hug from Maestro.

I was astonished and touched that Keoni had painted his Grandma Groupie in such favorable light. Thank you, dear Grandson. And thank you, Robert McDuffie.

Keoni and several of them are planning a multi-city European tour on youth's shoestring after Rome. I'll watch for updates later on.

Aidan is taking his cello to Michigan for a summer music institute. Updates, too, as I learn more.

*

From the Celebrations Desk: Great Grandson Elijah celebrated a fourteenth birthday over in Utah. My sister Sandy sent a screenshot from FaceBook...

Happy Birthday! Elijah.

*

Springtime's blossoms dress up the grey days and often now we have some warm sunny times. Walks at the farm brighten up my outdoor longings. Aidan and I make sure we have a look at the little nearby pond. We wanted to try to see the frogs that hatched. We hear them splash into the water but can barely see them they are so quick. Suddenly yesterday, Aidan thought of a slow-motion video...



...and, presto! there are the frogs. He shared it with me.

*

From the Upsizing Desk:

Two little end tables that Marge no longer uses...sanded...

...primed...

...painted...

...drying in front of my new couch...my future coffee table. Thank you, Marge!

The new bed will be delivered to the new apartment on the 29th. And, I added a couple more essentials to my upsizing...

Found at Tuesday Morning. Un-pictured is a set of queen-size sheets.

Ah, well. It's only money.

*

Time is galloping now. I'm trying to hold a soft rein and enjoy the forward motion. Details abound and I can't get my head around them. I write essential minutiae down, then think it would be better to put it on my phone but my hands are wet, or messy, or I'm too slow, so now I carry 3 x 5 cards and a pen and try to assemble the results in the evening and see what's what. I believe there is progress, but I might be mistaken.

Wendy's Clafoutis on Easter Sunday tasted as good as it looked...

Around the neighborhood...

A volunteer by someone's mailbox, thriving in a curbside weed-patch.

At the farm.

Neighbors by the farm.

Marge's tree.

So, spring is a balm. The multitudinous neighborhood children play in the streets lacking a serious amount of common space to launch their energies but they don't care as they abandon themselves to the business of play and growing up.

The basketball players left this one day. A bit of a mixed message, but they are thinking about our home.

Our world and the good that somehow keeps emerging and thriving on it make me glad I'm a part, too. It may all be a but blip in the scheme of the Universe but we are here now and I love that.