A Great Neighborhood

I live in a great neighborhood. In September, we have an old-fashioned block party, with police barricades blocking off the cars even. Last year we all had such a good time, we had another one, impromptu without the barriers, but we still sat outside in Nancy's driveway/street with a portable fire pit warming our tootsies and melting marshmallows for S'mores.

From last year's block party:
Jan and Tim set up kid games in their driveway.

From last year's block party:
Warren, Sam, and Tim are playing "Pitch to Sam." Best game on the block!

Take tonight for example, I walked out to take some shots of my blooming daffodils and ornamental cherry tree.

My daffodils are out! You can see Jan with her cane in the background.

Out on our block were Jan and Tim, who live next door, and their darling grandson. Tim was trying to get his lawn mower working. I was glad it didn't work because even though their grass is long, it's so peaceful without that noise. Seems too early to start the eternal mowing racket. Jan was limping around with a cane, her arthritis acting up again. Jacob was trying to play softball with the "big" kids.

Nancy and her two "big" kids, Sam and Maya, and a couple more boys, cousins or buddies of Sam, were playing softball in the driveway/street/Tim-and-Jan's front yard ball field.

Maya in her soccer practice outfit. You can see Linda on the left. Sam in the red hat on the right.

Along came Linda and her little min-pin, Gretchen, taking their nightly walk. We firmed up plans for our weekend "Wine Chat" with Nancy. More on that later. Nancy and I made a gardening date for Saturday.

Before I went back inside--it was getting too cold to be outside without a sweatshirt or jacket--I reminded myself how blessed I am to live in such a great neighborhood.

Then I got cold and went inside, Linda and Gretchen went on down the street, Jan and Tim took Jacob inside, and Nancy and her mob went off to Soccer Practice. The street quieted down.

But I suspect we will all be out there tomorrow night. The kids will be batting more softballs, Jan and Tim will be trying to get their lawn mower working, Gretchen and Linda will come by on their nightly walk, I'll be outside taking more photos and itching to begin that gardening, and Spring will continue to warm our hearts and gardens.

Life is good.