Friday Festivities

A warm day and a little bit of melting made me hopeful that someday the snow might vanish, although we're now sunk in a deep freeze so any surface that got wet is now iced over. Sunshine is a nice addition, however.

After navigating through caverns and tunnels of snow to my mandolin lesson and back, I desperately needed retail therapy unavailable at the mall. Garden retail therapy. Soon as I was home, I sat down at the computer and headed straight to Pickering Nurseries in Ontario.

As an act of faith that spring, and summer, will someday come, I placed a massive order for rose bushes. I filled my shopping cart with maybe 8 or 9 plants: mostly antique varieties I don't have, a few David Austin English Roses that have been successful or which I've always wanted to grow, and a pretty pink climber. It's a very large order, probably excessive for someone who tends over 75 roses already. I scheduled a shipping date 2 weeks later than I normally do, just to be safe.

Rising from the computer, I got ready for our special night.

We attended a dinner party on the other side of town, and our guests of honour were the Speaker of the New Hampshire House of Representatives and her husband. About 18 or 19 people were there for a fantastic feast. The Chap and I supplied some of the wine and supplemented with cider and other beverages.

After dinner, the Speaker shared with the group the accomplishments the majority made during last year's session, and the challenges we face this year, with declining revenues and many commitments--to education costing and funding, retirement system support, relieving the hardships caused by the latest announced mill closure (and previous ones) in the North Country, and more. She urged the group to be supportive of the 4 incumbent representatives (we were all present) in this election year. After the mad week we had--especially Wednesday--it was great to be able to socialise in a relaxed setting.

Madam Speaker speaks

Here's evidence that we were a large group!






Representative
Porter
caught
hugging
her
favourite
constituent.


Today we're making decisions about our New York trip, not imminent but the planning is an antidote to cabin fever. And I'll be working out my plan to incorporate all those new rose bushes into existing--and already crammed--gardens. There's one section in my front garden that desperately needs re-imagining. I'm inspired to do a massive make-over, combining my recent purchases with reliable perennials, many of which I didn't have time to divide and re-plant last year. And there are areas around the big deck where I can find space to add Austin roses to the ones currently thriving.