enduring winter

I haven't posted in 3 months?!?!? atrocity!.. 

If you are still reading this, I guess you got over it. We have been making some decisions lately. Some big- taking the family on a cruise this June. Some bigger- bought a 95 Jeep Wrangler as a "fun" car- but probably the biggest is building a garage.

You wouldn't think that building a garage is a big deal, but when it goes past your imagination and into reality it is such a big deal. Where exactly are you going to put it? How big are you going to make it? What is it going to look like? Now for the four years that we have owned this house, I have fantaszied about this garage. I thought I had it all figured out, then implematation struck.

My brother #4 has done cement and concrete work for several years. I let him recommend who we should use for the foundation. Hubby and I have no idea what we are doing so imagine our surprise when we get the estimate on how much just the foundation will cost. After much freaking out on our part and reworking the size and location on the contractors part, we have come to some sort of agreement on what will work.  

Now onto the actual building. Brother #1 told us to go to our local building supply store and talk to Bernie.  Again, hubby and I have no clue what we are doing so when Bernie tells us its $65 a square for vinyl siding, we went home and did the math assuming he meant a square = 1 yard. We were so glad we were wrong, that a "square" = 100 square feet.  So after all is said and done, we are on budget for the upcoming garage.

One problem I have with it all is my antique lilac bush will need to be moved. This scares me so much. What if it doesn't survive? We are talking a bush that is at least 65 years old with the most beautiful, fragrant flowers you ever witnessed. I would weep if it should perish.  This single plant is what helps get me through winter. It is the flower I pined for most when I lived in the south and scheduled my wedding around its blooms. I know I can always plant a new one or get a shoot from someone else's bush, but it just wouldn't be the same. I would pout and be moody like a spoiled child if I was to lose it. 

My Mother's mother had gorgeous lilacs. The house I live in now was her brother's/my great uncle. Every spring when we went to grandma's on Sundays we would come home with bouquets of lilacs, peonies and roses.  I still think of her when I smell them.

I do have my daffodils and hyacinths blooming with tulips soon to follow. I saw sprouts forming on my Jacob's Ladder and  hydrangeas Spring really is the reason we endure winter. Savor every moment!