JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING: Since this week has been (mostly) about spring, let's do a swift six (because that alliterates with Saturday, of course) on April!
1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils? Hyacinths. There's something about those little pastel florets I can't resist. I always have a pot indoors this time of year.
2. Asparagus or spring peas? Asparagus - but it has to be steamed until it's perfectly crisp.
3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day? Opening Day, of course. Every April, Ross would say, "I think this could could be the Red Sox's year." (spoiler: it usually wasn't.)
4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA? CPA, ever since I bungled DIY taxes so badly we had to get lawyers involved...
5. Raincoat or umbrella? My friend Roxanne gave me a perfect LL Bean classic raincoat, so I'm all about the yellow slicker now.
6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers? Cherry blossoms. I'm going to visit my sister in DC next week, and I'm hoping some will still be hanging on!
1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils?
I'm with you on the hyacinths, Julia. That scent is divine. For when they're not in season, my farmers market friend makes hyacinth candles which are not a bad substitute.
2. Asparagus or spring peas?
Asparagus, but must not be over-cooked. Although I do also love spring peas.
3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day?
Major League Opening Day!!
4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA?
CPA absolutely!
5. Raincoat or umbrella?
Love my Eddie Bauer rain jacket, but will add an umbrella in a real downpour.
6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers?
Garden centers. Too many to count already this spring. It's an addiction.
1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils?
Tulips! My very favorite. Although I love the fragrance of hyacinths.
2. Asparagus or spring peas?
Difficult! I adore grilled asparagus, though, if it's just right. And it wins for weirdest way of growing.
3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day?
Oh, opening day, that's so irresistible. But I have covered the Marathon for years, and its so strange not to be there now that I am not on the beat.
4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA?
CPA, yikes. Definitely.
5. Raincoat or umbrella?
That's so funny. Umbrellas work, but they are SO awkward. Your umbrella gets soaked as you use it to get to the car. You get into the car, and then what? Ahh.
6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers?
Garden centers, most definitely. I love the fragrance, and anything seems possible. (And I truly did not realize why they were called nurseries until like, yesterday. I gasped.)
Bear in mind that I am in Arizona. Spring is long gone. Temps are over 90. Any spring flower that thought of growing has been long fried and died. But I do go back to CA in a week's time and it should be spring there with poppies, lupins etc.
1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils?
I love tulips in theory but they never last long enough in the house. Daffodils are usually the first to be found in Trader Joes and come home with me to cheer up dark days.
2. Asparagus or spring peas?
We seem to live on asparagus. Having lived in Germany and Austria where there is an aparagus season of about 6 weeks, and white asparagus too, I think I'd really prefer that. The restaurants cook everything asparagus and then it goes.
3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day?
I'll watch the Masters as my family are golf fanatics, but I'm a tennis fan and am watching Monte Carlo this week.
4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA?
I have used HR Block's program for several years, after consulting both CPAs and Tax attorneys. Since the major work is assembling all the items not entering them it seems to work well for me. (and I got a refund for the first time in ages)
5. Raincoat or umbrella?
Usually raincoat. Who has an extra hand for an umbrella and it's impossible to navigate crowds.
6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers?
None of the above this year, although I may try to get out to the Marin Headlands to the wildflowers when we return to CA.
1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils?
Daffodils are spring to me, but I love hyacinths and tulips, too.
2. Asparagus or spring peas?
Asparagus. My parents used to grow it in our garden, so also a core memory.
3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day?
Major League Opening Day!!! Go D-Backs!
4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA?
I have a CPA but I'm so late this year I think it's going to be DIY - please, save me.
5. Raincoat or umbrella?
A brolly, always! It doubles as a weapon if needed :)
6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers?
Cherry blossoms!!!
1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils?
Definitely tulips. I love the way they go every which way and then toss their petals at the end.
2. Asparagus or spring peas?
Spring peas. If I can find them. So special.
3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day?
Dare I say? None of the above.
4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA?
CPA, please. Being self-employed is complicated.
5. Raincoat or umbrella?
Raincoat... if only I had one. So most of the times it's just a hat and a fast run.
6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers?
GARDEN CENTERS! Gotta have a big pot of pansies and another one of basil. To me that says SPRING. Trying to outsmart thee rabbits is a losing gambit.
1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils?
Daffodils--so cheerful and early, I find them irresistible!
2. Asparagus or spring peas?
Asparagus, but it must be from our garden or a farm nearby. Otherwise it has a bitter taste and I don't even want to mention the aftereffects!
3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day?
The Masters! Even though most of the current golfers could be my grandchildren. I still love golf and look back fondly at the Golf Lovers Mystery Series!
4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA?
CPA. Not even a question!
5. Raincoat or umbrella?
Raincoat.
6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers?
Can we do all three please??
JULIA: Now it's your turn, dear readers! Cut and paste the questions and give us your answers in the comments!
1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils?
2. Asparagus or spring peas?
3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day?
4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA?
5. Raincoat or umbrella?
6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers?
1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils?
ReplyDeleteDaffodils, please . . . .
2. Asparagus or spring peas?
Yum for both, but if I have to choose just one, I'll pick asparagus . . . .
3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day?
Definitely Major League Opening Day . . . always, always cheering for the Yankees . . . .
4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA?
TurboTax [but John always does the taxes] . . . .
5. Raincoat or umbrella?
Could I have both? If I have to pick, a raincoat . . . .
6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers?
No contest here . . . cherry blossoms . . . .
1. Tulips (I’m embarrassed to admit that I don’t know what hyacinths look like).
ReplyDelete2. Asparagus - roasted, please.
3. MLB Opening Day
4. CPA (it’s proven fortunate that I married one many years ago!)
5. Raincoat. Umbrellas require a hand to hold it as Rhys says and can be blown inside out in a windstorm.
6. Garden centers. I know it’s Spring when I start shopping for vegetable plants! — Pat S
Tulips, peas, none of “the above”, CPA (I totally lack math skills and in spite of A+ in tax law in law school zip understanding of the rules), rain coat that actually comes to mid-calf, garden center (now in memory since the garden was left behind in the move to the beach), Any one for a May Pole in a few weeks? Cheers, Elisabeth
ReplyDeleteThese are fun!
ReplyDelete1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils?
Daffs for their cheery yellow.
2. Asparagus or spring peas?
Asparagus from my garden.
3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day?
Boston Marathon, always!
4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA?
CPA, and I am stunned Rhys does her own.
5. Raincoat or umbrella?
Rain jacket, but I always have an umbrella in the car.
6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers?
Garden center/local farms
For #3, my sign of spring is the Kenduskeag Stream canoe race on April 18. A Maine Patriots Day tradition.
ReplyDeleteKathy Lynn, yes! I'd forgotten about that. Ross took my one spring when we were young marrieds. I hadn't toughened up to Maine yet, and we hadn't begun kayaking, so I recall complaining about the weather a lot. Amazing props to the competitors; that water is FREEZING and the river's a Class III that time of year.
Delete1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils?
ReplyDeleteDaffodils AND hyacinths. Usually I follow them with Easter lilies from the grocery store, marked down after Easter, but this year they hardly received any. We will have brown fields for another month so anything colorful is store-bought.
2. Asparagus or spring peas?
Asparagus.
3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day? None of the above. I'd say: first time the sheep are out on grass for the season. Such excitement!
4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA?
I have done them all. The last time I used a CPA, however, years ago, she charged $650, and when it developed that our place of employment submitted our W-2s with the wrong SS numbers (we'd worked there for 35 years so we hadn't checked), she refused to run the computer program to print the returns again without another $650 payment. Since then I've used TurboTax, though this year the cost has skyrocketed. I foresee that in future I will be using a free program, though I can no longer use the government free program that Biden established and TurboTax spent so many millions lobbying against. I can't use such a thing this year because I've left it so late and I still have to finish ours and do those of a print-challenged friend.
5. Raincoat or umbrella?
When I'm working on the farm I have a full yellow Gorton's of Gloucester suit that keeps me dry (though if it's warm, you steam inside it). If I'm dressed up (church) I would in theory carry an umbrella. Usually I forget it at home.
6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers? Garden centers!
(Selden)
Selden, I've seen online that there's a real movement to bring back the free IRS online filing. Perhaps it will be available again sometime in 2027? Fingers crossed...
DeleteJulia, what fun this is!
ReplyDelete1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils? Hyacinths, for the aroma!
2. Asparagus or spring peas? Asparagus although fresh spring peas I love right from the pod, no cooking needed!
3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day? Major League Opening Day!
4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA? CPA, we’ve had the same one since we bought our house 36 years ago!
5. Raincoat or umbrella? Raincoat with hood, please. Sometimes also an ☂️
6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers? Garden Centers! Hope springs eternal! Although often when we get home I wonder who’s going to plant everything! 😆
Maybe if you get a good refund, you can hire a guy to put in the garden, Suzette!
Delete1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils?
ReplyDeleteOoo, I love them all. Tulips are beautiful, but I can't have them at home because...deer. Daffodils are so happy. and Hyacinths have such a lovely scent.
2. Asparagus or spring peas?
Neither? No, that's not quite true. I like asparagus if it's cooked right.
3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day?
MLB Opening Day for sure! And the Pirates are in a 3-way tie for first. I do not expect this to last, although their pitching thus far is phenomenal (Paul Skenes FTW - literally).
4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA?
I would dearly love to do CPA, but The Hubby insists on TurboTax. This reminds me: I need to do my local wage taxes.
5. Raincoat or umbrella?
I used to have both, but I lost the umbrella. So now it's a pretty peach Columbia raincoat. Unless I get caught out and then it's just walk as fast as I can. I won't melt.
6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers?
If I could, I go see the cherry blossoms. It's too early to hit garden centers. That's a May thing. This year I intend to try and plant a butterfly garden. Wish me luck.
Liz, my experience with butterfly/pollinator gardens is that they are relatively easy. You need a clean (weed-free) piece of soil - amend as needed but not too rich. You will probably never need to do this again, so start right. For plants (not knowing your zone -I am 5b-6, so winter kill is an issue), I try to make it mostly perennials and shrubs - see you should never have to do this again. Suggested as mandatory - milkweed - common if you can get it, but it does tend to overtake once it gets started. The very best for monarchs. Liatris - comes back every year - bees and butterflies love it. Asters, particularly the small purple ones that bloom late season when butterflies are considering going south and their usual plants are in the decline. A butterfly bush if it is allowed in your area - in some places they are not. Queen Anne's Lace, fennel, parsley - any umbral type plant - for swallowtails. Tall phlox, Canterbury Bells, Hollyhocks, Delphiniums - for height. For shorter plants, I like lantana, but it is an annual around here and hard to find. Lavender is always good, as is mint - let it go to flower - the butterflies love it in the fall - be careful it tends to spread. You can add in annuals along the edge if you want to - I am too lazy to clean those out every year. Plant, experiment and watch to see just who drops by.
DeleteThat last one was me - Margo. I don't know why I typed Liz!
DeleteLiz, your remark about walking fast in the rain reminds me of what my grandmother used to say when we complained about getting wet, "You're not made of sugar. You won't melt."
DeleteJulia, when you visit your sister in DC, you may see Deaf people signing in public. When I lived in DC, I recall seeing deaf joggers conversing in sign language. I saw a couple having a conversation in ASL on the Metro.
ReplyDeleteApril is also Deaf History month. Any chance there will be a guest post about Deaf History?
1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils?
At Uni, we had the daffodils festival. I loved seeing tulips in the Netherlands. I am trying to recall if I ever saw hyacinths in real life.....
2. Asparagus or spring peas?
Asparagus
3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day?
What is the Masters Tournament?
4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA?
H&R Block
5. Raincoat or umbrella?
Raincoat. Too windy for an umbrella, though I love the big umbrella from the UK.
6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers?
Can we do all three? When I lived in DC, they had a Cherry Blossom festival.
Diana, I would definitely join you for all three - what's better than beautiful cherry blossoms, great discounts on next winter's clothes, and picking up a pot or a hanging basket for your home?
DeleteI almost feel bad for replying to this one.
ReplyDelete1. No flowers.
2. No vegetables.
3. Baseball, of course.
4. Almost DIY. My friend Ann does mine through FreeTaxUSA. Free federal filing and the state return was under 20 bucks. Since I have a pretty simple return and have to watch the money, this is the best way for me. If Ann didn’t do it, I would be going to service. Of course. The returns I got went to bills almost entirely.
5. I don’t think I even have an umbrella, but I know for sure that I don’t have an actual raincoat. Any jacket I am wearing at the time will do the job. Unless I find myself running between the raindrops.
6. None of these. Don’t care about the blossoms and I would never go to a Nordstrom’s. As for the garden center, that would imply I do yard work. Other than mowing the lawn, that is incorrect.
See, even when I am not feeling overly so, my response sounds curmudgeonly or as Julia might say curmudgeonly-maxxing. LOL!
Even though I declared Boston Marathon instead of Opening Day, I did eat a Fenway Frank while watching the Red Sox first game (on TV)! I thought you would approve.
DeleteCurmudgeonly maxxing! You are hilarious!
DeleteEdith, I always approve and appreciate people eating hot dogs and watching the Red Sox...even when they've been mostly unwatchable so far this season. :D
DeleteBut The Masters is golf and as we all know golf is a good walk spoiled. As for the Boston Marathon, well I think we all know I'm not running anywhere if I can avoid it. Though I do have a Marathon-related story. My cousin Dave ran the Marathon in 2016. When he crossed the finish line, he proposed to his now-wife.
Anonymous, they are few and far between but I do have moments where I am occasionally funny.
Oh, Jay, that's a lovely story about your cousin Dave! I bet that's a moment neither he nor his wife will ever forget.
Delete1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils? Hyacinths. Daffodils – they last a month here and are followed by another month of tulips, and although I like hyacinths for their lovely smell, they usually don’t do well. Once spring flowers start here – early May, they last well into July. Those lovely cool maritime temperatures – that is the ONLY time I will say that!
ReplyDelete2. Asparagus or spring peas? Asparagus – my father-in-law used to have a huge field, which although no longer a market field gave us lots. Up until then, I had only had them from a can, and I loved those. Fresh was an all together different experience. Now it is the grocery store…imports. Spring peas, I have never tasted. By the way, favourite church sandwiches were white bread rolled flat, with mayo and canned asparagus spears, which were then lightly toasted. – sooo good.
3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day? None. Sports is not our thing. Rather just listen for the spring peepers…
4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA? It used to be my sister who nagged and nagged to let her do it (she was an accountant). I tried not to, as she did NOT need to know how much money we made, and nag about that. This year, I am back to UFile, and although started, they still are not done – no enthusiasm for that. Maybe today, or I will stick pins in my eyes instead – it will be more fun.
5. Raincoat or umbrella? Prefer not to go out, but I have a yellow slicker, which should be lovely but leaks in all the seams. If I did want to go out and if I had a lot of money, I would get a proper English Mac – they are so cool! (wish fashion list – proper waxed farm coat, a pair of Monty Don’s style pants, and comfortable sneakers – stop laughing you lot!)
6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers? Surprise – garden centers, catalogues, websites – drool, drool, drool. Only 40 more days before we can really consider putting things in the ground…
Margo, I'm raising my eyebrows at your sister wanting you to let her do your taxes. I mean, I love my sister, but some things remain private! Plus you can always fire an accountant who's an acquaintance. It gets a lot stickier with a relative...
Delete1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils?
ReplyDeleteNeither
2. Asparagus or spring peas?
Grilled asparagus
3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day?
Major League Opening Day - Go Yankees
4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA?
CPA
5. Raincoat or umbrella?
Rain Poncho
6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers?
Neither - prefer pilgrimage to a bookstore
A bookstore is the ideal place to go every season, Dru Ann!
DeleteIf I had a choice between asparagus and spring peas, I'd take a chili dog.
ReplyDeleteDang it, Jerry, it's lunchtime for me and now I want a chili dog!
Delete1) Tulips--but really daphne means spring to me
ReplyDelete2) Asparagus, grilled or steamed and NOT overcooked
3) Opening Day--go Cards! (and they not only won on Opening Day, they beat the Red Sox last night)
4) DIY for taxes. I am stubbornly against having to pay a software company or tax preparer, even though I sometimes make mistakes. I think tax filing should be easy.
5) Raincoat--here in the rainy PNW, umbrellas are seen, but raincoats are ubiquitous.
6) My Saturday morning walking group always makes a pilgrimage to see the cherry blossoms along the waterfront. This year we timed it just right, and walked across the Steel Bridge on a beautiful morning to hang with half of Portland under the trees.
I've noticed that Portlanders don't seem to be bothered by either umbrellas or raincoats!
DeleteWhile visiting our granddaughters K-class as they played outside we noticed that as the light sprinkles grew into a full on raging rain storm, the kids just played on the equipment as if nothing was happening. The teacher on duty (in answer to our frantic cries of we're all going to drown) just shrugged and said - this is Portland, we are used to this.
True anon, for exercise, I often go out (like this am) in just a light fleece. I figure I can dry off when I get home. I don't like the thought of kids sitting in wet clothes for the rest of the school day though!
DeleteGillian, I've visited the Other Portland several times, and I love everything about it, but having lived both in Alabama (VERY wet) and Syracuse (lake effect precipitation) I just couldn't live there.
Delete1. Hyacinths, although I love nearly all flowers. On my first visit to Paris it was at the end of March, and the hyacinths in the Jardin de Luxembourg were blooming, en masse. You could smell the fragrance a block away. I commented that they smelled purple, and one of the other women, who later made a memorial quilt about our trip, used that quote in one of the blocks.
ReplyDelete2. Asparagus or spring peas? Spring peas are precious, and rare. I have never seen them in a store or market here, so I usually grow them. Not this year, I waited too late, alas. If I remember I'll plant them in late August or early September. However, the asparagus in my garden is doing well, and we've been eating it now for about 10 days. Rhys, when I was in Austria in 2016 it was asparagus season, and I had a memorable feast of three courses--including dessert--made from the three kinds! (Green, purple, and white--which is just green asparagus that has been covered so it doesn't get the benefit of chlorophyl.)
3. We are not sports people at all, but if anything, it would be Major League Opening Day. I have always loved baseball; Steve is indifferent, alas.
4. The inventor of TurboTax, Scott Cook, used to live in Cincinnati, briefly dated one of my best friends, and was an insurance client of mine. So when I heard about his brilliant idea I started using v. 1.0, and still do. I think Scott sold out years ago, and as someone said, it has gotten much pricier, but it is still way cheaper than using a service, and I already collect all the data to plug in.
5. Raincoat, and I have collected several different kinds, all with hoods, especially since I started traveling to the PNW about 35 years ago. Travel umbrella as backup in the glovebox of my car, or to fit into a daypack when traveling.
6. Do you even have to ask? LOL Garden centers, nurseries, native plant sales, farmers markets, anywhere plants are sold.
Oh, Karen, you've reminded me of Spargel! It was such a treat, and we had it every spring when we lived in Stuttgart. My mother tried to grow some when we returned to the US, but she couldn't. Apparently, it's a lot more complicated than just heaping soil around the growing stalks.
DeleteInteresting! I don't think that's possible with every variety, but wouldn't swear to it.
DeleteNow who was telling me about spargle, just a couple days ago? My daughter in Greece? Maybe.
1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils? Tulips
ReplyDelete2. Asparagus or spring peas? Asparagus. I stir fry it. One of my sweetest memories of early days with my husband was him telling me he thought he didn't like asparagus, but it turned out he just didn't like it the way his mother cooked it. Mine was delicious.
3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day? Opening Day! We've kind of fallen away, but for years we had a ritual watching of Bull Durham as part of our spring observance.
4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA? CPA
5. Raincoat or umbrella? This is the tricky question. If it is actually raining when I leave home, then raincoat. If I am expecting rain, usually umbrella. There is some part of me that superstitiously believes carrying it with me will keep the rain from actually occurring.
6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers? Garden Centers, though I'm not a gardener. I do like to pick up some pre-grown hanging baskets, though.
Susan, your comment about asparagus reminds me of Ross not liking squash. It turned out he just didn't like the way his mother had prepared it, either - boiled into mush and served unseasoned. :-)
Delete1. Hyacinths -The smell and colors encourage me through those last moments until Spring finally says, "I'm back!"
ReplyDelete2. Asparagus - I wait every year for that first sighting of Asparagus. Love the stuff!
3. Major League Opening Day - I find each of these boring and really prefer basketball, but at least with Opening Day there is fanfare and outdoor goodness.
4. Hmm, I've done DYI and TurboTax and have now reached a sad fact that I don't make enough to even owe anything so I don't file.
5. Raincoat - Definitely! My umbrella was always in the car or at home and usually dry-rotted before it was ever where I needed it to be. Also, by the time you maneuver it out the car door to open it and reverse that on return, you're soaked. I'm a definite raincoat gal.
6. Your pilgrimage is to garden centers! Seeing that new growth and anticipating the joy and yumminess it would bring is a real boost after the winter blahs. -- Victoria
Garden centers/nurseries definitely have the edge with this group, Victoria. I know I'd spend much more there than at Nordstrom!
Delete1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils?
ReplyDeleteDaffdils (but love all three)
2. Asparagus or spring peas?
Spring Peas
3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening Day?
Hmmm, don't really watch any - but I'd have to say baseball (Go StL Cards!!)
4. DIY taxes, TurboTax, or CPA?
CPA, but will ask our CPA about a DIY next year
5. Raincoat or umbrella?
Umbrella, don't own a raincoat
6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season sale, garden centers?
Garden Centers
Anon, you can borrow my late husband's saying for the Cards: "This could be the year!"
DeleteTulips
ReplyDeleteSpring peas
MLB Opening Day also Kentucky Derby
Turbo Tax
Rain Coat
Garden Centers for a quick fix, but the Cherry Blossoms in DC are divine.
I worked at Baumhoefner Nursery in Cedar Rapids, Iowa my senior year of high school and following summer. Definitely not the same thing as a garden center.
Brenda, a master gardener once told me a garden center is like shopping at a curated boutique, while a plant nursery is going to Aldi's or Costco.
DeletePS NOT the online version of Turbo Tax that goes to the cloud.
ReplyDeleteSame here! I think that is way too intrusive.
Delete1) Hyacinths (that fragrance!)
ReplyDelete2) Spring peas, straight from the garden, shelled into my hand and eaten raw (once a farm girl, always a farm girl!)
3) Batter up!
4) CPA, I kiss your feet
5) Umbrella, because I am a cat who hates to get her raincoat wet, let alone her fur
6) I think the Japanese government would revoke my visa if I say anything but cherry blossoms so, ulp, I’m over here in Tokyo, celebrating The Pinkness.
I'm laughing, Jonelle! Please express all our admiration for the sublime Sakura.
Delete1. Hyacinths! Although I do love (and miss in SoCal) all bulbs. I was in Scotland for the crocuses and loved them.
ReplyDelete2. Either/both
3. None, give me Paris-Roubaix (cycling)
4. CPA
5. Raincoat with hood
6. Sakura!
I didn't even think of cycling, Lisa!
Deleteso much fun to read these! My favorite Marathon memory I must tell you, I covered it for years, usually assigned to the Women racers. The way we handled it was to sit in the back of a flatbed truck, keeping ahead of the pack, so I would watch the entire race Looking toward the runners,with my back to the finish line . So when I saw the sign that said “you are now entering Ashland,” for instance, that meant I was now leaving Ashland. It was a terrific experience, and gave me even more admiration for the runners— If that’s even possible!
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic experience that must have been, Hank!
Delete1. Hyacinths, tulips, or daffodils?
ReplyDeleteTulips for all their different varieties of petals and colors. Though we shouldn’t neglect the crocus as the first hope of spring when they are still surrounded by snow in April
2. Asparagus or spring peas?
I have never had spring peas, asparagus only if they are long and thin.
Around here it’s the strawberries that start arriving from other parts of the country and have been appearing in the last couple of weeks.
3. The Masters Tournament, the Boston Marathon, or Major League Opening
Since I can watch the Boston Marathon from the end of my street, there is no contest.
When the Red Sox play the same day they have to play the game earlier than usual because Fenway Park is only a few blocks away from the marathon route and the people at the game have to go around the route before the runners start coming through.
The day of the marathon virtually the whole route shuts down to traffic and many businesses in the area since there is no way to get through once the elite runners have passed by and the every day runners start appearing. There is, however, a great feeling of camaraderie since people come from all over the world to participate and cheer on family and friends and there are many charities that have runners who raise money for their organizations
4. CPA. I dislike doing anything involving numbers even if it is just filling in the blanks.
5. Raincoat or umbrella?
Raincoat unless it is very hot. I do carry an umbrella with me if rain is predicted, but if it is also windy then the umbrella is just going to blow around or turn inside out
6. Your pilgrimage is to: cherry blossoms, Nordstrom's end of season
Cherry blossoms which I really enjoy. There is a stand of them nearby where the blossoms cascade over the sidewalk. Around here they don’t show up until the beginning of May so they don’t qualify
I like browsing in garden centers, but since I don’t have a garden and don’t have an area available for planting it is too frustrating to look and not buy.
My other option would be go to where the gardens are already established.