IDES of MARCH

WIND blowing, the IDES of March are upon us. Know why the Ides fall in middle of the month? Because when the Roman calendar was lunar based, the full moon was the first day of the month. In Roman numerals that is I, II, IIIs, etc. and was known as the "I"des. And if you remember Shakespeare's Julius Caesar, he was warned about the Ides by a soothsayer. Leave it to Shakespeare to throw some drama on the calendar.

Today the wind is tossing the flowers about but I managed to pull out some stills that show the colorful season that has arrived in North Carolina. The daffodils have been out for some time but this week the redbuds have swollen to near bursting. This red bush in a neighbor's yard that I have the good fortune to drive past every morning.

The daffodils come and go, ours are on on the shady side of the hill so they bloom last and least. This year the spectacular display is the blooming ornamental pear trees. They can be found all about the state and are laden with snowy white blossoms telling everyone that spring showers are not far behind. Or so we hope, the drought climate is in need of much rain.
Life is good, bountiful and sometimes the world "is too much with us." Tiredness follows a very busy week. Among other things I have scheduled ballroom dance periods for the summer weeks with the local senior center. And led a class in learning the "Line Waltz," at the UNC Wellness center. Thanks to Sue & Eric who taught us the waltz on the January cruise. The steps fit perfectly to the Patti Page recording of Tennessee Waltz - who remembers that one? And managed to compile items to ship to Mother in prep for the April trip to Missouri. That's in addition to walking, dance aerobics, weight-resistance workouts at the gym several times a week. Last night we enjoyed corned beef and cabbage, with carrots, turnips, leeks and onions to celebrate St. Patrick's day - as Monday dear hubby get a light supper before a medical procedure Tuesday morning.

And speaking of Tuesday that will be the Memorial Service for UNC Student-body President, Eve Carson. You have no doubt heard of that tragedy in recent days. The event has left us stunned, wondering what's happened to our neighborhood, who would want to harm such a bright young lady and understanding how her family must be devastated. Such a loss for the world.

But first we celebrate the UNC basketball victory over Clemson this afternoon. If you live in Chapel Hill you know what that means: lock the doors and stay in tonight the students will go wild in downtown streets.

One last note: Saturday was the annual Quilt Fest celebration for the Durham Orange Quilt Guild. This is our contribution to National Quilt Week. I shot loads of pictures but the event is mostly about having a really good get-together with lots of fabric, beginning (or finishing) a UFQ. That's an Un-Finished Quilt. The picture is a long-shot of the quilting room.

Yes, there is food involved: OK I did sample a 1"x 1" cube of brownie but left the rest for somebody else. The new project for donation quilts is producing a lot of red+white+blue quilts to be sent to the Veterans Hospital in Fayetteville.
For that I am very proud of the guild.