Tidbits for March 2012

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Published on Wednesday, 30 November -0001 00:00

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Spring

Everything sits, so ugly!

Muddy, soggy.

While the trees expose naked, lifeless

branches toward the grayish-white sky.

The mud follows you, in the house, in the car.

The cold still sky makes you feel bored.

Summer seems blizzards away.

Then I notice the assorted patches of snow and

It reminds me of when a chick hatches,

leaving its shell scattered on the dirty ground.

The tree branches look like fingers reaching

to pull the sun's warming rays closer.

Warmth.

Warm air is ever at battle against the cold.

The sun strains to push her warm rays

through the thick, cold air.

Quiet.

The icy stillness is painful.

What's the small figure I see?

Green, fragile.

A tiny blade of grass pokes its head through the frozen dirt.

I gaze up at the sky, cold, lonely and ask, "Is this spring?"

Stillness.

A brown leaf drifts to the ground.

I knew my answer.

Penned by Angie Hoeft at 15

Printed with permission (I'm her mother, how could she refuse?)

The poem kind of says it all but I'll add my two cents because this March broke enough records that one could write a whole article on the weather alone. We have been treated to a very different March weather-wise. The local bank showed 68 degrees at 4 p.m. on the 14th and on the 16th at

6 p.m., it was 75 degrees. Temperatures aside, let's see, we had lots of wind; rain; snow; sleet; thunder and lightning.

March 12, a friend reported seeing robins in his yard. The day before I had observed four different flocks of geese making their way back north. Trees, lilac and rose bushes and the spring flowers give the impression it is more like the middle of or late April. Could this really be spring? Some folks, along with me, recall a couple of blizzards at the end of April.

For years, every time I see a flock of geese or ducks or even birds for that matter, an unpleasant memory comes to mind. As my husband and I walked from the

St. Cloud Hospital to the north parking lot, with not a cloud in the sky we felt sprinkles. I looked at the yard by the sidewalk, figuring I'd see a sprinkler going. I turned towards Jerry to say "That's funny. I don't see any sprinkler." Imagine my surprise to see he was splattered with greenish stuff. At the same time, he was giving me a weird look. Not only had we been together long enough to finish each others sentences, we could ask the same question, "What is that?" Then the stink! Hearing honking, we looked around and upwards. We realized we'd been 'treated' to a fly-by-shower of ducky doodoo!

The rest of our plans for the evening were immediately changed. We used every napkin and Kleenex we could get our hands on; stopped to fill the pickup with gas (a necessity) and hit the road for home. Needless to say, the kids were shocked at our early arrival home (I wonder what they were up to) and of course, the first words out of their mouths were, "What is that smell?" Hearing our story, they had nerve enough to laugh. No wonder I am basically an inside person.

Topsy Turvy Day was a fun day at the dining site on the 22nd. Diners arrived to find the information table in a different spot and their snack with early coffee awaited them in children's sand pails. A volunteer had "decorated" the tables using items from various holidays. It was also a good day to use up a variety of napkins left over from the different holidays and theme days we had enjoyed in the past.

The meal consisted of "Sandwich roast beef hot, gravy with pototoes mashed; storrac (carrots) and cake down upside." We served the cake on top of the whipped cream.

A number of diners dressed in a manner they normally would not be seen in public in. Garments were worn inside-out and some backwards also. A very pretty lime green dress from the 60s was worn. Numerous shoes, socks and earrings did not match.

A "church mouse' must have decided to test how observant the seniors are of their surroundings as there were 14 changes in the cafeteria. The three people who could list the most won tickets for free meals. One of the ladies spotted 6 and two others each listed 5. Maymie, Ann, and Betty S. were the lucky ones. I learned the men didn't participate. It was sweet to hear one comment that they wanted the ladies to win. The male diners here are fine gentlemen.

A medium-sized toad was on the sidewalk to greet me upon my arrival home from St. Cloud the evening of the 20th. It must have been cold, as it didn't flinch when I touched it. It was gone the next morning when I left.

Fortunately, I wasn't the one who has already seen a snake.

Once again, I am in need of volunteers who could spare three hours a day each week or once a month or more. However many hours you'd like to donate to the local seniors. Call 398-2211,

Ext. 13.

Gardeners: If you're planting a garden this year, consider planting an extra row for senior dining in Kimball. Then when it is harvest time, we can share the product of your hard work with seniors in our program. Last year, 93 percent of all diners said they ate healthier because of our program. Is there anything better than freshly harvested produce? Homegrown fruits and vegetables have that unique taste that is difficult to find in stores. Keep in mind that any extra you have can be put on a table in the cafeteria at St. Anne's and it will be put to good use. Thank you in advance.

Last night, March 30, the weather man said March 2012 will go down as the warmest March since at least 100 years ago.

'Till next time

Rosalea Hoeft, Satellite Site Coordinator