I was reminded recently that it has been a while since I have updated my blog. I have to admit, I appreciate reminders like this. It lets me know that people are reading, and are interested, not just in what I write but in how things are going in my world. This makes me feel loved, which is always a good thing.

There have been a few changes since I last wrote, nothing earth shattering but still significant to me. For one thing, although one wouldn't know it from looking out the window today, Spring has sprung. The days are longer, warmer and full of hope. Walking in the neighbourhood is an opportunity to enjoy the flower gardens in the yards of the neat little houses.

Although I am not a power gardener, this time of year always awakens a desire in me to plant things and to nurture them to fruition. This year, my older sister gave me a great idea for planting a garden in the little back yard of my rented apartment. Using pallets, black gardening paper and imported dirt (and hopefully a few shovelfuls of a friend's compost pile), I am hoping to be able to create a little garden. Isn't this a great idea?

I've also made a special Mother's Day request for flowers to plant, and I want to try to put together a little memorial flower spot for Mum.

Other changes aren't so pleasant, and basically involve car problems, relationship issues, health miseries and a vague sense of anxiety that has settled into my stomach and seems to have made it's home there. Still, I am learning to keep plodding forward, doing the tasks that today holds and doing my best not to trip over tomorrow.

I'd elaborate, but to be honest, I don't want to be whiney. The truth is, I'm starting to annoy myself. I can't stand the perky, pollyanna, "smile through the pain and pretend no-one can see my gritted teeth" thing. Nor can I listen to any more of my own "sharing" about how sick and tired I am of being sick and tired. *shrugs*

One especially nice change is Mycroft, our new kitty. He showed up a few weeks ago, lurked in the back yard by the fence for a week, watching the house. He showed up at on our steps on afternoon, I pet him and he never left. I ignored him for the first day, but when he spent the entire night sitting on my step staring hopefully up at the door, I gave in.

He fits in really well. Best of all, he's a good buddy for Jean-Luc. He's young, has lots of energy, and participates gleefully in Jean-Luc's wild, racing rampages. Together, they sound like a herd of elephants charging around upstairs. I love it.

He's not fixed, and he heads out to prowl the streets every night. Which is okay, because when he is inside, his favorite sleeping spot just happens to be Jean-Luc's as well - the foot of my bed, on my legs. Because it's not like, in my double bed, there isn't a whole half of the bed that they could lie in without getting kicked in the middle of the night. Silly cats.

Grace named him Mycroft. For Sherlock Holme's brother. Because she is obsessed.